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by Lamiat Sabin
in Southport
POLICE and wardens united with prison officers yesterday for their fight against the vindictive Tory government.
Secure psychiatric hospital and detention facility wardens took to the stage on the second day of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) conference in Southport to rally support for fair wages.
And the Police Federation has aired its support to the prison officers.
Like prison officers, the police force is bound by strict law from taking industrial action — however it backs the challenge against low pay, long hours and life-threatening conditions within the criminal justice system.
Shaun Grant, a delegate from Feltham Young Offenders Institution, called for a 2 per cent pay boost, as the 1 per cent “rise” implemented by the government fails to bring wages in-line with inflation.
In his speech, he referred to Prime Minister David Cameron as a “natterjack toad” — in reference to the Southport mayor’s opening speech on Tuesday which mentioned that the rare species is flourishing in the coastal town’s sand dunes.
“The natterjack toad is in London, for the next five years anyway,” Mr Grant said.
Prisons have been told to submit “evidence” that higher pay will be better for officers’ morale before the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB) could consider it — and “performance-based” excuses have also been served to the police force.
“It was the bankers that caused the problem, not police and security workers,” said Police Federation general secretary Andy Fittes.
“We are not asking for the Earth. We just want to be treated fairly and be given a decent wage.”
The federation is in the first cycle of a new pay review body and is “keen to monitor the progress” of the POA, as it announced on Tuesday a new decision to sever links with PSPRB to negotiate with the government directly.
Staff at Broadmoor secure hospital also voiced solidarity as psychiatric wardens — who are part of the same association, but are allowed to strike — are also feeling the crush of Tory spending cuts and stricter anti-union laws.
POA general secretary Steve Gillan urged members to organise themselves to win the pay and conditions they deserve.
He said: “They are aiming for the jugular and we have got to be ready to fight. Be brave, be bold, as sometimes the best form of defence is to attack.
“Build alliances with the Police Federation and join forces with them to engineer the best plan for the criminal justice system.”
