Breaking News 24/4 .... GEO rejects CPSU's offer to pause our ban on conducting urine tests on prisoners to progress talks.  GEO says all bans must come off despite just failing in Fair Work to achieve this. 

Breaking News 23/4 .... GEO withdraws appl. to terminate our protected action and exchanges appl. for a request to Fair Work for conciliation.  

Breaking News 19/4 ....  GEO apply but fail to terminate our protected action after visit arrangements memo contradicts evidence of weekend disruption.

Breaking News 12/4 .... Full complement of Officers for today's day shift sees prison unlocked.  Let's see for how long!

Breaking News 10/4 ..... Officers commenced locking the prison down when insufficient staff were rostered.  GEO responded by standing our members down.  Over 800 inmates inside and another 19 turned up today for about 60 Officers.   The private prison remains in full lock down.  It appears GEO management are happy to have the place shut & be fined than employ additional Officers and are now seeking scabs from their interstate prisons of Junee (NSW) and Arthur Gorrie (Queensland).  What's Corrections Victoria doing?

CPSU has now notified GEO that the following industrial action will occur at Fulham Correctional Centre.

Stop Work action, of one hour duration, by Custodial and Catering staff in addition to the bans listed below will occur on Friday 13 April 2012 from 9am to 10am and on Monday 16 April 2012 from 9am to 10am.

GEO refuses to negotiate on minimum staffing levels despite the riot in January and is offering only a 2.5% wage increase for Prison employees.

The previous GEO - Fulham Correctional Centre Agreement expired on 20 December 2011.

The following protected industrial actions will commence any time after; 0001 hours on Friday 13 April 2012 and will affect employees who are Catering and Custodial Officers.

 6. Indefinite industrial action in the form of not complying with the GEO Group Australia Pty Ltd restrictions on public comment by employees as set out in their policies.

 8. Indefinite industrial action in the form of attaching the following statement to each email:

    “The following message is authorised protected industrial action under the Fair Work Act

     I’m taking protected industrial action because my employer doesn’t value me as a person who protects the
     public.  The Fulham Correctional Centre needs to adequately pay its staff and I ask you to support us.  Thanks.”

 9. Indefinite industrial action in the form of wearing campaign material and/or badges

10. Indefinite ban on providing of statistics or data for official reports

11. Indefinite industrial action in the form of placing signage on company vehicles, work stations and common areas of the workplace (notice boards) containing the CPSU logo and messages authorised by the CPSU relating to bargaining for an enterprise agreement  

12. Indefinite action by employees at Fulham Correctional Centre recording out of cell hours of prisoners.

19. Indefinite industrial action by employees at Fulham Correctional Centre in the form of a ban on conducting urine tests on prisoners.

The following protected industrial actions will commence any time after 10am on Monday 16 April 2012.

20. Indefinite industrial action by employees at Fulham Correctional Centre in the form of a lock down of prisoners if a unit is left with less than three Custodial Officers and Supervisor at any point of a day shift.

All members should be aware that it is illegal for your Employer or their agents to place any pressure on CPSU members taking protected industrial action.

CPSU members are advised of the following:

• YOU DO NOT have to tell the employer if you are a union member
• YOU DO NOT have to advise if you are taking industrial action
• The employer can ask but YOU DO NOT have to answer definitively

If an employer / manager is being aggressive / standing over you etc:  

That is adverse action.

Adverse action is prohibited by law.

If you experience adverse action or action you feel is intimidatory you should advise the Employer representative such and make a written statement to send to the union for review.

If this occurs you should immediately notify your CPSU local Delegate or CPSU’s Andrew Capp on 0435 872 957.

In the event that activity is found to be adverse the union will lodge against the Employer.


CPSU WILL RESPOND QUICKLY AND STRONGLY TO ANY ADVERSE ACTION.

 
KAREN BATT
CPSU Victorian Branch Secretary