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Message from National Chairman - Issue 347th July 2008 Dear Colleagues WORKFORCE MODERNISATION On the 26th June 2008, I received a 400 page document from NOMS with an accompanying letter of some four lines, secreted in this document was details of the £17 million which has been given to the NOMS board to implement Workforce Modernisation. When the NEC asked about this vast amount of money they were told by the Board that they did not see this as an issue because there is always a significant element of cost to bring about change. At a time when front line staff are dealing with over-crowded and understaffed prisons against the backdrop of year on year efficiency savings and changes to the core day to save money and reduce staff. I have to ask myself what is really going on. Since we first met the project lead on the 20th February 2007 and throughout the process for Workforce Reform we have constantly pressed the Prison Service and NOMS to establish how much money was available, we were recently told, £50 million from treasury for the right deal.
We will continue to press those in authority so that we know that all the available money is on the table to implement change which is beneficial to all parties not just one side. This experiment is costly but it is not necessary to take monies from the front line, to feather bed the implementation of Workforce Modernisation. We will engage because that is what conference decided and it may turn out to be the right thing to do. However, if we are to work as equals and in the spirit of true partnership then we must be given all the information in a transparent, open and honest manner. Seventeen million pounds to fund a project which only has fifty million to pay for change is disproportionate. This money should have been used to restore the faith and goodwill of POA members by giving us the 0.6% of our pay and repaying the TOIL debt of £6 million a total cost of £10 million, but no it is being used to fund “Jobs for the Boys”. We appear to be working with a project lead with anti trade union views, but we have to question who is pulling his strings and giving him the authority to press on? The POA will continue to engage on workforce modernisation and if a deal is reached we will ballot the membership. We will continue to put forward our views and ensure that if any agreement is reached it will be through the process of negotiations and not by the preconceived ideas of someone who has no interest in the safety and security of you or your family, only their own ego!!! Colin Moses |
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