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Prison officers vote to strike

PRISON OFFICERS have voted to take industrial action, up to and including a strike. 71% voted for action in an 83% turnout in the ballot.

The members of the Prison Officers Association (POA) are angry at government interference in their pay review body, which was introduced in 1993 when the union's trade union rights, including the right to strike, were removed.

The 2006 pay award of 1.6% was the final straw for the 15,000 POA members in 132 prisons who voted for action.

POA general secretary Brian Caton told the socialist: "Even though any strike will be illegal, our members have made it clear they won't allow legal niceties to get in their way in their struggle for better pay and conditions in the prisons."