Prison officers at Goulburn have refused to return to work until Monday morning, despite being ordered back earlier.
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Up to 25 officers have maintained an around-the-clock picket, complete with barbecue and food supplies, outside Goulburn Correctional Centre since 7am Saturday.
It came after 200 of their number walked off the job at noon Friday, citing ongoing safety and security concerns.
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Later that day, the Industrial Relations Commission ruled that they had to return to work Saturday. But Prison Officers Vocational Branch (POVB) industrial officer Dave McCauley said while the union had disseminated this information, as legally obliged, Goulburn Jail prison officers refused to return.
Officers at several other correctional centres, including South Coast, Kempsey and Lithgow, are understood to have done the same in support of their Goulburn counterparts.
"At the end of the day, we can't force them back," Mr McCauley said.
"They're human and passionate and they feel there are serious issues that are not being addressed."
The union argued a restructure, deleting a front line officer management tier, had jeopardised safety and led to 'unacceptable' overtime and fatigue among the ranks. Mr McCauley said this was a statewide issue.
Standing at the picket on Saturday, POVB Goulburn branch chair Owen O'Neill said 22 officer positions were vacant.
"These issues have been outstanding for a long time and we have asked Corrective Services ad nauseam to resolve them," he told The Post.
"There are ongoing chronic staff shortages, so when people are off sick, we have lock downs that affect safety...In some instances these last for three days and that causes animosity among the inmates.
"We are here to treat prisoners as fairly as possible and provide them with the services they need. But if there are no staff, we can't do that safely."
Both union reps said court decisions over inmate assaults on officers had also played a part. But so too did a recent visit by Inspector General of Custodial Services, Fiona Rafter.
The Inspector General has authority to interview staff and inmates as part of an annual report. But Mr McCauley said although the Governor had been advised of the visit two weeks prior, officers baulked when Ms Rafter wanted to enter a specific yard and speak to inmates.
The time for lip service is long gone. (Corrective Services) has had time to sort out these matters but they're dragging their feet...
- Owen O'Neill, Goulburn POVB chair
"At the time, officers were busy in another yard and told the Governor they were unable to go," he said.
"He then directed them to do so and later berated them for 'embarrassing him' in front of the Inspector. Staff took exception to that and felt they'd been treated with disrespect."
Mr O'Neill told The Post that officers had no issue with the Inspector's presence but were acutely aware that unplanned yard visits could pose safety risks.
"We get quite nervous because there have been two hostage situations (in correctional centres) up north," he said.
"...We thought the way it was handled was quite arrogant and dismissive of staff. We have great camaraderie and have no issue with inmates but you need to have your wits about you. This could have been handled better with a briefing beforehand."
On Friday, POVB members unanimously defeated a motion of confidence in the Governor. It concluded that his relationship with staff was "untenable." They could not legally vote on a motion of no confidence.
Mr O'Neill said Corrective Services hadn't yet committed to meeting with the union. But he believed they would in order to avoid more such 'costly' walk-outs.
Officers also walked off the job in March, 2019 after a District Court quashed inmate Bassam Hamzy's 20-month sentence in 2017 for assaulting an officer.
On another front, prison officers want workers compensation reforms, ensuring parity with emergency service personnel.
Mr McCauley acknowledged that defiance of Friday's return to work order could see the matter's relisting in the IRC or elevation to the Supreme Court. POVB state executive will visit Goulburn on Monday to speak with members.
Mr O'Neill said officers were likely to return to work Monday but felt strongly about the safety issues.
"We are happy for the IRC and Corrective Services to enter talks with our union and find a way forward," he said.
"But we've heard it all before. The time for lip service is long gone. (Corrective Services) has had time to sort out these matters but they're dragging their feet for reasons I don't understand."
In a statement, a spokesman said Corrective Services "always consulted with staff about proposed improvements to the safe and effective running of our prisons."
He said most staff had obeyed the IRC's return to work order.
"Staff in a minority of prisons did not return to work. CSNSW is seeking to have the order to return to work enforced where necessary.
"In those prisons still subject to unauthorised strike action. Inmates are locked in their cells and visits have been cancelled. Public security has not been compromised.
"Regarding workers compensation, this was not raised by Goulburn staff as an issue for this action."
Corrective Services did not respond to questions regarding the jail's governor and the union's defeat of a confidence motion.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
