Punched, bitten, doused in urine: Youth detention workers go on strike in Queensland
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Youth detention workers will today strike for 12 hours in the first of seven days of rolling industrial action at centres across Queensland.
The Australian Workers Union today released images of injuries it says were inflicted on workers in assaults by inmates and argued wages must rise and staff must be better protected.
A youth detention worker suffered a black eye, allegedly in an assault by an imate. Australian Workers Union Queensland
Workers say they’ve been punched in the head, bitten so hard they’ve bled and had urine thrown on them with 14 assaults reported in the last week and 500 across the last year.
The union has asked the government for a six per cent lift in wages, every year for three years.
The Queensland government has offered 3.5 per cent in the first year and 2.5 per cent in the two years after that.
With negotiations stalled, the government has now applied to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
“The violence our members experience would not be acceptable in any other workplace in Queensland,” AWU Queensland secretary Mark Raguse said.
“There have been more than 500 serious staff assaults in the last year.
A red mark can be seen on a youth detention worker’s neck, reportedly caused by contact with a broom. Australian Workers Union Queensland
A bruise to a youth detention worker’s jaw. Australian Workers Union Queensland
"Premier Crisafulli and Minister Gerber are meeting with victims of crime across Queensland.
“I encourage them to stop in Wacol and Townsville and speak to their employees who have become victims of crime in their own workplaces.
He said the government’s recent changes to bail laws, which create a mandatory minimum 12 months in jail for anyone who commits a serious offence while on bail, will fail if workers are not protected.
Centres in Brisbane and Townsville will operate on skeleton staffing arrangements during the action, and Queensland Health staff, caseworkers and psychologists remain on site.
“The Queensland government continues to negotiate in good faith during enterprise bargaining agreements with the unions and values the commitment and professionalism of its youth detention centre workforce,” a spokesperson for the Department of Youth Justice and Victim Support said in a statement.
“The department has ensured all detention centres remain staffed and secure during this industrial action.”
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