Construction union UCATT has reacted with anger and dismay to the announcement that the Government intends to outsource prison maintenance departments.

UCATT represents hundreds of prison maintenance workers who are responsible for keeping prisons functioning. They include carpenters, painters, locksmiths, plumbers, bricklayers and electricians

Last week it was announced by Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, as part of his prison privatisation programme, that all maintenance departments would be outsourced. UCATT has since learnt that the Prison Service is planning to complete this project during 2013.


The Government has claimed that by outsourcing services they can achieve a saving of £450 million over six years. UCATT considers the proposed savings to be spurious as previously the outsourcing of prison maintenance departments has proved to be expensive.

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "Maintenance staff that have dedicated their working lives to ensuring prisons function and are safe and secure, have been kicked in the teeth. These workers are now facing an uncertain future. UCATT is dedicated to ensuring that they will receive the union’s full support throughout this process."

UCATT also believe that the outsourcing programme is motivated by political ideology, rather than cost, as there will be no provision for the Prison Service to make an in-house bid.

(CD)