Two-day strike at 49 prisons begins tomorrow by UCU members over Covid health and safety concerns

Unprecedented strike action begins tomorrow (Tuesday) in prisons in England, the University and College Union (UCU) confirmed today.   

Around 600 UCU members working in prison education are set to walk out of 49 prison and young offender institutions* across England on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 May 2021. The walkouts have been called after over 68% of UCU members who voted in an industrial action ballot said they were prepared to take strike action over Covid health and safety concerns. 

The dispute centres around over Covid health and safety concerns and on-site provision. UCU is in discussions with Novus at ACAS, the government funded public body that tries to resolve workplace disputes. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 

‘Industrial action on this scale by prison educators is unprecedented, and is a reflection of the strength of feeling among our members both about their employer’s disregard of their health and safety, and repeated intimidation of our representatives by management. Novus needs to urgently listen to staff, stop intimidating our health and safety representatives, and withdraw the unfair complaints and investigations against them so that we can have meaningful health and safety discussions. 

‘Our members have a mandate for sustained industrial action. This begins tomorrow with a two-day walkout. Novus needs to stops its bullying behaviour if it wants to avoid any further escalations.’ 

* Full list of prisons and young offender institutes where staff are due to strike are: 

Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Altcourse 

HMP Birmingham 

HMP Brinsford 

HMP Brixton 

HMP Buckley Hall 

HMP Deerbolt Bowes 

HMP Doncaster 

HMP Durham 

HMP Featherstone 

HMP Hatfield/Lakes 

HMP Haverigg 

HMP Hewell 

HMP High Down 

HMP Holme House 

HMP Hull 

HMP Humber 

HMP Kirkham 

HMP Kirklevington 

HMP Lancaster Farms 

HMP Leeds 

HMP Lindholme 

HMP Liverpool 

HMP Northumberland 

HMP Oakwood 

HMP Onley 

HMP Pentonville 

HMP Preston 

HMP Risley 

HMP Rye Hill 

HMP Stafford 

HMP Swinfen Hall 

HMP Thameside 

HMP Wandsworth 

HMP Wealstun 

HMP Wormwood Scrubs 

HMP Wymott 

HMP/Young Offender Institution (YOI) Low Newton  

HMP/YOI Moorland/Lakes  

HMP/YOI Styal  

Her Majesty’s Young Offender Institution (HMYOI) Askham Grange  

HMYOI Cookham Wood  

HMYOI Feltham  

HMYOI Hindley  

HMYOI Isis  

HMYOI New Hall  

HMYOI Stoke Heath  

HMYOI Thorn Cross  

HMYOI Werrington  

HMYOI Wetherby