For the fourth time in two weeks CANZ have found it necessary to file for mediation with the Department of Labour in an effort to resolve outstanding issues of contention with CIE. The matter at the heart of today’s mediation was CIE’s proposal to close their garden industries in Waikeria, Hawkes Bay and Canterbury with little or no opportunity to either challenge the process or present counter-proposals.

I am pleased to report that mediation was successful and we were able to develop a mutually agreed process and timeframe for the way forward. The Terms of Settlement are as follows:

1. All of the available documentation that led to the development of the current proposal for restructuring the CIE Gardens Industry will be supplied to CANZ National Organiser Brian Davies by 10am on Monday 17 May 2004.
2. CANZ to complete discussions (National officers/Executive) regarding their National strategy for dealing with membership feedback on the proposal by Friday 21 May 2004.
3. CANZ will collate all relevant membership feedback and submit a draft proposal for consultation by Wednesday 2 June 2004 at Mediation in the Napier ERS Office.
4. In the event that the consultative process is not complete by the end of 2 June 2004, the parties will reconvene mediation on 9 June 2004 for the purpose of concluding discussions.
5. The parties agree that a final decision will be released to all affected staff by no later than 11 June 2004.

We believe that this is a much more realistic timeframe than the one in the original proposal and to be fair to CIE they were extremely cooperative in developing the mediated agreement. This now means that CANZ are in a position to distribute all associated documentation (17 May), develop and distribute the endorsed strategy (21 May) and give me the opportunity to hold workplace meetings in the affected areas 23 May – 3 June).

We have also informed CIE that it is our intention to postpone the bargaining process for the new CEA until such time as this restructuring exercise has been concluded. We made the mistake of attempting to bargain whilst in restructuring mode last year and you all know the outcome of that process. We won’t make the same mistake again! This matter will be discussed fully with CANZ CIE members during workplace meetings at all sites during the next few weeks.

Of even greater significance though, is the fact that this extension gives us the opportunity to seek an audience with the Minister of Corrections and the CEO of the Department of Corrections. We believe that this step is necessary in order to get a reality check in respect of the future direction of CIE. You will all be aware that when the Service was initially set up a few short years ago, the emphasis was well and truly on inmate training for the purpose of rehabilitation and reintegration to society. However, recent events would suggest that the focus has moved away from Inmate Training and towards a market-driven philosophy. In other words, generate a profit or go to the wall!

This seems decidedly unfair when Prison Officers with the same primary role as Instructors (safe, secure, humane containment of inmates) don’t have to worry about generating sufficient income to cover their salaries and other associated costs. Instructors, on the other hand, either have to ensure that their industry generates a profit as well as ensuring that security is maintained, or their industry is dismantled and their job disestablished.

Whilst we’re absolutely sure that this was not the intention when CIE started, we’re equally absolutely sure that this clearly is the case now. This can be borne out by the fact that on several recent occasions CIE industries have been told to forget all about the “training” aspect of their job and concentrate solely on production and profit. As this does not align with the base principles for CIE as identified by the CEO when the Service was first launched, it is probably timely that we meet with him for a reality check.

Someone appears to have moved the goalposts and if it’s not him, then who the *#$&* is it????

Regards,

Brian Davies
National Organiser