Prison officers ‘furious’ over medal snub

GMB says that thousands of private prison and court officers are furious after being denied a medal.

The union reports that the government has announced a coronation medal will be given to 400,000 workers, including members of the prison service.

But, the union says, it will only be awarded to publicly-employed prison staff, making those employed by private contractors because of outsourcing ineligible to receive it.

Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said: “Our members working for private contractors across the prison and courts service are rightly furious.

“Ministers are discriminating against workers in private industries they have themselves privatised.”