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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 13 February 2009

Colin Moses and Simon Peters at the Holloway prison meeting

‘Turn-keys’: Prison staff urged to reject proposals

NATIONAL prison staff trade union leader Colin Moses warned of industrial action over planned new working practices at a packed meeting outside Holloway jail on Monday afternoon.
Several hundred prison officers who had been barred from holding a union meeting inside Holloway trooped outside to the car park in the rain at lunchtime to hear Mr Moses lambast Justice Minister Jack Straw for wanting to impose “draconian” conditions.
Prison Officers Association chairman Mr Moses, representing 30,000 members in 140 British prisons, called on staff to reject government plans to reform working practices that will mean extra cash for some senior members.
Under the proposals, a new tier of less-qualified prison officers would be employed – the equivalent of Police Community Support Officers – which it is claimed would result in the sacking of more experienced staff.
Mr Moses said: “We’re recommending that members reject these so-called reforms because what is offered is total de-skilling of prison staff and a return to staff being no more than turn-keys.
“It will not improve
re-offending figures.
“In fact it will make them worse and make prisons more dangerous.
“They’ve offered 30 pieces of silver, but we’re telling our people even in these harsh economic times to reject it.
“We’re saying that we need more skilled uniformed staff and not more bureaucrats or managers.”
As part of the plan, warders will have to give up “specialist allowances”, and will face extensive fitness tests each year.
Holloway POA branch secretary Simon Peters said: “Fitness testing is just another way of forcing out the older prison officers before they reach retirement.”

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