Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is at odds with the whole trade union movement on the campaign to restore Prison Officers’ right to strike. Widespread criticism of Lammy’s position comes after he wrote to the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) to flatly reject their request to repeal Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994) and restore Prison Officers’ basic right to withdraw their labour. 

The POA had written to the Justice Secretary after the European Committee on Social Rights reported that the ban on industrial action by Prison Officers infringes their human rights and that the UK is in breach of its obligations under the European Social Charter. 

As the POA gathers for its conference this week, it has won backing for its campaign from the entire trade union movement. The TUC, GFTU and Trade Union Coordinating Group, which collectively represent every trade union in the country, have written to the government calling for the restoration of the Right to Strike for prison officers for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

These new developments have given impetus to the long-running campaign, which will ultimately see the Labour Government forced to defend Tory anti-trade union legislation in court and in direct opposition to the country’s trade unions.   

Steve Gillan, POA General Secretary said: “The stance taken by the Labour Government marks a new low in its relationship with the trade union movement. It is a betrayal of Prison Officers and ruptures any trust working people have in this government. If need be, we will see them in court where we will have the grotesque spectacle of a Labour government defending Tory anti-trade union legislation.

“However, there is still time for this government to see sense, change tack and restore our members’ basic human rights. In so doing they will send a strong message to the wider movement that Labour still represents the interests of working people. If they don’t, it will send the opposite message and they will continue to lose the support of Prison Officers and trade union members across the whole movement.”

Mark Fairhurst, National Chair of the POA said: “The ban on Prison Officers having the right to strike is a disgraceful attack on the fundamental right of our members to take industrial action to defend their jobs, pay and conditions.

“The POA will not flinch in pursuing every legal avenue to overturn this outrage. If Mr Lammy fails to address that appalling injustice we will see him in court where we are confident we will win our case.”