Prison workers vote for strikes

More than 1,000 prison workers have opted for strike action

About 1,500 prison workers have voted in favour of strikes in a long-running dispute over pay.

Their union Amicus said staff in the prison service in England and Wales had rejected a 1% pay offer.

A union spokesman said they had a mandate for industrial action but appealed to the prison service to resume negotiations.

The workers are responsible for a range of tasks in prisons, including searching prisoners.

They also maintain electricity, gas and other services.

If strikes go ahead they would be the first among the maintenance workers for more than 25 years.

An Amicus spokesman said: "Our members have shown their dissatisfaction and we now have a clear mandate.

"We are urging the prison service to return to the negotiating table and to reach a settlement that recognises the contribution our members make to the service."

Shadow Prisons Minister Cheryl Gillan later said: "This is the latest crisis to hit the prisons service under Labour.

"Overcrowding has reached chronic levels, and attacks on prison officers have soared.

"Although we very much hope a strike can be avoided, the government must take the blame for the loss of confidence which their failed policies have created."