CORRECTIONS officers at Goulburn Correctional Centre remain in dispute with their department over resourcing.
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The facility went into lockdown last Wednesday when staff resisted management directions.
"We have what's known as a Variable Operational Routine, which basically determines a safe staffing level," said the Public Service Association (PSA) prison officers vocational branch chairman, Steve McMahon.
"It got to a point last Wednesday where officers working there believed that the numbers provided were not sufficient.
"The routine management wanted them to operate under was unsafe and unreasonable."
Officers walked off the the day shift and conferred with the PSA.
The action coincided with a hearing in the Industrial Relations Commission on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The PSA and the department are thrashing out working conditions in what the former claims is an overcrowded jail.
Officers have blamed high numbers for recent violent outbreaks and prisoner assaults at the facility.
Mr McMahon says while the PSA is making ground on talks, there's still a way to go.
"We're not miles apart on numbers, but we're a long way apart on the routine for the day," he said.
" . . . The talks centre on safe staffing levels and the financial restrictions placed by the department. It all comes back to what the State Government is willing to pay for the service offered."
Mr McMahon said both sides had to give ground, but it was essential that the department put more officers in place.
Industrial Relations Commissioner Inaam Tabbaa will visit the Goulburn jail on April 1 as part of proceedings.
Mr McMahon said her aim was to familiarise herself with the facility. He expected Ms Tabbaa would also talk to staff and officers. Following this, the Commissioner would set a further date for formal proceedings.
The department "needs to be clear on what they expect of a jail," Mr McMahon said.
The jail was also in lockdown on Monday as part of staff training.
Meantime, Mr McMahon has also taken a swipe at the Government's threat to privatise NSW prisons if they didn't meet new performance measures.
These are aimed at improving jail productivity by boosting education and employment programs and reducing in-cell hours.
The targets are also designed to reduce assaults on staff.
But Mr McMahon said the government had an agenda.
"Privatisation is largely an ideaology of the government and not a real outcome," he said.
"There's nothing to say it's in the public interest and in fact I think they rely on very questionable information and hide financial figures to justify their stance.
"The risk of of privatisation of NSW prisons is very high. They think they have a mandate."
Mr McMahon believed the government would privatise the Goulburn jail "if it could".
A spokeswoman for Corrective Services said the department did not accept union claims that staffing levels at the jail were unsafe.
"Management at Goulburn Correctional Centre is working to improve processes surrounding staff vacancies and unplanned absences such as sick leave," she said.
"All correctional centres in NSW are put into partial or full lockdown from time to time for management reasons such as training days.
"There has been one full lockdown (March 8) and one partial lockdown (March 16) at Goulburn Correctional Centre due to industrial action in 2016.
"CSNSW has asked the Industrial Relations Commission to ensure the union adheres to dispute settlement procedures set out in the Award."
