The Stop The Cell Off campaign is an initiative of the Public Service Association of NSW, the trade union representing the state’s public prison officers. 3800 members work in the state’s prisons, and are fighting to keep NSW prisons in public hands, and retain jobs and services in local areas.
“There’s been no signal from the Government that it wants to talk us out of it,” Matt Bindley, chairman of the Prison Officers’ Vocational Branch, said.
The State Government is to privatise the operations of Cessnock and Parklea prisons and some prison escort services, resulting in voluntary redundancies for wardens unwilling to work for a privately run prison.
The 24-hour strike today will coincide with a march on Parliament House and you can participate in a virtual rally.
For those in Sydney today rally Meet 10am, Hyde Park (near St James Station), Sydney March to State Parliament, Macquarie Street
Join the Virtual Rally
http://www.stopthecelloff.org.au/landing.php,
The Australian Union Movement has taken one giant leap into online campaigning, by launching a virtual campaign against the NSW Government’s decision to privatise its prisons.
It will run alonside a huge march on NSW Parliament by prison officers, nurses, police officers, and the broader community who are deeply troubled by the State Government’s move to privatise NSW prisons.
However anyone can join the online protest.
While successful virtual rallies have been held before, this is the first time one has been used by a Union in Australia.
The site allows users to pick their protest avatar, pick a sign with a message they would like to send to the Minister, and see their avatar in front of a virtual prison.
Most importantly, it lets people concerned about the Government’s decision to let them know how they feel from their home, office or cell phone.
The Government said high levels of overtime and sick leave taken by prison wardens were central to the decision to privatise prisons.
strike weapon as a last resort
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