Corrections officers to strike over “insulting” wage offer

Prisoners will be locked down in cells and officers will strike today over failed negotiations with the government over an “insulting” industrial offer.

PRISONERS will be locked down in cells and officers will strike today over failed negotiations with the government over an “insulting” Enterprise Bargaining Agreement offer.

Six-hour walkouts will start at 1pm and continue on Thursday and Friday, with different jails striking each day.

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Together Union industrial relations director Michael Thomas warned of further walkouts and said the government had offered a 2.5 per cent increase without any negotiation.

“It’s not about money, it’s about respecting the risk officers take,” he said.

“We are seeing massive overcrowding, we are seeing staff assaulted and hospitalised and the best we get from the government is a Productivity Commission inquiry, followed by a Crime and Corruption Commission inquiry, a Human Rights Watch report and two Ombudsman reports.

“The inaction is inexcusable,” he said.

A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman said there were plans to manage the jails after walkouts including prisoner lockdowns.

“Prisoners will receive meals and medications as needed during this time, and contingency plans are in place should there be an incident requiring emergency response, including police being on standby to respond,” she said.

Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan said he believed all parties could work towards an outcome was in “everyone’s best interests”.