POA FIGHTS PRIVATISATION

Report from Winson Green Prison, Birmingham

POA members at Birmingham, Winson Green prison held a protest meeting on Friday  in response to the viscous privatisation plan for their prison, spelled out yesterday in parliament.

Lenny Shail and Nick brook-hart

Up to a hundred workers temporarily walked out of the prison after the meeting, to stand on the front steps as local branch secretary Brian Clarke addressed the media and held a short protest rally. Brian asked for a vote of confidence in the prison governor James Shanley, No hand was raised. Brian then asked for a vote of confidence in the directors and managers of the prison service, again no hand was raised.

Brian made it clear that the union is mandated to take industrial action up to and including strike action if a public prison went over to the private sector. With Similar meetings taking place around the country, further action would be discussed both locally and nationally with the POA NEC.

Workers at the prison were both emotional and militant in their reaction to the plans. The workers were proud of the service they provided to the public and the inmates, and warned of the consequences of the present attacks on the rights and conditions of the officers, inmates and public itself.

As one officer put it; �No one goes into this job to make a profit....the prison service is about care.�

The members were damning towards the Labour party. As one POA member put it; �No-ones failed this country more than this government, the previous government and the bankers. It was Jack Straw and Labour that started these attacks in 2009, what a despicable man.�

Officers were also determined to not just fight their battle, but to link it the struggle �To stop the war on public services and ordinary working people by the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour�

As one worker said �Saturday was just the start, we like every other ordinary working man and women will continue the fight against this government.�