Prison officers told 'no pay settlement'

Prison officers' leaders have been told there will be no change in this year's pay settlement following talks with Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

Leaders of the Prison Officers' Association (POA) have met with Mr Straw and prison service officials for several hours in London to try to resolve the bitter row over pay which led to wildcat strikes.

Around 20,000 prison officers went on strike on Wednesday in protest at the Government's controversial decision to pay a 2.5 per cent wage rise in two stages.

The union has also been warning of an increase in assaults against staff as well as other problems linked to the rising prison population.

A joint statement by the POA and the Ministry of Justice said: "The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, emphasised to the POA that there can be no change in this year's pay settlement.

"The POA told him that they had no intention of further industrial action at this time but would continue to seek a resolution to the dispute."

The statement added: "Crucial talks are taking place in a bid to break the bitter pay row which have led to a wildcat strike by thousands of prison officers."

The Prime Minister has already issued a blunt message to prison officers that he will not back down over their staged pay deal.

Gordon Brown stood firm in the face of Wednesday's strike and insisted that staging public sector rises was "essential" to keep inflation under control.

He made it clear that the Government would not do anything which put economic stability "at risk."

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