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Press releasesREF: PR/38/07 DATE: 16th August 2007 To: ALL POLITICAL PRESS RELEASE Prison Officers Vote for Strike ActionA workplace ballot held to ascertain the view of prison officers throughout England and Wales regarding the staging of the 2007 pay award has called for industrial action up to and including “strike action”. Staff throughout the Prison Service have expressed their disappointment at the Government’s decision to stage the 2007 pay award. Colin Moses, National Chairman of the POA said; “The morale of staff throughout England and Wales is at rock bottom. Prisons are bursting at the seams, the level of assaults against staff has risen to more than eight a day and in turn the prisoner to staff ratio has also risen. Prisons have become significantly more dangerous places to work and the Government must take action to restore the members’ confidence in their employer”. Brian Caton, General Secretary of the POA said; “The POA do not enjoy the rights of other unions and therefore we can only ballot members to ascertain their views. The result of the ballot has given an overwhelming mandate for this union to take action, if necessary. We will be seeking urgent meetings with the Prison Service, Minister for Prisons and Jack Straw to try to remove the need for any action. Prison staff are fed up with being treated as second class citizens and being awarded a below the inflation pay award year on year. It is about time that the Prison Service Management Board stood shoulder to shoulder with this union in its bid to be treated as a special case in respect of pay”.
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