Hello all,

It has become apparent to all of us on the floor that Corrections staff have been under attack over the last few years and that it has taken a very sudden increase this month. The National Officers wish we could say it was just the inmates but it seems that our employers are trying to get your wages worth of blood as well. PPS continues to put you in every increasing risk with no regard to your Health and Safety.

This month has been a particularly bad month for assaults on staff and escapes. Unlike your managers CANZ see all assaults on staff as serious incidents. CANZ have a number of ideas that we are trying to float around the place at the moment but it will mean that we all have to pull together. To stop this attack on Corrections offers.

For at least the last 18 months CANZ have been trying to get management to acknowledge the difficult and dangerous job we do in a prison system that is bursting at the seems. CANZ have had many meetings with management all to no avail. It seems if it is not the PPS way it is no way. Well looking at the current situation we think it is time we tried something else. CANZ have successfully raised the profile of our current situation within the public area and will continue to do so until we are finally listened too.

After the media attention last week we were offered a meeting with NST etc, but CANZ felt it would be better to be fully prepared before meeting so that is why we are now meeting with Phil McCarthy on Tuesday. CANZ have also been trying to have a meeting with the new minister since he was named as the minister. It seems that this will happen on Wednesday. We will keep you all informed of developments.

CANZ intends to put a prison petition together to give to the new minister to show that we do mean what we say and to show that we are united in the fight to protect our health and safety. The only way this will be done will be by spreading this muster problem across the country and not just over loading the metropolitan cities. What we require from you all is to get this petition signed by every Corrections officer in the country.

Remember the only way we will make any head way will be when we all stop doing that bit extra. This means not breaking the 10 hour rule, not travelling to another institution to do OT. The department are gauging your resolve for the wage talks in June.

Beven Hanlon
On behalf of the CANZ National Officers