CPSU members have delivered a crushing defeat of G4S’ proposed agreement.

The ballot results speak for themselves:

              “YES” to approve the proposed EBA        10

              “NO” to reject the proposed EBA             420

A staggering 97.67% of Port Phillip Officers have sent a clear message to G4S: We demand your respect.

This is a remarkable display of solidarity and strength, and every single Officer at Port Phillip Prison should be proud of this result.

G4S used every underhanded and dirty trick in the book to undermine us and actively tried to bully, intimidate, and scare our members into accepting their insulting and pathetic offer, but still our members stood strong.

Our members should never forget this moment:

• The agreed Recommendation from FWC was that when bargaining recommenced the parties would maintain the positions we tabled through conciliation. At that point they were offering 2.5% and when bargaining resumed they offered 1.8% (or 1.85% if they didn’t make any of the changes previously agreed).

• We told them that both 1.8% and 1.85% would not be acceptable to our members.

• They insisted that we put 1.85% to our members, so CPSU Delegates spent several days canvassing the workplace and making sure they visited every unit and shift.

• When we reported that the answer was a unanimous “No” they floated the idea of going to non-union ballot and we advised G4S that it would be vigorously opposed, and that action was an extremely hostile and aggressive step from the employer, we would start the process of protected industrial action as soon as our members voted their inferior agreement down.

• After they communicated to staff they were going to ballot, they convened a secret meeting of managers and supervisors where the managers and supervisors were directed to bully, intimidate and scare the officers into accepting this deal. We have had several members who were present at this meeting contact the union to express their disgust at G4S’ actions.

• They held the ballot over a weekend when they knew the ballot agent was not open and so any customer service/help/advice needed to assist our members voting would not be available.

And through all of this, our members were unbowed and united: we still delivered a 97.67% No vote.

CPSU has now written to G4S to advise:

Following the crushing defeat of G4S’ proposed enterprise agreement, we strongly urge G4S to reconsider its approach and make an offer that is worthy of the dedication, service and sacrifice of its staff.

The ballot results are a complete repudiation of G4S’ attitude and approach to enterprise agreement negotiations and its employees.

As has previously been advised, CPSU will now make application to the Fair Work Commission for a Protected Action Ballot Order.

NEXT STEPS

CPSU has now commenced an application to the Fair Work Commission for a Protected Action Ballot Order which will be lodged imminently. This is the first step in the process for CPSU members at Port Phillip Prison to take Protected Industrial Action, and CPSU members will soon be asked to vote.

This will be in the same terms as when CPSU members voted to take Protected Industrial Action in March/April last year.

I encourage all CPSU members to re-familiarise themselves with our proposed actions and if you have any questions or if there is any uncertainty, we encourage you to speak with Charlie Marmara or David Lawson or contact CPSU Organiser Clay O’Brien.

CPSU will continue to update members as the situation develops.

On the Protected Action Ballot, you will be asked:

In support of reaching agreement with G4S Custodial Services Pty Ltd for an enterprise agreement to replace the G4S Custodial Services Pty Ltd. (Port Phillip Prison) Correctional Services Workplace Agreement 2017, do you endorse the taking of industrial action, which may be taken separately, concurrently or consecutively described below?

1. Indefinite or periodic stoppages of half an hour

2. Indefinite or periodic stoppages of 1 hour

3. Indefinite or periodic stoppages of 2 hours

4. Indefinite or periodic stoppages of 4 hours

5. Indefinite or periodic stoppages of 24 hours

6. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on complying with G4S Custodial Services Pty Ltd restrictions on public comment by employees as set out in their policies

7. Interrupting work periodically, over an indefinite period or for specified periods in order to make information relating to enterprise bargaining and/or workplace matters (including, but not limited to, occupational health and safety, staffing levels, employee workloads and workplace morale) available to The Last Governor facebook account

8. Interrupting work periodically, over an indefinite period or for specified periods in order to make information relating to enterprise bargaining and/or workplace matters (including, but not limited to, occupational health and safety, staffing levels, employee workloads and workplace morale) available to the media

9. An unlimited number of days on which members will perform work differently by removing any identifying or confidential information and making OH&S incident reports available to The Last Governor facebook account

10. An unlimited number of days on which members will perform work differently by removing any identifying or confidential information and making OH&S incident reports available to the media

11. Interrupting work periodically, over an indefinite period or for specified periods in order to type or re-type, for the purpose of including in each document or communication to be sent to an external body or organisation, the following statement:

“The following message is authorised protected industrial action under the Fair Work Act 2009.

“Correctional staff at Port Phillip Prison are currently taking protected industrial action because G4S Custodial Services Pty Ltd refuses to respect us and value our dedication, service and sacrifice to keep the Victorian community safe.

“We ask that you support us by contacting G4S Head Office on 9864 4044 and encourage G4S Custodial Services to value and respect their staff”.

12. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on conducting prisoner escorts or movements with less than two officers

13. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on recording out of cell hours of prisoners

14. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on unlocking prisoners for an indefinite or specified period, unless an imminent risk to health and safety exists

15. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on the auditing or completion of case files in connection to SDO23, unless required for health and safety reasons, basic welfare notes only

16. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on conducting random general urinalysis

17. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on recording, collecting or providing any statistical information or data in connection with SDO 14, including time sheets for prisoner workers

18. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on responding to emails from management unless an imminent risk to health and safety exists

19. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on attendance for training as required by G4S Custodial Services Pty Ltd, unless for the purposes of fire awareness, first aid, or baton, gas and firearms

20. Interrupting work periodically, over an indefinite period or for specified periods in order to raise and fly a CPSU flag in place of the G4S flag on the Port Phillip Prison flagpole

21. Interrupting work periodically, over an indefinite period or for specified periods in order to write messages representing the concerns of members regarding the enterprise agreement negotiations on the public-facing external windows of the reception building at Port Phillip Prison using non-permanent markers

22. Interrupting work periodically, over an indefinite period or for specified periods in order to write messages representing the concerns of members regarding enterprise agreement negotiations on the public-facing external windows of the external visits waiting area at Port Phillip Prison using non-permanent markers

23. Interrupting work periodically, over an indefinite period or for specified periods in order to write messages representing the concerns of members regarding enterprise agreement negotiations on the windows of Port Phillip Prison escort vehicles using non-permanent markers

24. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of wearing union campaign material and/or badges

25. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of members not entering the reception area of the Port Phillip Prison prior to 0725

26. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on the recording, collection or forwarding of data for the purposes of filling out either paper based or computer based compliance checklists

27. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on the supply of statistics, data or information for meetings with management, except where an imminent threat to health and safety exists

28. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on the collection of urine for the purposes of urinalysis

29. An unlimited number of days on which members will perform work differently by taking all lunch breaks at the same time

30. An unlimited number of days on which members will perform work differently by insisting on a second meal/rest break during their shift

31. An unlimited number of days on which members will perform work differently by taking all meal and rest breaks outside of the prison

32. An unlimited number of days on which members will perform work differently by locking up all prisoners at 1930 regardless of the time prisoners were unlocked/out of cell hours time

33. Indefinite or periodic industrial action in the form of a ban on escorting vehicles entering Port Phillip Prison

34. An unlimited number of days on which members will perform work differently by using radios to communicate messages regarding Enterprise Agreement negotiations and protected industrial action taken by CPSU members

Ask a colleague to be on your side and in the fight.

At every step, and despite every challenge, CPSU members at Port Phillip Prison have only grown stronger.

This is a truly incredible effort, and every single member should hold their heads high – defiance is a proud act.

There is still a long way to go before we get the fair deal we deserve and I encourage our members to remain united and strong.

As we again commence the process to take Protected Industrial Action, anybody who is not-yet a member of the union should join today