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Prison officers end pay strike Prison officers' pay strike ends
(about 1 hour later)
A strike by prison officers in England and Wales has ended after the union agreed to fresh talks with the government over pay. The first national strike by prison officers in England and Wales has ended after their union agreed to fresh talks on Friday with the government over pay.
All 129 prisons suffered disruption after a surprise walkout by staff began at 0700 BST on Wednesday. All 129 non-private prisons suffered disruption after the surprise walkout by about 20,000 staff at 0700 BST.
Members of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) later defied a High Court injunction to end their action. A High Court injunction was granted against the Prison Officers' Association (POA) but many members initially refused to go back to work.
The government had called the strike illegal and unjustified. The union said fresh talks are now tabled for Friday. The government had called the strike illegal and unjustified.
The nationwide strike action came after the union pulled out of a no-strike agreement with government. It denied it had failed to address concerns about pay and falling morale among prison staff.
Immediate end Court order
General secretary of the POA, Brian Caton, told BBC News 24: "After a day of what we describe as somewhat traumatic times in the history of the union, we will lead our membership back to work and we will do that in an orderly fashion and that is regardless of any court injunction." The strike action came after the union pulled out of a no-strike agreement with government.
Asked when the end of the strike should happen, Mr Caton replied "straightaway". The POA said the government had failed to deliver on "promise after promise" and it decided to call the strike without prior warning to avoid attracting a court order.
He said: "What we are mindful of is that the talks go ahead on Friday, and also that we have orderly prisons." POA general secretary Brian Caton said: "If they gave us back our rights and put us under the restrictions that every other trade union is under, then they would have had that notice.
He defended the union's decision to call the strike without prior warning. "After a day of what we describe as somewhat traumatic times in the history of the union, we will lead our membership back to work and we will do that in an orderly fashion and that is regardless of any court injunction."
"If we had given notice to anyone of our intention, we would have been taken straight to court and threatened with imprisonment," he said.
"If they gave us back our rights and put us under the restrictions that every other trade union is under, then they would have had that notice."
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: "I am glad that the POA has issued this instruction to return to work."Justice Secretary Jack Straw said: "I am glad that the POA has issued this instruction to return to work."
A spokeswoman said Mr Straw arranged to meet the union's leadership on Friday before he knew about today's strikes. A spokeswoman said Mr Straw had arranged to meet the union's leadership on Friday, before he knew about the strikes.
'Widespread' action'Widespread' action
The announcement to end the strike came after officers in Bristol, Canterbury and Long Lartin had already returned to work in the afternoon, but other POA members had said they would stay out for 24 hours. The announcement to end the strike came after officers in Bristol, Canterbury and Long Lartin had returned to work in the afternoon, but other POA members were indicating they would stay out for 24 hours.
Prison Governors Association chairman Charles Bushell told BBC News all 129 prisons in England and Wales had suffered disruption. During the day, prisoners were kept locked in their cells, senior managers took charge of duties such as distributing meals and visitors were turned away.
During the day, prisoners were kept locked in their cells and senior managers took charge of duties such as distributing meals. Visitors were also turned away and court appearances cancelled.
Earlier this year the independent pay review body for prisons recommended to ministers salaries ranging from £12,000 for auxiliary staff to almost £32,000 for principal officers, representing a 2.5% rise in two stages.
PRISON OFFICER SALARIES Auxiliary staff: £13,318Storeman: £14,942Night patrol: £14,084Entry officer min: £17,744Prison officer: £27,530Senior officer: £29.371Principal officer: £31,913 Recommended top pay in posts as of April 2007. Source: Office for Manpower EconomicsPRISON OFFICER SALARIES Auxiliary staff: £13,318Storeman: £14,942Night patrol: £14,084Entry officer min: £17,744Prison officer: £27,530Senior officer: £29.371Principal officer: £31,913 Recommended top pay in posts as of April 2007. Source: Office for Manpower Economics
Most prison officers start on around £17,700. An independent pay review body for prisons has recommended that salaries rise to between £12,000 for auxiliary staff to almost £32,000 for principal officers - a 2.5% increase.
The POA, which has 28,000 members, said up to 90% of those who had been due on duty had joined the strike. But the POA, which has 28,000 members, said its value is reduced to below inflation by being introduced in two stages.
It said the walkout had been "widespread and unprecedented" and there was "lockdown" - where prisoners are confined to their cells - at most prisons. Among the prisons affected were:
At Liverpool prison, about 25-30 striking officers temporarily suspended their action to deal with three inmates who had climbed on to a roof and in Birmingham fire engines attended to deal with two minor blazes.
  • Liverpool, where 25-30 striking officers temporarily suspended their action to deal with three inmates who had climbed on to a roof
    • And at Frankland high-security prison, County Durham, a handful of striking officers volunteered to go back to work because of the danger posed by inmates.
  • Birmingham prison where fire engines attended to deal with two minor blazes
    • Wormwood Scrubs, Manchester prison, Cardiff, Dartmoor, Exeter and Channings Wood were also affected as was Wakefield prison, where POA officials claimed 745 inmates - including Soham killer Ian Huntley - were guarded by no more than 20 senior managers.
  • Frankland high-security prison, County Durham, where a handful of striking officers volunteered to go back to work because of the danger posed by inmates
  • Wormwood Scrubs, Manchester, Cardiff, Dartmoor, Exeter and Wakefield, where POA officials claimed 745 inmates - including Soham killer Ian Huntley - were guarded by no more than 20 senior managers
    • Officers at Bristol prison began to return to duties in the afternoonOfficers at Bristol prison began to return to duties in the afternoon
    The Association of Chief Police Officers said police cells were used for inmates who could not return to their normal prison after court and for newly sentenced prisoners. The Association of Chief Police Officers said police cells were used for about 900 inmates who could not return to their normal prison after court appearances and for those newly sentenced.
    'Overwhelming case' Turned away
    The prison population in England and Wales is close to capacity levels, with about 80,000 people held. The prison population in England and Wales is close to capacity levels, with about 80,000 people currently held.
    At the High Court, the judge, Mr Justice Ramsey, said there was an "overwhelming case" that a legally binding agreement had been broken. Granting the injunction High Court judge Mr Justice Ramsey, said there was an "overwhelming case" that a legally binding agreement had been broken.
    Lawyers for the Ministry of Justice told the hearing the strike had meant there was a backlog of 900 people waiting to be transferred to prisons.
    The administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction Mr Justice Ramsey Q&A: Prison officer strike Prisoner found deadThe administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction Mr Justice Ramsey Q&A: Prison officer strike Prisoner found dead
    The court was also told a prisoner had been found dead in a cell but a government lawyer said he was not making a link between the strike and the death. The court was also told a prisoner had been found dead in a cell at the category-C Acklington prison in Northumberland but a lawyer for the Ministry of Justice said he was not linking the strike and the death.
    Staff at the category-C Acklington prison in Northumberland later said they did not believe the death of William Stuart Laidlaw, who was found hanged at 0930 BST, was connected to the strike. Mr Justice Ramsey said any strike would have "particularly difficult consequences" for prisons already filled to capacity.
    Mr Justice Ramsey said the effect of any strike would have "particularly difficult consequences" to prisons already filled to capacity.
    "Given the current position in the prisons, it is clear in my view that this is an appropriate case where the administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction," he said."Given the current position in the prisons, it is clear in my view that this is an appropriate case where the administration of the prison service as part of the administration of justice in the country requires the grant of the injunction," he said.
    Shadow minister for justice Edward Garnier said the government had "mis-managed, both strategically and on a day-to-day basis the prison estate" and "wound-up" the POA.Shadow minister for justice Edward Garnier said the government had "mis-managed, both strategically and on a day-to-day basis the prison estate" and "wound-up" the POA.
    The government denied it had failed to address concerns about pay and falling morale.