DESPITE the Tories’ anti-trade union legislation which prevents my colleagues in England and Wales from taking lawful industrial action, the only barrier that exists in Scotland preventing Scottish prison officers from withdrawing their labour and bringing the prisons and court system to a grinding halt is the hope that common sense will prevail. 

Without doubt all public-sector workers need and deserve a pay rise — a rise that not only helps deal with basic inflationary pressures but also a concerted approach by the Scottish government to public-sector pay that provides the necessary funding to address the earnings lost through the years of austerity.  

Prison officers are no different. Indeed, the many years of austerity pay have only served to accelerate an erosion of not only pay and terms of conditions of service but of the recognition and regard afforded to them as to other disciplined uniform services.