MAINTENANCE staff in the prison service are preparing to take strike action in a row over pay after they were offered a one per cent rise while inmates got a 13 per cent.

Eight establishments in the region -prisons, young offenders' institutes and remand centres - could be affected by the action this month.

The Amicus union was today giving notice to the Prison Service that members intend to stage a 24-hour strike on May 28, the first time maintenance staff have taken action in more than 25 years.

More than 1,500 maintenance staff in prisons nationwide are members of the union, which represents people who work in catering and gardening, as well as essential maintenance areas such as plumbers and electricians.

Their threat comes after prison officers were awarded a seven per cent rise over two years, and prisoners at one institution in the region got a 13 per cent increase.

Amicus official Ian Davies said: "There is no equality here whatsoever, and our members are up in arms because of that lack of equality.

"I find it infuriating that at one of the establishments in the North-East, the prisoners themselves got salary increases up to the levels of 13 and 14 per cent.

"I appreciate 13 per cent of very little is not very much, but why governors give increases of that order to inmates while offering our workers one per cent is beyond me."

The planned strike will affect Holme House Prison, in Stockton; Durham Jail and neighbouring Frankland Prison; Acklington Prison and neighbouring Castington young offenders' institute, near Morpeth, Northumberland; Deerbolt young offenders' institute, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, Low Newton young offenders' institute, near Yarm, Teesside; and Northallerton remand centre, in North Yorkshire.

Amicus national secretary John Allot said: "All our members are asking for is fairness and a decent living wage.

"Our members are taking this action with regret, but this is the only choice they have to get their voice heard."

Mr Davies said: "Some of our members are on salaries as low as £12,500 and are often at greater risk than officers because they are carrying tools around in the establishments and have to build up trust with the prisoners."