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Prison officer dispute escalates

Prison officers in Northern Ireland have voted to increase industrial action, which could lead to them going on strike, BBC News has learned.

maghaberry gaolIt follows a dispute over disciplinary action and sick leave after the death of a prisoner on suicide watch.

Colin Bell hanged himself in Maghaberry jail last August while some staff were sleeping or watching television.

But, according to the Prison Officers Association, subsequent disciplinary action has extended to other officers.

In relation to sick leave, officers fear that under new procedures civil servants may now be able to decide when one of their number is well enough to return to work.

Prison officers have been operating a ‘work to rule’ since February, and now 71% of over 900 officers balloted have said yes to more action.

Finlay Spratt, from the Prison Officers Association (POA), says its members are in a determined mood.

“It’s too bad we have to go down this road. The vote is a terrible indictment of Prison Service management.”

However, the Prison Service has reacted angrily.

It has accused the POA of acting unlawfully in how it conducted the ballot.

Mark McGuckin, the Deputy Director of Finance and Personnel at the Prison Service, said the law forbids prison officers from striking.

“We aware that the POA were conducting a ballot, but we haven’t been officially informed that it was taking place,” he said.

“Regardless of this, prison officers are actually excluded from taking strike action.”

Mr McGuckin said the work to rule had already impacted negatively on the running of Maghaberry.

“It has impacted negatively on the constructive activity of prisoners through, for example, education and workshops,” he said.

“It has also impacted on the visits process and that’s a very important element of prison life for families who might have travelled quite a long way.”

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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