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.

POA general secretary John Clinton said his organisation has been informed any potential offer is still with the Department of Finance and therefore has not yet been passed on to the representative body. Mr Clinton and the Irish Prison Service agreed yesterday that negotiations were continuing.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell issued a 90-day deadline for agreement at the POA conference three months ago. This expires today. Mr Clinton said: “even if agreement is reached on a package at the negotiations - this package will have to be placed before our membership by way of ballot.”