Port Phillip Prison staff to walk off job over failed pay negotiations

About 100 staff are expected to abandon their posts at Victoria’s biggest maximum security jail over the next day as they fight for better pay and work conditions.

Prison guards at Victoria’s biggest maximum security jail will walk off the job tomorrow over failed pay negotiations. Picture: David Caird

Prison guards at Victoria’s biggest maximum security jail will walk off the job tomorrow over failed pay negotiations.

About 100 staff are expected to abandon their posts at Port Phillip Prison between 7.30am and 1pm.

The strike comes after more than 350 workers last month began ignoring directives from the jail’s operator, G4S, amid a breakdown in mediations with Fair Work.

Industrial action started on May 21, when workers knocked back a proposed 3.8 per cent pay rise over the next year, instead calling for a guaranteed 13.5 per cent increase over four years.

As part of their protests, workers began ignoring official orders from prison management indefinitely, including phone calls, texts and emails, unless a prisoner’s health or safety was at risk.

They also stopped filing paperwork about prisoner case management, documentation which private prison operators must provide to Victorian authorities – unless it concerned assaults or a prisoner’s threat to harm themselves.

Close to 100 workers at Port Phillip Prison will walk off the job on Tuesday as pay negotiations continue. Picture: David Caird

Workers had also been given the go-ahead to speak more freely to the media and lock down prisoners 30 minutes earlier each day so union members could plan any industrial actions for the day.

It is understood that Port Phillip’s contracted operator, international security company G4S, pays staff above minimum award requirements.

But unionised prison workers in early May voted overwhelmingly in favour of going on strike.

In a letter to workers ahead of Tuesday’s strike, Community and Public Sector Union Secretary Karen Batt said workers were demanding better pay.

“We have sent notification to G4S that our members will stop work on Tuesday 4th June 2024,” she said.

“This action is to reinforce your recent strong vote of “no” to their proposed offer and to demonstrate to G4S that you want a fair deal.”

Only staff stationed in the prison’s hospital unit and control room will continue working.

A G4S spokesman said: “G4S is disappointed that the bargaining representatives have rejected our latest offer but we will continue to negotiate with them and hope to reach an amicable agreement”.

“Our number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees and those in our care.”