NSW prison guards call for Rees' scalp

Hundreds of prison guards on a day-long strike to protest against the privatisation of Sydney's Parklea Prison have called for Premier Nathan Rees' scalp.

Chanting "Keep jails public, shame Labor shame, Rees you're a sell-out, sack Nathan Rees", the disgruntled officers also called for the sacking of Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham.

Prisons across NSW were in lockdown on Thursday and court cases were disrupted after some 3,700 prison officers walked off the job as part of their ongoing industrial action against privatising Parklea jail.

Public Service Association (PSA) general secretary John Cahill told the crowd privatisation would cut staff numbers, cut corners and "compromise the health and safety of prison workers and inmates."

"The only way private operators can operate jails cheaper is by slashing wages," he said.

Mr Cahill claimed Labor politicians privately disagreed with the Parklea privatisation plans but the government was too worried about maintaining the state's AAA credit rating to abandon the plan.

But he said it was illogical for the government to back down from other jail privatisation plans and push ahead with Parklea.

Robert Pritchard from the Police Federation of Australia voiced fears profit driven companies would scrap prison rehabilitation programs.

"Our justice system is too important to sell off," he said.

Parklea prison guard and PSA state chairman Matt Bindley told the rally his colleagues did not want their safety jeopardised by poorer working conditions, nor did they want pay cuts.

Meanwhile, a Department of Corrective Services spokeswoman denied Greens MP Sylvia Hale's claims that Corrective Services Commissioner Ron Woodham had been offered a job by one of the tenderers for Parklea.

Ms Hale also told the rally she understood Parklea's privatisation was delayed because the lowest tender was still $25 million higher than the government's running cost for the jail.

She said the government would still have to cover the prison's maintenance costs.

"Tenderers are being assessed at the moments so we won't comment... all maintenance will be done under contract," the corrective services spokeswoman said in response.

Prison guards from Parklea have maintained a horn honking campaign outside Premier Nathan Rees' electoral office in Toongabbie for 100 days.