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Prison officers' strike unlawful, justice minister tells MPs Prison officers' strike unlawful, justice minister tells MPs
(35 minutes later)
The prison officers’ union is “set for unlawful strike action” in already volatile jails across England and Wales, the justice minister, Sam Gyimah, has told MPs.The prison officers’ union is “set for unlawful strike action” in already volatile jails across England and Wales, the justice minister, Sam Gyimah, has told MPs.
Prison chiefs are to undertake a review of their contingency plans on Tuesday after the Prison Officers Association confirmed it intends to begin an escalating programme of industrial action on Wednesday.Prison chiefs are to undertake a review of their contingency plans on Tuesday after the Prison Officers Association confirmed it intends to begin an escalating programme of industrial action on Wednesday.
Prison officers plan to withdraw from voluntary tasks including taking part in Tornado riot control teams, suicide and self-harm assessments, working as a first aider or hostage negotiator, mentoring, overtime and detached duties. The union said its members would respond if lives were at risk.Prison officers plan to withdraw from voluntary tasks including taking part in Tornado riot control teams, suicide and self-harm assessments, working as a first aider or hostage negotiator, mentoring, overtime and detached duties. The union said its members would respond if lives were at risk.
The programme of industrial action follows the rejection by the POA membership of a new pay and conditions package that includes a phased withdrawal from overtime and additional duties from April leading to a ban from July.The programme of industrial action follows the rejection by the POA membership of a new pay and conditions package that includes a phased withdrawal from overtime and additional duties from April leading to a ban from July.
During a Commons urgent question, the prison minister said the POA’s industrial action “will seriously disrupt normal operations in prisons” and put at risk the safety of prisoners and prison staff. During a Commons urgent question, the justice minister said the POA’s industrial action “will seriously disrupt normal operations in prisons” and put at risk the safety of prisoners and prison staff.
He disputed that duties such as assessing suicide risk were voluntary tasks telling MPs they were essential to the running of a prison. Gyimah earlier indicated that “extensive contingency plans” were already in place. He disputed that duties such as assessing suicide risk were voluntary tasks telling MPs they were essential to the running of a prison. Gyimah previously indicated that “extensive contingency plans” were in place.
The shadow justice secretary, Richard Burgon, said the situation could have been easily avoided by talking to the POA before imposing the divisive pay package: “He says he has the POA chairman on speed dial. He may be calling but he is not communicating.” The shadow justice secretary, Richard Burgon, said the situation could have been easily avoided by talking to the POA before imposing the divisive pay package. “He says he has the POA chairman on speed dial. He may be calling but he is not communicating,” he said.
The POA brought prisons to a halt across England and Wales in November when it held disruptive meetings outside jails over prison safety concerns. This was halted when the ministry of justice secured a high court injunction against the union. Industrial action by prison officers is illegal.The POA brought prisons to a halt across England and Wales in November when it held disruptive meetings outside jails over prison safety concerns. This was halted when the ministry of justice secured a high court injunction against the union. Industrial action by prison officers is illegal.
“The POA condemns the systematic failure of Noms [national offender management service] to provide safe, decent and secure prisons, failures which have created a prison service in crisis,” according to an internal union briefing paper sent to POA branches on Monday.“The POA condemns the systematic failure of Noms [national offender management service] to provide safe, decent and secure prisons, failures which have created a prison service in crisis,” according to an internal union briefing paper sent to POA branches on Monday.
“More and more members are being assaulted every day, the increase in self-inflicted deaths and daily security breaches are unacceptable and as a result of staff shortfalls and budget cuts.”“More and more members are being assaulted every day, the increase in self-inflicted deaths and daily security breaches are unacceptable and as a result of staff shortfalls and budget cuts.”
The POA circular said the list of voluntary tasks members would withdraw from on Wednesday was not exhaustive “but should be used to demonstrate to members that if they continue to volunteer for work that is not profiled and work for nothing Noms will continue to ignore the real issues of staff safety, pay and conditions”.The POA circular said the list of voluntary tasks members would withdraw from on Wednesday was not exhaustive “but should be used to demonstrate to members that if they continue to volunteer for work that is not profiled and work for nothing Noms will continue to ignore the real issues of staff safety, pay and conditions”.
Gyimah told the Commons justice select committee on Tuesday that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) had imposed additional annual allowances of £3,000-£5,000 for staff at 31 prisons facing particular staff recruitment and retention difficulties. Payments are also being made to a further 2,000 prison officers who undertake extra roles in Tornado riot teams, safety and mentoring roles.Gyimah told the Commons justice select committee on Tuesday that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) had imposed additional annual allowances of £3,000-£5,000 for staff at 31 prisons facing particular staff recruitment and retention difficulties. Payments are also being made to a further 2,000 prison officers who undertake extra roles in Tornado riot teams, safety and mentoring roles.
The union’s national chair, Mike Rolfe, and general secretary, Steve Gillan, have said the latest pay increase have not been welcomed by their members in the 31 prisons because they see it as divisive. The union’s national chair, Mike Rolfe, and general secretary, Steve Gillan, have said the latest pay increase has not been welcomed by their members in the 31 prisons because they see it as divisive.
“This offer has also incensed members across the prison estate, who recognise that they will again not receive a fair cost of living pay rise as Noms through the pay review body concede to the government’s pay cap of 1%,” they said.“This offer has also incensed members across the prison estate, who recognise that they will again not receive a fair cost of living pay rise as Noms through the pay review body concede to the government’s pay cap of 1%,” they said.
A MoJ spokesman said a “good offer” had been made to the union in December that had been endorsed by its national executive but rejected in a ballot of the membership. An MoJ spokesman said a “good offer” had been made to the union in December that had been endorsed by its national executive but rejected in a ballot of the membership.
“We are working hard to retain the invaluable experience within our workforce and want to recognise the expertise and dedication of prison staff,” he said.“We are working hard to retain the invaluable experience within our workforce and want to recognise the expertise and dedication of prison staff,” he said.