31/08/2007

Talks Take Place In Prison Officer Pay Dispute

Talks are taking place today between the leaders of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) and Justice Minister Jack Straw in a pay dispute, which resulted in a surprise strike on Wednesday.

The surprise strike action, involving thousands of staff from 140 jails in England and Wales, took place on Wednesday morning.

The walkout followed a ballot of prison officers earlier this month where around 87% voted in favour of industrial action.

The ballot was sparked after a pay review recommended a rise of 2.5% this year, but the government decided the rise should be staged and reduced the value to 1.9%.

Speaking on Thursday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that public sector pay rises had to be paid in stages in order to keep inflation order control.

(KMcA/SP)

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