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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Prison officers in strike action | Prison officers in strike action |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of prison officers in England and Wales have begun a strike in a protest over pay, the association representing them has said. | Thousands of prison officers in England and Wales have begun a strike in a protest over pay, the association representing them has said. |
| The Prison Officers' Association says the strike, which started at 0700 BST, will go on for a minimum of 24 hours. | The Prison Officers' Association says the strike, which started at 0700 BST, will go on for a minimum of 24 hours. |
| It says it is staging the strike - which follows a ballot of members - after pulling out of a no-strike agreement with the government. | It says it is staging the strike - which follows a ballot of members - after pulling out of a no-strike agreement with the government. |
| The government said the officers were acting illegally. | The government said the officers were acting illegally. |
| Prison safety | Prison safety |
| A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said the walkout was a breach of the Industrial Relations Act. | A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said the walkout was a breach of the Industrial Relations Act. |
| "We will be seeking advice on our next step," the spokeswoman added. | "We will be seeking advice on our next step," the spokeswoman added. |
| Prisoners are being kept in their cells at the moment. | Prisoners are being kept in their cells at the moment. |
| It is believed police may have to be drafted in to ensure the safety of inmates. | It is believed police may have to be drafted in to ensure the safety of inmates. |
| The walkout follows a POA national ballot of members two weeks ago. | |
| Some 87% of the prison officers who voted endorsed industrial action "up to and including strike". | |
| Turnout for the ballot was about 65%. | |
| Prison Officers' Association (POA) chairman Colin Moses said the decision to strike had been taken "after two years of frustration and two years of below-inflation pay awards". | Prison Officers' Association (POA) chairman Colin Moses said the decision to strike had been taken "after two years of frustration and two years of below-inflation pay awards". |
| "These are professional men and women who every day look after those committed by the courts to our prisons. | "These are professional men and women who every day look after those committed by the courts to our prisons. |
| "Surely we should be treated as well, if not better, than the prisoners we look after." | "Surely we should be treated as well, if not better, than the prisoners we look after." |