Corrections Officers across seven of South Australia's prisons have downed tools today over what they say is an intolerable crisis in the sector with low pay driving a recruitment emergency which has led to a massive spike in prison assaults.
Yesterday's vicious bashing at Yatala which resulted in an inmate being rushed to hospital to have metal plates inserted in his face to hold it together is only the latest in a string of violent incidents in recent months.
On November 4th at Yatala a prisoner was king hit into unconsciousness in the engineering workshop lunch room leading to a large loss of blood. Shortly before that another brutal attack occurred inside Yatala's Mirnu Unit 1, nine prisoners attacked a single inmate in a sustained and savage assault that continued even after the victim lost consciousness.
And on Friday the 24th of October a female Corrections Officer was hospitalised with a broken hand after being attacked by a metal pole wielding prisoner. She was injured while disarming the prisoner who had bashed another prisoner who was admitted to hospital with life threatening injuries to the head and neck, and an almost severed finger.
At meetings early this morning Corrections Officers at prisons from Murray Bridge to Port Lincoln resolved to continue strike action indefinitely until the Premier boosts their paltry pay rates and lifts staff numbers.
Stop work meetings were held this morning at Yatala Labour Prison, Port Augusta Prison, Mobilong Prison, Port Lincoln Prison, Cadell Prison, and Adelaide Women's Prison.
Prisons will not even have a skeleton crew of Officers left to carry out basic duties, instead senior staff will have to 'get back on the tools' and take care of inmates.
Until further notice prisons will go into 'lockdown', the state's 2000+ prisoners will be confined to their cells 24 hours a day.
Corrections Officers have had enough says Charlotte Watson, General Secretary of the Public Service Association which represents Corrections Officers.
"Violence in our prisons is a direct result of poor pay and conditions which has led to a recruitment emergency," said Ms Watson.
"Corrections Officers start on $58,000 a year.
"Why would you work in a prison when you could earn the same amount at Bunnings?
"What would you rather do, take tradies through the latest range of Dulux paints or spend your day with crooks and crims?
"A week ago I sat across the table from the Premier, Treasurer and Deputy Premier and told them our members have had enough and were sick of being fobbed off with another dodgy pay offer.
"The last offer we got from the Premier would mean Corrections Officers would fall below the safety net award again before the end of the life of the pay deal, that's not good enough.
"It is beyond belief that a Labor Government is maintaining a position where government workers can fall below Award rates during the life of an enterprise agreement.
"How can the Premier preach to the private sector about not paying employees below the award safety net when he does it to thousands each and every day.
"Bargaining commenced more than fifteen months ago and our members will be facing another Christmas without the certainty of a payrise."
