Prison officers in walk-out protest over pay (From Warrington Guardian)

Prison officers in walk-out protest over pay

ANGRY prison officers Protesting staff from Risley Prison and Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institution are furious over a pay rise offer of 2.7 per cent and took action amid claims of falling morale, suicide risks and rising sickness levels.

Prison Officers' Association branch secretaries Mark Mountford and Jim Wright were even served with writs at Risley by governors to prevent them gathering outside the Warrington Road jail.

But the pair say the writs were handed over in error and should have been given to the association's National Executive.

Union bosses say officers feel "forgotten" when public sector pay awards are being considered and accused Home Secretary Jack Straw of breaking pre-election pay promises.

Further industrial action has not been ruled out by the association and union officials have vowed to defy legal threats.

Mr Mountford said Risley officers would continue their campaign - even if it resulted in being arrested and jailed.

Officers were asking for a five per cent increase, following six years of below-inflation awards, he said.

Mr Mountford added: "Our sick levels are very high because of stress. Morale is also very, very low. We have a nightmare scenario. The level of suicides among staff within our job is higher than any other."

Pay awards to teachers, nurses and firefighters were fully deserved, he said. But prison officers often felt "forgotten".

Staff at Risley were told the female wing would be closed by last July but say a decision on its future has been postponed.

Mr Mountford claimed of the 88 officers on the wing, 40 had been drafted in from other prisons to replace staff who had transferred to other jails since the closure announcement.

Richard Tilt, director general of the Prison Service, deplored the POA's actions, which he said would disrupt the running of penal institutions.

Mr Tilt added: "We have been in lengthy discussions in an attempt to reach a negotiated settlement on pay. This has not succeeded so we have decided to impose the 2.7 per cent award, which is the limit of what we can afford.

The Prison Service says officers have rejected a 3.6 per cent deal, linked to "greater efficiencies", including extra duties for civilian prison guards.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.