PRISON STAFF STRIKE

[lovejoy]

over 1000 staff at Dockyard in Plymouth are out on Friday!

[kenny01]

One group of workers along with the police I could never support.

Or me.

Just curious - why do you say that?

To my mind these guy's have the same issue as us - w*****s for bosses who don't give a toss for their workers.

It's not a job I could ever do....but any society needs prisons to lock up rapists, killers, etc and prisons need screws to look after the prisoners.

Anyway it all puts more pressure on the govt....might make them force our 2 muppets into a deal for us?

[IWW Fellow Worker]

One group of workers along with the police I could never support.

Or me.

Just curious - why do you say that?

To my mind these guy's have the same issue as us - w*****s for bosses who don't give a toss for their workers.

It's not a job I could ever do....but any society needs prisons to lock up rapists, killers, etc and prisons need screws to look after the prisoners.

Anyway it all puts more pressure on the govt....might make them force our 2 muppets into a deal for us?

Naturally I hope their strike causes as much disruption as possible for the system, but just like the CMA, they can get by without my support.

[Stormproof]

They've had more publicity in a few hours than we had in a month

[KawasakiKid]

One group of workers along with the police I could never support.

Explain yourself!!!!!!!!!------------A KWESTIONING KWAK

[catch]

Does anyone think Brown will call an election if so many workers are striking or talking about striking

Just done a search for News articles on Strikes on the BBC site and came up with this list of those who are either ballotting, talking about, or are actually on strike. The list I got was:

Postal Workers
Nurses
Police
Prison Officers Association
Local Government Workers
Atomic Energy Authority's workforce at Dounreay
Maintenance workers at Heathrow and Gatwick airports
S&N UK's Berkshire brewery
London Underground Workers
ROMEC
About 700 mental health workers in Manchester
The Orkney Ferries
Electricians at Heathrow Terminal 5
Scotland's Cumbernauld Theatre
Welwyn Hatfield Council's housing maintenance administration team
Bolton Council Workers

So there is a groundswell going on.

Some of these linkified:
Heathrow Security Staff next month
Orkney ferries - rejected 3.5%
Dounreay nuclear power station - strike called off, big ballot result though
still a backlog in Watford!
few hundred at Scottish and Newcastle brewery
Liverpool museum staff

Not directly related but some kind of cabbie wildcat last weekend - four days - in Coventry:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cove ... 957415.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cove ... 954507.stm

[Spartacus]

One group of workers along with the police I could never support.

Explain yourself!!!!!!!!!------------A KWESTIONING KWAK

It's a big picture, but putting it as simply as I can. I won't support anyone who takes the liberty of another individual away from them.Prison warders are part of the oppressive state.I don't support the state so it follows that I won't support the punishment wing of the state.

The whole question of prisons and prisoners and crime and punishment/rehabilitation is an emotive subject and one which I don't particularly want to get into a big debate about.

Prisons don't work,we're locking up more and more people for the pettiest of crimes when non custodial sentences would be more appropriate, we need to look at different ways of dealing with non violent criminals who are not a serious threat to society.

It's a farce that the answer to the ever increasing prison population is to build more prisons and enact new laws that will put more people in prison.

P.S.
Don't get me started on privately run prisons.

[socialist]

I support them. At the end of the day, they're still workers like everyone else. Only they have to wear a uniform. It's true that their role is part of the state, but I'd say there's lots of people who in their day-to-day jobs have to do some things which go against their principles. People who work for the council refusing people for housing benefits, Job Centre staff kicking people off benefits, traffic wardens, immigration officials, and so on. However, it's one thing to say that we oppose the capitalist state and another thing to oppose state-employed workers taking strike action. If the trade union movement doesn't support them, they will be isolated and see their interests being defended by the Tories who, in a reactionary way, simply say there should be more prisons built.

Under a different society in which working people decide what's going on, we could provide decent jobs, pay, training and working conditions so most people who turn to crime now wouldn't commit crimes and feel as though they have an interest in society. There'll still be a need for prisons though, even under a socialist society, I definitely wouldn't want paedophiles or other dangerous criminals on the streets. However, thanks to New Labour, a lot of the criminals in prisons are drug addicts or people with psychiatric problems. They need medical help, but Labour just wants to cut back on health services, because they put money before people. And still, the major trade unions in Britain give money to the Labour Party. Madness.

http://www.socialistparty.org.uk

[BELIAL]

I support them. At the end of the day, they're still workers like everyone else. Only they have to wear a uniform. It's true that their role is part of the state, but I'd say there's lots of people who in their day-to-day jobs have to do some things which go against their principles. People who work for the council refusing people for housing benefits, Job Centre staff kicking people off benefits, traffic wardens, immigration officials, and so on. However, it's one thing to say that we oppose the capitalist state and another thing to oppose state-employed workers taking strike action. If the trade union movement doesn't support them, they will be isolated and see their interests being defended by the Tories who, in a reactionary way, simply say there should be more prisons built.

Under a different society in which working people decide what's going on, we could provide decent jobs, pay, training and working conditions so most people who turn to crime now wouldn't commit crimes and feel as though they have an interest in society. There'll still be a need for prisons though, even under a socialist society, I definitely wouldn't want paedophiles or other dangerous criminals on the streets. However, thanks to New Labour, a lot of the criminals in prisons are drug addicts or people with psychiatric problems. They need medical help, but Labour just wants to cut back on health services, because they put money before people. And still, the major trade unions in Britain give money to the Labour Party. Madness.

http://www.socialistparty.org.uk

Spot on

[Wild Cat]

As much as many people feel they are doing a controversial job somebody has to do it and therefore I believe we should be behind them.As belial said we do not want them to side with the tories.

No matter what society or government is in power you still need prisons as there will always be criminals that's just human nature and you will never change that.

The fact that Brown says the strikes are illegal and re-enforces his staggered pay rises should not come as a surprise to anyone as the government will never back the strikers or even stay neutral.

The recent strikes have shown that workers are fed up with below inflation pay rises and worsening conditions year in year out whilst corporate profits break records,so now we must seize the chance to better our standard of living.

[strangler]

One group of workers along with the police I could never support.

Explain yourself!!!!!!!!!------------A KWESTIONING KWAK

I won't support anyone who takes the liberty of another individual away from them.Prison warders are part of the oppressive state.I don't support the state so it follows that I won't support the punishment wing of the state.
Prisons don't work,we're locking up more and more people for the pettiest of crimes when non custodial sentences would be more appropriate, we need to look at different ways of dealing with non violent criminals who are not a serious threat to society.
It's a farce that the answer to the ever increasing prison population is to build more prisons and enact new laws that will put more people in prison.

If you don`t take away their liberty for starters, how are you going to stop them re-offending in the meantime? I suppose we could send them all on holiday. If anything the reverse seems to be the case. Look at how many people (that should be locked up) escape prison sentences (or get shorter sentences than they should) for all sorts of crimes. Why? Because the prisons are full to bursting point and there`s nowhere to put them.

[jafferpants]

SPARTACUS IT THAT ATTITUDE THAT GOT THIS COUNTRY IN THE STATE IT'S NOW IN. I PREFER FACT'S RATHER THAN OPINION'S SO HERE'S ONE IN ANSWER TO YOUR STATEMENT " PRISONS DONT WORK". THE RE-OFFENDING RATE FOR PEOPLE GIVEN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS IS APP- 80%. THE RE-OFFENDING RATE FOR PEOPLE GIVEN MORE THAN FIVE YEAR'S IS APP-38%. YOU DO THE MATHS. THIS COUNTRY IS GOING DOWN THE PAN QUICKER THAN MY s**t AFTER A CURRY UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE SOON I DREAD TO THINK WHERE IT WILL END UP.

[IWW Fellow Worker]

I wouldn't support them because having been involved with supporters of victims of mis-carriages of justice campaigns in the past, I've heard exactly how they treat anyone who maintains their innocence.

[ROCKY]

ive a mate who works as a warder and the funny thing is 90 per cent of them say they are innocent,the rest like to boast about what they have done

[L Tommo]

I didnt want to get involved in this topic as ive mixed feelings over as i said before.. BUT i have very strong feelings on both sides. I have been brought up in the East End and old bill are the enemy... Prison is something that had treated many good people in a way that many couldnt realise.
Now the word "GOOD PEOPLE" To some on here and in the public might seem a stupid word to use but i use it as in people who have morals and wouldnt steal or rob or hurt the public or "there own". Im not harping back to the "GOOD OL DAYS" attitude and painting all old crooks as salt of the earth.. But there WAS a inbred history of in my family and communtity of a "NEVER GRASS OR TALK TO THE OLD BILL" Mentality.. Wrongly or rightly it is there in my make up now.. I wont go in to names or people but because Of when I got Burgled a good few years ago, when i was questioned by the old bill i was treated like shite. And accused nigh on of doing it myself.... HONEST.. All because of people i know and family and friends that the old bill knew.... I dont have to tell anything personal about me But i will... I HAVENT A CRIMINAL RECORD... But many i know have .. Like many on here must know people who have.... Well ive rambled so back to the point.... Crime against The public and crimes as discusting as rape and child porn and the like should be stamped on FULL STOP... NO QUARTER... Now im not gonna get into a debate on What crime is a fair one... As there are all victims in any crime.. But there is a difference.... And i couldnt be a screw as it would be against everything ive been brought up with... I wouldnt like to do there job either as its a shite job in my book... More stress and pressure than i would like. But i know there has to be people who do this job.... FACT..
Now backing them in a strike??????? As i said before... The people just do a job many wouldnt do... And many who do it dont agree with the system they work under... Like US.... There are moral questions on both sides... I Know one of the Birmingham Six Sons and how the establishment treated there family.... Im gutted over this... Im not political or religious but there was a miscaridge of justice and it was deliberate...
So on this point ANYTHING BACKING THE SYSTEM IS WRONG.. Now comes the other point i have.. As a postie i dont agree with most of the actions of RM.. Its still my choice to work for RM and my rights should be upheld inside the union and as the POL isnt a Union as such they have a body and rules much as we have. THEY DESERVE A FAIR PAY STRUCTURE AS ANY OTHER... SO SHOULD I BACK THEM....????

I will think long and hard about this...

out