Youth detention workers across Queensland will walk off the job at 7am this morning, launching a week of rolling strikes.
Organised by the Australian Workers Union, the industrial action involves both operational staff and support personnel, including case workers, psychologists, cooks, and laundry workers.
It’s understood the action will begin with a 12-hour stoppage on Monday and continue with stoppages from 1 hour to 12 hours across the rest of the week.
The strikes follow a surge in violence that union officials describe as an “intolerable workplace crisis”.
Over the past seven days alone, they claim 14 serious assaults against staff were recorded, including head punches, a bite that drew blood, and urine thrown at an employee.
While within the last 12 months, the AWU says the state’s youth detention facilities have seen more than 500 serious assaults on workers.
“AWU Youth Detention Centre members are taking the drastic step of rolling strikes across 7 days as we call on the Crisafulli-Bleijie Government to the deliver an offer that recognises and respects their Youth Justice frontline,” Acting AWU Queensland Secretary Mark Raguse said.
“Minister Gerber has repeatedly claimed that the government are negotiating in good faith. But they have just filed for conciliation at the QIRC, without having put a reasonable offer on the table,” he said.
“The violence our members experience would not be acceptable in any other workplace in Queensland”.
He’s calling on Premier David Crisafulli and Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber to meet with staff in Wacol and Townsville.
“Premier Crisafulli and Minister Gerber are meeting with victims of crime across Queensland. I encourage them to stop in Wacol and Townsville and speak to their employees who have become victims of crime in their own workplaces.
“The government’s changes to bail laws will fail if they don’t protect and strengthen their workforce”.
