Prison officers in Northern Ireland today threatened to stop working overtime in a dispute over their latest pay increases.
Mr Finlay Spratt, chairman of the Prison Officers Association (POA), accused the British Government of not honouring a pay deal guaranteeing inflation-proof pay increases.
He said the pay rise for 2004/5 recommended by the Prison Service Pay Review Body earlier this year was 1.635 per cent - well below inflation.
Prison officers withdrew their goodwill today by refusing to arrive early, leading to a delay in taking some prisoners to court.
Mr Spratt warned that their action could escalate. "We could withdraw overtime completely. If we do that the prison service will collapse," he added.
A Northern Ireland Prison Service spokesman confirmed some prisoners were delayed in reaching court this morning, but added they had received no official notification of any action from the POA.
PA