Prison officers plan further stoppages

PRISON officers are planning further work stoppages at jails across the country in the continuing row over clocking-in arrangements.

Prison warders staged their second one-hour work stoppage in jails yesterday, with two further protests planned for next week. The dispute centres on the introduction of new security measures to crack down on contraband being smuggled to inmates.

The Prison Officers’ Association says it supports increased security but insists a new system of clocking-in after staff are searched will lengthen their working day.

POA general secretary John Clinton said officers regretted the disruption.

“Nobody wants to be in a position where you have to take a work stoppage.

“But unfortunately this dispute was generated by the management when they unilaterally decided to move these clocks from the entrance of the prison to an area behind the staff searching,” he said.

“That in effect means we have to be searched on our own time and lengthen our working day, and that’s just not acceptable,” he said.

Management proposed staff be allowed an extra five minutes for security checks, but Mr Clinton said that was not enough time.

Officers nationwide staged a walk-out over a week ago.

The POA said it is open to third-party intervention to resolve the row.

Further stoppages are scheduled for next Wednesday and Friday.