Prison Service restores union rights after 11 years

Full trade union rights have been restored to prison officers in England, Scotland and Wales, the government has announced.

In line with a commitment made by former home secretary David Blunkett at the Prison Officers Association (POA) conference in 2003, parliament has disapplied Section 127 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994, which banned prison officers from striking.

Prisons and probation minister Paul Goggins said: “This is the culmination of much hard work between the POA and the Prison Service… which allows me to restore full trade union rights.”

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Prison Service personnel director, Gareth Hadley, said: “This is a significant step forward in our partnership with the POA.

“I look forward to continuing the constructive work with all our unions to deliver business change and improved performance.”