Goulburn jail meeting strikes agreement on a way forward

The issue was one of several discussed with a union and senior prison officers when Assistant Commissioner Kevin Corcoran and southern region director, John Harrison visited the facility on Tuesday.

It followed a weekend strike of some 200 officers, who walked off the job at noon Friday over safety and security concerns, staffing levels and a clash with the governor over a yard inspection.

READ MORE:

Prison officers go back to work but keep up the fight

Prison officers picket and defy Commission's return to work order

Correctional officers union 'won't give up until safety is addressed'

Goulburn prison officers strike over 'nonchalant attitude' to safety

Mr Corcoran and Mr Harrison agreed to the meeting following representations from the Prison Officers Vocational Branch (POVB) on Monday. It included the union's executive, Public Service Association industrial officers and several commissioned officers.

After the two-hour meeting, Mr Corcoran told The Post that his team would investigate allegations of bullying and harassment and undertake a work, health and safety risk assessment to ensure conditions were "as safe as possible."

POVB secretary Natalie Howes said members felt there was a "culture of bullying and harassment" in the jail, including in management ranks.

"The union is angry that these complaints have been raised through the Professional Standards Office but the staff concerned have been ignored," she said.

"They have targeted people who took part in the recent strike very quickly by issuing show cause letters of why they shouldn't be disciplined. But some of these bullying and harassment complaints have been left (unanswered) for up to 10 months.

"They (Corrective Services) fail to understand this will add fuel to the fire."

She said the bullying and harassment had been going on "a long time," and while the department was aware of it and was trying to improve processes, it "needed to take the complaints more seriously."

Mr Corcoran said he only became aware of the situation over the weekend. The Assistant Commissioner overseeing this area was undertaking an assessment.

ALSO READ: Out of town buyers snap up district homestead amid buoyant market

"I made it clear to the meeting today that I want respect between staff at all levels," he said.

"I also made it clear that because people are sometimes reluctant to come forward with bullying and harassment complaints, we wanted a commitment from the meeting that there would be no repercussions from staff toward those who (did)."

A team of four, including three men and one woman, who report directly to Mr Corcoran, will visit the jail next week to commence a review. They will talk to staff about their concerns and assess staffing, infrastructure and the inmate cohort.

Mr Corcoran said staff would be able to speak confidentially to the team about bullying and harassment complaints.

Asked why Corrective Services didn't act earlier on the scale of allegations, Mr Corcoran said as complaints passed directly to the Professional Standards Office, he often wasn't aware of them until "further down the track." He promised the department would respond quicker to complaints in future.

However the ABC reported claims of a "toxic" bullying and harassment culture within Corrective Services last year.

ALSO READ: Shakin' Cocktail Party set to be a close shave for best mates

POVB vice-chair Jason Charlton said the union wanted an independent investigation into the outstanding complaints. He encouraged members to also send copies of their grievances to the POVB to assist the process.

The union also called for a full analysis of the workforce to identify deficiencies.

"We were given an assurance that it will be looked at and addressed and that the jail will be fully staffed in accordance with agreed levels," he said.

Mr Charlton was also pleased with the work, health and safety risk assessment, saying it would result in less industrial action and incidents.

Asked whether this could result in less inmates to match staff numbers, Mr Corcoran said it was a possibility, but he couldn't confirm at this stage.

"Anything is possible when we do the assessment. We may come up with alternative arrangements for the main part of the jail...We want to make it as safe as possible," he said.

The assessment will start next week. Mr Corcoran said he wanted a long-term solution to industrial action, given two walk-outs in as many years over safety and security.

"It was a very interesting meeting and it revealed reasons that we were perhaps not aware of at the time for people going on strike," he told The Post.

"I'm confident that the strategies we're putting in place will give staff a voice to raise concerns."

ALSO READ: Students set to show off skills in Sydney

Asked later whether he retained confidence in the jail's Governor, a spokesman said the review would "look at all aspects of staffing at the centre."

Despite the discussions, Mr Charlton said up to 50 staff had already been issued with 'show cause' letters about possible disciplinary action and fines over the strike. More were expected.

Mr Corcoran stood by this action, saying workers had breached the chief commissioner's directive. However each would have the opportunity to explain their reasons and these would be assessed on their merits.

He will meet with all staff at the facility in two weeks.

Mr Charlton hoped the dialogue with the union and staff would be ongoing.

"We feel we have taken a huge step forward from last Friday," he said.

We care about what you think. Have your say in the form below and if you love local news don't forget to subscribe.