PRISON officers self-isolating for fear of catching coronavirus are being forced to pack thousands of tea bags for inmates.
Staff at Nottingham prison have been told they will have money deducted from wages if they do not put together tea parcels for prisoners.
The parcels include tea bags, four sugars and four whiteners or small cartons of milk.
They are expected to put between 1,100 and 2,200 tea bags a week into individual parcels for thirsty lags.
One staff member, who wished to remain anonymous said: “It’s modern day slavery.”
At least 17 officers at the Category B jail are currently self-isolating because they are vulnerable to Covid-19.
Most have underlying health issues such as lung disease or diabetes.
Governors told them to work from home on the tea parcels after jails were locked down on March 23.
Normally, prisoners who work in the kitchens prepare the tea packs.
But, lockdown has meant fewer inmates can work and there were fears of tea bags running out.
Staff forced to stay home were told to pack tea – and one coffee satchel – or risk losing money.
“RIDICULOUS” ASK
A source said: “Officers forced to stay at home because of health issues did not ask to be there.
“They are not lazy and desperately want to get back to work to do their jobs.
“It’s ridiculous to ask them to spend their time putting individual tea bags into packs for inmates.
“They were told to do it or face having a week’s wages deducted.
“There must be a better way for them to spend their time.”
Guards expected to pack 1,100 bags per week would fill 275 parcels. For 2,200 bags, it would be 550 tea packs.
A spokesman for the Prison Officers Association said: “I am perplexed that this practice has been authorised and even more concerned that staff shielding at home are under the impression that they have to work to retain full pay.
“Homes are not workplaces and staff shielding are entitled to full pay as agreed with the Government.
“Maybe the Governor at Nottingham could have offered this work to the thousands of local people who have been made redundant due to Covid.”
Tea and coffee packs are provided as part of a prisoner’s breakfast parcel to be eaten in their cells.
Nottingham jail has room for 1,060 inmates.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “We are grateful to staff who have worked from home to support their colleagues on the front line.
Taxpayers would expect us to rely on staff we are already paying in full to do this safe work – which takes on average ten hours each week – rather than the public paying twice.”
