Around 600 electricians, plumbers, fitters and heating engineers have been told by the prison service that they must wear the name tags to ensure prisoners are treated with "dignity and respect", but the civilian workers fear that they and their families could become targets for intimidation or blackmail if they are made to identify themselves.
Many have defied the instructions and the AEEU, warned yesterday that it would call a ballot for industrial action if any worker were punished.
On a visit to Woodhill maximum security jail near Milton Keynes yesterday, Mr Boateng promised discussions with the union to try to resolve the dispute, promising there was "nothing fixed in concrete" and insisting that his chief concern was the safety and security of all staff.
"We are looking at this issue very carefully and we will take all the steps necessary in order to give non-uniform staff the sense that they are valued members of the team," he said.
Mr Boateng's conciliatory remarks were welcomed by Paul Reuter, the AEEU national officer representing the prison workers, who said he looked forward to talks "so long as they are based on the principle that if prison officers don't have to wear name badges, then nor should our members have to do so."
The row surfaced in July after Martin Narey, the director general of the prison service, ordered that all non-uniformed staff wear name tags in order to emphasise his commitment to "deal openly and professionally with prisoners" - and allow them to identify staff if they are mistreated or attacked by them.
The AEEU accepts the need to identify staff but wants civilian prison workers to wear numbers - as prison officers do - rather than their names.
"Our members work alongside prisoners every day, carry out searches, lead prisoners out on working parties and can report them for punishment," an AEEU spokesman said yesterday. "They see the name badges as a real potential threat to themselves and their families. Feelings are running very high."
A prison service spokesman said the unions had been consulted about the badges policy before it was introduced and there was no intention of compromising the personal security of staff. But "staff in uniformed grades have duties in relation to the supervision and control of prisoners which place them at greater risk than their non-uniformed colleagues".
Disciplinary proceedings have already been brought against dozens of workers who have refused to wear the new name tags, but no punishments have yet been imposed.
A walkout by civilian workers would have a serious impact on the running of prisons, the AEEU says.
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