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Prison officers' strike spreads | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Hundreds of prison officers are joining a picket line outside HMP Liverpool at the start of a second day of unofficial strike action. | |
Up to 200 officers walked out on Tuesday, amid claims of bullying and harassment by their supervisors. | |
Hundreds of officers from Risley Prison near Warrington have now joined them. | |
The Prison Officers Association (POA) said it wanted to have "meaningful talks" with the Prison Service but it would continue its strike. | The Prison Officers Association (POA) said it wanted to have "meaningful talks" with the Prison Service but it would continue its strike. |
The Prison Service has condemned the action as "wrong and unsafe". | The Prison Service has condemned the action as "wrong and unsafe". |
At the moment the prison is being run by 20 officers and 30 managers, and police patrols outside the building have been increased. | At the moment the prison is being run by 20 officers and 30 managers, and police patrols outside the building have been increased. |
'Constantly bullied' | 'Constantly bullied' |
The POA said that prison employees had grown tired of being "managed by fear". | The POA said that prison employees had grown tired of being "managed by fear". |
A POA spokesman told BBC News: "We have had a management at Liverpool prison that has constantly bullied staff. | A POA spokesman told BBC News: "We have had a management at Liverpool prison that has constantly bullied staff. |
"It works with a two-tier system. Allegations of a manager being a bully are always pushed under the carpet, but prison officers are finding themselves in trouble over a whole range of things. | "It works with a two-tier system. Allegations of a manager being a bully are always pushed under the carpet, but prison officers are finding themselves in trouble over a whole range of things. |
"Staff have been moved, dismissed by a wrong and unjust management." | "Staff have been moved, dismissed by a wrong and unjust management." |
The dispute centres on an employment tribunal brought by one of its members against the Prison Service in September. | The dispute centres on an employment tribunal brought by one of its members against the Prison Service in September. |
It said both the governor of the prison and a deputy governor were "heavily criticised" by the chairman of the tribunal. | It said both the governor of the prison and a deputy governor were "heavily criticised" by the chairman of the tribunal. |
Prisoners were notified of a "disruption to regime" by notices, signed on behalf of the prison's governor Alan Brown. | Prisoners were notified of a "disruption to regime" by notices, signed on behalf of the prison's governor Alan Brown. |
It is understood that staff who were already booked for duty continued to work during the walkout. | It is understood that staff who were already booked for duty continued to work during the walkout. |