Posted August 30, 200717 yr Yesterday, thousands of Prison Officers held a wild-cat strike over pay and conditions.. As far as I'm concerned they are totally justified, despite the hassles caused, because they're being completely messed around with.. An independent pay review body recommended a 2.5% increase, the Govt, playing their usual games of silly buggers, are only going to reward 1.5% in April and the other 1% in November. The excuse? "To keep down inflation". Considering that there have been no less than FIVE interest rate hikes on mortgages in the past year, what real worth is a 1.5% rise...? Prison Officers have had to endure two years of below-inflation pay-rises, so in real terms, they are actually LOSING money while still being expected to put their lives in danger every day they go to work.. This is, I feel, nothing short of a scandal. The Police Force seems to get everything it wants from this Govt, so why shouldn't the Prison Service expect the same courtesy..? Are they not dealing with the same violent criminals the Police do..? The Govt seems to think it can run the prisons on the cheap.. With prison populations going up, this is surely totally unrealistic... Put it this way - would any of US do the job of a Prison Officer...?
August 30, 200717 yr Would MP's ever grant themselves that sort of pay deal ? would they even grant themselves 2.5% ? hell would freeze over before that happened Screws got the same pay rise as nurses did but you don't see nurses going on strike so while I sympathise with the screws going on strike helps nobody, presumably police had to man the prisons yesterday ? that puts police in more danger and means less police on the streets fighting crime The screws have a case, yes they deserve more money but going on strike is unhelpful
August 30, 200717 yr Author Would MP's ever grant themselves that sort of pay deal ? would they even grant themselves 2.5% ? hell would freeze over before that happened Screws got the same pay rise as nurses did but you don't see nurses going on strike so while I sympathise with the screws going on strike helps nobody, presumably police had to man the prisons yesterday ? that puts police in more danger and means less police on the streets fighting crime The screws have a case, yes they deserve more money but going on strike is unhelpful Oh come on Craig.. What the hell are people supposed to do then when they're being so totally fukked-over...? And, nurses have gone on strike in the past in case you didn't remember, as have Firemen... Don't you think that workers have any rights at all then...? This is the first time that Prison Officers have gone on strike. Ever. They've clearly been pushed too far by this Govt, it's clearly about a bit more than just pay that's underlying here, the Prison Service as a whole is in an utter shambles, this is just the straw that breaks the camel's back as I see it, and I totally support the strike. And, police didn't actually replace the screws in prisons, Governors had to put prisons on total Lockdown. Shows just how important a job prison officers do dunnit...? They should be getting the same sort of pay grades and benefits as the Police, end of story....
August 30, 200717 yr Apart from wages wasn't this strike also to do with the fact that the govourment seem to give the prisoners better treatment than the officers? For instance Last night i heard on the radio that a inmate at a young offenders prison who tried to kill himself was awarded £500,000 yet the officer who saved him got nothing..
August 30, 200717 yr mortgage rates have risen, but when they fall would you expect the screws to take a pay cut?... sorry but i have not much sympathy for them, they are on a bloody good wage (18k-30k).
August 30, 200717 yr My aunty and uncle are both prison officers but i havent spoke to them properly about what went on yet, apparently my uncle was on sky news and gave 3 speechs but i missed it because i was at work :lol:
August 30, 200717 yr mortgage rates have risen, but when they fall would you expect the screws to take a pay cut?... sorry but i have not much sympathy for them, they are on a bloody good wage (18k-30k). Is that not quite a poor wage these days (particularly if you live in the South East of England)? I only ask because a relative of mine earns £28,000 for driving a fork lift truck around a cardboard box factory. And I doubt he is at daily risk of assault the way prison officers are. Another relative of mine walked out with £33,000 last year for working in a call centre. :wacko: Edited August 30, 200717 yr by Jupiter9
August 30, 200717 yr I should just say, Gordon Brown might have bigger problems on his hands. The Civil Service is currently being balloted on strike action because of the pathetic pay offer we've just been 'awarded'. :arrr:
August 30, 200717 yr mortgage rates have risen, but when they fall would you expect the screws to take a pay cut?... sorry but i have not much sympathy for them, they are on a bloody good wage (18k-30k). Have you ever tried looking after 112 prisoners with 5 Officers? Not an easy job with governors more interested in prisoner welfare than your own? A close member of my family is a Prison Officer, he currently is owed 63 hours over the last few months of his own time that has been put into the job. He does not get overtime, however it is common practise for these hours to be taken off time in lieu which you are very lucky to get because of staff shortages. I frequently get phone calls to say that he will be home late from work because he has had to pay a visit to the hospital when he gets hurt on duty. :( Unsocialable hours, regularly goes out at night to escort prisoners to hospital, not always in his shift pattern. More hours to add to his promised time in lieu! Interesting fact I learnt today from the POA: Prison Officers are owed 6 million pounds in time off in lieu which the prison service doesn’t have. The strike was not just about pay, it was about working conditions, staff shortages, low morale. Despite this, he enjoys the job and I respect what Prison Officers do. Btw, Police officers do not go into prisons, they patrol the outside. On this strike, the Governors had to put up with for one day what Prison Officers have to put up with every day. I think they forget this. A friend of ours earns £35,000 for driving a train, he doesn’t risk daily assault.
August 30, 200717 yr Guess they pay even less up here :o http://www.sps.gov.uk/default.aspx?documen...D0-D30795C475E4
August 30, 200717 yr As much as I feel they should earn a bit more,as it is a somewhat dangerous job, depending on what prison they work in, at the end of the day they chose that career, no-one forced them too. If its that bad look for a safer, better paid job, its not impossible. As mentioned previously, you could earn more driving a fork lift truck or a bus. Just noticed they get a better pension than me , and a lot more holidays :huh:
August 31, 200717 yr Fair play the Screws They deserve at least a 50% pay rise for what they do. Why isnt Gordon Brown stopping all these yuppies in the city & fat cat directors earning £1,000,000 bonuses for doing f*** all ?l <_< How isnt that bad for inflation?
August 31, 200717 yr guys... i never said, or even implied, that their job was easy! however they chose to do it, they werent forced. its nothing new to have staggered payments and if thats what the agreement was then they havnt a leg to stand on! they ARE well paid as wages go, they earn more then me and i live most comfortably! there are some stupid remarks here too... giving them 50% rises <_< like, whos going to pay for THAT? the magic money fairey? then all the other public sector workers would claim comparable rises and inflation would boom. they should simply get on with their chosen careers and take the money thank you. ive no time for most whinging union $h!t stirrers.
August 31, 200717 yr Author guys... i never said, or even implied, that their job was easy! however they chose to do it, they werent forced. its nothing new to have staggered payments and if thats what the agreement was then they havnt a leg to stand on! they ARE well paid as wages go, they earn more then me and i live most comfortably! there are some stupid remarks here too... giving them 50% rises <_< like, whos going to pay for THAT? the magic money fairey? then all the other public sector workers would claim comparable rises and inflation would boom. they should simply get on with their chosen careers and take the money thank you. ive no time for most whinging union $h!t stirrers. Great attitude to take there Rob... I thought you were the one who was all for the "working man" and everything.. Or does that apply only to your blessed "tradesmen" who quite often overcharge people for their work...? <_< I never suggested that Prison Officers receive 50% pay rises (although, considering the job they do, they would certainly deserve it..), merely that they be given a pay rise in line with inflation, and that they should have the same level of resources, wages and benefits as the Police force does, seeing as how they basically do the same sort of job in effect. Anything else is bang out of order... And 18-30K is really nothing these days, especially in London and the SE, and considering how dangerous the job is, it's a bit of an insult when you consider that a tube driver who just sits on his arse and pulls a sodding lever gets paid MORE than a Prison Officer, teacher, doctor or a Fireman. And dont get me started on some of these Fat Cat businessmen and Hospital "administrators"..... <_< <_< Just saying "oh, but they choose to do the job" is not an excuse for the Govt to shaft them. AT ALL. You should be praising people who are willing to work in the Public Sector, not excusing the Govt for dumping all over them, the prison service is criminally under-resourced compared to the Police Force.. If it was Thatcher or the Tories instead of your blessed sodding "Labour Party" dumping all over these guys, you wouldn't be criticising "whingeing union sh!t stirrers".. Put it this way mate, if no one actually did "choose" to do the job, then what..? You want more violent criminals released onto the streets then presumably, seeing as how nobody would be there to actually keep them under lock and key.... -_-
August 31, 200717 yr scott... im all for the working man, no matter what his trade is, from the road sweeper to the honest boss. im against moaners and whingers going on about petty arguments. i didnt imply that it was YOU who went on about 50% pay rise :). i dont like skivers, takers, people who dont play the game... again from the lowest position to the very highest.
August 31, 200717 yr Author scott... im all for the working man, no matter what his trade is, from the road sweeper to the honest boss. im against moaners and whingers going on about petty arguments. I dont call this a "petty argument" though Rob, as I said, and Independent review body recommended the original pay rise, it's the Govt, more specifically Gordon Brown, that's being petty about it... And you can hardly call Prison Officers "skivers".... Trouble's been brewing here for a long time, the Govt has chosen to ignore the fact that fundamental problems clearly exist within the Prison system, this situation with pay has merely been the catalyst for it all blowing up in their faces.... These are the reasons why I support the action the Officers took, they didn't do it lightly, they've just had enough and have been pushed too far, simple as.
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