Staff at Ashley Youth Detention Centre will walk off the job for two hours on Tuesday afternoon in a joint stop-work action over what unions say are chronic safety risks and severe understaffing.
The strike, scheduled from 1:15pm to 3:15pm on February 3, will see Health and Community Services Union members join forces with CPSU workers to protest unsafe working conditions and ongoing uncertainty about the facility’s future.
The industrial action will affect virtually every part of the detention centre.
Security camera operators, staff controlling site access control, workers supervising detainees, transport officers, and kitchen and admin staff will all down tools.
It is understood movement of young people at the site will be restricted during the demonstration.
The union says members are being put at risk daily due to staff shortages and inadequate pay.
Workers report increased pressure, heightened security concerns and a lack of clear protections creating an unsafe and stressful environment.
“Workers at AYDC are left with no choice but to take industrial action,” HACSU said.
Safety fears have intensified following an incident late last year when a worker was stabbed during an escape by seven youths.
The United Nations last week formally recommended changes to the detention centre, citing “serious concerns” regarding breaches of international human rights conventions by keeping children in solitary confinement.
Arrangements are in place to support the safe operation of the centre during the strike.
