Prison officers look set to reject latest deal

PRISON officers look set to reject the proposed deal to end the long-running overtime dispute.

Senior prison sources have said there is a growing feeling that the vote, which has been recommended by the national executive of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), will be turned down.

"I don't think it will cross the line," one senior source close to the process said yesterday.

The deal involves replacing the current system with new working arrangements which will see each officers working on average 340 additional hours a year.

In return prison officers would receive an 8% increase in operational allowances linked to basic salary, a lump sum of €13,750, on average, per officer and a payment rate of 1.8 times the hourly wage for additional hours.

It was hammered out after 15 months of negotiations and public rows between Justice Minister Michael McDowell and the POA. It is expected to save €30m in overtime costs and help fund a north Dublin prison to replace Mountjoy.

The POA national executive council accepted the deal last February, describing it as a "major advance" on an offer overwhelmingly rejected by prison officers in October 2003.

Following that vote, Mr McDowell closed Curragh and Spike Island prisons, cutting the overtime bill from €60m to €45m.

A spokeswoman for Minister McDowell yesterday said he would introduce further cuts if the deal was rejected by the 3,000-plus members of the POA.

"The minister set out very clearly that the cost structure of the Prison Service presently in operation cannot continue and that failure to accept the deal currently on offer will have severe consequences."

In the event of a No vote, Minister McDowell will implement Plan B, which will include privatisation of the costly prison escort service and the removal of two institutions Shelton Abbey and Loughan House from the prison service.

The plan agreed last February between the POA and the Prison Service followed lengthy negotiations involving both the Labour Relations Commission and independent arbitrators.

Despite a 'hard sell' by the national executive in each of the institutions, POA officers were surprised by the negative reaction.

Prison sources said at least two major institutions are definitely against the deal, with the remaining institutions in the balance.

Those opposed to the deal include officers who have earned substantial money from the current overtime system over the years, those who do not want to work any overtime and retired officers who say there is nothing in the deal for them.

If the deal is rejected, the matter is likely to be referred by the national executive to the POA delegate conference in early May, which will be addressed by Minister McDowell.