Panel abstract: Prisons are some of the most highly unionised workplaces, with prison officer unions exerting significant influence. Despite and in contrast to this, prisoner unions remain relatively transient and often lack the impact and influence that prison officer unions have. This is despite prisoners experiencing particularly severe forms of exploitation of their labour. This panel seeks to bring questions of class and labour conditions within prison to the forefront of the analysis of contemporary prison systems.

Paper Title: Prisoner Unions and alternative types of labour organising

Presenter: Cormac Behan, Technological University Dublin, Ireland
Abstract: This paper examines prisoner trade unions as a distinct group within the prison organising milieu. It will consider the extent to which prisoner unions have adapted to their unique set of circumstances and seek to represent the interests of their members beyond issues in the workplace.
Paper Title: Is class a ‘zombie category’ within criminology?
Presenter: Matthew Maycock, Monash University, Australia
Abstract: In post-industrial societies, there is a debate around the extent to which class is a ‘zombie’ category (Beck, 2002, 2007). This paper reflects on the extent to which individualisation influences everyday life within prison, and considers the ways that prison settings constrain the possibilities for collective action.
Paper Title: The Toughest Beat? The Prison Officers Association Scotland as a policy actor in Scottish penality.

Presenter: Katrina Morrison, Edinburgh Napier University, UK
Abstract: This paper draws on interviews with the senior management in the Prison Officers Association Scotland, to argue that the role of the prison officer union in Scotland should be better foregrounded in our understanding of prison policy and practice.

This paper examines prisoner trade unions as a distinct group within the prison organising milieu. It will consider the extent to which prisoner unions have adapted to their unique set of circumstances and seek to represent the interests of their members beyond issues in the workplace.

In post-industrial societies, there is a debate around the extent to which class is a ‘zombie’ category (Beck, 2002, 2007). This paper reflects on the extent to which individualisation influences everyday life within prison, and considers the ways that prison settings constrain the possibilities for collective action.

This paper draws on interviews with the senior management in the Prison Officers Association Scotland, to argue that the role of the prison officer union in Scotland should be better foregrounded in our understanding of prison policy and practice.