The strike action started this morning (21 May) and will last for 24 hours. Photo: John Thistleton.
UPDATE 21 May, 5 pm: Corrective services staff are returning to work after walking off the job to protest planned closures.
Earlier today (21 May), Corrective Services staff from across NSW went on strike in light of the state government’s plan to close the maximum security section of Goulburn CC, which consists of two Victorian-era wings.
The Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) has directed staff to return to work at their next shift.
Region understands this could be as early as 10 pm this evening.
Chair of the Prison Officers Vocational Branch (POVB), Darren King, confirmed they will comply with it.
“It was our mechanism to be heard,” he said of the industrial action.
It means the strike will end earlier than its planned 24-hour runtime.
He also said that while it was unclear how many people went on strike, he expected it was “in the thousands.”
A conciliation conference will follow, which is expected in mid-June.
Mr King said this will see “all the important stakeholders in the room”, and is also set to involve non-custodial staff and administrative staff.
“We could have dug our heels in, so to speak, but they’re playing the smart game [at] Goulburn.”
He wouldn’t be drawn on any proposals POVB was considering, but said multiple options were being considered.
“Goulburn staff are happy with that approach and that outcome,” he said.
“They finally get heard … [It’s an] opportunity to be transparent, in front of an umpire, so to speak.”
The strike follows a late-April rally in the town’s Belmore Park, which saw the community, politicians and union members gather to protest the plan.
The changes are expected to be in effect by the end of September.
21 May, 3:50 pm: Corrective Services staff from across NSW have walked off the job amid claims of a “breakdown of communication” around planned jail closures.
The Goulburn Correctional Complex houses two facilities — the Goulburn Correctional Centre (Goulburn CC) and the High Risk Management Correctional Centre (HRMCC), or ‘’Supermax’’.
Earlier this year, the NSW Government announced its plan to close the maximum security section of Goulburn CC, which consists of two Victorian-era wings.
The Supermax facility will not be affected.
This morning (21 May), Corrective Services staff walked off the job to protest the closure.
Chair of the Prison Officers Vocational Branch (POVB) Darren King said the statewide 24-hour strike followed what they saw as a lack of genuine engagement.
He said it was set to last until 9 am tomorrow (22 May).
“We don’t take strike action lightly, but we’ve been forced into it. If or when we get directions to return to work, we want to have open and honest communication,” he told Region.
He said the planned closures were ill thought out and represented a loss of capacity (including beds) at a time when they were sorely needed.
He called for the wings to be used for other uses than inmate accommodation, such as domestic violence programs.
“I know they say they’re not fit-for-purpose, but they’re certainly in really good nick … [It is] resource and infrastructure that we’re going to turn off – and we’ve got nothing to replace it with.”
The POVB is also sounding the alarm about Silverwater Women’s Correctional Centre, which is facing operational changes under the NSW Government’s proposal.
Mr King said that move “isn’t ideal” for female inmates and was “certainly an issue for us”.
NSW Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong declined to answer specific questions from Region, but confirmed he was aware of the stop work action.
“We respect the right of staff to raise concerns. Centres remain secure and are being operated by a reduced number of staff,” he said in a statement.
He insisted the decision to close the Goulburn prison wings was “the right one”.
“Keeping these wings open would mean asking officers to continue working in conditions that independent experts have said should be phased out. That is not in the best interests of staff or inmates.
“We are continuing a genuine six‑month consultation process and remain committed to engaging directly with staff and their representatives.”
A report released in June 2022 stated it would be “impossible” to refurbish the two wings to satisfactory standards.
Minister Chanthivong recently told Region that the government’s “primary motive” was providing a safer environment for Corrective Services staff and inmates.
The matter is set to appear before the Industrial Relations Commission later today.
More to come.
