NSW: Prisoners locked down for days due to staff concerns-union

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2008
NSW: Prisoners locked down for days due to staff concerns-union

A union says prisoners at Sydney's Long Bay jail have been locked in their cells since
Tuesday .. and will remain there all weekend due to concerns about staffing levels.

The Public Service Association says correctional officers are concerned by staff levels
across the facility .. and particularly at the prison's hospital where a new roster came
into effect in April.

It says that's led to inmates with mental illness being kept for 18 hour stretches
in their cells in virtual solitary confinement.

The Department of Corrective Services says the prison's continuing to operate as close
to normal as possible .. with management-level prison officers stepping in to fill most
of the roles vacated by striking workers.

It says visits from inmates' families will proceed over the weekend.

The dispute's been referred to the industrial commission and a hearing could take place
as early as Monday.

AAP RTV dr/tm/fdf

KEYWORD: PRISON (SYDNEY)

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