Junior Prison Officers down tools over pay and staffing issues

0
767
front 3 hmp 1
The officers protested outside the prison yesterday (Observer media photo)
- Advertisement -

By Kisean Joseph

[email protected]

A number of Junior Prison Officers took industrial action outside His Majesty’s Prison (HMP) yesterday, citing unpaid salary increases and dangerous understaffing among other concerns.

“We’ve been promised money since November. October came, nothing. November came, nothing. December, nothing. It is February,” one of the protestors, Junior Officer Dion Brown pointed out as he told Observer media of the officers’ frustration.

The protest stems from a Cabinet decision that granted non-established junior officers a $400 monthly increase which should have taken effect from November 1, 2024. However, Superintendent of Prisons Trevor Pennyfeather said this would have placed junior officers within $100 of senior officers’ salaries, which he deemed “untenable”.

“I made the recommendation that the increase be granted across the board,” Pennyfeather said, noting the difference in cost would be less than $10,000 overall.

Brown pointed out that the industrial action isn’t politically motivated.

“This is not political. We need the tools to do our job effectively. And we can’t do our job effectively without the tools,” he said.

Another Junior Officer, Joyann Bright-Etienne, described the demanding workload faced by lower-ranking staff. 

“Junior Officers are who carry the prison. Senior officers, Principal Officers who are going up there do not work public holidays. They don’t do double shifts and triple shifts,” she said.

The staffing crisis, she noted, has reached critical levels, with officers sometimes working multiple consecutive shifts without proper rest facilities.

“To have two officers supervising 250 inmates, having no problems, it’s something remarkable,” Brown said, crediting both officers and inmates for maintaining order despite the challenges.

“Sometimes we do 16, 24 hours straight; sometimes 32. We’re not getting paid for it,” Brown also pointed out adding that two officers sometimes supervise up to 250 inmates.

HMP has already distributed non-lethal equipment like pepper spray and extendable batons, but officers say more equipment and comprehensive training is needed.

“We have to deal with mentally ill inmates; we’re not trained to do that,” Bright-Etienne added. “There’s no training — self-defense training — for officers. So, it’s just you and God at the end of the day.”

Superintendent Pennyfeather also acknowledged the staffing shortage, adding that the authorities are “seeking to recruit aggressively” as the Cabinet has approved adding 40 new officers.

But the protesting officers say they won’t accept empty promises this time. 

“We don’t want any promises this time. Because every time we decide to take action, it’s a promise — this will be done, that will be done. And then it’s never done,” she stated.

The officers vowed to continue their protest until they receive concrete answers and solutions to their concerns about pay, staffing, and working conditions.

Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Prisons expressed hope for a swift resolution to the action.

“This situation cannot continue. I would think that the powers that be are working assiduously to have this matter addressed in a timely manner,” Pennyfeather said.

- Advertisement -

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

5 × 5 =