PRISON officers have welcomed the 5 per cent pay award that government is offering in line with the Prison Service Pay Review Body’s recommendations.

But their union the POA warned it did not address the cumulative impact of pay cuts over the years and demanded collective bargaining on pay and conditions.

National chair Mark Fairhurst said the award “does, in a small way, reward the heroics of front-line prison officers and related grades for their herculean efforts managing a service in crisis.

“However, this pay award does not compensate for the 14 years of dwindling living standards suffered by our members.”

General secretary Steve Gillan said the POA was pleased ministers had accepted the review body’s recommendation, but “we need a complete overhaul of pay.

“We would much rather have collective bargaining on pay instead of this charade year on year. POA members deserve far more... this award will not stop staff leaving the Prison Service. “