Prison officers protest

Prison officers at Greenough Regional Prison last Friday joined their colleagues in Albany and Bunbury demanding a swift start to negotiations over a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

About 80 officers waved placards outside the gates of the Greenough prison, chanting “respect the risk” to highlight their campaign to keep WA’s prisons and officers safe, better pay and conditions and new facilities to deal with overcrowding.

A special members’ meeting was addressed by Prisons Officers Union secretary, John Welch, who condemned the department for delaying its response to a request for an early start to negotiations.

“It refused to begin discussions with the union until December 11 because a clause in the current EBA specifically mentions that date,” he said.

“But this doesn’t preclude the department from opening talks now to ensure the officers’ concerns are addressed before the State election.”