\) ■ „ 1 Imi, _THF. T^M.PCLAXiniJwUVAJV^rsLi^TC/^tici* j «aa. tKi,„ EDUCATION TIMES TIMES Pages 31,33 No 64,156 MONDAY OCTOBER 21 1991 the *aj ail chiefs out to break grip of prison officers’ union By Tony Da we disputes affecting 41 of the 123 jails the detriment of the criminal hours or cover for senior officers or quires: at StyaJL Cheshire, night and *‘civilianisation”, which of England and Wales. The POA justice system.” prison hospital and catering staff patrols cannot be reorganised; and means employing ancillary staff in WITHIN the walls of Britain's claims that the prison department Sir John is one of many urging who might be absent or on leave. at Dartmoor and Wandsworth, prison hospitals and kitchens to largest top-security jail, a determ¬ has reneged on agreements to the government to “grasp the Their action has closed the prison agency nurses cannot be employed free trained prison officers to ined challenge will be mounted this provide extra staff to offset cuts in nettle”. The catalyst for action at workshops, reduced the scanty in the hospitals to alleviate staff concentrate more on caring for the week to one of the last bastions of overtime. Wakefield is the arrival this morn¬ amount of education classes and shortages. inmates. r.-<v w trade union power. Members of the Other reforms that would benefit -fr</7 ■ ;• Inquiries by The Times have ing of Judge Tumim, chief inspec¬ has made conditions generally Many of the disputes centre on Prison Officers’ Association, whose uncovered many examples of the tor of prisons for England and intolerable for Wakefield's 700 manning levels. Mr Bartell has led prisoners, including giving low-risk obduracy is likened by some minis¬ •‘-I.. -S1 union openly defying governors Wales, for a week-long routine inmates. a determined campaign for more inmates the right to wear their own ters to that of Arthur ScargflTs ••■• •.. ’"A. and vigorously obstructing at¬ inspection, accompanied by ten Wakefield is one of four prisons staff that ensured his re-election as clothes and improving educaton ••••." “IV Yorkshire miners, are expected to tempts at reforming the prison experienced staff. Judge Tumim where the POA is taking industrial the POA’s chairman earlier this facilities, have also been resisted face an ultimatum to end a seven- service: never hesitates to criticise lack of action. It is also involved, how¬ year. “We are 3,000 staff short of The government, despairing of month industrial dispute that has Membership of the POA which leadership in the service. Before be ever, in another 66 disputes at 37 what we need” he said. the POA plans to privatise some disrupted Wakefield jail or risk is run by John Bartell, accounts for can do so at Wakefield, the prison prisons, all of which prevent the The POA is also criticised for new and existing prisons, but Sir “ losing their jobs. 95 per cent of the 25,000 prison authorities are expected to act prisons from being run as their resisting reforms that might im¬ John. Conservative MP for West¬ : w> The challenge by the prison staff Sir John Wheeler, chairman against the POA governors wish, because once a prove staffing levels. The Home minster North, believes in a more authorities, with the blessing of the of the Commons home affairs Union members have been dispute is registered the status quo Office has been struggling for years radical move. “Ultimately, the Home Office, will be the first select committee and once an working to rule since the start of must be maintained to introduce two acclaimed but only answer." he said, “is to dc- recent attempt to end what one assistant prison governor, said: April after the prison department This means that at Bedford, the unattractively-titled policies, unionise the service”. prison governor describes as a FOA “The POA is the dejacto manage¬ failed to provide a dozen addit¬ governor cannot reschedule visits; “corporate objectives”, which in¬ Tontine visit is catalyst campaign of “industrial warfare". ment of the prison service. The ional staff demanded by the POA at Stafford the governor cannot volve assessing the work 10 be done Union is the power, page 2 ,.w". for challenge to mnoa The Wakefield dispute is one of 70 trade union is dictating policy to They have refused to work flexible appoint the female staff he re¬ and relating it to the staff available. Leading article, page t5 Optimism rises as ON says American hostage to be set free soon Convoy forced to abandon sick in Shamir secures ‘medieval siege’ The extent of the agony ofl'ukovar is becoming cabinet backing apparent as relief workers describe conditions under the federal attack, reports Anne McElroy The foil horror of the terrible journey,” he said. siege of Vukovar was “Everything that could go laid bare to relief workers wrong did. Our great fear just returned from the Cro¬ was that people would die for Madrid talks on the way.’ atian town after a gruelling 13-hour journey across the Seven people had to be From Richard Beeston in Jerusalem and Ali Jaber in Beirut most perilous territory in transported to Zagreb yes¬ ISRAEL yesterday over¬ United Nations said yesterday Panlrin has voiced support for the Yugoslav conflict The terday for emergency treat¬ that an American was ex¬ Syria's insistence on security grey, fixed expressions of ment. Faced with the cruel whelmingly approved choice imposed by the lim¬ participation in next pected to be freed within 24 council resolutions 242 and the aid workers and the hours. Attention centred on 338 — stipulating Israel’s ex¬ mud-spattered white uni¬ ited space and the danger of week's Middle East peace forms of the monitors bore the route out, it was decided conference, in spite of Jesse Turner, who has been change of land for peace with held in Lebanon since January its Arab neighbours — as a witness to the horror of the to transport only those warnings from three 24,1987. Last week the group basis for a settlement Israel trip. Few had even the whose condition was con¬ hardline ministers that holding Mr Turner invited his rejects the principle, saying it energy to speak. Those who sidered stable enough to survive a gruelling journey. the country was being led wife and daughter to see him has already complied by did said the town was into a trap. for one hour. returning the Sinai to Egypt suffering all the pain of a The wounded of Vukovar medieval siege, made blood¬ were piled hastily into After a lengthy, and fre¬ The Israeli cabinet vote — Although the key Israeli quently acrimonious, de¬ 16 in favour, three against and ier still by the destructive trucks covered with canvas conditions for attendance, power of modern weaponry. bate the most uncompro¬ one abstention — was never in to allow a quick getaway. namely the make-up of the The convoy, organised by Only eight people could be any real doubt, ever since Palestinian delegation and the mising coalition govern¬ the French charity M£derin afforded the luxury of an ment in Israel’s history Yitzhak Shamir, the prime feoe-to-fece bilateral talks, minister, reluctantly agreed to Sans Frontferes and accom¬ ambulance. As soon as the committed itself to talks have been met, there is right- panied by European Com¬ last of the vehicles left the with its Arab neighbours attend the conference under wing suspicion in Israel that pressure from James Baker, munity monitors, evacuated town, a fresh bombardment Washington is intent on 109 seriously wounded aimed at settling the the US Secretary of State. began. Palestinian question and imposing an unacceptable ter- people. Bui others, includ¬ When the first tarpaulin ritofral-compreimse:--''-;•••■ the Arab-Israeli conflict Western governments and ing the elderly sick, had to cover was pulled back, it The decision was accompa¬ moderate Arab states have llie mood at yesterday’s be left behind. One medical revealed a mass of bodies nied by renewed optimism been placed on an anti-terror¬ cabinet meeting was summed worker said: “People were lying four deep in a ghastly over the fete of Western ist alert after opposition to the up by the transport minister, reaching out their arms to us mess of bloodied bandages, hostages in Lebanon. The conference from ban, Iraq, Moshe Katzav, a Likud party as we drove into Vukovar, pins, and dangling, dis¬ Libya and the extremist member who voted in favour begging us to take them with jointed limbs. A woman’s iratio on a groups they finance. Yes¬ of attendance, but said: wWe us. It was a torture to have voice moaned over and over terday Iran hosted delegates have decided to attend but to ignore them." again: “Get us ouL please from 45 countries at a meeting with reservations. Not one As the convoy halted get usoul” opposed to the conference, member of the cabinet voted outside the Djakovo hos¬ One driver spoke of a TODAY IN which is to be held in Madrid with 100 per cent certainty.” pital gates, guarded by ner¬ scene of “complete devasta¬ THE TIMES on October 30. Predictably, opposition to vous Croat guardsmen and tion”. The town has been Syria, Jordan and Lebanon the move was lad by Ariel kept in total darkness to without electricity, water or have agreed to attend the con¬ Sharon, the housing minister, ward off air attacks, Bert food supplies forabout three ference, sponsored by Amer¬ who demanded that Mr Nauta, a Dutch monitor sat weeks. ica and the Soviet Union. Shamir step down as prime motionless in his ambulance The convoy arrived at the HARD DRIVING Egypt and the Saudi Arabian- minister over the peace con¬ with his head buried in his Continued on page 20, col 2 led Gulf Co-operation Council ference.