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Press releasesREF: PR/58/07 DATE: 21st November 2007 To: ALL POLITICAL PRESS RELEASE Prison Officers Gather in SouthportThe majority of branch officials from prisons in England and Wales will meet at the Scarisbrick hotel in Southport tomorrow, 22nd November 2007; the first time representatives have had the opportunity to gather since the national strike on 29th August 2007. Colin Moses - National Chairman of the POA said: “We have been engaged in meaningful discussions with Jack Straw, Ministers and the Prison Service, but to date we have not reached a satisfactory outcome to the dispute. Negotiations continue, but staff across the Service are very dissatisfied. My members are very patient, but the pressures of an ever increasing prison population and staff shortages are testing their resolve. I am hopeful that a resolve will be reached before the membership demand further action, but if this is not achieved I will reiterate that nothing is ruled in or out”. Brian Caton – General Secretary of the POA said: “We are currently holding back the tide as we try to reach a resolve with the Government. Unfortunately, the members are finding the inordinate length of time to see any real results totally unacceptable. “The POA have been a life long supporter of the Labour Government and New Labour however, the problems we have engaged recently are testing the resolve of public sector workers. “I believe if the current problems continue the Service will witness “wide cat action or another national strike; something we would hope to avoid”.
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