Perth Immigration Detention protest

Date: 17 October 2003

Experienced officers not rehired by new contractors risk to employees and detainees, says union.

Union members will be protesting in front of Perth Immigration Detention Centre at 10am Saturday 18th October over the failure of the new contractor, Group 4 Falck to employ experienced officers, some of whom have up to 6 years (TBC) service at the centre.

Group 4 Falck will take over the centre on 8 December 2003. When Group 4 Falck won the contract to run the Centre they undertook to retain existing highly experienced employees. However, only 47 per cent of existing employees have been rehired according to the security officers union.

"When the contract changes, significant numbers of staff will be inexperienced," said LHMU (WA) Secretary Dave Kelly.

"We believe it's hard enough to run this centre with experienced staff. And we believe Group 4 Falck are putting the lives of officers and detainees at risk."

"The Union calls on Group 4 Falck to defuse this time bomb before it explodes."

"Group 4 Falck has broken undertakings to the Union that staff already working at the Centre would be hired."

"Detention Officers have lost their jobs and valuable experience in running this Centre has been thrown away.'

"The LHMU demands that the employment of outside applicants is put on hold immediately."

Protest Details 10.00am Saturday 18 October 2003

Perth Immigration Detention Centre

Cnr Baker and McComb Rd

Redcliffe (Perth Domestic Airport)

Dave Kelly PHONE 08 9388 5400 MOBILE 0403 572 048

Andrew Lee PHONE 08 9388 5400 MOBILE 0409 099 779

For further information

Contact:	Andrew Casey
Union:	Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone:	8204 7206
Fax:	92821 4480
Email:	andrewc@lhmu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/

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