PR 252: POA WELCOME GOVERNMENT DECISION ON PRISON SERVICE PAY REVIEW BODY RECOMMENDATIONS

The Prison Officers Association have welcomed the Government’s decision to accept the recommendations of the Prison Service Pay Review Body for 2024/2025. Whilst the POA also welcomed the 5% Pay Award across the board they warned that this only goes a small way to alleviating the problems of recruitment and retention within a Prison Service in crisis.

National Chair Mark Fairhurst commented;

“This announcement by the Government does, in a small way, reward the heroics of frontline Prison Officers and related grades for their herculean efforts managing a Service in crisis. However, this pay award does not compensate for the 14 years of dwindling living standards suffered by our members.”

General Secretary, Steve Gillan stated,

“Whilst we welcome the acceptance of the recommendations by the Government, we need a complete overhaul of Pay that makes our salaries competitive, attractive, and fit for purpose, whilst incentivising staff to remain in the service.

We would much rather have collective bargaining on pay instead of this charade year on year. POA members deserve far more in relation to pay and this award will not stop staff leaving the Prison Service and morale will continue to suffer. We will read the report with interest, but this does not go anywhere near addressing the pay cuts that our members have endured for over a decade”.

 

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For further information, contact:

POA Press Office                                          020 8803 0255 Option 7