The largest UK union in the sector, representing more than 30,000 prison, correctional and secure psychiatric workers, has called on retired prison officers ‘not to apply for, accept or facilitate temporary appointments which would undermine the legitimate industrial action being taken by their colleagues’.
A job advert for Guernsey Prison was posted last Thursday, offering contracts for three-month immediate deployment to the island, with the potential to extend.
Retired UK prison officers are being actively recruited through a private agency to undertake temporary roles at Les Nicolles, while local prison officers, represented by the Unite union, undertake industrial action in response to long-standing concerns over pay, staffing, recruitment, retention and increasing workplace pressures.
National chairman of the POA Mark Fairhurst said the organisation stood shoulder to shoulder with prison officers in Guernsey.
‘The POA has written directly to its members urging them not to participate in any recruitment exercise designed to replace workers taking lawful industrial action,’ he said.
‘The union has also sent a formal message of solidarity to prison officers in Guernsey and their recognised trade union, reaffirming its commitment to the principles of unity across the trade union movement.
‘Prison officers undertake one of the most demanding roles in public service, maintaining the safety and security of prisons and the wider public in increasingly challenging circumstances.
‘The POA believes the concerns raised by prison officers in Guernsey deserve to be addressed through meaningful dialogue.’
The job advert seeks candidates with proven experience who can manage a diverse prisoner population, including young offenders up to category B, with potential short-term Category A exposure.
The States is offering to pay £21.25 an hour for a 39-hour week, with a tax-free daily allowance of £11.29 to help with essentials while in the island. Flights and accommodation would be paid for, including for a week of induction and training.
It is not known how many officers it was looking to recruit.
Les Nicolles is currently the busiest it has been so far this year. As of last Friday, there were 91 prisoners, 60 of whom were Category B, with no Category A.
POA general secretary Steve Gillan said that chronic staffing shortages, difficulties recruiting and retaining experienced staff, increasing workplace pressures and a lack of proper recognition are challenges that affect prison services everywhere.
‘Workers never take industrial action lightly.
‘It is always a last resort after sustained efforts to have genuine workplace concerns addressed,’ he said.
‘Employers should be engaging constructively with their workforce to resolve disputes rather than seeking temporary labour to dilute the impact of lawful industrial action.
‘The POA executive strongly urges retired members not to apply for, accept, promote, or otherwise co-operate with the recruitment of temporary prison officers intended to cover the duties of employees engaged in industrial action at Guernsey Prison.’
A UK prison officer with Guernsey connections said he ‘could not believe’ that the States was trying to bring in officers from the UK. He said that it would struggle even without the union’s involvement, as the pay rates were ‘not realistic’.
‘The States of Guernsey have made a major mistake,’ he added.
Dave Le Ray, States director of operations, justice & regulation, yesterday confirmed that in line with ensuring business continuity and support for existing staff, the use of temporary resources was being explored to support existing teams at the prison.
‘Any such short-term arrangements will ensure that capacity issues relating to current staffing numbers are covered while recruitment to permanent positions is completed. Existing staff have gone “above and beyond” in recent weeks, working overtime and additional hours to help cover shifts and this is intended to help ease the pressure,’ he said.
The temporary roles being offered are at the levels of the top pay band for prison officers, but were unlikely to include wider benefits afforded to permanent staff.
Mr Le Ray said the initiative was at an early stage and there were currently no temporary agency staff working at the prison.
One local woman who recently saw the prison advertising for staff and applied said that her experience made her question whether new local staff were actually wanted.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said she submitted her CV and was invited for a fitness test, however was due to be off-island and so requested alternative dates.
After chasing several times, she received an email saying that she had failed the fitness tests and had not been shortlisted.
‘If they are as desperate for staff as they make out then surely they would make things a little flexible for those that do apply,’ she said.
‘Employing from off-island would be far more expensive.’