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Prison staff return after walkout | Prison staff return after walkout |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Prison officers have returned to work at six jails in Yorkshire after walking out in support of two colleagues who had been suspended. | Prison officers have returned to work at six jails in Yorkshire after walking out in support of two colleagues who had been suspended. |
About 400 staff initially walked out at Lindholme and Moorlands prisons near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and at Everthorpe jail in East Yorkshire. | About 400 staff initially walked out at Lindholme and Moorlands prisons near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, and at Everthorpe jail in East Yorkshire. |
They were joined later by another 600 officers at New Hall, Wakefield and Wetherby jails in West Yorkshire. | They were joined later by another 600 officers at New Hall, Wakefield and Wetherby jails in West Yorkshire. |
They went back after the Prison Service agreed to review the suspensions. | They went back after the Prison Service agreed to review the suspensions. |
The walkouts happened when two officers were suspended at Lindholme, said the Prison Officers' Association (POA). | The walkouts happened when two officers were suspended at Lindholme, said the Prison Officers' Association (POA). |
POA national vice chairman Steve Cox said the officers were suspended for remarks made during a disciplinary hearing into the dismissal of a female officer. | POA national vice chairman Steve Cox said the officers were suspended for remarks made during a disciplinary hearing into the dismissal of a female officer. |
By taking this action they put the safety of the public, staff, and the prisoners at risk Ministry of Justice statement | |
He said she had been sacked last month for allegedly assaulting a male prisoner who was being restrained, an allegation which she and her colleagues denied. | He said she had been sacked last month for allegedly assaulting a male prisoner who was being restrained, an allegation which she and her colleagues denied. |
The unofficial action ended after five hours when the deputy director general of the Prison Service, Michael Spurr, agreed to look into the matter on Friday. | |
A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "This industrial action by members of the POA was simply unacceptable. | |
"By taking this action they put the safety of the public, staff, and the prisoners at risk. | |
"When staff are suspended pending disciplinary action, there is a clear process for the individual to lodge an appeal supported by their trades union." | |
She said the ministry would not comment on the detail of the ongoing investigation at Lindholme. | |
'Last straw' | |
"However, we are confident that the governor at Lindholme has acted in accordance with HM Prison Service policies and disciplinary procedures. | "However, we are confident that the governor at Lindholme has acted in accordance with HM Prison Service policies and disciplinary procedures. |
"If the Prison Officers' Association have any issues with the way he has conducted this disciplinary procedure there are existing channels that they can use to raise this with him." | "If the Prison Officers' Association have any issues with the way he has conducted this disciplinary procedure there are existing channels that they can use to raise this with him." |
POA national executive officer Joe Simpson said the suspensions were "the last straw" for officers who were angry at the way they were being treated by prison management. | POA national executive officer Joe Simpson said the suspensions were "the last straw" for officers who were angry at the way they were being treated by prison management. |
"Members of staff are currently outside the jail having withdrawn their labour as individuals," he said. | "Members of staff are currently outside the jail having withdrawn their labour as individuals," he said. |
"They walked out at 1230 after a branch meeting. | "They walked out at 1230 after a branch meeting. |
"We are hoping senior management will come to their senses and decide they do not want this dispute to go on." | "We are hoping senior management will come to their senses and decide they do not want this dispute to go on." |