Govt threatens prison officers with strike ban

Straw considers ban on industrial action

Wednesday, 10, Oct 2007 12:00

The government wants to ban prison officers from striking following nationwide walkouts this summer.

Justice secretary Jack Straw said the government was "actively considering" reinstating a statutory ban on industrial action in prisons.

Legislation imposed by then home secretary Michael Howard in 1994 banned all prison officers from striking.

Charles Clarke repealed it two years ago after the Prison Officers' Association (POA) agreed to a voluntary no-strike rule.

The POA broke this in August after more than 20,000 members staged their first walk-out with a 24-hour strike.

Giving evidence to the constitutional affairs committee, Mr Straw said the government was now considering a legal ban and insisted the government had the right to do so.

He told MPs: "The POA have refused to offer a guarantee that there won't be further industrial action."

The POA branded Mr Straw's statement a "disgrace" and said the legal ban would contravene their human rights.

Officers moved to strike in protest at the government's decision to stagger a pay deal, which members claim would amount to a pay cut.