Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment

Bulletin 9 - First Notice of Protected Industrial Action - issued 18 March 2026

Pay Deduction

The United Workers Union (UWU) have provided the first notice of protected industrial action. A copy of the notice can be found here: notice of protected industrial action. PDF (223.2 KB)

The UWU’s notice provides the intention of its members to engage in protected industrial action in the form of a work stoppage for the duration of twelve (12) hours commencing at 8am and concluding at 8pm on 20 March 2026 at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, the Alice Springs Women’s Prison, and any other gazetted prisons in Alice Springs.

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 (the Act), which prohibits an employer from making payment to an employee for the total duration that the employee engages in the industrial action.

Should members elect to return to the workplace early and not participate in the full 12 hour stoppage, they will be required to email doc.dcadultoperations@nt.gov.au to seek permission to return to the workplace early.

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; or
  • 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

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.

Employees will be sent a separate email with additional information, requesting you complete a form to advise, whether you will be attending work, if you are rostered on the 20th of March 2026, from 8am and 8pm

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.dcadultoperations@nt.gov.au.

Chief Correctional Officers

Employees performing duties of Chief Correctional Officers (CCOs) and above, either as their nominal position or on temporary promotion / 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. I wish to thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safety of the staff, prisoners and the public.

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 minimum of 4 hours salary for an unprotected industrial action.

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 OCPE website. Further information on bargaining and the Act can be obtained at www.fwc.gov.au or you can contact the Fair Work Commission line on 1300 799 675.

Nicole Hurwood
Commissioner for Public Employment
18 March 2026