CIRC 079: GENERAL SECRETARY UPDATE

Since Annual Conference in May 2026, there has been a great deal happening across the POA, but I wanted to take the opportunity to update members on some of the key developments over the last 3 months.

It has been a busy, but importantly, it has also been a period in which we have continued to strengthen our Union, protect our finances, invest responsibly and make sure the voice of POA members is heard at the highest levels.

MEMBERSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW

I am pleased to report the POA membership continues to increase in all areas throughout the United Kingdom. That growth reflects the strength and relevance of our Trade Union and most importantly the confidence members and potential members have in the POA to represent them. At the end of this week our membership stands over 33,200 full members with 4000 retired members. That is an incredible rise given that in 2017 we had 25,500 full members.

A growing membership gives us greater collective strength. It strengthens our ability to negotiate, campaign and make sure the issues affecting our members are heard by employers and Government.

I would like to thank every member who continues to encourage colleagues to join and get involved in the Union. All new members are contacted by Union Income Benefit a provider we have been utilising for many years, and we decided to enhance their role in contacting new members by telephone and the feedback received is really encouraging that new members think this is good communication by the POA.

MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

On the 7^th of September 2026, along with Paul Nowak General Secretary of the TUC in my capacity as TUC President I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street. We need Government to understand the reality faced by our members and pressures being experienced across our services. Our responsibility is to make sure that the issues affecting our members are not simply discussed within our own organisation but are raised directly with those who have the ability to influence policy and make decisions.

Andy Burnham became Prime Minister in July 2026, and his Government has put several issues around public services and public control on the political agenda. The POA does not affiliate to any political party. We will continue to engage with Government where it is in the interests of our members to do so, while remaining clear about what we expect from them. I had that opportunity and many issues from overcrowding, early release schemes, retirement age, the right to strike, pay, recruitment and retention and the failings of Capita were raised with the Prime Minister directly before moving on to issues that affected the wider trade union movement.

MEETING THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR JUSTICE AND PRISONS MINISTER

On the 8^th of September both myself and the National Chair Mark Fairhurst met with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Norris MP and Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell. We advanced arguments on the same issues that I had raised with the Prime Minister, but in more detail and we await answers to our requests on pension age and a proposition on a without prejudice basis to commence talks to avoid going to the ECHR on the issue of the draconian legislation in respect of the Criminal Justice Public Order Act 1994 section 127. The Secretary of State stated he would come back quickly with an answer to us on the without prejudice offer on future discussions.

TUC CONGRESS-BRIGHTON

I am particularly proud that my tenure over the last 12 months as TUC President came to an end when I chaired TUC Congress in Brighton. It was a privilege to Chair such an important event for the wider trade union movement and to represent the POA in that role. The TUC provides an important opportunity for Unions to come together, debate the issues affecting working people and agree collective positions on strategies going forward.

I was proud to ensure that the POA had a strong voice during Congress and to play my part in the wider trade union movement.

RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL INVESTMENT

I also want members to be aware of the work taking place around the POA’s finances. Our financial position has led us to invest in shares with Unity Trust Bank, as well as maintain investments with Quilters and fixed term investment over 12 months with Unity Trust Bank. Importantly, these are investments that align with our commitment to ethical investment. The POA must be financially responsible. We have a duty to protect the union's financial position while ensuring that members money is managed prudently and in accordance with policies set by Conference and our values as a Trade Union.

That means looking carefully at where our money is invested and ensuring that financial decisions are made with both security and ethical consideration in mind. I am pleased to say the investments through Quilters are showing good returns and the fixed interest rates of 4 per cent are safe returns.

WELFARE FUND

Our welfare fund now holds more than £1.6 million. This is a significant milestone and demonstrates the importance we place on supporting members when they need assistance. The welfare fund is an important part of the POA’s commitment to members and provides support at times when members and their families may be facing difficult circumstances. We will continue to ensure the fund is managed responsibly and in keeping with the charities rules so that it remains available to support members into the future.

CSIS BID

This is the Charity for Civil Servants. I am pleased to report that the CSIS bid has been successful and they have awarded the POA the full amount of £10,000 which we bid for to assist members and retired members. This is another example of the POA pursuing opportunities to secure resources that can support the work of the Union and ultimately benefit our members. I would like to thank Paula Larwill in our finance department for assisting me in putting this bid together and securing this funding.

CAPITA AND THE CASE FOR INSOURCING

On 23^rd of September 2026, I met with Sally Jameson MP, Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, to discuss the failures of Capita and the case for bringing the work back in house. On behalf of the POA, I have made the position clear after Capita have failed our members and left some in financial distress by a failing outsourced service with the backlog of cases increasing on a weekly basis. I outlined our position which is clear. Where outsourced services are failing and where there is a strong case for bringing work back into public ownership and control, Government needs to listen.

The meeting provided an opportunity to raise the concerns of our members and to make the case for insourcing. I will continue to press the Government on this issue and ensure the experience of our members is part of that discussion. More importantly it is essential that the backlog is cleared as soon as possible and our members and retired members get the money owing to them.

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE

Next week I have been invited to address the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. The Conference takes place from the 27^th to the 30^th of September and it provides another opportunity for the POA to make sure our members concerns are heard in the political arena. I will use the opportunity to continue making the case for our members and the wider trade union movement to state that the environments that we work in and the importance for properly funded and properly staffed workplaces.

POA FRINGE MEETING

On Monday the 28^th of September, the POA will also be holding a Fringe Meeting in Liverpool focusing on the right to strike. The right of working people to organise collectively and take industrial action is fundamental to the trade union movement. For the POA, this is particularly important. Our members work in some of the most challenging environments in the country and we must continue to defend their ability to have an effective collective voice, the fringe meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss these issues and make sure the POA’S position is clearly understood.

LOOKING AHEAD

The last three months demonstrate that the POA continues to move forward. We have a growing membership, a strong welfare fund, responsible and ethical investments, successful bids for additional funding and continued engagement with senior Political figures and Government. But we cannot become complacent. There remain significant challenges ahead, and my commitment as General Secretary is to continue putting POA members at the centre of everything we do. Whether that is through negotiations, political engagement, campaigning, financial management, welfare support or our work within the wider trade union movement. We will continue to stand up for our members and make sure your voices are heard.

I would like to thank all POA members and Branch Committees for their continued support for the work you do every day. Our Union is stronger when we stand together.

In Solidarity

Steve Gillan
General Secretary