The General Secretary

April 2006

'Public Services Not Private Profit' Rally & Lobby of Parliament This campaign aims to bring together trade unions from across the public sector, linked to supportive MPs, and organisations representing those who depend upon our public services.

It is supported by ASLEF, CWU, CYWU, FBU, LRC, NAPO, NATFHE, NUJ, NUS, NUT, PCS, POA, RMT, TSSA. 'Public Services Not Private Profit'

• Public services and public service workers are facing unprecedented pressure from Government plans for privatisation and job cuts. Across virtually every area of public service and with virtually no consultation, proposals are being brought forward to hand over services to the private sector at seemingly no matter what the cost to either the taxpayer or service users.
• In health, education, local government, prisons and probation and in every department of central government the Government is forcing services into the private sector. The Government's Education & Inspections Bill is just the most recent example of the threat to the very concept of public service. Even where the private sector has failed and services taken back into the public sector, as in the railways, the Government is re-privatising them!
• Hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake. The pay, pensions and conditions of employment of public service workers are under threat. Services which our community relies upon are at risk.
• The present attack on public services is on such a scale that we are in danger of witnessing the undermining of the very concept of public service provision in this country.

'Public Services Not Private Profit' Campaign,
c/o G10 Norman Shaw South, House of Commons,
London SW1A 2JF
020 7219 1626

Tuesday 27th June 11am – 4 pm
Methodist Central Hall, Westminster

John McDonnell MP (Chair)

Speakers Include:

• Billy Hayes (CWU)
• Doug Nicholls (CYWU)
• Matt Wrack (FBU)
• Judy McKnight (NAPO)
• Paul Mackney (NATFHE)
• Jeremy Dear (NUJ)
• Kat Fletcher (NUS)
• Steve Sinnott (NUT)
• Mark Serwotka (PCS)
• Brian Caton (POA)
• Gerry Doherty (TSSA)

Despots, Deviance and Deception?

The subject of Employment/Industrial Relations is not an exact science. It does rely at times on process and procedures but on a daily basis it depends on parties working together. The pillars of support to this relationship are trust, honesty and fairness. It is only with these pillars in place that we will achieve a descent and mutual understanding of each parties position.

So what of the current position in the Prison Service in England and Wales? - closed minds, impositions, threats and disrespect all appear prominent in the vocabulary of Industrial Relations. If these matters go unchallenged, we will see little progress on any issues and ongoing allegations of Industrial Relations falling into the hands of "Despots, Deviance and Deception."

Now is the time for the Prison Service in England and Wales to recognise that the POA is a free and Independent Trade Union.

We do not need instructions from anyone, other than our membership, on how to manage the Union and its work. What we do need from the Prison Service is early negotiation/consultation on change and provision of information.

To the Prison Service – "our aims are the same. A quality Public Prison Service that assists creating a truly civil society." We need to ensure the threats stop.

This Union will show our strength through unity. The Prison Service can join us or feel that strength.

The POA has suffered many attacks on our rights as an Independent Trade Union. As a permanent part of the Trade Union movement we have suffered from the Tory and now New Labour anti - Trade Union legislation. It is not just an attack against our Independence by Governments but the encouragement for Members to attack the Unions.

It is sad that a minority of Union members choose to reject the Union Rule Books and attack by using the Certification Officer, TULCRA and the Courts to get their own way!

On May 1st this year workers throughout the world will join the fight for Trade Union Rights. I ask for all Trade Unionists to join this act of solidarity. The Trade Union Freedom Bill 1906 was established in law to give rights to the Trade Unions and their members. The TUC and many Labour Politicians are seeking the re-introduction of the self same rights and a return to self determination by Trade Unions in the future.

I ask that all POA Members join the Trade Union movement not only in Trafalgar Square and Parliamentary Lobby-s but at all other times, in ensuring that we cast off the shackles of anti - Trade Union legislation and the privatisation of the Public Services. I would remind you by way of a quote.

"When it becomes necessary to do a thing, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure - or not attempt it"

Thomas Paine – "Rights of Man" (1791)

Yours in unity
Brian Caton

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