Prison fficers to strike over Privatisation Plans [AU]
About 600 New South Wales prison guards are taking strike action today because they are angry that the State Government ignored advice to delay the privatisation of Sydney's Parklea Jail.
The State Government yesterday went to the Industrial Relations Commission to try to block guards at Parklea Jail from striking.
But the action was allowed by Justice Frank Marks, who referred to the fact that the State Government had rejected a recommendation of an Upper House committee to delay the privatisation of Parklea Jail by three months.
Justice Marks allowed the guards to attend today's community cabinet meeting in Bathurst so that they could 'inform the [Corrective Services] Minister and other members of Cabinet, about their concerns and disappointments.'
Stewart Little from the Public Service Association says the State Government should continue negotiations with the union.
"[The committee] basically recommended that there should be no privatisation until the parties, that is the union and the department have had a proper chance to sit down and try and create some more efficiencies," he said.
"The minister came out on Friday and just rejected that, so the members are particularly upset, and that is what the industrial action is all about."
Guards at Bathurst, Kirkconnel and Lithgow jails are walking off the job today in support.
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/10/2593722.htm