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The Australian Workers' Union and two other unions have reached an in-principle pay agreement with the Queensland government for youth detention workers after months of strikes and workplace bans. The deal includes 3.5 per cent first-year pay rises, retention payments and must still be voted on by staff.
Youth detention workers in Queensland have reached an in-principle pay agreement with the state government after months of dispute that included strikes and workplace bans.
The Australian Workers' Union confirmed the deal on Wednesday evening after lengthy negotiations over dangerous staff conditions, overcrowding and pay. AWU Queensland secretary Stacey Schinnerl said the offer was hard-fought for by members through significant protected industrial action, including strike action and workplace bans. She said the offer will see pay rises, an advanced progression for new starters, a senior position review and lucrative retention payments for long-serving employees.
Wage Increases And Retention Payments Defined
A representative for the minister's office said the agreement contains wage increases of 3.5 per cent in the first year and then 2.5 per cent in the next two years. It also includes one-off retention payments for long-term employees of $3,000 after five years of service and $6,000 after 10 years of service, as well as accelerated pay progressions for new starters.
The minister's office also said the agreement includes an increased operational allowance for workers, in line with wage increases. Minister for Youth Justice Laura Gerber confirmed the agreement had been struck with the AWU, Together Union and United Workers Union. Gerber said the safety of youth detention workers is vitally important and the agreement will support the workforce including through a retention payment for long-term employees.
She said the breakthrough marks a significant milestone in returning detention centres to normal operations. Schinnerl said the deal goes some way in supporting retention and attraction of workers in some of Queensland's toughest and most high-risk workplaces. Negotiations began in early March, with the AWU pushing for better conditions following hundreds of reported assaults on detention centre employees over the past year.
Union Maintains Focus On Workplace Safety
Youth detention workers at centres across the state mounted strike action in June, August and September, and hundreds of staff walked off the job earlier this year at Brisbane Youth Detention Centre. Despite the agreement, Schinnerl said nothing will shift the union's laser focus on improving workplace safety and tackling the scourge of occupational violence. Gerber also said nothing will shift the government's laser focus on improving workplace safety and tackling the scourge of occupational violence.
The department confirmed an in-principle deal had been reached, but the agreement still needs to be voted on by staff members. The deal follows months of negotiation and industrial action, and it remains subject to the approval of workers across the state's youth detention centres. If approved, the agreement would deliver pay rises, early progression for new starters and retention bonuses for long-serving employees.
The union has described the offer as a hard-fought outcome, while the government has called it a significant milestone for returning detention centres to normal operations.
abcnews
brisbanetimes:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Unions Youth Detention Prisons Strike Action Industrial Action Stacey Schinnerl Queensland Government Queensland Youth Detention Pay Deal Australian Workers' Union Youth Detention Strikes Laura Gerber Youth Justice
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