The National Chairman

ISSUE 48, 24th April 2009

MARKET TESTING

Dear Colleagues

MARKET TESTING

I have consistently stated that 2009 will be a challenging year for the POA and Market Testing is high on the Governments Agenda, something the POA will have to face.

I have been asked by a number of staff, officials and Ministers,

“What is the POAs policy on Market Testing?”
The answer is simple; the POA is opposed to Market Testing.

The current policy of the Union not to engage in Market Testing is not my view, nor the view of Conference. It is the view established through the ballot box in October 2004.

For your information the POA posed the simple question in the ballot,

“Should we involve or engage in the Market Test process.”
The result of the ballot was as follows:

Slips issued 13385
Slips returned 11742
In favour 1359
Against 10263
Spoilt votes 120

You can see that more than 50% of the membership voted on this issue and over 75% voted against the POA engaging in the Market Test process.

As National Chairman, I understand the dilemma that a branch committee may face should their prison or workplace be subjectedto a Market Test. However, it is my duty to reinforce the Unions policy and NO POA MEMBER SHOULD ENGAGE WITH THE PROCESS AND WORK AGAINST THE POLICY OF THIS UNION.

The Executive emphasised that there is no need for Market Testing, there is no need for Contestability and affirm the Unions policy that the POA will not engage whenever we meet with NOMS, the Prison Service and representatives from Government.

We will not sign up to a no strike agreement and members should be under no illusion that it is not the POAs bid, it is the employers bid when a Market Test is announced. Therefore, there is no need for the Union to engage or be involved.

Annual Conference 2009 is fast approaching and the Unions policy on Market Testing will be debated and Conference will determine whether to change the policy or reaffirm the policy, but until that time I reiterate the Unions view, the memberships view and the policy of this Union.

No POA member should engage in the Market Test process and no POA member should work against this Union.

Colin Moses
National Chairman

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