Prison staff want right to strike

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The TUC Congress said full trade union rights should be given to prison staff, including being able to take industrial action.

Thousands of prison officers walked out last month in a bitter row over pay, which led to the Government taking legal action against the Prison Officers' Association (POA).

The union's general secretary Brian Caton said on Wednesday he could not understand why a Labour Government was refusing to give the POA the right to take legitimate strike action.

"We are not saying we want to go on strike, but we want the right to do that if we are being abused.

"We want mutual understanding, respect and trust," he told delegates at the Brighton conference.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, supported the call and said the prison officers were right to go on strike.

The conference called for prison officers to be given the right to restrict or withdraw their labour.

More talks between the POA and the Government are due to be held in an attempt to resolve the pay row.

Prison officers recently took action in protest at the staging of a 2.5% pay rise.