Greenhits outover prisonstaff bonusdeal

The Scottish Green Party has called out unfair pay deals to staff at HMP Perth.

Mark Ruskell, Green MSP for MidScotland and Fife, questioned why prison officers have recently received a pay bonus which was not extended to other staff in the prison service in Perth.

He added the staff were being left out of negotiations over pay and job roles, and said this “unfair” bonus has left staff at HMP Perth feeling undervalued and undermined.

Mr Ruskell put his questions to the Justice Secretary Michael Matheson MSP in Holyrood last week, and has called for a fairer deal for all prison staff.

He said: “I’ve had over 30 emails from local prisons staff who say there has been a fundamental misunderstanding of the roles they play in this important national service.

“This pay award unfairly distinguishes between those in uniform and those not, and doesn’t recognise the many highly qualified and dedicated staff who deal with prisoners day in day out in therapeutic and managerial roles.

“We were told a similar pay award in 2015 would be a one off as part of a modernisation review in the prisons service, but two years later the review is not complete and officers are receiving another pay-out.

“The Cabinet Secretary spoke of a ‘transformational programme’, which is very welcome, but he needs to acknowledge that this will affect all staff and not just officers.

“This unequal pay bonus sets an unfair precedent for future pay negotiations, and I call on the minister to make sure that all staff at Perth prison are represented and rewarded as we modernise our prison service.”