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CIRC 019: EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS BILL AND PRISON OFFICERS RIGHT TO STRIKE
POA Circular 14/2025 explained to members that John McDonnell MP had submitted amendments to the Bill that would reinstate the basic human right of Prison Officers ability to withdraw their labour. The Executive invited members, their families, friends and others in the Trade Union movement to contact their MPS to support the amendments.
As a result of the campaign 1572 people contacted their MP by email, along with many others who contacted their MP by other means. Despite this, MPs were denied a vote on John’s proposal and the Bill has now gone through the Report Stage without John’s amendments included and we will continue to have our basic rights denied.
John McDonnell did speak in the House of Commons on his amendments and a link to his speech can be found here;
In addition, the following MPs added their name to the amendment:
John McDonnell, Mary Kelly Foy, Richard Burgon, Mike Amesbury, Dr Simon Opher, Jon Trickett, Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Kim Johnson, Nadia Whittome, Steve Witherden, Kate Osborne, Imran Hussain, Jeremy Corbyn, Andy McDonald, Ian Byrne, and Zarah Sultana.
The POA are grateful to the above MPs for their support but also disappointed that many MPs failed to add their name to the amendments, despite them stating that they would support the POA when they were in opposition.
However, this is not the end of our campaign. We will continue to pressurise MPs into supporting Prison Officers and we will continue to pursue our case through the Courts.
Thank you for your support.
Yours sincerely
STEVE GILLAN
General Secretary