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UK prison officers return to work after a surprise walk-out

Prison officers were ordered to return to work by union officials on Wednesday after a surprise 24-hour strike in England and Wales that caused disruption and drew a legal challenge from the government.

Brian Caton, general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, said the walkout -- the first in the union's 68-year history -- would end immediately, following a government pledge to hold talks with officials today.

Union leaders had planned to continue the strike until 7am yesterday at all 129 prisons in England and Wales.

But Caton said officials would hold discussions with British Justice Minister Jack Straw over pay awards.

The union, representing 35,000 prison officers in the UK, voted almost nine-to-one in favor of strikes to protest pay awards.

A pay review body recommended a 2.5 percent rise in prison officers' pay this year, but the government decided to pay the increase in stages, reducing its value.

"This government has failed to deliver promise after promise to our union, and today it is reaping all that it has sown," Caton said.

Straw called the strike "deeply regrettable and wholly unjustifiable," but said earlier that the government had measures to ensure the public would be protected and the prisoners not neglected.

The government won a court injunction late on Wednesday, seeking to force prison officers back to work. Prison staff are not legally allowed to strike under British laws.

Caton said dangers for prison officers were increasing. Assaults on staff had risen to an average of eight a day, while the government wanted more savings from the service, he said.

"It is unforgivable that a Labour government should treat public services and workers with such disdain," Caton said.

Straw said his department had sought to reach an agreement with the union.
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