News Room

The Union Leaders are calling on the UK Labour Government to bring in a 2nd Employment Rights Bill.

POA Circular 62/2025 outlined the POA’s support for The Campaign for Trade Union Freedom and Strike Map’s call for an ‘Employment Rights Bill 2’.

Following the issuing of Branch Circular 10/2026 relating to the political levy, we have received several enquiries seeking clarification.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 has changed how Trade Union Political Funds will operate in England, Wales and Scotland. There is no change in Northern Ireland.

The Government has accepted the recommendation of the Agenda for Change Pay Review Body in respect of pay as part of a package. 

In response to representations from the POA and other Civil Service unions about this scandal the Government is implementing a temporary loan scheme to alleviate the hardship being felt by members of the pension scheme who have had payments delayed. 

Please find attached NEC minutes for the 28^th January 2026 for your information.

The POA welcome the Report of an unannounced Inspection of HMP Whitemoor on 13^th to 23rd October 2025 by the Chief Inspector of Prisons. Overall, this was a positive and encouraging inspection with an improvement on the assessments made when last inspected in 2022.

Please find attached the current Committee and Branch Area Structures for your information.

The union representing Scotland’s 3500 Prison Officers is calling on the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election to be a turning point for Scotland’s crisis hit prison system.