DJJ dispute relisted following Baxter rumours

The Department re-listed the dispute before Deputy President Sams of the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission yesterday (April 7).

This action taken by the Department was in response to a threat of industrial action that was reported as being considered by the members at Baxter JJC last Friday.

The Hon. Deputy President Sams strongly recommended that the Association and its members refrain from threatening or taking industrial action in relation to the matter of over-crowding in Juvenile Justice Centres. DP Sams further stated that the parties should continue to act in good faith and conclude their negotiations. Accordingly a meeting has been scheduled for Friday 11th April for 10am at CSO.

Both parties, in the interim, have liberty to apply to re-list the matter should further difficulties arise. Furthermore, this matter is scheduled for a report back on Monday, 14th of April 2008 before DP Sams for conciliation should no agreement be reached at the meeting scheduled for Friday, 11th April.

The Association recommends that the members follow DP Sams strong recommendations to desist from industrial action or threatening industrial action in relation to over-crowding. The Association would like to request that the members exercise restraint and await the outcome from our negotiations with the Department.

No written threat of industrial action was made either by the Association or its delegates. It appears that the Department reacted to rumours arising from the floor. The Association was advised that members of the management team, OH&S Committee and delegates from the Baxter workplace group had objected to eight detainees being transferred from Cobham on OH&S risk grounds.

Consequently these eight detainees from Cobham did not materialise. However Baxter proceeded to go over numbers by eight detainees over the weekend due to transfer of offenders by the NSW Police Force. There was no ban or limitation placed by the Baxter membership against receiving these offenders from NSW Police.

Should you require further information, please contact Geo Papas on (02) 9220 0947.

Previous bulletin was Bans at Riverina JJC lifted (31 March 2008)