The private operator of Australia's largest prison is trying to attract workers while its officers take industrial action to protest staffing levels and wages.
Prison officers at the Serco-run Clarence Correctional Centre, in the NSW Northern Rivers region, walked off what they say is a poorly paid job at an understaffed facility on Friday.
The $700 million, 1700-bed minimum and maximum security centre at Lavadia, near Grafton, opened in 2020 and British government services contractor Serco has agreed to operate and maintain it for 20 years.
"We have a proactive industrial action operational plan in place to ensure the security and good order of Clarence Correctional Centre is maintained," a Serco spokesperson said ahead of the strike.
"We are disappointed the union has moved to conduct industrial action and invite them to recommence negotiations so we can reach an agreement in a fair and reasonable manner."
Public Service Association assistant general secretary Troy Wright says the prison's officers would be better off working in retail.
"These highly trained officers come face to face with the most dangerous criminals in this state every day, yet they are paid like they work at Bunnings," he said.
Dealing with Serco had been a "new and exciting challenge" for the PSA, Mr Wright said on the union's podcast on Friday.
"This is probably the first time we've gone from scratch with a private company under contract as the employer through something wholly within our specialty, which is corrections," he said.
"It's telling that the largest jail in each jurisdiction is usually the privately run one."
Serco also operates WA's Acacia Prison and formerly operated the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre.
The Queensland government announced in 2019 it would take back operations of the latter and another privately-run prison.
"This is the prerogative of governments," Serco said, responding to the 2019 announcement.
Negotiations for a new pay deal at Clarence began in January last year, resulting in a $28 an hour offer.
Even that wage would make Clarence workers the lowest paid prison officers in Australia, Mr Wright said.
"Because of the dismal pay Serco can't recruit staff, or retain them, which means the gaol is regularly, alarmingly short-staffed," he said.
Prison officer Keri Parbery told ABC TV she and her colleagues were supposed to work 12-hour shifts.
"Most of us will now stay back to make those shifts go 14 to 18 hours some days," she said.
The Serco spokesperson said Clarence Correctional Centre staffing levels were appropriate for the number of inmates accommodated.
Serco is trying to increase staff numbers, with the company advertising for "prison officers to join (Serco) and make a difference every day".
Level one officers can gross up to $61,602 per annum, the next level up to $68,400, the ad says.
The latter figure includes the $26.88 an hour the union criticises, plus penalties, overtime, annual leave loading, and super.
Serco is also advertising for nurses, medical practitioners, trade program instructors and supervisors, and a psychologist at Clarence.
Serco increased pay rates by 8.5 per cent throughout negotiations, the spokesperson said, and the latest offer included a 4.2 per cent increase and a $1500 payment to "provide additional support through these challenging economic times".
