Prison warders set to join ‘summer of discontent’

Thousands
of prison officers and airport baggage handlers across the UK could be striking
alongside firefighters, and national rail and tube workers this summer.

Negotiations
between the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) and the Home Office are close to
collapse because of disagreements over privatisation and pay and conditions.

The
POA said its members could start a series of walkouts if the Government did not
address concerns such as prison overcrowding.

More
than 4,000 baggage handlers at 17 airports could also be balloted on strike
action after rejecting a 2.5 per cent pay offer, warned union officials.

The
Transport & General Workers’ Union said the offer from services group
Aviance was unfair. Aviance employs handlers at more than a dozen UK airports including
Heathrow and Gatwick.

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The
latest threats come after firefighters, national rail and tube workers all
threatened strike action after the break down of negotiations with their
respective employers.

By
Paul Yandall