CIRC 081: POA CAMPAIGN TO REPEAL SECTION 127 OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1994

The POA held a Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons on 21^st October 2024. At the same time the second reading of the Employment Rights Bill was being debated as well. Many Members of Parliament raised concerns there was nothing in the Bill regarding the right to strike for Prison Officers in the England/Wales service and in Northern Ireland.

I am extremely grateful for the interjections of those MPs on our behalf as part of our campaign. The Employment Bill now moves to committee stage early next year with January 2025 pencilled in. Previously I asked all POA members to engage in this campaign for the repeal of this pernicious piece of legislation. Many branch officials and individual POA members have sent letters to their respective MPs seeking their support and we have received some good support, however we now need to step up the campaign and every POA member needs to play their part. The specimen letter already drafted is available on the POA website to download.

Please continue to raise this important issue so that when the Employment Bill is progressing through Parliament, we garner support for amendments so that it is included to repeal this anti-union legislation. Every single POA member has a part to play and by applying pressure on MPs and educating them about the restrictions this union faces gives our campaign a lift and keeps the pressure on Government to deliver for the POA.

Thank you for your assistance in this important campaign. Continue to send in any responses from your constituency MPs that you receive so support can continue to be assessed going forward. I will continue to update you on this important campaign.

 

Yours sincerely

STEVE GILLAN
General Secretary