Prison guards ordered back to work after snap strike causes court confusion

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Correctional officers across NSW have been ordered back to work after a snap strike left prisoners in lockdown and the courts in a state of confusion on Thursday.

The walk-out was triggered when a Cessnock magistrate decided an inmate who bashed four prison guards in February should not receive prison time for the assault. Instead, Cameron Welsh received a three-year community corrections order for the attack, which left two officers so badly injured their union said they would not return to work.

“In giving Mr Welsh a slap on the wrist, this magistrate has delivered a slap in the face to every prison officer in this state who keeps our community safe from those who’ve forfeited their right to walk amongst us,” Public Service Association president Nicole Jess said.

“This tells the community it’s okay to bash prison officers, that you won’t be punished if you do and you’ll be able to return to the community.”

The strike left the state’s court system scrambling on Thursday, with not enough prison officers to bring inmates to face their court hearings.

Cases were rescheduled and high-profile cases left up in the air, including the planned sentencing of former MP and convicted rapist Gareth Ward, whose Friday hearing may be delayed if officers do not return to work as ordered.

The Industrial Relations Commission heard evidence from Corrective Services NSW that the walk-out meant remaining staff were left to work around-the-clock shifts to keep inmates safe and attend to medical needs.

The union told the commission that members would not return from the planned 48-hour strike until prosecutors lodged an appeal against Welsh’s sentence. However, the commission ordered the union to stop all industrial action relating to the Welsh case by 6am on Friday.

“The attorney-general better get himself out of whatever meeting or media opportunity or announcement he’s currently engaged in and get this solved, or else the state’s prison system is going to go into meltdown,” Public Service Association general secretary Stewart Little warned on Thursday.

Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said that while he understood the disappointment of officers, “a decision of the independent judiciary is not a basis for industrial action”.

Chanthivong welcomed the commission’s decision, and committed to ongoing talks with the union to improve officer safety.

“I was confronted by the injuries endured by these four officers, and I spoke to them in February to reiterate our gratitude for their service,” Chanthivong said.

“Corrective Services NSW will write to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking an appeal of the sentence for the inmate in question.”

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