Army will keep jails running if wardens walk out
Monday November 09 2009
CONTINGENCY plans originally drawn up by senior Army officers to cope with a staffing crisis in the nation's jails if there is a major outbreak of swine flu will be put into action if prison wardens stage an all-out strike.
Military commanders expect that they will be called in to help run the jails if there is a staffing crisis.
But the contingency measures, which were compiled at regional level following a review of the likely difficulties at their local jails, were initially intended to cope with staff shortages as a result of swine flu.
The reviews have been completed and the plans are ready to be implemented, if required.
There is no indication, so far, that the prison officers will embark on drastic action in support of public sector protests against the financial cuts being imposed by the Government in next month's Budget, although there will be work stoppages in the jails.
Officers are currently completing a national ballot on a mandate for industrial action and the result is likely to be known at the end of the week. The result will almost certainly show overwhelming support in favour. It has been more than 21 years since the Prison Officers' Association last engaged in a lengthy all-out strike in the jails. That action lasted for a month and was the result of a lack of consultation over the introduction of new rosters in the prisons.
Since then, the prison officers have overseen a massive transformation in the service -- achieved as a result of years of negotiations between their association and the authorities.
This led to the elimination of overtime, which had been regarded as a scourge by both sides, and its replacement with an innovative annualised hours scheme which guaranteed certain pay levels while curbing overall costs.
The scheme was eventually introduced in July 2005 and, to the surprise of many observers, it has survived without any serious disruptions.
A minor hiccup last year over clocking-in arrangements at the top security prison in Portlaoise led to two one-hour stoppages. But otherwise, the prisons remained free of serious staff unrest despite mounting concerns about overcrowding -- particularly at Mountjoy -- and assaults on staff.
Now it looks as if a new era is about to be ushered in, and unless a compromise can be worked out in the coming weeks the prison officers are prepared to take industrial action to protect pay and allowances.
Unlike the gardai, prison staff have the right to go on strike and are affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).
So far, their campaign strategy against any cuts is focused on the national day of action on November 24 when the officers will play their part by staging a series of work stoppages in the jails.
They will not embark on an all-out strike on that date but their limited action may result in no services in some areas, such as the building division and other sections, which would not impact greatly on inmates.
Strike
If the courts are cancelled for the day because of staff action, the special prisoner escort corps is also likely to be rested for 24 hours.
The association's national executive will then decide its next move in consultation with ICTU. It is generally accepted that savings of some €30m have been achieved as a result of the overtime deal, but the McCarthy report is now signalling that the officers should agree to further reductions.
Colm McCarthy's An Bord Snip report recommended that another €15m in savings can be achieved by cutting their payroll costs. Allowances account for between 20pc and 22pc of an officer's pay and the staff have made it clear they will take whatever action is necessary to hold onto their current take-home pay levels.
"Nobody wants a protracted dispute", one veteran of the last long-running strike admitted last night. But he warned: "If we are forced into a corner, it could be lengthy. It could get bitter, and it could be very dirty."
- Tom Brady Security Editor
Irish Independent
