Prison officers stage unofficial walkout on day of public sector action But the Prison Officers Association, whose National Executive Committee sanctioned the walkout at 7am on Thursday, insists it had to make its message heard. It announced the walkout at the last minute to prevent the Government obtaining an injunction to prevent it going ahead. It is opposing Government plans to link the age at which prison officers can retire to the state pension, on the grounds that they cannot be expected to deal with sometimes violent inmates at the age of 68. Steve Gillan, general secretary of the union, said in a statement: "The POA has submitted a case to Government to support our view that it is unrealistic for Prison Officers to be automatically linked to the state pension age, which will ultimately rise to 68 years of age. Unfortunately, it has fallen on deaf ears and Prison Officers have no other option but to protest to gain public attention. The only other protest action taken by the POA was in 2007, when an estimated 20,000 officers went out on strike over pay. Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, said: "I am extremely disappointed that the Prison Officers Association (POA) has taken this unlawful action. We have implemented our contingency plans, and our priority is to protect the public and ensure that prisons remain safe and secure. In 2007, the POA agreed that the normal pension age for new prison officers would be 65, in line with all other civil servants. The Government has been in constructive discussions with the POA about further pension reform and it is deeply regrettable that this action has been taken now. Meanwhile thousands of bus workers are to vote on strikes in a row over payments during the Olympic Games. Unite said it had given notice to 21 bus companies in London of its intention to ballot up to 21,000 members in the capital from next week. The union has called for a £500 payment to recognise the "massive increase" in workload during the Games this summer, saying that 800,000 extra passengers are expected to travel on buses. Unions said today's strike was being solidly supported. Union leaders predicted that up to 400,000 workers, ranging from police officers and immigration staff to lecturers and job advisers, will be involved in a wave of demonstrations, fuelled by ministers making clear in yesterday's Queen's Speech that they are pressing ahead with their controversial reforms. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) said early signs from picket lines showed solid support for the strike, the third major walkout by public sector employees in the past six months in protest at the pension reforms. Do you agree with today's public sector strike action? Union leaders warned the industrial unrest was fuelled by ministers making clear in Wednesday's Queen's Speech that they were pressing ahead with their controversial reforms.