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Brown's prisons pay deal warning Brown's prisons pay deal warning
(30 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has warned prison officers that delaying part of this year's public sector pay rise was "an essential part" of tackling inflation.Gordon Brown has warned prison officers that delaying part of this year's public sector pay rise was "an essential part" of tackling inflation.
The prime minister said he would "do nothing to put" economic stability or low interest rates at risk.The prime minister said he would "do nothing to put" economic stability or low interest rates at risk.
Thousands of prison officers in England and Wales walked out on Wednesday.Thousands of prison officers in England and Wales walked out on Wednesday.
They returned to work after ministers got a court injunction. The government and the Prison Officers' Association are due to hold fresh talks on Friday.They returned to work after ministers got a court injunction. The government and the Prison Officers' Association are due to hold fresh talks on Friday.
An independent pay review body recommended a 2.5% pay rise but the government staged that rise, awarding 1.5% in April and the remaining 1% from November.An independent pay review body recommended a 2.5% pay rise but the government staged that rise, awarding 1.5% in April and the remaining 1% from November.
The Prison Officers' Association said it amounts to a second year of below inflation pay awards - and has not ruled out further strikes.The Prison Officers' Association said it amounts to a second year of below inflation pay awards - and has not ruled out further strikes.
Controlling inflationControlling inflation
The decision not to award the recommended pay rises has angered many public sector workers, including nurses - who have also threatened industrial action.The decision not to award the recommended pay rises has angered many public sector workers, including nurses - who have also threatened industrial action.
But Mr Brown, who decided to stage the pay rises when he was chancellor, said: "We have succeeded in tackling inflation and having a stable economy because of discipline in pay over the last ten years. That discipline will have to continue."But Mr Brown, who decided to stage the pay rises when he was chancellor, said: "We have succeeded in tackling inflation and having a stable economy because of discipline in pay over the last ten years. That discipline will have to continue."
"Go and tell a prison officer, who's facing the violence he's facing on a daily basis, that you're not going to give them any more Colin MosesPrison Officers' Association Go and tell a prison officer, who's facing the violence he's facing on a daily basis, that you're not going to give them any more Colin MosesPrison Officers' Association
He said staging pay awards was an "essential part" of controlling inflation, keeping interest rates low and creating more jobs.He said staging pay awards was an "essential part" of controlling inflation, keeping interest rates low and creating more jobs.
"We will do nothing, nothing, to put that at risk. It is an essential element of maintaining discipline in the economy.""We will do nothing, nothing, to put that at risk. It is an essential element of maintaining discipline in the economy."
Colin Moses, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, said Mr Brown should "sit round the negotiating table" with them, as he had done with the NHS and Fire Brigades' Union.Colin Moses, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, said Mr Brown should "sit round the negotiating table" with them, as he had done with the NHS and Fire Brigades' Union.
"What Mr Brown wants to remember is, when he places 81,000 people in prison, he places them under the custody of my members , who are being assaulted on average eight times a day," he told the BBC."What Mr Brown wants to remember is, when he places 81,000 people in prison, he places them under the custody of my members , who are being assaulted on average eight times a day," he told the BBC.
"When we were awarded a 2.5% pay award by an independent pay review body - he staged it. Why? To drive down his economic growth? My members have had to take, as many other members of the public had to take, five interest rate (rises) this year on their mortgages."When we were awarded a 2.5% pay award by an independent pay review body - he staged it. Why? To drive down his economic growth? My members have had to take, as many other members of the public had to take, five interest rate (rises) this year on their mortgages.
"Go and tell a prison officer, who's facing the violence he's facing on a daily basis, that you're not going to give them any more - and he (Mr Brown) wants to ask why we can't recruit prison officers at the rate we should?""Go and tell a prison officer, who's facing the violence he's facing on a daily basis, that you're not going to give them any more - and he (Mr Brown) wants to ask why we can't recruit prison officers at the rate we should?"