Warders call strike ballot over jail privatisation

Thousands of prison officers are to be balloted on industrial action, including strikes, in protest at jail privatisation plans, setting them on a potentially damaging collision course with the Government.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Apr 2011, 07:00 BST

Leaders of the Prison Officers Association (POA) announced the move, even though it is unlawful for warders to take industrial action.

Around 30,000 POA members in England and Wales will take part in an indicative ballot, which will be considered by the union’s executive before the next move is decided.

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POA general secretary Steve Gillan said prison officers were “angry” at the Government’s privatisation plans for Birmingham and Featherstone 2 in Wolverhampton.

The Ministry of Justice said it was reviewing its contingency arrangements with the police and military in the event of any industrial action. Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke revealed last month that troops had been put on stand-by. The POA reacted angrily to news that Birmingham prison and Featherstone 2 are to be run by private security company G4S.

Mr Clarke told MPs: “If people are so unwise as to take industrial action in prisons, the situation can rapidly become far worse than in a normal strike because we start getting disorder among the prisoners.”

The POA said last month that it would not make a “knee-jerk” reaction, but decided last week that union members should work only to their contractual obligations.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Our aim is to avoid any form of industrial action and we will continue to talk to all unions to do everything possible to achieve that.

Related topics:GovernmentWales