1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: We spoke a little bit earlier this morning about the crisis. Really, 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: I think that's what you'd call it in golfing Saint 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: John over the course of the weekend, and we know 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: the United Workers Union is warning the Northern Territory's ambulance 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: crisis is going to continue without urgent funding and reform 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: after as we know, they were pushed into a code 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: white over the weekend. Now, the head of the United 8 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: Workers Union, Erina Early, joins me on the show. Good 9 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: morning to you, Erina, Morning Katie. How are you not 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: too bad? Erina? What a frontline worker is telling you 11 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: after this situation on the weekend. 12 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 2: Oh, it's just crazy, Katie, because, as you probably are aware, 13 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: calling a code white look Saint John has been the 14 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 2: first that's been around for a long time that many 15 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 2: can remember, and some of them said it's never been called. Yeah, 16 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 2: they're just under extreme pressure. They're managing the high risk situation, 17 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: but they're exhausted and they're very distressed. 18 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: I cannot remember seeing over the last ten years that 19 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: I've done this show, I cannot remember seeing a statement 20 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: come out that was as honest as the one that 21 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,960 Speaker 1: we saw from Saint John on the weekend. In terms 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: of the pressures that they are facing right now, what 23 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: are they saying to you? 24 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 2: So I remember the same. We're in a hard situation 25 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: because the government's given them this contract but it's not 26 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 2: being funded and we've got structural issues that haven't been 27 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 2: fixed and these workforce shortages. But one thing I can 28 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 2: say to you, Katie is our members for once, and 29 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: you mentioned this an honest response from the CEO from 30 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 2: Abigail Truan is this is the first CEO of Saint 31 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 2: John who's actually put their neck on the line and 32 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: said enough is enough. 33 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. I think my hat goes off to us. 34 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: I like it. 35 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: I think you have to do that. You've got to 36 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: put yourself out there and you've got to actually be 37 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: honest with people about what's going going on. I mean 38 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: in terms of, you know, the immediate action that we 39 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: need to see from the Northern Territory government. We spoke 40 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: to the Deputy Chief Minister a little bit earlier this morning. 41 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: He reckons that Steve Edgington, the Health Minister, is going 42 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: to be meeting with Saint John today and that obviously 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: they've got to sort through a tender process. From what 44 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: he said in relation to this funding agreement. I mean, 45 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: is that good enough from your perspective? 46 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: To be honest, Katie, I think no. The government awarded 47 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 2: them there the contract with in September October last year, 48 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 2: and we were told by Department of Health. I was 49 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 2: told personally it would be done by Christmas, and so 50 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 2: was Saint John. So we're in our March now, about 51 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 2: to hear April and it still hasn't been done. And 52 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 2: I don't think that's acceptable. 53 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: No, I don't think it is either. We need to 54 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: get this sorted. People need to know that if they 55 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: call Triple zero with an emergency, a life threatening emergency, 56 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: that Saint John have everything that they need resourcing guys 57 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 1: and staffing wise to be able to get out there 58 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: and help. 59 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: Oh. Absolutely, Katie Anathy. And as you know, the union's 60 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 2: position has always been about bringing to government. But the 61 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 2: government clearly awarded the contract to Saint John and with 62 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: that response. With that comes responsibility to fund the service properly, 63 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: and we need to have that commitment from the anti government. 64 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: All right, Erina. It's not the only thing on the 65 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: agenda for the United Workers Union. We know that on Friday, 66 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: correctional officers overwhelmingly voted down the Northern Territory government's latest 67 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: enterprise agreement. Now they say that this is not about 68 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: the money, it is about safety. Talk me through exactly 69 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: what our correctional officers want. 70 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: Yes, thanks Katie, So our correctional officers. The issue with 71 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 2: their enterprise agreement is all about safety. That is their 72 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 2: priority claim. There's actually a safe staffing clause in their 73 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: enterprise agreement and the government has actually watered down that clause. 74 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 2: And we've been very clear from day one of our 75 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: EA negotiations that the safety of officers is non negotiable. 76 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: Erin Or I've got the Corrections Commissioner on the show 77 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: tomorrow morning. What is your message around this safety clause. 78 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: We need them to actually listen to their officers. This 79 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 2: is not about money. This is all about their safety. 80 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 2: We haven't even really discussed our money yet, Katie, or 81 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 2: any other parts of the Eaight. This is all about safety. 82 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 2: This is their priority and they really would like their 83 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: commissioner to step up and support them. 84 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: So what is it like in real terms? Is it 85 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: ratios or what exactly do you mean? 86 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,239 Speaker 2: So currently we have a word worthing in our current 87 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: enterprise agreement that says any changes to the safe staffing 88 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: have to be agreed by the union, and they want 89 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 2: to remove the word by agree by the union and 90 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: have consultation. We've had this clause for eight years, Katie, 91 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 2: and surprisingly the union and the government do compare and 92 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: stuff when it comes to place staffing. That when it 93 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: comes down to the end of the day, we always 94 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: agree and we've shown that time and time again. So 95 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 2: members don't have lost those they don't have the faith 96 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: and the trust that this government will continue to provide 97 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 2: face staffing if it gets weakened with the word culsultation. 98 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 1: So the concern here is that word consultation with the 99 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: union rather than agreement with the union. 100 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 2: Yes, that's spot on. 101 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: It seems like splitting hairs. 102 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 2: Well it's not really, Katie, because consultation doesn't mean agreement. 103 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 2: Agreement is a significant legal term, especially when it comes 104 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 2: to safety of officers. 105 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: Look, I get it, and you know what, I honestly, 106 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 1: I think they've got one of the toughest jobs in 107 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, you know, making sure that they're keeping 108 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: things moving. There are correctional facilities, I guess just for 109 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: our listeners. So this morning, like in terms of you know, 110 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: that agreement or that consultation, like are we talking the 111 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: number of staff that are on are we talking any 112 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,920 Speaker 1: kind of safety scenario that what those workers want is 113 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 1: for the union to agree to it rather than having 114 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: to be consulted on that change. 115 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 2: It's the safe staffing of their numbers. For officers, that's 116 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 2: the clause in the enterprise agreement. It's such an important 117 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 2: clause for officers because as you know, there's been a 118 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 2: thirty three percent increase of prison numbers, there's been a 119 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 2: twenty five percent increase of officers assault yep IS. Officers 120 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 2: don't take this lightly, and they've been really clear to 121 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 2: the Anti Government and Corrections that this clause is their 122 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 2: number one clause in their enterprise agreement. 123 00:06:56,040 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: So essentially making sure that there's enough staff per. 124 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 2: Prisoner, absolutely, and to ensure it's about working together with 125 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 2: Corrections too, so they can listen to the floor from 126 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: the officers as well as meeting the operational requirements expected 127 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 2: of the commissioner. 128 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: All right, so how many like you in an ideal scenario, 129 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: how many prison guards would you have like per how 130 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: many prisoners. 131 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 2: It just depends how many prisoners and what section It 132 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 2: is also too, you've got to look at the environment 133 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 2: that what's happening that day, You've got court. Has there 134 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 2: been some issues, is there certain games in the prison. 135 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 2: All of that is considered when it needs to come 136 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 2: in family members, except all of that's considered when it 137 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: comes to safe stuff. 138 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: Well, Erina, early, I reckon. We'll probably talk again later 139 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: in the week, I'm assuming, depending on how things go, 140 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: because they're going to be taking strike action from Wednesday, 141 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: aren't they. 142 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: That's correct, And what we can do if you like Kato, 143 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: can organize if you wanted to to speak from their 144 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 2: on Wednesday. 145 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: That sounds like a plan to me, Erina, we will 146 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: catch up with you or catch up with one of 147 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:07,600 Speaker 1: the prison guards whoever wants to have a chat to 148 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: us on Wednesday. 149 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 2: Oh that's great. Thank you, Katie the gud. We appreciate that. 150 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: Thank you, no worries. Thank you so much for your 151 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: time this morning. Appreciate it.