The National Chairman

ISSUE 55, 13th July 2009

MARKET TESTING AND LEADERSHIP

Dear Colleagues

MARKET TESTING AND LEADERSHIP

No one underestimates the effects any Market Test has on those branches that are subject to the process, the staff working there and of course the innocent parties in all of this, the families of those staff.

The NEC did not promulgate POA Circular 128/09 in haste or to undermine any individuals or branches.

It was done to promote and protect this Union. We have read with interest the recent e-mails in respect of POA Circular 128 and it is clear, that the Departments aim of “divide and conquer” is having an effect.

The decision of Annual Conference to hold a Workplace Ballot, as to whether POA officials engage in the local bid process and subsequent ballot result, has determined POA officials will engage in the process.

This does not mean that the POA believes in Market Testing.
The Department will consider who it invites onto local and national bid teams, not the POA or the NEC.
The Champion of the Prison Service Robin Wilkinson, will determine if a Public Sector bid goes forward, not the POA or the NEC.
Only the nationally elected officials of the POA, the NEC will sign off a local bid, why, because otherwise local decisions will or may significantly impact on the Union and you elect the NEC to lead.

It is not lost on the NEC, the difficulties that we all face, as the attack on Public Services continues and the desire to drive down Public Spending is pressed by Government. However, we must remain united.

The CWU, did not successfully stop or defer, the part privatisation of the Post Office by being divided. No, they worked together, campaigned together, fought together and enlisted the support of the TUC, Politicians and other Unions.

The POA have and are still doing the same as the CWU. But, it is a long road to victory.

The POAs legal challenge to Market Testing and the proposals contained in Robin Wilkinsons letter of 27th April 2009 may or may not be successful, we await Counsels opinion.

I ask you, why are the NOMS board and Prison Service trying to circumvent the NEC. Simple answer, because they believe they can pick us off one by one and use one branches policies and systems to attack every other branch.

At present, I do not have all the answers, but, I do know this, if we fight each other we will become weaker.

You elected the NEC to lead; it is obvious that the NOMS Board wish to circumvent the leadership of this Union. They are attempting this by contacting local officials.

MARKET TESTING IS A NATIONAL ISSUE WHICH WILL AFFECT EVERY MEMBER OF THIS UNION. THE DULY CONSTITUTED LEADERSHIP OF THIS UNION ARE THOSE THAT THE NOMS BOARD SHOULD BE NEGOTIATING WITH. DO NOT ASSIST THEM IN THEIR DIVISIVE ANTI TRADE UNION APPROACHES.

I urge you to stand together, support the NEC and each other.

Colin Moses
National Chairman

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