Joe Humphreys
Representatives of the Prison Officers' Association are to meet today to consider whether to recommend industrial action over the Government's decision to implement new working arrangements without its consent.
The union's deputy general secretary, Mr Eugene Dennehy, said he could not pre-empt the outcome of the executive meeting, but "there is a view from our membership that is saying to us as a union that we should protect the right of our members to work a 39-hour week".
The meeting comes after last week's announcement by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, that he planned to close two prisons - starting on January 19th - because of the impasse in talks over cutting the prison officers' €60 million-plus overtime bill.
The Minister is already finalising contingency plans requiring the Defence Forces and the Garda to take over the running of the prisons in the event of a strike.
Mr Dennehy yesterday renewed his criticism of the move, saying the union had not threatened industrial action.
"We are trying to find a resolution through the talks, and so should the other side.
"Those talks are being reconvened (at the Labour Relations Commission) next Monday, and we are going into them in good faith."
Of the Government position, he said: "There must be a wider agenda going on here. Is the aim to break the union?"
He noted the new working arrangements would require staff to work a compulsory 46-hour week and remain almost continuously on call.
"People are hugely worried because they will have no control, or ownership, over their free time.
"This is going to make prison officers the prisoners of the system."
He noted prison staff had already been excluded from working-time directives, smoking regulations and other health and safety initiatives.
"Now we are being excluded from having reasonable family-friendly policies. It's not acceptable."
Defending his decision to face down the union over the issue, the Minister has described the existing overtime bill as "outrageous, immoral (and) unsustainable".
He said the closures, staff transfers and other changes to working arrangements being implemented this month were in order to avoid a possible financial crisis in the Prison Service.
As part of the cost-cutting plan, the Curragh detention centre is to close on January 19th, followed by Spike Island in Cork on January 31st.
In February, prison staff will leave Shelton Abbey prison and Loughan House, allowing them to become pre-release hostels run by non-prison service staff.