This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6968794.stm
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 16 | Version 17 |
---|---|
Prison officers end pay strike | Prison officers end pay strike |
(10 minutes later) | |
A strike by prison officers in England and Wales has ended after the union said it had been offered fresh talks with the government over pay. | A strike by prison officers in England and Wales has ended after the union said it had been offered fresh talks with the government over pay. |
Thousands of prisons were affected after a surprise walkout by prison staff at 0700 BST on Wednesday. | Thousands of prisons were affected after a surprise walkout by prison staff at 0700 BST on Wednesday. |
Striking staff later defied a High Court injunction to end their action. | Striking staff later defied a High Court injunction to end their action. |
General secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), Brian Caton, said fresh talks over the dispute were tabled for Friday. | General secretary of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), Brian Caton, said fresh talks over the dispute were tabled for Friday. |
The nationwide strike action came after the union pulled out of a no-strike agreement with government. | The nationwide strike action came after the union pulled out of a no-strike agreement with government. |
Immediate end | Immediate end |
Mr Caton told BBC News 24: "After a day of what we describe as somewhat traumatic times in the history of the union, we will lead our membership back to work and we will do that in an orderly fashion and that is regardless of any court injunction." | Mr Caton told BBC News 24: "After a day of what we describe as somewhat traumatic times in the history of the union, we will lead our membership back to work and we will do that in an orderly fashion and that is regardless of any court injunction." |
Asked when the end of the strike should happen, Mr Caton replied "straightaway". | Asked when the end of the strike should happen, Mr Caton replied "straightaway". |
Mr Caton said: "What we are mindful of is that the talks go ahead on Friday, and also that we have orderly prisons." | Mr Caton said: "What we are mindful of is that the talks go ahead on Friday, and also that we have orderly prisons." |
He defended the union's decision to call the strike without prior warning. | He defended the union's decision to call the strike without prior warning. |
Mr Caton said: "If we had given notice to anyone of our intention, we would have been taken straight to court and threatened with imprisonment. | Mr Caton said: "If we had given notice to anyone of our intention, we would have been taken straight to court and threatened with imprisonment. |
"If they gave us back our rights and put us under the restrictions that every other trade union is under, then they would have had that notice." | "If they gave us back our rights and put us under the restrictions that every other trade union is under, then they would have had that notice." |
'Widespread' action | 'Widespread' action |
The announcement to end the strike came after officers in Bristol, Canterbury and Long Lartin had already returned to work in the afternoon, but other POA members had said they would stay out for 24 hours. | The announcement to end the strike came after officers in Bristol, Canterbury and Long Lartin had already returned to work in the afternoon, but other POA members had said they would stay out for 24 hours. |
Prison Governors Association chairman Charles Bushell told BBC News all 129 prisons in England and Wales had suffered disruption. | Prison Governors Association chairman Charles Bushell told BBC News all 129 prisons in England and Wales had suffered disruption. |
During the day, prisoners were kept locked in their cells and senior managers took charge of duties such as distributing meals. Visitors were also turned away and court appearances cancelled. | During the day, prisoners were kept locked in their cells and senior managers took charge of duties such as distributing meals. Visitors were also turned away and court appearances cancelled. |
Earlier this year the independent pay review body for prisons recommended to ministers salaries ranging from £12,000 for auxiliary staff to almost £32,000 for principal officers, representing a 2.5% rise in two stages. | Earlier this year the independent pay review body for prisons recommended to ministers salaries ranging from £12,000 for auxiliary staff to almost £32,000 for principal officers, representing a 2.5% rise in two stages. |
PRISON OFFICER SALARIES Auxiliary staff: £13,318Storeman: £14,942Night patrol: £14,084Entry officer min: £17,744Prison officer: £27,530Senior officer: £29.371Principal officer: £31,913 Recommended top pay in posts as of April 2007. Source: Office for Manpower Economics | PRISON OFFICER SALARIES Auxiliary staff: £13,318Storeman: £14,942Night patrol: £14,084Entry officer min: £17,744Prison officer: £27,530Senior officer: £29.371Principal officer: £31,913 Recommended top pay in posts as of April 2007. Source: Office for Manpower Economics |
Most prison officers start on around £17,700. | Most prison officers start on around £17,700. |
The POA, which has 28,000 members, said up to 90% of those who had been due on duty had joined the strike. | The POA, which has 28,000 members, said up to 90% of those who had been due on duty had joined the strike. |
It said the walkout had been "widespread and unprecedented" and there was "lockdown" - where prisoners are confined to their cells - at most prisons. | It said the walkout had been "widespread and unprecedented" and there was "lockdown" - where prisoners are confined to their cells - at most prisons. |
Affected prisons included: | |
|
|
Officers at Bristol prison began to return to duties in the afternoon | Officers at Bristol prison began to return to duties in the afternoon |
The Association of Chief Police Officers said police cells were being used for any inmates who could not return to their normal prison after court and for newly sentenced prisoners. | The Association of Chief Police Officers said police cells were being used for any inmates who could not return to their normal prison after court and for newly sentenced prisoners. |
'Overwhelming case' | 'Overwhelming case' |
The prison population in England and Wales is close to capacity levels, with about 80,000 people held. | The prison population in England and Wales is close to capacity levels, with about 80,000 people held. |
At the High Court, the judge, Mr Justice Ramsey, said there was an "overwhelming case" that a legally binding agreement had been broken. | At the High Court, the judge, Mr Justice Ramsey, said there was an "overwhelming case" that a legally binding agreement had been broken. |
Lawyers for the Ministry of Justice told the High Court the strike had meant there was a backlog of 900 people waiting to be transferred to prisons. | Lawyers for the Ministry of Justice told the High Court the strike had meant there was a backlog of 900 people waiting to be transferred to prisons. |
The administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction Mr Justice Ramsey Q&A: Prison officer strike Prisoner found dead | The administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction Mr Justice Ramsey Q&A: Prison officer strike Prisoner found dead |
The hearing was also told a prisoner had been found dead in a cell. | The hearing was also told a prisoner had been found dead in a cell. |
A government lawyer said he was not making a link between the strike and the death but it was a concern. | A government lawyer said he was not making a link between the strike and the death but it was a concern. |
Staff at the category-C Acklington prison in Northumberland later said they did not believe the death of William Stuart Laidlaw, who was found hanged at 0930 BST, was connected to the strike. | Staff at the category-C Acklington prison in Northumberland later said they did not believe the death of William Stuart Laidlaw, who was found hanged at 0930 BST, was connected to the strike. |
Mr Justice Ramsey said the effect of any strike would have "particularly difficult consequences" to prisons already filled to capacity. | Mr Justice Ramsey said the effect of any strike would have "particularly difficult consequences" to prisons already filled to capacity. |
"Given the current position in the prisons, it is clear in my view that this is an appropriate case where the administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction," he said. | "Given the current position in the prisons, it is clear in my view that this is an appropriate case where the administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction," he said. |
In Bristol, local POA representative Paul Moltby said he had seen the wording of the injunction and believed officers had no choice but to return to work. | In Bristol, local POA representative Paul Moltby said he had seen the wording of the injunction and believed officers had no choice but to return to work. |
"The judge makes it quite clear that anybody who does not go back to work... does not follow the court order... will be in contempt of court and that is not a position we feel that we can put prison officers in," he said. | "The judge makes it quite clear that anybody who does not go back to work... does not follow the court order... will be in contempt of court and that is not a position we feel that we can put prison officers in," he said. |
Shadow minister for justice Edward Garnier said the government had "mis-managed, both strategically and on a day-to-day basis the prison estate" and "wound-up" the POA. | Shadow minister for justice Edward Garnier said the government had "mis-managed, both strategically and on a day-to-day basis the prison estate" and "wound-up" the POA. |
Officials say Justice Secretary Jack Straw is planning to hold talks with the POA next week but deny the government had failed to address concerns about pay and falling morale. | Officials say Justice Secretary Jack Straw is planning to hold talks with the POA next week but deny the government had failed to address concerns about pay and falling morale. |
Are you a prison officer affected by this story? What do you think about the injunction? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you a prison officer affected by this story? What do you think about the injunction? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 |
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |