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Victory to the prison workers

29th August 2007 in Politics

The prison workers are today out on strike. Most of the press are blasting the strike action as being illegal, and will cause chaos in the prison system.

Why are the prison workers on strike? Because 9 out of 10 members of the Prison Officers Association voted to strike, they're being run into the ground like so many other public service workers, privatisation looms on the horizon, this year they were given a pitiful 1.5% pay rise in April, and are due to get 1% in October. This is utterly pathetic, this is the fifth year running they've had a pay cut, due to below inflation pay "rises".

All the Tory press can say is its illegal and the government is taking the Prison Officers Association to court over its illegal action. Let's not forget why it's illegal. It's illegal because the Tory government made it illegal in 1993. So forgive me if I consider such laws to be oppressive and worthy of being thrown out onto the scrap heap of bourgeois reaction. Labour's 12 month notice is a joke.

The way they are being treated by this so called Labour government is disgusting.

Tags: prisons, trade unions
This entry was posted by Paul and is filed under Politics. Tags: prisons, trade unions
4 comments »

4 comments

Comment from: Anthony Visitor

Anthony

They have similar laws in the US if you work for the federal government. State employees can strike but Federal employees can only picket. They must go to work when they are scheduled. My father was a the foreman of the union of postal workers.

They did receive a 2.5% raise for the year that is not too bad though. Standard raise is usually 1-5% generally most people only receive 3% or less.

29th August 2007 @ 13:56 Reply to this comment

Comment from: M Visitor

M

Striked are not "illegal". The right to strike is a fundamental human right. People should be free to withdraw their Labour if they feel (and have just grounds) that they are being mistreated. All power to the Prison officers' elbow. Maybe now someone will listen to the cries for help they have been making for years.

29th August 2007 @ 17:41 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Paul Member

Anthony a pay cut, due a below inflation pay increase is not acceptable. Especially with cost of living in the United Kingdom spinning out of control.

Such an act is nothing less than a slap in the face, especially when considering prison workers who are just being given a higher and higher work load as the prison population rises.

In this case however it's more than a slap in the face, its an all out offensive in an ongoing class war, a war which needs to be won, totally, with an indefinite general strike.

29th August 2007 @ 23:22 Reply to this comment

Comment from: Anthony Visitor

Anthony

A total and indefinite general strike? While I do agree that would probably prompt people to start changing policies I would say it would be more plausible they'd just outsource the jobs. Tell people from another country if they come and work we'll pay you X.

Of course if the system just got rid of non violent offenders then it would mean less workload. Less employees. More money for the average worker.

30th August 2007 @ 16:16 You are currently replying to this comment


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