Aug 29, 2007: Unprecedented Prison Officers' Strike

Over 20,000 prison officers in England and Wales have just ended their first national strike. The government argues that the strike is illegal. The Prison Officers' Association has never previously engaged in a national strike. The strike action began at 7 a.m. and continued for approximately 12 hours. According to the POA, every of of the129 non-private prisons in England and Wales were affected.

During the strike, prisoners were locked down in their cells while governors were ordered to distribute meals. Visitors waiting to see prisoners were told to return home. Police cells were used to hold nearly 1000 prisoners who were unable to travel to their allotted prison following court appearances.

The POA said it engaged in strike action with giving notice to enable it to avoid court action forbidding the strke. The Prison Service is banned from striking by section 127 of the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act. 

The incoming New Labour government  lifted the ban on taking office, but instituted a voluntary no-strike deal with the POA after accepting that an independent review body would decide pay. Prison officers are unhappy that the government has staged the annual pay increase, after the independent review body had requested an annual increase of 2.5%. The government has ordered an increase of 1.5% in April, with a subsequent 1% increase in November. This is arguably an annual increase of around 1.9%.

Prison numbers are continuing to rise and the prison is stretched to capacity, and the job of prison officers is extremely stressful. Violence against staff is part and parcel of the job, with an average of 8 assaults on staff every day. The annual starting salary for prison officers is approximately £17,700.

Following a national ballot, the POA voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, including strike action.