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Press releasesREF: PR/52/07 DATE: 19th October 2007 To: ALL POLITICAL PRESS RELEASE Black Day For New LabourLeaders of the POA today face legal proceedings at the Royal Courts of Justice before Mr Justice Saunders in Court Room 37 following their decision to take a day’s strike action on 29th August 2007 throughout England and Wales. The Union may face an injunction, legal costs, a fine and/or imprisonment of its national officials. The outcome of the Court hearing may well lead to further unrest amongst prison officers with other public sector union pledging to support the POA. Colin Moses National Chairman of the POA said: “Today is a bad day for the trade union movement, but it has to be a black day for new Labour. It is morally repugnant that a Labour Government should use anti trade union legislation to prevent the fundamental rights of every worker, to withdrawn their labour. “This Union took action on Wednesday 29th August 2007 out of necessity, not because it wanted to, but because it had to, to get those in authority to listen. “Prisons are bursting at the seams, they are dangerous and violent places to live and work in, they are short staffed and the level of assaults against the professional men and women of the Service is increasing year on year. “The prison population has risen by almost 30,000 in the last 10 years, yet the number of front line staff has only gone up by just over 400. “The Government staged the 2007 pay award for prison officers in direct contravention of the ILO ruling and to date this union has not been advised of what the exceptional circumstance was that led to the staging of the pay”. Brian Caton General Secretary of the POA said: “Once again this Union is being taken to Court, so that the Prison Service, Government and Establishment can do what they want. “The POA is a union and as a union we will stand up for our rights, and we will not lie down and have our tummies tickled. “The POA is ready to negotiate, but we will not drive down our living standards, or jeopardise prison safety to save money. “We are pleased that other public sector unions stand ready to support the POA as the POA stand ready to support them”.
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