Prison overtime talks break down
The prospect of industrial action in Irish jails drew nearer tonight as talks between warders’ representatives and Prison Service management ended without agreement.
Both sides left the Labour Relations Commission with no plans in place for further talks.
Discussions on the dispute about overtime payments for prison officers have taken place against the backdrop of declining industrial relations over the last few months.
The talks were halted last week after the Prison Officers’ Association accused the Prison Service of withdrawing concessions it was willing to grant.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell has also angered prison staff by pressing ahead with the closure of two prisons in a bid to save money while the dispute rumbled on.
Mr McDowell’s intention to halve the €64m annual bill for prison officers’ overtime has infuriated staff.
He has offered warders a one-off payment of over €12,000 and an average pay rise of €10,300 each, in exchange for working up to 360 hours overtime per year.
But prison officers are concerned that under the new arrangements they would be obliged to work at short notice.
The POA blamed Prison Service management for collapsing the talks.
“The unwillingness of management to move forward from a document, which had been rejected by 99.4% of our members, regrettably led to the collapse of talks,” a spokesman said.
“The Prison Officers’ Association entered into these discussions with every intention of finding a solution.
“Clearly management had other intentions and their decision to close prisons while talks were ongoing confirms this.
“Management wanted prison officers to agree to work a 46-hour week and be available on standby to work additional hours without pay, especially in emergencies.
“Being compulsorily available for unpaid ’call-ins’ at the whim of management is simply not acceptable.”
The POA said it would be consulting with members before deciding on its next step.
However, a Prison Service spokesman insisted the talks had not broken down, but had been “adjourned indefinitely due to the gap between the two sides“.
He said the Labour Relations Commission had advised both sides to consider how the impasse could be broken and insisted it remained available to mediate.
The spokesman also rubbished claims that warders at Wheatfield Prison in west Dublin had begun a work-to-rule regime after warders only clocked in at 2pm after their lunch breaks concluded.
He said officers held a meeting outside the prison at lunchtime but returned by 2pm and and visits to the jail were not affected.
The Curragh Prison in Co Kildare, which largely housed elderly sex offenders, closed last week. Its 80 prisoners have been transferred to Portlaoise Prison.
A number of prisoners have also been transferred from Spike Island Prison in Cork to St Patrick’s Institution, Dublin and Limerick prison ahead of its final closure on February 9.
