The Prison Officers Association called on members to gather for hour-long branch meetings last Friday morning in unofficial walkouts protesting against reforms to the way prison officers work.
Though prison officers are technically banned from striking, they last staged major walkouts over pension reforms in 2012. The BBC also reports unofficial walkouts happening five times in the last five months.
The latest action comes as The POA responds to what it says is anger over government plans to change supervision of prisoners. It says new plans announced by Michael Gove in May could lead to redundancies and a diminishing of workers’ rights. Gove has now been sacked as justice secretary.
If you work in the prison service we want to hear from you. Are you involved in any of the walkouts? What is your response to the government’s plans to reform the service – and on a more specific level, what issues do you face in your day to day work that you think should be highlighted?
We’re happy for you to submit your experience anonymously and any information about where you work will not be published without your consent.
