Youth detention workers strike over safety concerns at Queensland centres

Hundreds of youth detention workers in Queensland walked off their jobs in a strike demanding better safety measures, staffing, and reduced overcrowding in detention centres. The demonstration took place at the Wacol Youth Remand Centre after numerous reports of assaults on staff members over the past year. The Australian Workers Union Queensland secretary, Stacey Schinnerl, stated that the state's youth detention workforce is experiencing the consequences of the government's youth crime response.

Workers from Brisbane, Cleveland, and West Moreton Youth Detention Centres, as well as the Wacol Youth Remand Centre, participated in the industrial action today.

Negotiations for a resolution began in early March, and approximately 100 employees demonstrated at the Wacol facility around 9am, continuing until the afternoon. The strike follows data from June, which revealed that three out of four southeast Queensland facilities had detainee numbers exceeding safe capacity levels. Australian Workers Union Queensland Secretary Stacey Schinnerl addressed the workers at a rally, emphasizing that the state's youth detention workforce is taking the brunt of the government's youth crime policy.

Schinnerl highlighted the high-risk nature of the work performed by these workers, noting that they are suffering from unimaginable occupational violence and are not being adequately recognized. She reported that the workers have faced 500 serious incidents in the past year alone. Schinnerl also mentioned that centers are struggling to retain 60% of their staff over the past year.

In a statement, Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber emphasized the importance of safety and security for both workers and youth in detention centers. The minister expressed her commitment to negotiating enterprise bargaining agreements in good faith and encouraged the Labor unions to join the negotiations. She also noted that the government has increased youth detention center workforce capacity by 25%, with more beds on the way.