Youth detention centre workers across the state have walked off the job for 24 hours, with Australian Workers’ Union members beginning protected industrial action from 6am today.
The union says the strike comes after months of bargaining with the Crisafulli-Bleijie Government without what it considers a “fair offer” for frontline Youth Justice workers.
AWU Queensland Secretary Stacey Schinnerl said members had been left with no choice but to escalate action, accusing the government of failing to recognise the work and pressures faced by youth detention staff.
“The AWU has been bargaining with the Crisafulli-Bleijie Government for months. Yet they have still not delivered a fair offer for their Youth Justice frontline,” Ms Schinnerl said.
Ms Schinnerl also took aim at the government’s tough stance on youth crime, calling on Premier David Crisafulli and Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber to extend that focus to the workers responsible for dealing with young offenders.
“The Premier and Minister Gerber talk tough on youth crime, and rightly so,” she said.
“But it’s about time they showed their workforce the respect and dignity they deserve.”
