News Room

In the last few years 3018 Members from the POA have had their tax checked using the specialist employee tax review service offered by The Tax Refund Company.

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 28th January 2026 for your information.

 

The POA welcome the Report of an unannounced Inspection of HMP Whitemoor on 13th 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.

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.