The National Chairman

August 2008

£50 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE MODERNISATION

WILL THE QUESTIONS ALL BE ANSWERED

DO THE NEC HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS?

WILL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ANSWERS GIVE US THE ANSWERS SO THAT WE ARE FULLY INFORMED AND NOT DRIP FED INFORMATION?

The National Executive committee are working with the NOMS Management Board to achieve the terms of Annual Conference Motion 56/08 which read:

Conference accept that workforce modernisation is inevitable and mandates the NEC to enter into meaningful discussion with the Prison Service in order to achieve the best possible deal for the members of this Association.

Firstly, let me clarify why we are engaging with the NOMS Management Board the simple answer is that this is now the Prison Service and all discussions go through this format.

As a result of several meetings, the NEC agreed to the joint statement which was promulgated on the 25th June 2008 which read as follows:

Without prejudice Joint Statement from POA NEC and NOMS Management Board

Members of the POA NEC and NOMS Management Board met on 18 and 19 June to take stock of developments following the POA Conference and subsequent meeting in May to find a way forward for future engagement.

At these meetings the NEC and Management Board were able to share an understanding of the context in which each was operating.

The NEC emphasised the strength of feeling expressed by their membership at Conference on a range of issues, pay, working week, overtime, etc and reaffirmed their commitment to regaining full trade union rights.

The Management Board outlined the challenging agenda facing the Service in which substantial efficiency savings need to be made, at a time of unprecedented population pressure, alongside the delivery of a huge capacity building programme.

Following a full and frank exchange of views and opinions, different agendas were brought to the fore all of which will be subject to discussions and negotiations throughout the workforce modernisation programme.

In particular, the Management Board noted that Government will issue a new competitions policy for NOMS later this year and the NEC emphasised current POA policy on market testing.

Nonetheless, the NEC and the Management Board were able to identify immediate opportunities for joint working in four key areas:

• Agreeing a route to direct collective bargaining on pay for April 2009 (linked to Workforce Modernisation and the additional £50m that can be invested in pay from April 2009 dependant on the right deal).

• Both parties committed to an aspirational timetable for negotiations to be concluded by 1 November, if these negotiations are not successful, the Pay Review Body process would be reactivated for April 2009;

• Jointly developing proposals for a performance improvement programme to ensure the public sector Prison Service remains competitive during this period of expansion;

• Finalising a new local disputes procedure and assessing the case for doubling the existing minimum facility time for local branch representatives on a time bound basis to engage in this change agenda; and

• Developing improved guidance for managers on conduct issues and the use of gross misconduct procedures.

The representatives of the POA NEC and Management Board understand the enormity of the task ahead and are prepared to invest in intensive negotiations over the coming months to work through these complex issues.

The Management Board recognise that the POA needs to have sufficient capacity to fully engage in this work and solutions to this will form part of early negotiations. It is anticipated that regular meetings will drive the work forward and we will continue to update staff on developments.

Finally, it is agreed that all negotiations will be on a without prejudice basis and that the POA will meet with Jack Straw Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in the next two weeks in an attempt to secure agreements to support the process and outcomes.

On Thursday the 26th June 2008 I forwarded the following Chairman’s address to all branches:

MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

POA ISSUE 32 26th June 2008

Dear Colleagues,

WORKFORCE MODERNISATION

(THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL)

As part of the process to achieve the terms of Annual Conference Motion 56/08 as accepted by conference, the NEC and NOMS Management Board issued a Joint Statement on a without prejudice basis on Wednesday the 25th June 2008 following a two day dedicated meeting on18th and 19th June. This was fully considered by the NEC at a special meeting on the 24th June 2008.

At this meeting and previous meetings the NEC outlined the key areas that we have identified as part of any Workforce Modernisation Programme (WFM), taking account current conference policy. I will remind you that it is more than twenty years since we received a reduction to the working week. The wish list if that is what you call these things is not exhaustive, nor is it tablets of stone, but it will determine a framework for negotiations to determine any new and improved policies. I will again reiterate that individuals may believe or perceive Workforce Modernisation is a done deal, this is not the case. Consultation, negotiation and agreement through the ballot box will determine change in policy.

The NEC continue to emphasise the real problems that you the membership face on a daily basis and we are seeking interim arrangements to ensure this vital work can be taken forward on a professional basis whilst ensuring the day to day work of the union is not affected.

It is also imperative that we receive a payaward on the 1st April 2009 whether it is achieved through WFM or the pay review

body. A pay award that reflects your value to society for the professional role you undertake everyday of your working lives.

The process for (WFM) will not prevent the POA continuing its campaign to regain our full trade union rights. It may achieve improved compensatory measures on how pay is determined and industrial relations conducted whilst we embark on the journey to the

European Courts.

We are under no illusion about the challenges the service face, due to the financial restrictions placed on it by Government, the rising prison

population and desperate need for more prison places. All of these bring about new challenges for this union, challenges that each and every one of you can and must play a part indefeating. Privatisation, Market Testing, Contestability and Contracting Out will be on the Governments agenda and you need to raise your objections and that of this union to your local MP.

I have said on a number of occasions that we must be a campaigning union if we areto achieve our aims and a fundamental aimis to bring all prisons and related services back into Public ownership.

The Government will issue a new competitions policy for NOMS to deliver and this union will have to face up to that policy and make some difficult decisions, but that is ahead of us and we need to focus on the issues at hand.

The NEC realise the enormity of the task ahead and we will need each and every one of you to support us in our endeavours to improve the working practices of the service and to convince this Government that thereis no need to privatise Public Services.

Finally, a meeting with Jack straw is to take place and we will put forward this union's case and if we receive the assurances from him and the Government I am sure we can achieve all that is being asked of us.

WHERE DID THE £17 MILLION COME FROM?

WORKFORCE MODERNISATION: PROGRAMME DOCUMENTS

During our discussions yesterday, I promised to send you a number of programme documents outlining scope, projects, timelines, etc. I attach a bundle which I hope will give you a full insight into how we might move forward.

I or the team would be very happy to discuss any of this with you.

ROBIN WILKINSON

Project	FY 08/09 TOTALS £M
Programme Office	1.20
Business Change	1.47
Job Evaluation	0.97
Total Reward	0.68
Policies and Procedures	0.46
Establishment Restructuring	1.27
Organisational Design	1,10
Learning, Leadership and Development	0.15
Communications and Stakeholders	0.72
Employee Relations	0.23
SSC / IT	2.46
TOTALS	10.70
Training (1st LM and OSG/Prison Officer)	5.00
Combined Total	15.70
Budget	17.00
Contingency	1.30

Dear Robin

COST OF PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKFORCE MODERNISATION

In a telephone conversation with you on 2nd July 2008, I expressed my unions disgust and total annoyance that the cost of the proposed implementation of Workforce Modernisation was being identified as 17million pounds or more. This very expensive experiment was being financed at a time when POA members still have 4million pounds owed to them for the 2008 pay award. Also the Prison Service continues to refuse to pay POA members the 6million pounds owed on TOIL. Added to that, we have 14million pounds supposed savings being made by the imposition of the Core Day, which is having dangerous effects on front line POA members.

It is claimed that the information in regard to the 17million pounds was known to me. The truth of this matter is that on 26th June 2008, you forwarded to me a document that consisted of over 400 pages. Attached to this document was a letter from you which consisted of four lines, none of which made reference to 17million cost of the proposed introduction of Workforce Modernisation.

This does not feel like partnership working. It feels like, once again the Prison Service is deliberately trying to mis-lead this union.

Colin Moses
National Chairman

Dear Colin

WORKFORCE MODERNISATION: PROGRAMME COST

I wanted to write to you following our telephone conversation yesterday about the costs of delivering the workforce modernisation programme. As I said yesterday, I simply had not seen this as an issue. There are always costs in implementing major change programmes, particularly where IT changes are needed. My aim all along has been to protect completely the additional £50m that we have available from HMT in April 2009 for pay. However, we will only be able to activate this with a detailed business case and it will be important that HMT confidence that we have a robust programme that can deliver effectively the changes that we eventually agree through negotiations.

I think the fact that I did not see this as an issue shown through the fact that the information on costs was included in the papers I sent to you on 26 June. I would not have expected you to pick up on this through these papers - that’s not my point. But I have been viewing this as just a basic and routine part of the programme.

The Programme Plan sets out the cost associated with each project and shows a breakdown of how the £17M had been allocated across the Programme this financial year. (It is spend for 2008/09 and cannot be carried over into 2009/10 hence the distinction from the £50m announced by the Justice Secretary at your conference which is not available until 2009/10.) The spend is needed for a range of activities, which include:

• Training: This is by far the largest single component. How this money will be spent depends on the outcome of trades union negotiations and is something that I would expect to be discussed in detail with you and other TUs as the negotiations develop. Much will depend on the nature of any new jobs that are created, but I think it is important that we have identified early the potential need for training and development, whilst protecting the £50m.

• IT changes: any changes to our pay or grading systems will have significant IT costs attached to them. Again, we do not know the details until we have concluded negotiations, but again we’ve identified the potential costs and protected the £50m.

• Implementing JES: there will be costs associated with this change, but it is a change we think is essential to ensure fair and equitable pay. On the detail, this is something that we would need to develop with TUs as the negotiations and discussions develop.

As I’ve said, my aim has been to protect the £50m and we have done this. The £50m is available in the next financial year subject to agreeing a modernisation deal. The programme delivery costs are mainly in this financial year. Exact costs cannot be determined until the negotiations have been concluded, but we have tried to work on the assumption of maximum potential spend. However, as noted above, for much of this there remains the need for detailed discussions with trades unions as part of the negotiations.

On a wider point, during our awayday at Leeds we agreed that we should aim to meet monthly to progress key issues and ensure that good communications are maintained. I am keen that we proceed with this and would be willing to make time available early next week for the first meeting if that would be helpful, particularly in light of the need for further discussions on the local disputes process. My office will be in touch to seek to arrange this if it would be helpful.

ROBIN WILKINSON

PAY FOR 2009

The NEC will have met the chairman of the Pay Review Body and Jack Straw along with other interested parties by the time you read this article however, it is vital that we use all our communication strands to ensure the entire membership have the opportunity to realise were we are going and to put forward there views to their NEO so that we can remain fully inclusive on “The Biggest Thing in Town”.

It is vital that we use all our communication strands to ensure the entire membership have the opportunity to realise were we are going, and to put forward there views to their NEO so that we can remain fully inclusive on “The Biggest Thing in Town”.

No-one is clear as to what or how pay for 2009 will be determined should Workforce Modernisation fail to bring about Workforce Reform, changes to the terms and conditions and, of course, a pay award that reflects the changes you are to undertake and your worth as a public servant.

The Executive may from time to time be criticised by individuals or branches for the lack of communications or lack of results. This criticism is sometimes justified, but most of the time not necessary. We must remain united as we face workforce modernisation, Government legislation, new Government policies and our fight and campaign to Europe to restore our trade union rights. As National Chairman it is my intention to be as inclusive with the membership as humanly possible. However, sometimes we all have to be patient as we try and unravel the workings of Government and the NOMS management board.

Colin Moses
National Chairman

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