Overcrowding at Darwin Correctional Centre has become so dire that on some nights prisoners are "sleeping on mattresses on the floor", according to one prison guard.
"I've been in the correctional centre for 18 years and this is probably the worst I've ever seen it," prison officer Phil Tilbrook said.
"We're at crisis with bedding ... Darwin Correctional Centre is like [at] 120 per cent, overcrowded."
Mr Tilbrook, who is also a union delegate, is among a group of Darwin prison officers who have staged a 12-hour protected strike today in protest of the Northern Territory government's proposed four-year wage freeze for public servants, as well as what they say is "chronic under-resourcing" of the sector.
In a statement, Corrections NT said while its centres had a design capacity, "all facilities can accommodate additional numbers (known as operational capacity)".
"Operational capacity includes increased bed capacity through the provision of doubling up in single cells, adding additional bunk beds to dormitories or converting other areas (such as program rooms) to accommodation."
It said the centre had an "operational capacity" of 1174 prisoners, and as at April 29, it was holding 1168 prisoners.
'We need to have a budget that works'
Coinciding with May Day, a public holiday to celebrate the victories of workers' rights, corrections officers joined hundreds of union members who marched through Darwin calling for better work conditions.
"If we want a functioning correctional centre, we need to have a budget that works and that we can rehabilitate prisoners and hopefully give them the support they need."
Corrections NT said its budget had "increased over the last few years in response to rising prisoner numbers and the increasing cost of services".
"The NT Correctional Services Commissioner is working with the Government on developing a reform agenda for Corrections," it said in a statement.
The NT government's proposed wage freeze and $1,000 annual taxable bonus were introduced in the 2020 budget as a key measure aimed at tackling the territory's debt levels.
The government believes the cap will save it $424 million over four years and was in line with the budget repair roadmap released in 2019.
However, the measure has been strongly rejected by the public service union, which argues wages should increase with the rising cost of living.
'Crisis levels' of staff shortages
United Workers Union (UWU) NT secretary Erina Early said the proposed freeze had left correctional officers feeling "undervalued and not respected".
"It's not just about the wage freeze — it's about proper resourcing of Corrections," she said.
"They want to ensure the safety of the prisoners and all of this is being ignored by the government."
Corrections NT said recruitment and retention of staff based in regional areas had "always been a challenge in the territory".
Ms Early said a group of management staff, security workers and the dog squad would stay back at the Darwin prison to maintain safety and deliver food and medicine while the industrial action took place.
Alice Springs prison staff are due to stage a walk-out on Thursday.
Visits from friends and family members will not be disrupted by the protests, the union said.
