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Press releasesREF: PR/34/2009 DATE: 17th November 2009 To: MPS, ALL POLITICAL EDITORS, ALL INDUSTRIAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENTS PRESS RELEASE PRISON OFFICERS WALK OUT AT HMP LIVERPOOLIn September this year, an Employment Tribunal took place into a grievance brought by an Officer at HMP Liverpool, in which both the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Prison were heavily criticised by the Tribunal Judge. Unfortunately since that time POA members at HMP Liverpool have been subjected to what they describe as “continued bullying and harassment” by the senior management at the establishment. This bullying and harassment culminated on Friday 13th November in an instruction being issued by the Deputy Governor at Liverpool, that the Officer who had previously raised the complaint against him, to be sent on “detached duty” to another establishment. The news of this action by the Deputy Governor has had the effect of sparking an impromptu walk out by staff at the prison, demanding an investigation of the Governor and Deputy Governor and asking for a public apology be made by Prison Service management for the overly dogmatic and unfair treatment that staff believe that they have had to endure from the senior management at the prison for some time. Upon hearing the news of the action taken by its members at the prison, and after ascertaining the reasons behind it, the leadership of the POA instigated discussions with the Chief Operating Officer of the Prison Service Michael Spurr, who on first contact was unaware of the facts and circumstances behind the dispute. Colin Moses, National Chairman of the POA said: “We can only hope that Prison Service management will engage in a positive manner to resolve this dispute, rather than, as we have seen on previous occasions when they have resorted to the courts as a first response. “We ask Jack Straw and Maria Eagle to intervene to stop the bullying and harassment of the staff at Liverpool prison.” Brian Caton General Secretary of POA said: “The membership of the POA stand fully behind the Liverpool Branch for standing up to management in the face of a management team who appear unable to command the respect of their staff and who have resorted to running their prison on threats and intimidation.” END. For further information contact: Colin Moses– National Chairman - Mob 07971 839602
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