As Correctional Officers you are trained and equipped to deal with the workplace risks arising in the form of 100kg+ inmates.
But now your potentially greatest occupational danger in your workplace is much smaller. Microscopic in fact. In the form of a virus.
Members will be aware of the deteriorating situation with regard to an outbreak of COVID-19 across the State’s gaols. The PSA/CPSU NSW is dealing with members in both private and publicly-operated correctional centres across the State in mitigating this risk. We have been in discussions with Serco about your workplace in earnest in the last week, and are satisfied that they are taking your workplace health seriously. But we all need to play a part.
There are at the time of writing no cases of COVID among either staff or inmates at Clarence Correctional Centre. While we hope it will stay that way, we cannot assume it will.
Serco have advised us of the following measures which appear appropriate:
All these measures are designed to reduce the potential transmission of COVID within Clarence until the scale of the outbreak Statewide is established and contained. And all these measures are only as good as your implementation of them, so please, wear your PPE, minimize unnecessary contact with inmates and colleagues alike, and raise your concerns with management.
There is another vital and game-changing measure being simultaneously undertaken – vaccination.
Serco have advised that they have obtained dosages of both vaccines for staff and inmates alike.
Vaccination is not mandatory for correctional officers in NSW at this stage, however given the Berejiklian Government recently made it so for anyone working in education, it is foreseeable they may do the same in your sector.
We will cross that industrial bridge if and when we get to it.
Regardless, the CPSU NSW strongly encourages its members to take up the opportunity for vaccination either through work or in the community at the earliest chance and upon receiving medical advice where necessary.
Now is not the time to be complacent. Your regional location may have bought you some time so please use it to good effect. Your Union is being advised on a daily basis of more members, your colleagues, who have contracted COVID-19 at work and the impacts are disastrous. Please do what you can to not be the next one.
As with any issue, if you are concerned or feel unheard, please do not hesitate to contact the Union through our delegates Tammy Priddle and Tyson Franke or directly with the Member Support Centre 1300 772 679.
