Corrective Services

Private or Public Sector?

Public Union Best for Gaols.

PSA RETAINS COVERAGE OF NEW CORRECTIONAL CENTRES

By David Carey
Federal Secretary (SPSF Group) - CPSU Joint National Secretary

The private experiment failed yet again as the biggest system of public corrective services in the southern hemisphere looked at the best way to manage gaols.

In a dramatic turn of events, the PSA (our NSW Branch of the CPSU SPSF) and the POVB, our Prison Officers Union, have negotiated with the NSW Department of Corrective Services for public sector coverage and operation of three new correctional centres at Kempsey, Dellwinya and Wellington in NSW.

As all available sources of information confirmed the threat that the new prisons were to be operated by the private sector, the situation was dire according to John Scullion,the CPSU/PSA Prisons Union Officer. It is understood that private operators had beaten a path to the NSW Treasury over recent months in a bid to take over the operation of the prisons.

However, at a special meeting of prison officer delegates on 26 February, 95% of delegates voted in favour of a Consent Island Award to cover the new centres. This decision was conveyed to the Minister who appeared before the budget sub-committee on Monday 1 March with the Commissioner for Corrective Services, Rod Woodham and they were given a green light for public sector operation.

"The delegates who voted to introduce the new consent award are to be congratulated for their foresight, their maturity and the leadership and courage they displayed in supporting the union recommendation. Their decision means that more than 500 jobs remain in the public sector" said John Scullion.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/corr_services/20040304_Prisons.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005