August 31, 2007: Ministry of Justice and POA Statement

A Joint statement from the Ministry of Justice and the Prison Officers' Association was issued following their meeting today. The statement reads

'We have had some hours of constructive discussions. We will be meeting again in two weeks' time.

The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, emphasised to the POA that there can be no change in this year's pay settlement.

The POA told him that they had no intention of further industrial action at this time, but would continue to seek a resolution to this current dispute.

There has already been established a programme of pay and workforce modernisation and TUC-facilitated talks on improving industrial relations, including discussions on what follows from the POA's announced withdrawal from JIRPA due to take effect in May next year. These will be intensified with a view to reporting progress by the end of October.

Discussions will continue between the Government and the POA on wider criminal justice and prison-related issues. There will also be discussions about evidence to the Prison Service Pay Review Body about next year's pay award.'