Jails in lockdown as guards walk Prison strike over safety

STAFF at the men’s and women’s prisons in Townsville went on strike yesterday demanding body vests, body cameras and tear gas after tools went missing from a workshop over the weekend.

Together Union Townsville organiser Norm Jacobsen said staff walked off the job at 6.30am for a safety meeting, sending the prisons into lockdown.

“They’re asking for body vests, body camera, gas to have on them,” he said.

Mr Jacobsen said the industrial action was in response to a number of incidents at prisons across the state in recent weeks.

“All staff want to do is go home safely to their families,” he said. “The Department of Corrections are saying they will not provide body vests until staff return to work, staff are saying they will not go back to work until they have these things. It’s a bit of a Mexican standoff.”

The strike impacted proceedings at court yesterday, due to difficulties accessing prisoners meant to be sentenced.

A Department of Corrective Services spokesman said safety discussions were under way between management and a group of custodial officers at both correctional centres.

“Officer safety is an absolute priority for Queensland Corrective Services, and management is supportive of the ongoing discussions about offi- cer safety,” he said. “The discussion was prompted by a security incident on the weekend when a number of tools went missing from a workshop area in the men’s centre.

“The centres are in lockdown with staffing consistent with night- shift levels.

“Both centres are quiet. Plans are being made to search the centre for the missing tools at the appropriate time when the safety concerns are resolved with the group of staff.”

The spokesman said QCS was committed to giving custodial officers the support and equipment required to ensure their safety and the safety of prisoners.

“QCS works closely with our staff to ensure they have appropriate accoutrements to do their jobs safely,” he said.

“QCS monitors best practice in other jurisdictions both in Australia and internationally and stays abreast of developments in equipment and its applicability to Queensland facilities.”