Workers drive concerns

PREP M: PREP PAT: Prisoner transport operator denies claims

CURRENT and former workers at the state’s private prisoner transport operator have raised concerns about the state of transport vehicles.

Several people who worked at G4S for between three and nine years have claimed those who spoke up about safety issues within the company’s Victorian base were met with resistance from management.

G4S has denied all allegations surrounding unsafe work vehicles, saying the safety and welfare of prisoners and employees was the company’s highest priority.

Prison industry sources acknowledge that some of the fleet is in poor condition.

But they claim the current angst is being driven by a Transport Workers Union bid to move in on the turf of the traditional jail workers’ representatives, the Community and Public Sector Union.

In one case, a former employee is pursuing a WorkSafe action against the company claiming mental health consequences of bullying after he says he raised safety concerns.

“I worked as a transport officer for years and tried to rec- ommend things, including safety and cultural changes, but it all just fell on deaf ears,” the man said.

Others, who would not be named, claim they have moved to other G4S branches because they are unhappy.

Complaints involved a lack of roadworthy checks and “rare” use of mechanics’ pits.

G4S is responsible for the state’s multi-million dollar prison transport contract between courts, prisons, youth justice centres and police stations.

Director of justice operations for G4S Brett McMerrin said he had not received any reports from current or former employees since issuing a statement on allegations earlier this year.

“Bullying and harassment in the workplace is not tolerated by G4S, we have a robust anti-bullying and harassment policy in place that outlines reporting procedures that employees should follow to ensure that any allegation can be investigated,” he said.

Mr McMerrin said all employees were encouraged to report any safety concerns. “Any reported safety concerns are taken seriously and investigated immediately,” he said.