WA prison officers could strike again

WESTERN Australia's prison officers have not ruled out further strike action if the latest negotiations with the state government do not bring an improved pay offer.

The prison officer's union will return to the negotiating table tomorrow morning, after 2000 members called a snap 24-hour strike on Friday morning after wage talks with the state government stalled.

Only skeleton staff worked at 13 public prisons across the state, manning the perimeters of the facilities, but officers refused to transport prisoners to court.

The action caused widespread disruption in Perth's courts. The trial of high-profile bikie Troy Mercanti was one of many court cases disrupted.

"We will be expecting something to change, and hope they can indicate to us they can put a better offer on the table,'' said union secretary John Welch.

"We will have to consider where to from there, and there will be considerable concern from our members if we took industrial action and there is nothing on the table.

"Why then would they not want to look at further action, if they feel they had not had the impact they would have liked to.''

Members want the same 14 per cent over three years pay rise that Australian Nurses Federation members extracted from Premier Colin Barnett, despite the state government being in caretaker mode ahead of the March 9 election.

The prison officers have been offered nine per cent over the same period.

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WA prison officers to vote on strike

STRIKE GROUND: WA prison officers will vote over whether to take strike action in support of a pay claim. Source: PerthNow

WA prison officers will vote over whether to take strike action in support of a pay claim. Source: The Daily Telegraph

DISGRUNTLED prison officers in West Australia are about to decide whether to strike for a better pay deal as the state election approaches.

The WA Prison Officers Union (WAPOU) has scheduled a meeting for 1.30pm (WST) to vote with a show of hands on a possible strike.

The officers say an existing wage rise offer of nine per cent is inadequate.

They're angry that Australian Nurses Federation members extracted a 14 per cent wage rise from Premier Colin Barnett on the weekend as a ``reward'' for closing some hospital beds, refusing to do certain tasks and threatening to strike.

WAPOU secretary John Welch said the state government had ignored the legitimate concerns of prison officers, who just wanted ``a fair go'' as they faced the significant risk of being assaulted by inmates in the course of their work.

``Someone should tell the premier that his government has changed the playing field with its offer to nurses, and what he's indicated is that the way to negotiate is by taking industrial action,'' Mr Welch said.

After the nurses' stoush was resolved, Mr Barnett denied he had been blackmailed as the March 9 election approached and said he hoped the result would not inspire other unions to take action.

The Liberal leader doesn't only face the prospect of a prison officers' strike.

He's also the target of a Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) rally on Thursday that will involve a ``march to Colin's palace at parliament'', referring to his new premises at the refurbished Hale House.

The CFMEU is protesting against mining and construction jobs being given to foreign workers and says mining communities are suffering from under-investment in transport, hospitals and schools.
 

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Woman prison officers punched in face

VIOLENT: A female prison officer has been punched in the face at Hakea Prsion, the latest in a spate of assaults on staff. Source: PerthNow

VIOLENT: A female prison officer has been punched in the face at Hakea Prsion, the latest in a spate of assaults on staff. Source: PerthNow

A FEMALE prison officer has been punched in the face at Hakea remand facility in Perth's southern suburbs, prompting calls from the union for more funding.

The assault occurred on Tuesday, the West Australian Prison Officers' Union said, and her colleague also had blood spat in his face.

There have been more than 20 assaults on WA prison officers in the year to date and about 100 over the past 12 months, the union said.

Secretary John Welch said it was essential that any election pledge that would result in more prisoners was matched with increased funding to keep prisons safe for inmates and officers.

``The state government can support prison officers by providing proper staffing levels at prisons, new prison facilities to deal with chronic overcrowding, and fair pay and conditions that respect the risks prison officers take,'' Mr Welch said.

Tensions are said to be high at Hakea, where young juvenile offenders from the nearby Banksia Hill detention centre were moved in January after taking part in a violent rampage.

After the incident, 73 Banksia Hill detainees were moved to Hakea but the Department of Corrective Services revealed last week that 140 young offenders were now incarcerated there.
 

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