Victorian prison workers strike amid industrial action

Workers at Victoria's largest maximum security prison have walked off the job today as their union ramps up industrial action.

Up to 100 guards gathered outside Port Phillip Prison in Truganina, in Melbourne's west, from 7.30am to 1pm calling for a "decent pay rise".

Union members rejected the most recent pay offer of 3.8 per cent by prison operator G4S on May 21.

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Community and Public Sector Union Assistant Secretary Wayne Townsend said members deserved a "better pay offer from the multi-national" company.

"Two agreements so far have been voted down and we don't have a new offer from the employer so our members are taking protective industrial action today," he said.

"Our members are concerned the offer made by the company doesn't meet the cost-of-living costs they are incurring.

"They are looking for a decent pay rise to compensate for all the hard work they did during the Covid lockdowns."

G4S Australia and New Zealand, which holds the prison contract, said the number one priority for the company was the "safety and wellbeing" of its employees and those in their care.

"G4S is disappointed that the bargaining representatives have rejected our latest offer but we will continue to negotiate with them and hope to reach an amicable agreement," the company said in a statement.