Cape Town - The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) in the Western Cape has threatened to intensify its demonstrations, claiming the Department of Correctional Services has chosen to ignore their plight.
A large group of Pollsmoor Correctional Services Centre staff members held a lunchtime picket on the road outside the prison gates on Tuesday.
The protesters held placards that read “we demand 10% and not 3%, roll-out of standard operating procedures”.
This is the fourth demonstration the union has held - the last action was at Monte Vista Correctional Services offices. At the centre of the pickets by disgruntled employees, were a number of issues including the shortage of personnel; alleged illegal shift patterns; the lack of promotion policy and the lack of adequate security at correctional centres.
Popcru provincial secretary, Pat Raolane, said the pickets were an indication of brewing dissatisfaction among members of the criminal justice cluster.
“They have for far too long been subjected to unsatisfactory working conditions and are increasingly running out of patience.
“Employers are not listening to the concerns and demands. If we have to stand in the streets and call them again then we will do it.
“Our correctional services must have what we call a shift system like any other workplace, you can’t expect a worker who stays in Khayelitsha to start work at 2pm to 10pm and expect that particular worker to go back home when there is no public transport.
“Our members must be provided with transport by correctional services,” said Raolane.
DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said they were not aware of inadequate security that could cause security threats at correctional centres or that there is a crisis.
“We are aware of the Popcru pickets which are national and we have made it clear that their demonstrations disrupt operations as we run an essential service. The matter of salary increase is a challenge that is not only affecting DCS but many departments and it cannot be solved soon,” he said.
Raolane said for three consecutive years there has not been any wage increase and many years without a promotion policy.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic started we were declared heroes and heroines but today we are nothing.
We will mobilise all the centres in the Western Cape because our regional commissioner also refuses to listen to us.
“We will also go to parliament if that's what is required or close the prison. We cannot allow our members to work where there is a lack of resources in the correctional centres,” Raolane said.
Cape Times