MPs agree prison officer strike ban
Tuesday, 8 January 2008 12:00 AM
MPs have voted in favour of a ban on strikes by prison officers.
The Prison Officers' Association (POA) and government have until May 8th to reach a new voluntary "no strike" agreement but the Commons today approved "reserve powers" allowing the government to enforce a legal ban.
Justice secretary Jack Straw said the government had been "reluctantly compelled" to seek the ban after 20,000 prison officers staged a 12-hour 'wildcat' strike last August.
Industrial action by prison officers risks public safety and prisoners' welfare and cannot be tolerated, Mr Straw told the Commons.
MPs voted 481 to 46 in favour of the ban, which was brought in as an amendment to the criminal justice bill.
Despite the 435-strong majority the amendment was passed amid terse debate and Kate Hoey and Keith Vaz were among the Labour MPs to defy the government whips.
Former Conservative home secretary Michael Howard imposed a ban on strikes by prison officers in 1994 but this was overturned by then-home secretary David Blunkett in 2005.
Since then the government and POA have operated according to a voluntary "no strike" deal but this was reneged upon by the union in August after a dispute over pay.
Today's move by Jack Straw marks a "humiliating U-turn" by the government, the Tories claim.
Shadow justice spokesman Nick Herbert said he was glad Mr Straw was a late convert to "Thatcherite legislation".
Labour MP Neil Gerrard said the ban went "beyond Thatcherite legislation" while John McDonnell said the ban would "build upon distrust" with the POA.
Speaking on justice for the Liberal Democrats, David Heath agreed the timing of the amendment was "most unfortunate".
Mr Straw maintains the government still hopes to reach an agreement with the POA by May but said the union was fully aware of today's legislation.
He said: "I would much prefer us never to have to use it and that remains my intention. We will do everything we can to gain a new agreement.
"This is the minimum required to protect the public and the welfare of prisoners."
The justice secretary did, however, agree to examine the wording of the ban after Labour's David Winnick said "another government" could use it to prohibit strikes by other emergency workers.
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