Hundreds of Immigration Detention Services Officers will continue strike action today, condemning US-owned security contractor Secure Journeys for importing US-style labour practices and showing flagrant disregard for Australian workers.
A series of two-hour rolling stoppages at Immigration Detention Centres nationally start this morning (Thursday, June 11) and continue tomorrow:
- Thursday June 11: From 5am to 7am and from 5pm to 7pm in all states.
- Friday June 12: From 5am to 7am and from 5pm to 7pm in all states.
“Members have raised serious issues about their rostering and pay rates that threaten the ability of Immigration Detention Centres to be run in a safe, sustainable way,” Surya Nagulapalli, United Workers Union Lead Organiser, said today.
“It is beyond belief that the moment Secure Journeys took over this contract a year ago it sought to cut jobs, cut critical roles and cut the standards of Immigration Detention Centres.
“Despite more than 10 rounds of bargaining, Secure Journeys – which is being paid $2.3 billion to run these centres – has shown they are not willing to address members’ concerns in a meaningful way.
“Instead, they continue to import US-style labour practices, cutting the overall labour force at commencement of the contract and keeping wages low, at the expense of Detention Services Officers and detainees.”’
Detention Services Officers (DSOs) are currently paid significantly less than workers in comparable security roles, despite working in more complex and volatile environments.
Systemic rostering failures, including staff working 11 shifts of 12 hours in 15-day blocks, are creating dangerous levels of fatigue across the network.
Secure Journeys is an American private prison company maximising profits from a contract with the Australian Government.
“It should be operating at the highest standards of safety and care,” Mr Nagulapalli said. “The current situation raises serious questions about whether those standards are being met.”