Dozens of guards at Mount Gambier Prison have walked off the site on Wednesday as industrial action is escalated by union members.
The mass walk-out of prison guards leaves a skeleton crew at one of South Australia’s largest prisons.
The United Workers Union campaign marks the third time guards have participated in an industrial action at the privately-operated facility.
According to union officials, G4S management continues to “ignore serious safety issues” raised by the workforce centred around chronic understaffing.
Union organiser Darren Roberts — who was at the site on Wednesday — said staff harboured concerns about the risks associated with eating food prepared by inmates.
He said not all prison staff were able to take a meal away from their workstation.
While it would be difficult to target a particular staff member with an "nefarious action", Mr Roberts said certain food parcels were just for prison staff.
"Or the other comment that was made — if you don't like it, don't eat it.
"These people, the prison staff, don't have the ability to leave site. So once they go in the morning, they're there for 12.66 hours a day."
Staff 'frustrated'
Union spokesperson Louise Dillon said correctional officers and support staff were frustrated that G4S was not taking their concerns seriously.
She said the majority of the 100 guards at the site were expected to take part in the action.
"With the current short staffing, correctional officers have become default healthcare workers at the prison, for instance they are currently transporting prisoners to hospital, which is taking them away from their core duties," Ms Dillon said.
Ms Dillon said outstanding claims included adequate staffing levels to be contained within the agreement, supervisors' current conditions to be recognised, reasonable meal provisions, and a modest wage increase.
"G4S throughout the negotiations has failed in many areas, its greatest failure is to not recognise the solidarity and support the membership have with one another," Ms Dillon said.
Ms Dillon warned union members would escalate action over the Christmas period until G4S returned to the negotiation table.
Workers have rejected the company's offer of between 2.5 and 2.8 per cent annually.
G4S safety focus
A spokesperson for G4S said the company was focused on maintaining the safety and wellbeing of employees and those in our care.
"G4S has and will continue to act lawfully, including negotiating in good faith with its employees and their bargaining representatives," the spokesperson said.
"G4S are surprised that the bargaining representatives have rejected a fair and reasonable offer that provided a wage increase of the greater of 2.5 per cent or CPI and satisfied key claims (noting that year one included an uplift of 2.8 per cent or CPI)."
In order to continue progress, the spokesperson said G4S requested the assistance of the Fair Work Commission on a revised offer, to assist in bargaining and resolving any issues.
