Message from National Chairman - Issue 26

5th November 2007

Dear Colleagues

POAs PAY SUBMISSION 2008

POAs written submission to the Pay Review Body was submitted Friday, 12th October 2007, along with the other interested parties.

On Thursday, 1st November, members of the NEC gave oral evidence to the Pay Review Body; this is based on a question and answer session. I must say that our evidence both written and oral was by far the best we have ever given. Will it be good enough only time will tell? But, this has to be the “last chance saloon”.

It is clear that the Prison Service evidence is the Governments evidence. So is the system “fair and independent”. My view “NO” but we will have to wait and see.

The Pay Review Body focused all their questions around affordability, morale and the need to reward those in need. The NECs response was clear and concise. You should all be treated equally, fairly and we all need an above inflation pay award to put right the abject pay awards of the last three years and more.

Affordability is something that should not concern a union, but as a responsible union we highlighted the waste and mismanagement within the Service. If people are honest they will seriously look at these areas, use the savings to reward front line staff and give us all a “fair and just” pay award.

We are all aware that since 1999, management reviews of the Service have focused on savings made from uniformed grades of staff only. I ask you to look at your key safes and car parks.

• How many non operational managers and non operational staff are employed in your prison?
• What is their role?
• Why is it, that as operational numbers reduce we see a ten fold increase in those who do not face the most dangerous in our society on a daily basis. We have witnessed the creation of Area Manager Offices that in some cases employ as many staff as a small prison. This cannot be right.
• So, do these people play a key role in today’s Prison Service?

We have seen more and more managers and tiers of bureaucracy introduced, leading to a mis-managed Service and prisons that have become more violent and dangerous places to work.

So what is the answer, simple if we receive a below inflation award for a fourth consecutive year, we will react. Let us hope the PRB recommend a decent pay award and that Government implement it in full. This decision of course is out of our hands.

Colin Moses
NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

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