Outcome due in prison officers’ overtime ballot
17/08/2005 - 08:00:46The outcome of the latest prison officers' ballot on their long-running overtime dispute with the Government is due to be released later today.
The workers have been voting on a deal that would see them receive a one-off payment and a pay rise in return for agreeing to work a certain amount of overtime every week.
The Prison Officers Association has recommended acceptance of the package.
However, its members have already rejected similar proposals from the Government which had the backing of the POA executive.
The proposed changes are designed to almost halve the annual prison overtime bill of around €60m.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell has threatened to close some prisons and privatise the prison escort service if the POA rejects his latest offer.
