The National Chairman

ISSUE 51, 18th May 2009

POST CONFERENCE REVIEW

Dear Colleagues

POST CONFERENCE REVIEW

I have always said that 2009 will be a difficult year for the Union and I do not see anything changing following the decisions that were made at our 70th Annual Conference. We have to move forward together, campaign together and shape the future of the POA as we determine what our strategy and policy will be on engaging in Market Testing and Clustering, through the ballot box as determined by Emergency Motion 119A.

The Government and the Employer will no doubt keep a watchful eye on us in anticipation of the decisions you will be asked to make. I will ensure that you are provided with all the available information so that you can make an informed decision and not an emotional one.

MARKET TESTING

On the 27th April, Jack Straw announced in the House of Commons that Wellingborough and Birmingham would be Market Tested. He also announced that those prisons currently on an SLA would also have to re-bid for their jobs. This process now brings the Hewell Cluster into the Market Test process and opens the door for the private sector. All level two prisons are at risk of privatisation.

All failing prisons, as identified by NOMS as a result of poor management will be subject to scrutiny and may be the next establishments put forward for a market test. If any business realised that management was failing, as a good employer they would address this rather than put their business at risk. The Prison Service blatantly refuse to apportion blame to management and address the underlying problems they simply put the prison out to tender. The Chief Inspector of Prisons’ reports are now being politicised and used as a means to identify a failing prison and this is immoral.

The Union was in favour of engaging in performance testing and performance improvement to ensure prisons improved, but now this process appears not to be good enough. Why?

If this process no longer works, why have they not engaged with the Union to seek alternative processes rather than adopting Market Testing as a means to an end to privatisation.

Emergency Motion 119A was adopted and therefore the Executive will now action the ballot as soon as reasonably practicable, following their NEC meeting on the 26th May 2009.

CLUSTERING

The employer is looking to streamline management, reduce staffing, save money and improve regimes. If you were cynical you could think that they were making the cluster an attractive prospect for the private sector.

The adoption of Annual Conference Motion 63 will now form part of the information that will be promulgated for your consideration under the ballot called for under Emergency Motion 119A.

MOTION 102A

The NEC will persuade you to support the union by not carrying out non-profiled work. They ask you to queue at the gate at the start of your shifts, only work to the LSS and now we seek your support and ask you to opt out of Payment Plus.

The Service state our actions are not impacting on prisons. It is time for you to test their resolve and demand your rights by ensuring your terms and conditions are met. Every POA member should demand the repayment of all TOIL in accordance with Bulletin 8 and within five weeks.

PAY

The submission from all the remit groups are now before the Pay Review Body (PRB) and the Union will present its oral evidence on the 20th of this month. When you will get a pay award is another matter, an award that was due on the 1st April.

Jack Straw advised us that he had offered some of you 1.5% and that he would address the PRB. I wonder if the PRB will be influenced or persuaded by their Boss?

Although the employer’s offer on WfM was rejected, it appears that the employer will implement parts of it for new starters under the recommendations of the PRB.

A copy of the POA’s submission is in your branch. Please contact your local officials to consider its contents.

BRENDAN BARBER

It was pleasing to hear Brendan pay tribute to the professional men and women of the Service, but we need action not words if we are to prevent wholesale privatisation of our prisons and public services.

The POA is a campaigning Union and we must work alongside other Unions to further our causes and those of our fellow workers. We do have support in the ranks of New Labour and other political parties, as outlined in some of the addresses to Annual Conference. We must build on that support and encourage others to fight for what is right and proper.

TRADE UNION RIGHTS

The POA’s claim to the International Labour Organisation is almost complete and we had an update from Brian Caton and Steve Gillan on this important issue. I know that if we had our trade union rights the Government would not treat us the way they currently do.

In closing this address, I urge you to support the Union, follow the policies of the Union and demand full staffing at your establishment. The level of unemployment is rising and I have no doubt that the prison population will follow suit.

Further information will be promulgated on these issues and when the ballot timetable is published, use your vote wisely. Ask your NEC representative to visit your branch and address your concerns, the weeks ahead are the most important in shaping the future of the POA.

Colin Moses
National Chairman

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