Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Labour Party conference last week, a senior member of the union and its national chairman reminded delegates that they have a mandate for direct action, despite it being illegal for POA members to go on strike.

John Hancock, the representative for London and Kent on the POA national executive committee, said at a fringe event hosted by the PCS union: “We’ve got a very, very clear mandate that if [the government] privatise one more of our prisons we will go out [on strike], and I know this union will go out.”

He added that: “The stupid situation is that if the Prison Officers’ Association takes any sort of action we’re breaking the law; we’re almost going to be modern-day Tolpuddle Martyrs.”

National chairman of the POA, Colin Moses, then echoed his comments, saying: “Tell that to Mr Maude, by the way”.

Cabinet office minister Francis Maude has been negotiating with civil service trade unions, including the POA, on the separate issue of civil service redundancy pay.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “It is unlawful to induce prison staff to go on strike. This is because it puts staff, prisoners and the public at risk.”

Written by Joshua Chambers