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July 10th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Visitors have been banned from all NSW jails as part of industrial action aimed at preventing the downgrading of Grafton jail, a union says.
Prison guards began turning visitors away from the state’s jails on Sunday evening, according to Public Service Association (PSA) spokesman Stewart Little.
“Every jail across the state has stopped receiving visitors – we actually gave notice to the department that until they sit down and negotiate, there’ll be no more visits,” he told AAP on Tuesday.
Prison guards across the state have also put a ban on workplace flexibility, which should lead to an increase in overtime.
PSA assistant general secretary Shane O’Brien confirmed the bans and said prison guards across the state were refusing to co-operate with NSW Corrective Services.
But there were no current plans for mass strikes over the plan to turn historic Grafton jail into a transient facility.
NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham announced the downgrade plan in June, sparking a large protest outside the jail on the NSW north coast.
A picket line has been in place outside the facility since Saturday and on Tuesday morning, about 80 people were camped outside.
A rally is due to be held outside the jail at midday (AEST) on Tuesday with union organisers hoping at least 1000 people will turn up.
At the moment, medium-security Grafton jail can hold up to 250 prisoners, but Corrective Services wants to turn it into a 60-bed facility for prisoners awaiting local court appearances.
Most of the current inmates were due to be moved to other prisons, but the PSA says the picket line has prevented many from being transported.
Despite the protests, the NSW government says Grafton jail has reached its use-by date and maintenance alone costs NSW taxpayers millions of dollars each year.
NSW Nurses Association (NSWNA) assistant secretary Judith Kiejda said the planned downgrade of the jail would seriously affect Grafton and may mean nurses would leave the town.
“Preliminary information coming in to NSWNA officials suggests at least six senior nurses at Grafton Hospital, including two trained in critical care, could be lost if their partners have to move to Corrective Services jobs at other towns or cities,” she said.
AAP is seeking comment from Corrective Services.
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