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Press releasesREF: PR/40/07 DATE: 29th August 2007 To: ALL POLITICAL PRESS RELEASE Union Ignored Over Pay DealLeaders of the POA have expressed concern over the failure of the Government to engage in meaningful discussions to avert a national strike of POA members working in prisons in England and Wales. The Pay Review Body (PRB) established in 2001 as part of compensatory mechanism following the removal of the POA’s trade union rights in 1993 recommended a 2.5% pay award for staff in 2007. The government decided to stage the pay award ensuring prison officers and other grades were once again given a below inflation pay award. Colin Moses National Chairman of the POA said: “The Prisons Minister attended our Annual Conference in May 2007 and was fully aware of the depth of feeling amongst branch officials across the prison estate with regards to pay. I have written to Jack Straw asking for the prison service to be treated as a special case, and still await a response. The Director General of the prison service appears non descript over the morale of his staff and the Chairman of the PRB refused to condemn the actions of the government when they staged the pay award. POA members have overwhelmingly called for industrial action and yet the government have failed to discuss resolutions with POA national officials, whilst doing deals with other public sector workers behind closed doors as reported by the media, is this because the POA is not affiliated to any political party and does not have its trade union rights”. Brian Caton General Secretary said: “The Government’s get tough policy on public sector workers is morally repugnant. It is shameful that public sector workers have to demonstrate their anger and frustration by threatening or withdrawing their labour in an attempt to be heard by the Labour government, “This union is not sabre rattling; it is calling out for justice and fairness. Prisons are dangerous places and if investment is not forthcoming the devastation seen in April 1990 when prisons burned throughout England and Wales will again be repeated, something this union and every member of society should be keen to avoid. “The planned efficiency savings of £60m is not a management exercise, it is a government’s dictum and the only way it can be achieved is to create more prisons that are warehouses, not fit for use and serve no purpose to society.”
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