The General Secretary


December 2005

2005 -
Looking Back -

Moving Forward - 2006

 Brian Caton


Looking Back - 2005

I open my comments by giving my personal thanks to the POA and its membership for the support shown during a difficult period in the history of the POA.

The year 2005 has been a busy year but also a memorable year.

  • Myself having been returned to office of General Secretary.
  • We have also seen the National Chairman, Colin Moses, returned to office, unopposed, for a further five years.
  • Steve Gillan elected, again unopposed, as Finance Officer.

I know that Colin and Steve will bring new ideas and a high level of continuity to the work of the Union, but also send a clear message to the employers that the POA will not become a disjointed, fractured or rudderless organisation in the future. Congratulations to Colin and Steve.

This year has brought some major successes.

  • The removal of Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1993 has been removed. This shameful piece of legislation that criminalised prison officers for contemplating or the taking of industrial action was a "stain" on our free and democratic society.
  • The welcomed the introduction of the JIRPA as a modern method of dealing with disputes, is a great step forward in industrial relations. The union needs to be involved in any proposals for change and involved fully in the planning of change. The JIRPA makes this an integral part of the planning for the future of the Prison Service in England and Wales.
  • Within the NHS we have seen a more constructive approach towards the POA and we have engaged in a more positive way with other unions and representative bodies then ever before at Trust and National levels.
  • The announcement by the Prisons Minister that prison staff are to be awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, was to be applauded as a level of recognition for the work done by the Prison Service as a uniformed essential service.
  • The proposed changes to our pensions have been resolved and we are to see our current pensions retained for existing staff. This has been achieved by public service unions working together throughout the TUC and the Government listening to our views at the highest levels.


Looking Forward - 2006

We will see a number of elections to national office in 2006. Knowledge, experience and ability will be sited by candidates seeking to achieve the membership vote. If we are to look forward to a good future with a good leadership I hope we will focus on candidates’ ability and not negative campaigns relating to the perception of each others so called failings!

We are still part of a trades union movement who have the most restrictive trades union laws in the western world. The POA must continue to ensure prison and NHS staff are treated fairly and have all the rights afforded to workers throughout Europe and in accordance with international legislation.

The JIRPA, if it is to carry the confidence of our members, needs to be implemented in full by the Prison Service. This means full and proper dialogue at the earliest suggestion of change, and not as an afterthought, if we are to avoid disruptive action by our union.

We will continue to demand that the NHS and our trades union colleagues allow the POA to sit at all relevant negotiations, at all levels, that affect our members' pay and conditions of service. There is nothing to fear and so much to gain for everyone.

The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal needs to be seen as recognition for all our members but more than anything else as a start of future recognition for the difficult and dangerous work carried out by POA members on behalf of our society.

Our pensions, and those of POA members in the future, have to truly reflect the public service ethos that is at the heart of a civil society. It is for the POA, CCSU and the TUC to ensure this is taken forward by Government and Ministers. We will not allow "pensions envy" and a public/private sectional argument to deflect the need for an end to pensions poverty.

The announcement of the Government to reintroduce market testing was the most serious assault on POA members. The POA made it clear that it would not be part of the privatisation of prisons and of our continued opposition to the driving down of standards, pay and conditions by the privateers and the immoral leaders of these private companies.

POA members and their leadership at the Isle of Sheppey behaved magnificently to the call for unity, acting professionally to the challenges placed before them. These challenges were never going to be easy for anyone and were certainly not easy at national level. Our discussions with the Home Secretary, whilst businesslike, were straightforward and honest. We were up for change and modernisation but not at any cost. The national negotiations made clear that benefits had to be clearly laid out if change and modernisation was to be achieved.

It is now clear that despite our best efforts to work constructively with the Prison Service in England and Wales their true agenda remains in place, to drive down wages to the level of the private sector.

The comments that having a mixed provider scheme in the justice system in truth means that the constant threat of privatisation will remain. It can be used to hide from lack of investment, training and decent pay and conditions for POA members.

Let us stay united into 2006. Let us not be pushed and pulled by the shackles of privatisation.

If the call comes we will stand united to protect our members now and in the future.

All the very best for 2006.

In unity and support.
Brian Caton


ARCHIVE:

OCTOBER 2005: The General Secretary

AUGUST 2005: The General Secretary

JUNE 2005: The General Secretary

MAY 2005: The General Secretary

APRIL 2005: The General Secretary