Guards at the privately-run Mount Gambier Prison walked-off the job for a second time following management’s “refusal to listen to its workers about legitimate security concerns”.
From 2pm until 8pm on Saturday most of the 100-strong workforce stopped work, leaving behind only a skeleton crew to ensure the safety of the prisoners and the community.
United Workers Union Allied organiser Darren Roberts said “systemic understaffing has been ongoing at the prison for several years and workers have said they are not willing to continue compromising their safety and the safety of the wider community”.
Mr Roberts said workers had rejected the company’s pay increase offer of between 2.5% and 2.8% per-annum on the basis it was “effectively a pay cut” as Australia’s consumer price index was sitting at 3% according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Statistics.
Mr Roberts said correctional officers and support staff were resolved in their pursuit of a “better agreement and a better workplace”.
“These workers have a dangerous and important job and G4S is willing to skirt on safety and reasonable wage increases in order to boost its profits,” Mr Roberts said.
“G4S is a London Stock Exchange-listed company which generated an after-tax profit of around $300m dollars last year.
“They are profiting off the back of the worker and the taxpayer, the least they could do is listen to the concerns of its hard-working employees.
“For most members this is the first time they have been involved in industrial action, they are steadfast in ensuring their collective voice will be heard and they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
Mr Roberts said G4S had offered the same deal as previously with the exception that were they to decline the offer they would not renegotiate.
“It is a credit to the staff here the support they have shown one another and this movement, without that support this action would not be possible,” he said.
“Prison guards are an integral part of our community keeping society safe by looking after offenders in the prison.
“G4S are not giving this staff the respect and dignity they deserve and that needs to end.”
Mr Roberts said union members were likely to continue strike action until G4S returned to the negotiating table with a “reasonable offer”.
