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Prison officers slam strike ban
The POA prison officers’ union has slammed a High Court decision last month to permanently ban its members from taking strike action.
The Ministry of Justice’s application was in response to the POA calling on its members earlier this year to take action short of a strike and withdraw from carrying out certain voluntary tasks.
This led to an interim injunction requiring the POA to withdraw instructions to members.
Following the latest court ruling, the POA said it was disappointed and accused the government of failing to confront a situation in which lives are at risk.
Steve Gillan general secretary of the POA said: “The health and safety of our members and those we look after are vitally important and the prison service and government cannot hide behind the courts forever.”
The POA said that recent statistics show that 19 staff a day are assaulted in prisons in England and Wales. It is seeking leave to appeal the court’s decision.