Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment

Bulletin 17 - Fifth notice of protected industrial action - issued 4 June 2026

On 27 May 2026, the United Workers Union (UWU) provided a fifth notice of protected industrial action involving action at Holtze, Berrimah and Alice Springs Correctional Centres. On 3 June 2026 the UWU advised that it had withdrawn its action in Alice Springs. For more details read the notices of protected industrial action PDF (246.5 KB).

The industrial action to be taken is as follows:

  • a 12 hour work stoppage at the Holtze Correctional Centre (HCC) and the Berrimah Correctional Centre (BCC) from 7am to 7pm on Tuesday 9 June 2026
  • a 1 hour work stoppage at the HCC and BCC Centres from 9:30am to 10:30am on Tuesday 9 June 2026 to attend a rally or demonstration whilst wearing uniforms or speaking to the media about the reasons for industrial action
  • a 1 hour work stoppage at the HCC and the BCC from 10:30am to 11:30am on Tuesday 9 June 2026 to attend a rally or demonstration whilst wearing uniforms or speaking to the media about the reasons for industrial action.

Employees who participate in the work stoppage will be deducted pay for the period of the stoppage. This is a mandatory requirement of the Fair Work Act 2009, which prohibits an employer from making payment to an employee for the total duration that the employee engages in the industrial action.

UWU members are reminded of the UWU’s commitment, which formed part of the Protected Action Ballot Order to be complied with during protected industrial action:

'It is not the intention of the United Workers Union or its members to engage in industrial action which would (or would threaten to) endanger the life, personal safety or health, or the welfare of the population or a part of it. This includes conduct directed at individual employees and any damage to Northern Territory Public Sector property.'

Employees who are not members of UWU are not authorised under the Act to participate in protected industrial action.

Unprotected industrial action

Non-UWU members who participate in the UWU industrial action will be taking unprotected industrial action. In accordance with the Act, I am required to deduct salary for unprotected industrial action as follows:

  • Where the period of industrial action is less than 4 hours on that day, the employer must withhold 4 hours payment from the employee.
  • If the period of the industrial action is 4 or more hours on that day, the employer must withhold payment for the total duration of industrial action.

Employees not participating in protected industrial action

Members of the UWU have a right to take protected industrial action. They also have a right to not participate. No action must be taken against an employee exercising their right in either of these situations.

If you have any concerns these must be immediately reported to DoC.PIAAdmin@nt.gov.au or to the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment on 08 8999 4282.

To assist the Department of Corrections to manage its operations safely, employees (members and non-members of the UWU) who are not participating in the protected industrial action may be required to perform duties in areas being impacted by the action and may also be required to perform overtime.

Acting chief correctional officers

Employees performing duties of chief correctional officers (CCOs) and above, either as their nominal position or on temporary promotion or higher duties, are covered by the Northern Territory Public Sector 2025-2029 Enterprise Agreement and are not eligible to participate in the protected industrial action.

CCOs and above may also be re-tasked to perform alternate duties during this period.

Important information for employees and UWU members considering taking protected industrial action

I remind employees who are considering taking protected industrial action to be aware of the following:

  • Partaking in protected industrial action is voluntary. Members eligible to take action are not required to participate.
  • Only employees who are members of UWU are eligible to participate in protected industrial action.
  • Only actions that UWU notify me of may be taken as protected industrial action. Taking other action that is not notified will be unprotected.
  • Deductions from salary will be required from UWU members who engage in work stoppages for the total duration of stoppage.
  • Non-members who participate in any industrial action will be considered to be taking unprotected industrial action and, in accordance with the Act, I am required to deduct a minimum of 4 hours salary and other management action may be initiated.
  • Personal leave is only available where an employee is not fit for work because of a personal illness or injury affecting them, or to provide care or support to an immediate family member. If personal leave is taken during a work stoppage period, evidentiary information will be requested.

Please also note that during a period of industrial action employees remain subject to the code of conduct with regard to appropriate workplace behaviour. This means no bullying, no harassing, no aggressive behaviours between management and employees and between employees themselves.

More information about the bargaining process

More updates in relation to the bargaining process are posted to the on this website.

Further information on bargaining and the Act can be obtained on the Fair Work Commission website or you can contact the Fair Work Commission information line on 1300 799 675.

Nicole Hurwood
Commissioner for Public Employment
4 June 2026