News Flash

The Public service Association (PSA) met with members at Yatala Labour Prison (YLP) to finalise the consultative process to commence Video Conferencing at YLP.

The Department for Correctional Services (DCS) embarked on commencing Video Court and Tribunal Conferencing at YLP in late in 2009. The PSA requested that consultation occur centrally to ensure member’s needs were addressed regarding the implementation of the procedure.

Initially the PSA had concerns with implementing the process without a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as there was also an outstanding issue regarding management of hearing Over-runs arising from an incident at the Adelaide Remand Centre (ARC), where members were openly criticised by DCS for following the current SOP. Video Conferencing at YLP was formally put in dispute in November, consultation has been ongoing since this time, with the involvement of PSA Worksite Representatives.

The PSA had worked to ensure that positions allocated were to be added to the existing staffing contingent not absorbed into the current establishment and that staff would have a scheduled break not be forced to work a flexible lunch break whilst undertaking the function. DCS had initially maintained that funding was not available for the 3 positions, 1 OPS-3 and 2 OPS-2, however it was made clear that funding was available since June 2009, DCS also were attempting to implement a flexible lunch break to ensure officers would have to structure their working day and their breaks around the courts.

PSA members established a suitable working arrangement for the court over-runs in consultation with Representatives and developed a proposal to manage court hearing over-runs to ensure that officers maintained scheduled lunch breaks. DCS have also proposed to have the functions operate as stand alone 5 day positions.

The PSA met with YLP members on Friday 25 February and Monday 1 March to finalise working arrangements for a trail to commence to be reviewed after 4 weeks, to address any issues arising. DCS has indicated the trial will commence from 8 March. Members were advised to vote on the proposals that have been established through extensive consultation with Representatives. However members on 1 March refused to support the trial until all details are fully spelt out.

Members put forward and supported the following: That no trial go ahead until all points are addressed.

These matters included but are not limited to incidence response management and lunch time change over, the increased work load incurred by officers, the ability of officers to work overtime instead of having scheduled lunch breaks.

The PSA will continue to work with DCS to attempt to successfully implement the process and to ensure members the issues raised are being addressed.

The PSA will seek to have explained in detail to members how the process will be managed and how DCS may address the outstanding concerns of members.

2 March 2010