POVB Secretary Andrew Brown, Centre POVB Industrial Officer Jason Charlton and Right POVB Industrial Officer David ‘Box Head’ McCauley.
It was late 2023 when the announcement that Junee Correctional Centre would be taken off GEO Groups’ hands and transition into public hands. Now has come the time that transitioning has started as of last year with a proper changeover date of March 31 set.
Vocational Officer Jason Charlton, said it has been an eventful18 months since the original announcement.
“Throughout that time the Union has been fighting to get the conditions of employment and transfer for the officers that work for GEO coming back for the Government.
“It was the first private company moving back to a Government entity in NSW and those conditions weren’t set previously and this is a first of a kind transition for the Government. Essentially we wanted the recognition of the service of those officers at Junee to come across to Corrective Services so they go on the same pay grades as an experienced corrections officer award.
“We have achieved that and we are in the process of looking at how the jail is going to operate, what numbers of staff are required. Traditionally the private companies work with a far leaner staffing profile than what the Government does, so there will be an increase in staff and posts which will make the jail safer for the staff inside the jail and also for the inmates as it will keep good order in the Centre.
“Our transition date is 31st March at 6:00pm. From that date on it will be run by Corrective Services under Corrective Service structures.
“There’s a little bit of apprehension from staff that are accustomed to the GEO model, but in transitioning that is just natural that change caused angst amongst staff members but we are trying to give them assurances that not a lot will change in terms of the role that they do and the good job that they are doing now for GEO will continue as they come across to Corrective Services, however some of the systems may change somewhat compared to what they are doing now.
“We have been there and tried to engage with people from the community. The community groups have met with the Public Service Association at our offices in Junee. We have an office and have set up a presence in the area and we want to try our best to work with the community.
“Unfortunately a private company has the means to sponsor local teams and do that sort of thing, whereas a Government doesn’t do that. However, the Public Service Association is supporting with some sponsorship in the area and the local community.
“We are trying to build relationships with people in the local community.
“One of the concerns we do have for our members and we have already got corrections officers that are going to move to Junee from the metropolitan area is housing -they just can’t find houses in Junee, which is an issue and if the community wants to bring good working people into the community it would help to boost the economy. Most of them are moving to Wagga, Coolamon, and outlying areas from Junee, but it is probably something that the local community and the Local Government should look at is building more housing or giving approval to build more housing in the local area so we can get more people into the town.”
-Jack Murray
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