Like the NHS, our prison service is at breaking point. Ongoing funding cuts and forced privatisations are destroying this critical public utility, making life intolerably dangerous for both staff and prisoners.
This morning, members of the Prison Officers Association (POA) union from across the country, including Leicester, took part in coordinated protests (not strikes, which are deemed illegal for prison staff) outside their prisons in defence of health and safety!
The POA General Secretary Steve Gillan said:
“The POA has engaged with the Employer and Ministers in an attempt to resolve issues, but they are paying lip service to the Health & Safety of my members their Human Rights, that of other workers in prisons and of course the prisoners in our care.”
The protests started at 7am and lasted until 1pm, with all workers going back to work after the POA chair Mark Fairhurst reported that the unions action had finally forced the government into “constructive talks” with them.
He added: “Today’s protest action will bring about immediate agreements to keep staff and prisoners safe.” This is brilliant news and their unified action once again provided concrete proof of how workers can win immediate concessions when they stand together against their bosses.
Now more than ever it is critical to support each and every worker and union taking action against this government of cutters. Chris Willars, the president of the Leicester and District Trades Union Council, was able to pop down to their local protest. As he reported on social media:
“I’ve just been up to the Leicester Prison picket line. The Prison Officers Association (POA) have called their members out because of rising levels of violence. They had 100% of their members walk out but have sent a minimum staffing level in to ensure safety. I brought a message of solidarity & an invitation to give us an update at our next meeting.”
This is what active working-class solidarity is all about.
The government seek to attack our public services, be they our schools, prisons, or health services, and will always spread lies and disinformation about any and all workers who seek to organise and fight-back against their onslaught. The government did the same to the Junior Doctors when they took strike action just a few years ago, and they have been doing the same to members of the civil service union (PCS) – of which Willars is a branch secretary.
Our collective strength however comes through our numbers and our willingness to fight for justice. And as ever, what the Tories and Blairites who oppose Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party are most scared of is a working-class that is organised democratically and willing to fight for socialist ideas.
Thoughts of a Leicester Socialist 