SA prisons go into lockdown amid dispute between guards and State Government over privatisation
State prisons have gone into sudden lockdown, as guards and the Public Service Association protest against moves they fear will end in job cuts and privatisation.
State prisons have gone into lockdown, with no deadline for when the action will be lifted, as guards protest over uncertainty about possible privatisation and jobs cuts.
Public Service Association secretary Nev Kitchin said guards across all State Government prisons on Wednesday morning refused to unlock prisoners from their cells.
They are expected to be locked down for all of today, with no decision yet taken about more action tomorrow.
The PSA says its action could “escalate” depending on the Government’s response, but faces a counter-threat of possible legal action amid claims of inadequate strike warning.
Mr Kitchin said the union held particular concerns about staffing at Mobilong prison, and feared up to 40 positions could go from there following a “benchmarking” study.
The Government applied a similar test at the Adelaide Remand Centre, and used findings that it was inefficient when compared to comparable sites as grounds for privatisation.
Mr Kitchen said there had been a “breakdown in the relationship between our members and their chief executive and the Government”, which sparked the dramatic protest action.
“That breakdown has been caused by imminent fears of further privatisations across the prison system, but also a benchmarking exercise that the department have been undertaking,” he said.
“They will not provide the information.”
Mr Kitchin said guards were carrying out other essential functions, including taking prisoners to courts and ensuring delivery of food and medical attention where required.
“We are doing everything that we need to do apart from unlocking them from their cells,” he said.
Correctional Services Department chief executive David Brown told Advertiser.com.au that about 3000 inmates across the state were being kept locked in their cells.
“We are very concerned about the impact that the action is having,” he said.
“We really encourage the PSA and its members to resume normal duties and come to the table. We received no warning.
“There are very clear dispute resolution processes that both parties are expected to comply with. We don’t think this action is necessary.”
Mr Brown said he was “in discussions” with the industrial relations arm of the State Government to “seek some urgent assistance” that would get prisons back to normal operation.
“Our objective would be to get it (the lockdown) ceased as soon as possible,” he said.
“We are confident we have got our contingencies in place. There is no risk to public safety.”
The department is currently in consultation with the union about a “preliminary benchmark”, which would form the basis of staffing reforms at Mobilong and Adelaide Women’s Prison.
Mr Brown said there would be no job losses, and the process “is looking at how we can resource the prison on each shift and what posts we need to operate the prison”.
Treasurer Rob Lucas said the union was throwing a “massive dummy spit” after losing a judgment this week which was aimed at halting the ARC privatisation move.
“We’ve got a pretty clear message to the union bosses,” he said.
“No amount of industrial action that they follow is going to change the Government’s clear intention to outsource the Remand Centre, but also to take a decision which is in the best interests of the taxpayers.
“This decision is going to save taxpayers millions of dollars a year.
“And, contrary to some claims, all of the people who are currently working at the Remand Centre who want ongoing employment are being given ongoing employment.”
Mr Lucas said benchmarking was all about spending taxpayer money efficiently.
He said the Government had not adopted an “ideological position” on privatisation, and was keeping SA Pathology under public control as it went through efficiency reforms.
The Government has also announced plans for the privatisation of train and tram operations in Adelaide, as drivers and similar functions are outsources.
Infrastructure such as rails and carriages will remain in public hands and service standards be maintained, it says.