Corrections Officers across seven of South Australia's prisons have voted to continue a 48 hour strike which has plunged the prison system into an unprecedented lockdown.
They will be joined by Home Detention Officers who also voted this morning to down tools.
They are responsible for the ankle monitoring of 1500 offenders who've been sentenced to home detention by judicial officers.
Corrections Officers voted at stop work meetings at Yatala Labour Prison, Port Augusta Prison, Mobilong Prison, Port Lincoln Prison, Cadell Prison, Adelaide Women’s Prison, and the Adelaide Pre-Release Centre.
Over 2000 of the state’s prisoners have been confined to their cells since Monday at 7.30am - now they face 72 hours of total confinement.
Corrections Officers are striking over a marked rise in violence in prisons and a crisis in staffing fuelled by low wages which has seen an exodus of Corrections Officers to other careers.
On Sunday an inmate was savagely beaten into unconsciousness at Yatala - metal plates were surgically inserted into his face to hold it together. There were a further two bloody incidents last month at the same prison where inmates were bashed into unconsciousness.
In October a female inmate used a metal pole to inflict life threatening head and neck injuries on another inmate, severing a finger in the process. A female Corrections Officer had her hand broken while disarming the inmate.
Corrections Officers want safety issues in prisons resolved says Charlotte Watson, General Secretary of the Public Service Association which represents Corrections Officers.
“We need to see safe prisons with a productive stable workforce,” said Ms Watson.
“Violence in our prisons is out of hand and our members won’t take it anymore.
"Corrections Officers are not punching bags.
“Every other day I hear of yet another Corrections Officer leaving for a new career, they're voting with their feet and heading for the exit.”
Contact: Tim Brunero 0405 285 547
