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The National ChairmanJune 2005 NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATE
Negotiation is the best way to resolve conflict. Since becoming National Chairman in 2002, I have stated on many occasions on the pages of this magazine that this union must engage with the employer and Government when necessary to resolve the problems we face. I will on behalf of this union, along with the united NEC negotiate with all parties to bring about a fair and equitable resolution to the challenges that face us. The Prison Service in England and Wales has announced its most successful year. The Director General Mr Phil Wheatley announced to Annual Conference that we should be proud of what has been achieved in the public sector prison service. This message of success is what the NEC has taken to the Home Secretary. The professional men and women who work in the Prison Service deserve recognition for their efforts and success. A successful Prison Service is not one that can be run on threats and broken promises. In negotiations with both the Government and NOMS, we have clearly laid out that the culture of threats should stop and commitments to this union and its membership should be fulfilled. Baroness Scotland the Minister of Criminal Justice and Offender Management on her first address to our Conference announced that the Jubilee medal would be awarded to prison staff. This long overdue announcement was welcomed by Conference and is just reward for the hard work and dedication of all our members who have campaigned for this medal. Negotiation at the highest level, along with steadfast determination has brought about this victory for this union. To negotiate in isolation, as the POA has been prone to do in the past is a recipe for failure. The POA is and must be an active participant union in the TUC. Since his appointment as General Secretary of the TUC Mr Brendan Barber has been a good friend and ally to this union. He addressed our Annual Conference and gave his stamp of approval to the negotiations that he was part of with the Home Secretary. Brendan as typified by his recent visit to HMP Leeds at the invitation of the Leeds POA branch has taken a close interest in penal policy, as it affects the professional men and women that are tasked to deal with it. I would like to thank Brendan for his support. The POA is working closer with our sister unions. The General Secretary of the PCS Mr Mark Sewotka address Conference and was given a standing ovation for his rousing support in our united fight to protect our pension rights. Whilst the PCS and the POA are prepared to talk and negotiate to find a solution to the pensions dilemma, let no one be mislead that this union, along with our sister unions in the public services will fight to preserve our pension rights. Negotiation must never be seen as a sign of weakness. We negotiate to preserve our rights not to surrender them. Our colleagues in Northern Ireland have seen massive changes since the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Robin Masefield the Director General of the Prison Service in Northern Ireland gave a historical speech, in as much as he was the first Director General to address our Annual Conference. He outlined the challenges ahead for the Prison Service in Northern Ireland. He outlined the possibility of the introduction of elements of privatisation. The POA believe there is no place or need for the private sector in Northern Ireland. The Police Federation have not addressed our Conference for over ten years, so it was welcoming for Mrs Jan Berry the Chairman of the Police Federation, the first female to hold this post, to give Conference an insight into the threats faced by police officers from further involvement of private sector in custody suits. Conference welcomed the diverse and interesting speakers who addressed them. POA must be outward looking and never again become insular. We must be one union. Whilst there may be fractions in the union that believe, they should have autonomy on matters relating to them. A democratic union, which has five main employers, has to have a level of autonomy for the negotiators with these employing bodies in relation to terms and conditions. There should be no autonomy for any group regardless geographical location in relation to the Rules and Constitution. Those Rules and Constitution should govern every member of the POA. We must continue to negotiate to achieve the best deal for every POA member. I would like to say thank you to the retiring National Vice Chair Mr Tony Freel. Tony, a true POA stalwart and has helped hundreds of members on a personal basis and has achieved improvements on many fronts for this union, and will be sorely missed at the top table. Good luck for the future Tony.
Colin Moses with Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC - Minister of State for the Criminal Justice System and Offender Management at the Annual Conference 2005
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