Judith Collins

Wellington, Sept 23 NZPA - Having the military ready to run prisons is a standard contingency plan and not preparation to lock out guards in an industrial dispute, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.

The military were ready to step in and run prisons if industrial unrest escalated, Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews told MPs today.

There were standing provisions for the military to help keep prisons operating in case of a strike or a lockout, Mr Matthews told Parliament's law and order select committee.

They were updated regularly and he had met military bosses in February to keep them in touch as collective contracts expired at the end of the year.

The comments came as the Corrections Association -- the prison guards' union -- takes the department to court over double-bunking proposals, arguing they breach the collective contract.

They also face a tough contract negotiation round with Mr Matthews saying he has been given no money to fund pay rises.

The association is also unhappy with the Government bringing in legislation to allow private management of prisons.

The association fears the army will be used if they fight against a zero-percent pay round or double bunking.

Ms Collins said she had given no thought to that.

"I am not interested in lockouts. I am actually interested in public safety. I want matters resolved if they can be... any settlement is better than going down the track of confrontation.'

Ms Collins said it was standard practice to use the military if prisons were hit by industrial action and Labour had brought in the army in three prisons.

"Quite clearly public safety has to come first. No Government can allow a situation where dangerous criminals are let out... quite clearly any Government has to have a contingency plan. If there wasn't a contingency plan then that would be a story."

Labour MP Clayton Cosgrove asked in the select committee meeting whether Mr Matthews was threatening unhappy prison guards with lock out and bringing in private managers to run existing prisons.

Mr Matthews denied making threats.

Mr Cosgrove released an email from Mr Matthews to his staff saying if they did not agree to double bunking on reasonable terms, he would have no option but to recommend the Government put private managers in to run existing prisons.

Ms Collins said no fast-tracking of private management of prisons was planned and the proposed legislation would follow the normal process through Parliament.

Mr Matthews also confirmed that his department's financial support to the association had been suspended.

It emerged recently that association president Beven Hanlon, one of the Government's most vocal union critics, was paid nearly $130,000 last year to subsidise wages and expenses.

The department payments included $44,889 to subsidise Mr Hanlon's salary for the two days a week he spent on union business and the amount to hire a replacement for those days.

Another $32,215 was paid in airfares, $3163 for car rentals and taxis, $6226 for accommodation and $41,233 for what is described in documents as "salaries and backfill".

Mr Matthews said the payments had been suspended until a memorandum of understanding about the support to the union was agreed.

Labour MPs said the payments were meant to compensate the union for costs incurred in employer-called meetings.