This year CANZ has made offers to the Department of Corrections that would have resolved the Muster Crisis.

In June, the Department asked CANZ to go over muster by 180 inmates. CANZ responded by conducting a National Survey of available beds and informed the Department that in fact the Union could identify more than the 180 the Department required. The Union supplied this information to the Department, including the location and number of beds available.

The Department failed to respond in any effective way to the Unions proposals, and effectively ended any discussion on the matter in mid July. In fact instead of attending mediation that they were directed to they made media statements saying that the muster crisis was over.

This is almost certainly because there has never been any money available for the payment of a Muster Allowance. The Department has repeatedly and consistently stated in emails, newsletters and at meetings since mid July that there is no money available for Muster payments at any level.

The Department has also played a game of silly tactics to get it through this period by promoting a sham PSA proposal that would require Union Members at Auckland, Mt Eden and Waikeria prisons only, to ratify a Muster Allowance proposal (without any money for such a proposal being approved), and then supposedly the Department would go cap in hand to the Minister to get approval for the payments. Then supposedly the Minister would somehow find the money to pay the Muster Allowances that he previously was unable to find.

At Mediation this week the Union again requested the Department to respond to the Unions research on available bed numbers. In response the Department has said there is no point doing the exercise now because for 2005, time has run out.

The Union insisted that the Department keep talking because it is predicted that the Muster Crisis will be a reality again next year. The Department has responded by stating it will wait until a month after the general election before considering further discussions.

The Department has now appealed the decision of the Employment Relations Authority in favour of CANZ in relation to the interpretation of a Muster. The finding of the Authority was that the maximum operating capacity of a prison is the number of prisoners that can be held in a prison at any time of the day or night. CANZ is confident the Court will uphold the Authority decision.

CANZ has been positive and proactive in attempting to solve the Departments Muster Crisis. It has been the Department that has failed to respond to genuine initiatives.

Sent on behalf of your National Officers.