Prison staff not offered new deal

PRISON staff have not yet been officially offered a deal aimed at replacing overtime, on the day the deadline expired for agreement between officers and management.

Management issued a question and answer bulletin to staff last Friday outlining how it is proposed to replace the overtime bill with a system of annualised hours. The bulletin is based on a document management drew up and delivered to the Prison Officers’ Association six weeks ago.

It is proposed that staff be paid for working an extra 300 hours a year at a rate of time and two-thirds and will be paid even if the hours are not worked. Staff will earn a maximum €6,900 a year.