PCS: Job cuts announced as ink dries on prison privatisation deal

Friday, 1 July 2011 4:16 PM

Responding to the announcement that 123 jobs are threatened at the soon-to-be privatised Birmingham prison, Public and Commercial Services general secretary Mark Serwotka said:

"The ink on the privatisation deal signed by the government has barely had time to dry and yet G4S is already announcing job cuts.

"This gives the lie to any claim that privatisation is about making services more efficient or effective. This is naked profiteering of our justice system.

"It is morally reprehensible that companies can make profits from locking people up, and this is made worse by the anguish and despair it causes to the staff whose livelihoods are now on the line.

"We are fundamentally opposed to this sell-off and will continue to fight it for the sake of our members' livelihoods and for the prisoners who need prisons to be properly run."

ENDS

Notes

- For information and interview requests contact PCS national press officer Richard Simcox on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 978216

- The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, and in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich - on Twitter @janicegodrich

- Follow PCS on Twitter @pcs_union

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