PRIVATE prison companies would have been called in to take the place

of Scottish prison officers had tomorrow's threatened jail strike gone

ahead.

As the threat of wildcat strike action by some prison officers receded

yesterday, a highly-placed source revealed to The Herald that plans had

been under preparation for many months to bring in the uniformed

security men.

The same source pointed out that, had the private companies proved

efficient and cheaper, there would have seemed to have been little point

in the Scottish Prison Service going back to the old system. The same

might have applied to private companies brought in to provide other

services, such as catering.

This information would explain why the leaders of the Scottish Prison

Service agency were so reluctant in the last crisis-strewn week to

explain the nature of their contingency plans. They appeared content to

allow the assumption to become public that police officers would be

called in to man the prison halls, while soldiers took charge of

perimeter security.

However, it became apparent as the threat of a strike grew, that

neither Army nor police forces had been placed on alert to man the

jails. At the height of the crisis, an Army spokesperson told The Herald

that the force had not been contacted.

In Strathclyde, where the police force would have had to supply

officers to deal with Barlinnie, Scotland's largest jail; Shotts, the

most volatile prison; Greenock Prison; Dungavel open prison; Low Moss

Prison at Bishopbriggs; and Longriggend Remand Institution for

juveniles, the enormous staff commitment would have stripped the force

bare of cover at a time when every resource has been dedicated, with

considerable success, to fighting crime.

Other forces, including Tayside, with Perth Prison, Friarton, Castle

Huntly, and Noranside within its boundary, would also have lost a

disproportionate number of officers from real policing duties.

The executive of the Scottish Prison Officers' Association voted last

week for strike action after a ballot of the 4000 membership produced a

majority of nine on a low vote.

Prison officers face a staffing structure review which would bring

radical change to their jobs, with a two-tier structure on the lines of

contact and non-contact jobs -- the latter at lower salary rates,

performance-related pay to replace annual increments, and a regrading of

all posts to replace the existing promotion structure.

The prison service management has said that this would free resources

for a pay rise worth 5% over two years, with the savings, more

importantly, meaning that the market testing for privatisation demanded

by the Government could be postponed for four years.

Scottish Office Ministers had agreed to this. At the end of last week,

it looked as though a deal had been reached which involved Scottish

Secretary Ian Lang clarifying to the SPOA the market-testing guarantee.

Compulsory redundancy for over 55s would also have been shelved but

then came the threat of wildcat action. The association has called a

special delegate meeting for September 30 to ratify the deal.

Officers in many of the prisons, aware that they lose the right to

strike in November under new legislation, met yesterday at branch level.

There was reported widespread anger but also a general acceptance of

advice from industrial relations experts that wildcat action would be

illegal.

Striking officers would have no protection from their union and would

simply face dismissal. The officers were faced with making a realistic

assessment of the risks, most opting to vent their anger at the

September 30 conference.

Mr Derek Turner, general secretary elect of the SPOA, stated that the

possibility that private companies might be called in to augment

managers and non-striking staff in the event of industrial action was

something which did not surprise him. It had been rumoured for months.

After a seven-hour meeting yesterday, Mr Turner said: ''We are saying

to all our members to stop and think and go forward constitutionally.

They have 14 days in which to mandate their delegates. We are asking

them to stay within the rules. We are talking here about the future of

their association and of the service.''