PRISON officers want the right to strike, POA general secretary Steve Gillan insisted today as the union’s members discussed the ban on them taking industrial action.

The ban has led to the creation of the Health and Safety Protocol in 2019 to ensure that members can approach the union with their concerns without facing legal action under section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

Speakers at the meeting highlighted the problems arising from the legislation, noting that they can face prosecution for taking industrial action “even when the words [to do so] are not used” in correspondence with members.