Teachers at Long Bay Correctional Centre put in place work bans at a stop work meeting on March 3.

Corrective Services teachers stop work for flow-on

By Peter de Graaff and Kerri Carr

Corrective Services teachers at several workplaces have put in place work bans to protest the Carr Government's refusal to pass on the interim 5.5 per cent salaries increase awarded by the Industrial Relations Commission to teachers in schools and TAFE colleges.

On March 1 Federation President Maree O'Halloran said: "Federation had hoped that the failure to pass on the 5.5 per cent was merely an oversight on the part of the Minister for Corrective Services, John Hatzistergos. However, following a meeting with the Minister today, it became apparent that the Government had either made a deliberate decision not to pay or to delay payment as long as possible."

"Teachers across NSW believe that the decision by Corrective Services is extremely unfair. Historically, Corrective Services teacher rates have been linked to school and TAFE rates," Ms O'Halloran said.

Members at Goulburn, Manus, Long Bay and Cessnock correctional centres held stopwork meetings on March 2 or 3. Teachers at Lithgow Correctional Centre were due to stop work on March 4. Teachers at Cessnock Correctional Centre were due to stop work on March 8 and teachers at Bathurst and John Moroney correctional centres on March 9.

When teachers at Long Bay Correctional Centre stopped work for two hours they heard a report on Federation's meeting with Mr Hatzistergos where he refused to pay the 5.5 per cent interim. The teachers resolved to put in place workbans on the provision of statistical returns to the Department of Corrective Services and completion of educational profiles on students.

Goulburn Correctional Centre teachers expressed anger at the Government's inaction by imposing work bans on non educational work which included not doing inmate intake profiles, monthly educational statistics or participating in case management meetings.

Their resolution also stated that if the matter remained unresolved other branches should consider further strike action.

Federation Representative Frank Mutton said: "Teachers at Goulburn Correctional Centre are disappointed that the interim decision of the Industrial Relations Commission to award teachers a salary increase of 5.5 per cent has not been passed on by the Government to teachers working in correctional centres."

Manus Correctional Centre Federation Representative Debbie Harris said: "We feel undervalued by the failure of the Government not to recognise our worth and dedication in contributing to the rehabilitation of inmates and a safer community."

At their meeting they wrote letters to the Minister, Opposition leader, local MP and the Corrective Services Commissioner asking them to reconsider the situation.

Lithgow Corrective Services TA Secretary Sue Wilde said: "We call on the Minister for Corrective Services, John Hatzistergos, to take administrative action to ensure that educators employed by the Department of Corrective Services Adult Education and Vocational Training Institute receive the interim salary of 5.5 per cent backdated from January 1, 2004."

Peter de Graaff is a TAFE Officer.