Nearly 800 frontline prison jobs unstaffed as guards quit 'in droves'
Friday, 17 June 2022
“Critically unsafe” working conditions are causing prison staff to leave in droves, their union claims, with nearly 800 Corrections jobs unstaffed – almost one-fifth of the full-time frontline workforce.
In a letter to Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot, the union warned it wouldn’t be long before another prison officer dies. It claimed leadership had failed staff and dragged their heels on a plan to address violence towards workers.
“We're not prepared to continue enduring endless, pointless meetings with people who have no idea of the reality of what we do or the challenges we face,” Corrections Association of New Zealand (Canz) president Floyd du Plessis wrote.
Of the 779 currently unstaffed frontline positions, 438 are vacant and 341 staff are unavailable for work due to illness, injury or other reasons, Corrections deputy national commissioner Leigh Marsh said.
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There are 3632 staff employed in full-time frontline positions, including the 341 staff off work.
“Some sites are working on a reduced staff roster at this time, but this has not impacted the safe operation of our prisons,” Marsh said.
The department was making a concerted effort to recruit, retain and train staff, Marsh said.
However, in the letter to Lightfoot, du Plessis said recruitment had been an “abject failure” and staff were “leaving in droves”.
“They are leaving for a variety of reasons, including the critically unsafe working environment, the unsafe staffing numbers, the constant pressure by your managers to do more with less, the manner in which they are treated by their managers (not all but enough across all sites).”
Canz, the Public Service Association and Corrections have been working on a plan to address violence and aggression, which sets out five initiatives – more accountability for prisoners, better training, ensuring PPE is fit for purpose, appropriate staffing at each site and ensuring staff wellbeing is appropriately supported.
From 2016 until April last year, the number of assaults on staff nearly doubled, from 463 in 2016/2017 to 907 in 2020/2021, data shows.
“The sad reality is that's the number of assaults, the number of threats and aggression towards staff is higher that. The mental harm is quite severe, we're seeing a remarkable increase in PTSD with staff,” du Plessis said.
Some assaults in the last year included staff having their jaws and noses broken, being bitten and having boiling water tipped on them. At least three staff were sexually assaulted by prisoners.
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The letter to Lightfoot provided feedback on the meetings held between the parties about the rollout of the initiatives, some of which du Plessis described as a “total failure”.
“Achievements would have meant identifiable progress and a safer workplace. The assault statistics, cold, hard facts impacting violently and permanently on your staff, show this is not the case,” he wrote.
National’s Corrections spokesperson Simon O’Connor said he had consistently heard of serious and growing concerns from frontline staff that they weren’t getting the necessary support.
“Those frontliners and the association are trying to ring the alarm bell as loud as they can, and they feel that the minister and the departments are not taking them seriously,” he said.
“They don't feel as safe, they don't feel supported, and they talk of low morale.”
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis questioned why Canz was criticising a plan it worked with Corrections to develop.
“When they come out and criticise the work that they've been doing, they're criticising themselves – it seems like they're saying one thing behind closed doors and another thing in public,” he said.
Du Plessis said the comments showed a “clear disconnect” between Davis and the union.
“If he actually took the time to read our letters they state we have been involved, but the letters state there has been absolutely zero outcomes from any of them and that is the concern.”
Like other industries, Corrections had experienced staffing challenges due to Covid-19, border closures, and record low unemployment rates, Marsh said.
In May, there were more than 500 applications for frontline roles, an increase from the monthly average of 300, he said.
“We are currently in the process of finalising a plan to consolidate the prison population into fewer units, which will allow us to deploy our staff more effectively.”
The move would provide options for increasing unlock hours, returning programmes and services that have previously been on hold due to Covid-19, and eventually a return to in-person visits.
“It will also improve staff wellbeing and reduce fatigue,” he said.
Corrections had implemented a range of initiatives to improve safety, she said, including increased de-escalation training, body cameras, improving stab-resistant body armour, better rostering for staff with a mix of experience, piloting an online reporting tool for assaults and establishing new roles which have led to a significant increase in the number of successful prosecutions of prisoners.
Corrections did not respond to questions about the claims made in the letter from du Plessis.
Davis said this year’s budget provided the largest ever investment into frontline prison staff, with just under $200 million going directly towards staff training and reducing violence. The number of assaults on staff had increased partly due to a push by the Government for staff to report any instance of violence or intimidation, he said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly called Leigh Marsh ‘she’. (Story updated June 18, 10.44am.)