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POVB member update

  15 November 2015

POVB member bulletin November 2015 (PDF version)

To bring you up to date with recent activities, I provide the following overview of current issues:

Disputes in the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC)

The POVB has been involved in 6 collective disputes including Amber Laurel, inmate numbers, Silverwater Women’s and the staff transfer policy.

There have also been individual representations before the Commission including unfair dismissals.

We have also been involved in numerous meetings with CSSNW including:

• Appointment to on-going roles

• Staff transfer list

• Benchmarking

• Interagency employment

• Individual centre meetings – including the MRCC, Amber Laurel and Silverwater

• Grafton prison discussions

• Reform program.

In addition, we have:

• attended inductions across both the metro and regional areas

• held ongoing discussions regarding PIAWE

• briefed Unions NSW on inmate overcrowding

• been involved in numerous advocacy support matters for members facing disciplinary action.

Regional and metropolitan visits have included: Bateman’s Bay, Nowra, Downing Centre; Surry Hills cells; Albury Court cells; MRCC; Goulburn; Kirkconnell; Wellington; Grafton (which also was attended by the General Secretary); Broken Hill; Brewarrina; Amber Laurel and Long Bay.

Media campaign

I would also encourage you to go to the ɫ������website at www.psa.asn.au where you will see that there has been a continued media push by the ɫ������including a recent opinion piece by General Secretary, Anne Gardiner (Jails Are Breaking) on 11 November in which she states:

“The ɫ������has been campaigning tirelessly to reverse the cuts to workers compensation and get a fair deal for staff working in correctional centres and other public sector workers.

“Please, Mr Baird, don’t leave them financially disadvantaged when they are injured just doing their job.”

Steve McMahon
Chairman Prison Officers Branch