ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2022 EASTBOURNE

POA Conference after two years is very much welcomed

At last we were able to meet in person to set the POA agenda for the future. I have been on record as stating this was a Conference with a difference. A harmony between delegates and Executive that I have not witnessed for many years. A togetherness that wants to deal with the real issues instead of personality politics. Totally refreshing and some of the big policy decisions were made by delegates instructing the Executive to take forward on their behalf such as;Conference Paper 2 on the campaign to achieve a pensionable age of 60 for those members of the Civil Service and other pension schemes.

Changing the law can be a long and arduous process and needs the support of Parliament. The POA have never accepted the changes imposed in 2012 to the pension age. Conference endorsed the continuation of this campaign in order to get pension justice for POA members. This means that every POA member needs to engage politically with their respective members of parliament to educate them why it is wrong for POA members to be expected to work until 68 years of age. Politicians are starting to listen but we need to keep pushing the Government not to just listen but to act on this issue.

Motion 36: Conference condemn the limitation on the Trade Union in relation to draconian measures that Government have had in place under section 127 of the Criminal Justice public order act 1994.

It is now nearly 30 years since it was made illegal to take any form of industrial action or to induce a Prison Officer to take industrial action. Conference has reaffirmed our objectives to continue to campaign to get the act repealed and we will continue to do so as the legislation is pernicious. There is more and more anti trade union legislation, but this particular piece has no place in a modern society.

CONFERENCE PAPER 4: SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

This Conference paper was overwhelmingly accepted by conference which pleased me greatly. The POA and wider trade union movement must ensure that within our own unions Sexual Harassment is opposed and eradicated. If we are to ensure that we hold employers to account, then unions themselves must have best practise.

CONFERENCE PAPER 5: RACE ACTION PLANC

onference again overwhelmingly accepted that an up to date meaningful action plan must be in place within our rules and constitution. The POA have consistently expelled individuals from membership who have displayed racist views and will continue to do so. There can be no place for racism in society let alone our trade union. Much work still needs to be done and the POA will ensure the union is a welcome place for all.

MOTION 60: POA CALL FOR A ROYAL COMMISSION INTO HMPPS

After an explanation that a Royal Commission is just like a public inquiry, Conference endorsed this call and we will attempt to achieve this Royal Commission through our parliamentary processes so that a root and branch review can take place.

MOTION 61: FOOD POVERTY CRISIS

Conference fully endorsed the POA Executive in getting involved in this campaign. To think that many of our members and their families are relying on food banks in 2022 is tragic and avoidable. This is political choice make no doubt about it. The cost of living crisis is real and the POA NEC and members will play a leading role in tackling this issue with politicians of all parties.

MOTION 62: CONFERENCE CONDEMNS FIRE AND REHIRE TACTICS ON WORKERS

Conference recognises that much work is to be done on this and we will work with Barry Gardiner MP so that it is outlawed in Britain. Make no mistake, if employers and companies think it is ok and legal to do and the loopholes remain even with the crocodile tears of this Government then no worker is safe. Fire and Rehire needs to be made illegal.

MOTION 63: POA FULLY SUPPORT PROPOSED HILLSBOROUGH LAW

It is fantastic that Conference endorsed this because as a trade union we need to look beyond our own issues and this conference not only spoke about Hillsborough but wider issues that affects our communities and that was pleasing to hear and see.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE MANADATES

Those motions are just a flavour of the debates at conference but many more motions were passed which now form policy and the Executive will formulate them and attempt to get positive outcomes through the employers and indeed Government in matters that affect the POA membership. The NEC will keep you updated in campaigns and outcomes throughout the year.

TRADES COUNCILS

As your General Secretary on behalf of the General Council of the TUC I also Chair the meetings of the TUC Joint Consultive Committee for Trades Councils. I Chaired the annual conference over the weekend of the 11th and 12th June 2022 in Leicester where Trades Councils and Associations came from all over the UK with some fantastic debates that affect every trade union in the United Kingdom and also with some excellent international debates as well. Some very interesting motions were passed. Accordingly at our POA conference Motion 77 was passed stating our commitment from previous POA policy that “every POA branch affiliates to their local Trades Council and that the union provides delegates to all regional TUC”. Most branches know that when they affiliate to their local trades councils then those affiliation fees are paid centrally but it is more than just affiliating, it is about being active in those trades councils as well. Trades Councils are an active part of trade unionism andit's about communities and trade unions coming together and assisting each other with campaigns. By the time this article comes out I will have promulgated a POA Circular asking POA branches up and down the country to adhere to POA policy that has been passed by affiliating and attending Trades Councils local to their workplaces. Working with others assists those Trades Councils to fully understand our campaigns and for them to assist us and for us to assist and work with other trade unions through those trade councils.

JUSTICE FOR COLOMBIA

In May 2022 I was part of a delegation that visited Colombia during one of the most important Presidential Elections since the Peace Agreement was signed in 2016. The experience, my first in 10 years, left me with the feeling that since my last visit in 2012 things were still dangerous with killings of trade unionists and community leaders. It would not do my visit justice by just doing a couple of paragraphs so there will be a more informative video and indeed write up about that delegation trip with fellow trade unionists and a variety of politicians from different parties in Britain and indeed Ireland. Internationally I am grateful that once again POA Conference endorsed our long association with Justice for Colombia.