Corrections workers ‘betrayed’ by senior manager forum’s key achievement ‘keeping staff on relatively low incomes in face of inflation’

Staff have let fly at senior managers in this government department after one entry on their list of “achievements” sparked fury.

Corrections workers have been left feeling “betrayed and devalued” after a senior managers forum listed “keeping staff on relatively low incomes in face of inflation” as one of their achievements.

The workers’ union says the incident is symptomatic of the government’s suppression of public service wages – and highlights the urgent need for a pay rise.

A recent update on the Department for Correctional Services (DCS) intranet said senior managers came together for a forum to discuss current topics and future opportunities.

The first activity of the day was around leadership and required staff to write down an achievement, a challenge and a future opportunity.

Photos posted from the event and supplied to The Advertiser showed achievements written on Post-it notes, including one that said “keeping staff on relatively low incomes in face of inflation”, and went on to list “resilience”.

The forum was attended by both corporate and operational employees. Picture: Supplied

The first activity of the day was around leadership and required staff to write down an achievement, a challenge and a future opportunity. Picture: Supplied

A worker employed full-time by the department, who did not want to be named, said they were under significant financial strain.

“I struggle to pay for basic utilities if I don’t do overtime. If I worked 9-5, that would become impossible,” they said.

“The downside to all that overtime is that it takes it out of me physically. It’s like having two jobs.”

Senior managers listed “keeping staff on relatively low incomes in face of inflation” as one of their achievements. Picture: Supplied

The worker said they were disheartened to learn management viewed stagnant wages as a positive.

“After finding out the achievement of DCS was to keep wages low, I felt betrayed and devalued as an employee,” they said.

“I am even more convinced that DCS does not have my best interests at heart.”

Public Service Association general secretary Natasha Brown said public sector wages have fallen well below cost-of-living and need to be adjusted accordingly.

“The fact that DCS managers have apparently boasted about keeping incomes low as an achievement is highly degrading and insensitive – but also symptomatic of the government’s approach, which is to keep public service wages suppressed,” she said.

“The disparity between public and private sector wages, and the fact that our hardworking public sector workers are struggling to pay their household bills, is completely unacceptable.”

Ms Brown said negotiations for a new enterprise agreement were underway – but the government’s initial proposed increase of “up to” three per cent per annum, with the first increase in August 2025, was “insulting and disgraceful”.

In a statement, a department spokesperson said “DCS values the work and input of all its staff across its sites statewide”.

“For this reason the forum was attended by both corporate and operational employees,” she said.

“Staff salaries are determined by the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement and not the department.”