CIRC 077: MEMBERSHIP ACTIONS IN THE CAMPAIGN TO REPEAL SECTION 127 OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1994

Our campaign to repeal Section 127 of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994 was launched at the TUC with a motion which was unanimously approved by all trade unions who were present. The POA also had a stand where documentation was given out explaining our position. Copies of that document can be found on the POA website. I would ask all POA members to familiarise themselves with that document.

A short film was produced at the TUC and indeed at the Labour Party Conference where the POA also had a stand where many members of Parliament attended and spoke to National Officials about our campaign including the Prisons Minister James Timpson. If you haven’t already viewed the two short films, they are available on the POA website and I would urge all POA members to view the short films.

The NEC will be holding a parliamentary briefing for all MPs and Lords and invitations have been sent out, so we are hoping for a large turnout, but we also need your help.

An Early Day Motion 228 titled “Ban on Prison Officer industrial action” tabled by Grahame Morris MP on 9^th October 2024 which states;

“That this House notes it has been 30 years since prison officers in the UK were banned from taking industrial action under section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; further notes that prison officers in Scotland had the right enshrined in law since 2015, yet there have been no strikes then, only improved industrial relations; believes this draconian restriction, especially in the absence of an effective and impartial means of binding resolution of disputes in the course of collective bargaining, renders the UK in breach of its obligations under international laws that it has ratified and by which it is bound, including the European Social Charter and ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise; further believes this lack of industrial muscle leaves prison officers unfairly and dangerously at the mercy of prison service management and without leverage to challenge Government policy with respect to pay, terms and conditions; expresses solidarity with the POA union, which has campaigned tirelessly over three decades for the return of these basic industrial rights; welcomes the Government’s commitment to repealing anti trade union legislation introduced by previous administrations; and calls on the Government to include Section 127 in the legislation to be repealed”.

The POA are grateful to Grahame Morris MP for tabling this Early Day motion and within 2 days 17 members of parliament have signed to support the POA those being; 

Grahame Morris MP (Labour) Easington
Rachael Maskell MP (Labour) York Central
Mary Foy MP (Labour) City of Durham
Richard Burgon MP (Labour) Leeds East
John McDonnell MP (Independent) Hayes and Harlington
Liz Saville Roberts MP (Plaid Cymru) Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Ian Lavery MP (Labour) Blyth and Ashington
Kim Johnson MP (Labour) Liverpool Riverside
Jeremy Corbyn MP (Independent) Islington North
Cat Smith MP (Labour) Lancaster and Wyre
Andy McDonald MP (Labour) Middlesborough and Thornaby East
Charlotte Nichols MP (Labour) Warrington North Poplar and Limehouse
Ian Byrne MP (Independent) Liverpool West Derby
Rebecca Long Bailey MP (Independent) Salford
Apsana Begum MP (Independent) Poplar and Limehouse
Ellie Chowns MP (Green) North Herefordshire
Shockat Adam MP (Independent) Leicester South

We now need all POA members to write to their MP asking them to sign the EDM.

Please find attached a draft letter to fill in and send to your MP. The model letter will also be available on the POA website to download. When the MP responds please send their response for the attention of nicola@poauk.org.uk so we can collate to see which MPs are supportive. Feel free to alter the draft letter if you so wish but it is imperative that every POA member gets involved in this campaign.

 

Yours sincerely

STEVE GILLAN
General Secretary

 

  

ENCLOSURE

Attachments

• Letter to MPs.docx

  0.02 Mb, docx