SCOTLAND: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIR

It’s a full-on role – from campaigning on behalf of members and ensuring their voices are heard, to reading policy documents and attending enquiries

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO GATELODGE. COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GIVE US A BIT OF BACKGROUND IN TERMS OF YOUR CAREER HISTORY, JOB TITLE AND HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN IN THE ROLE?

I’m John Cairney, and I’ve been employed by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) since 7 January 2002. I joined as an operations officer in HMP Glenochil before transferring in 2004 to HMP Barlinnie, where I worked in various areas within the operations group. In 2008, I became a POA-appointed H&S rep and soon afterwards got elected onto the LBC. I took on the branch chair role and became the PLR (full-time union official) around 2012. During the time of taking over the PLR role, I got promoted from operations officer to my current position of residential officer. In 2019, I got elected onto the Scottish National Committee and, in 2021, became its chair, a role I continue to do today.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO AREN’T FAMILIAR WITH THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL COMMITTEE, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THERE AND WHEN WAS IT FORMED?

The SNC came about after a merger of the Scottish POA with the national POA in 2000. We are made up of seven elected officials and a full-time assistant secretary for Scotland, and we are assisted by a regional administrator and a senior clerical assistant. The elected roles are chair, vice-chair, treasurer and four committee members, and each of these posts is held for five years.

All reps, apart from the chair and vice-chair, have branches for which they are the national reps, and their duties are to ensure support is being offered to LBCs and that our members have access to the SNC officials, as this was always an issue within the membership in Scotland.

WHAT DOES A REGULAR SHIFT ENTAIL? WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIFIC DUTIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY?

A regular shift for me is usually planned weeks in advance, as most of my day is taken up with pre-arranged meetings. Not only am I SNC chair, but I am also chair of the SPS Trade Union Side (TUS), which is made up from POA, PCS and Prospect. This means my time is split between both roles. I sit on programme boards or prepare for these meetings, ensuring that the unions’ views are accurately reflected in the policy documents.

On most days, I am in regular contact with senior figures within the SPS about issues that arise within establishments that may impact on partnership working, and for which we need to find solutions. Most of the time, these are passed onto the national officials for that branch.

I also attend many review meetings that the SPS is undertaking – for example, Death in Custody review and Trauma Informed practice. My role within these groups is, again, to ensure the trade unions’ views are being properly heard and included, and that I feed this back into the unions for discussion or agreement.

In addition, I look to find the time to visit branches, and have a yearly plan in place to visit them all, because I feel it’s important to ensure the members have access to the SNC chair to hear their views. When time allows, I also work on the newsletter on behalf of the SNC. This has been a well-received source of information for our members.

At the time of writing, I am preparing to represent the membership at the Scottish Covid enquiry, so a lot of time is being taken up preparing with our legal counsel to ensure the case presented is accurate and strong.

WHO DO YOU WORK MOST CLOSELY WITH AND WHAT ARE THEIR ROLES?

The SNC and I have regular calls throughout the day. I also work closely with the TUS secretary, because he and his colleague are responsible for pulling together the documents and preparing policy position for the three unions; without them, I simply couldn’t mange the workload. I also work closely with heads of functions at SPS HQ and, because of the level of work ongoing, we speak more than any of us would want. However, we need to continue the constant dialogue and partnership working.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ELEMENT OF THE JOB/DAY AND WHAT ARE YOUR MOST CHALLENGING ELEMENTS OF THE ROLE?

My favourite part of the role is representing the membership and trying to make positive changes for their working environment. It’s important that the many changes happening within the SPS are not to the detriment to our members. That’s why I became a POA rep, to ensure that a good working environment for the members is achieved.

I would say the most challenging part of the role is reading the pages upon pages of policy changes that we need to discuss at our SNC business meetings. If you miss the slightest detail, it will lead to criticism from the members, as it will have a negative impact on them. I’m fortunate to have the remaining SNC, including our FTO, reviewing these policies too; that offers the comfort needed.

IN TERMS OF THIS ROLE, WHAT MAKES YOU TICK, AND WHAT MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE IN TERMS OF JOB SATISFACTION? CAN YOU GIVE US A RECENT INSTANCE OF A WORK EVENT OR OUTCOME THAT MADE YOUR DAY?!

Wanting to represent the membership; the drive to ensure that positive outcomes impact our members. As reps, we get into this role to help people when they need it and to positively impact the change that is coming. I have always said I’ll make mistakes, but they are not intentional – and, dare I say it, infrequent.

I love campaigning for the membership and the current campaign – 68 is Too Late – is having a positive impact and we will continue to push this for the membership. The outcome of the recent members’ surveys on the above campaign was amazing and gave a boost to us all on the SNC. The engagement with the membership who completed the survey proves that the campaign is worthwhile.

IF YOU HAD A BLANK CANVAS AND COULD IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR MEMBERS, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TOP COUPLE OF CHANGES?

Achieving the reduced retirement age of 60 without financial detriment is the biggest long-standing issue for this union, and we will continue to campaign to achieve this.

In Scotland we are pushing the SPS to ensure our operational members are paid more than our nonoperational colleagues. We have always been clear that this never has been, or ever will be, a kick towards our non-operational colleagues. We are not trying to take anything from them; we are simply looking to ensure that operational staff get paid for the environment in which they do their role.

They work in a very dangerous workplace, where they are exposed to deaths, assaults, drug taking, and prisoners on dirty protests. They also work unsociable hours, can’t work from home, can’t access the many policies available to nonops colleagues, work festive periods… the list goes on and on. Our members deserve to be recognised for the different environment in which they do their job.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO POA MEMBERS CONSIDERING GETTING INVOLVED IN THE UNION MOVEMENT?

Speak with your LBCs and national reps to find out as much information as you can. The common answer we get when asking people to become reps is that people are not confident doing the role. This shouldn’t stop you; you learn the role as you do it, and use the support and guidance that will always be available.

We have designed a branch official training package alongside City of Glasgow College – which we will roll out this later this year – and this will give you the information and tools to carry out the role confidently. If you think you can make a positive change, then you are halfway there, as you see things need to be improved.

Along with the elected committee positions, there is the option of dipping your toe in by becoming an appointed POA H&S rep or union learning rep – information on both roles can be found by speaking to the LBC.

Don’t let race, religion, gender or sexual orientation put you off either – the POA is a trade union open to all and you will be welcomed. l

Representing over 30,000 Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers, the POA is the largest UK Union in this sector, able to trace its roots back more than 100 years.