Prison officers at Les Nicolles in Guernsey started a work-to-rule on Monday 27 July in a dispute over pay and conditions. From that date, staff worked only their contracted hours. They stopped taking on the overtime and extra duties they would normally cover.
Officers took the step after saying that negotiations had not met their demands.
According to Guernsey’s Home Affairs Committee, the action changed the daily regime for the 91 prisoners at Les Nicolles. On weekdays, cells stayed locked from 4.50pm until 8.10am. Before the dispute, weekday lock-up ran from 7pm to 8am. The new hours matched the regime the prison normally runs at weekends.
The prison also dropped or rescheduled some of the usual activities for prisoners. Visits moved to 3pm in the afternoon. The prison said it had plans in place to keep delivering its services safely.
Guernsey’s Director of Operations for Justice and Regulation, Dave Le Ray, said the weekday regime would match weekend arrangements. “These are unavoidable but necessary temporary changes for the next week,” he said.
The Guernsey Press, citing sources inside the prison, reported growing tension at Les Nicolles. It said prisoners were spending more than 15 hours a day in their cells.
Unite, the trade union that represents staff at the jail, said the officers had support on the wings. Its regional officer, Laura Bichard, said: “Many prisoners have written letters and signed petitions expressing their support for prison officers, acknowledging the professionalism, fairness and commitment shown by staff.”
The union said officers had decided together to withdraw their goodwill. It cited long-standing concerns over pay, staff retention and recruitment, and growing pressure at work. Members also felt their role went unrecognised, and described themselves as the ‘forgotten service’.
According to Unite, officers’ goodwill had kept the service running, but that goodwill had now run out. The union called on the employer to show, through meaningful action, that it had listened and would support its staff.
Mr Le Ray said talks with Unite and its members were continuing, with the aim of addressing concerns where possible.
The Prison Officers’ Association (POA) represents officers in England and Wales, who are not allowed to take industrial action. It urged its members not to accept jobs offered in Guernsey.
Mark Fairhurst, the POA’s National Chair, said his union stood alongside the officers in Guernsey. He said he hoped meaningful talks could now settle the dispute fairly. He added: “The POA has written directly to its members urging them not to participate in any recruitment exercise designed to replace workers taking lawful industrial action.”
