[the_stillness]

It is headline news today - that a Prison officers strike is going on due to arguments over pay - What's new?? However, the Government argues that the strike is unjustifiable because the POA signed a no-strike agreement in 1993. In a statement, Jack Straw called the strike illegal, irresponsible and wholly unjustifiable. But he said the Prison Service had contingency measures to ensure the 131 prisons affected would remain secure.

The Ministry of Justice said the injunction prevented the POA from inducing, authorising or supporting any form of industrial action which would disrupt the operation of the Prison Service in England and Wales. Officers at some prisons returned to the cell-blocks when they were given details of the injunction.

POA members in Bristol returned to work after holding a meeting outside the city's jail. In Liverpool, prisoners climbed into the roof space above offices but they were encouraged to come down when a small group of officers left their picket line to deal with the problem. A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "Three prisoners climbed the roof of an office building at 2pm.

"The incident was resolved almost an hour later.

"A small number of prison officers went into the prison to deal with the incident. There was no need for police assistance."

[I think this is outrageous personally! They are like the Police. They shouldn't strike - Surely this can be sorted out in a better way? ]

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Heath MP said:

"Industrial action can only exacerbate the chaos the Government has created in the prison service.

"Strikes can never be appropriate in prisons, but it is no good ministers bleating that it is unlawful if they cannot do anything about it.

"At the same time, it cannot be right to ignore in a cavalier fashion the concerns of prison officers.

"Ministers, and in particular the Treasury, have created this crisis; they must now intervene directly to sort it out before the public are put at risk."

http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/indus...ath.13119.html