01 cover.indd

May 2008
The POA Members’ Magazine
The Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers
THE ACCUSED
Guilty of the removal of £4million from POA members’ pockets
Charged with broken promises on Trade Union Rights and
ignoring that the privatisation of prisons is morally repugnant
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gat02.indd 1
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What’s inside…
Zero Tolerance!
Justice Forum Conference
10th April 2008
Introduction
Contents
● National Chairman
● General Secretary
● Valley Parade
● LLW
● Branch News
● Levy & McRae
● North of the Border
● ULF
● Postbag
4
6
7
8
12
26
27
31
32
Editor’s Comments
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the May issue of Gatelodge, an edition produced to
ensure Branch News is published so that the membership are
aware of key issues.
This month will be a turning point in the recent history of the
Union. We will see the demise of the Joint Industrial Relations
Procedural Agreement (JIRPA) on the 8th May 2008 (good
riddance). Therefore, what will the Prison Service and Government
do? Should this Union take any form of Industrial Action in the
Glyn Travis
months ahead?
Editor
I have no doubt they will resort to the use of the Courts and Jack
Straw and New Labour will use the old Section 127 to attack this Union and its membership.
Following the recommendations of the Pay Review Body the majority of POA members will
have received a pay award for 2008 – if it was a pay award in real terms. However, a number
of staff will still be playing catch up following the debacle of the 2007 pay recommendations
and subsequent award. Continuing on the theme of pay, pay modernisation is high on the
Governments and Prison Service Agenda, with the promise of new money for 2009 being
made available should a deal be done. In my view we need to see what’s on offer and
establish what’s really in the envelope, because history tells us the envelope is empty and we
have to rob Peter to pay Paul.
The rising prison population, staff shortfalls and the reliance on staff working more hours is
still an everyday problem, that is not being addressed by Government or the Prison Service. If
we, as a Union, are to make people aware of the real problems that you all face we must work
together, meet our MPs and make the local media aware of the issues you face everyday.
Jack Straw is to address our Conference in May and I look forward to hearing what he has
to say. False promises and pledges mean nothing. He and the Labour Government have to
support those who work in the Criminal Justice System by rewarding them all with a fair days
pay for a fair days work. The simple reality is that if by working for the Service people cannot
afford to live, then they leave or not join at all.
I ask you to read the contents of this issue and digest what the leaders of the POA are
saying so that you can support your Union as we move forward.
I would like to thank all of the staff at POA Offices for their efforts in ensuring that the
preparation for the Annual Conference was both timely and professional, especially Angela
and Brian who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
Finally, a big thank you to Carol for ensuring that this issue of Gatelodge was produced on
time and in such a professional manner, considering the short timescale and volume of work
that was being done for the Annual Conference. As always, I look forward to your views and
comments, good or bad.
Best Wishes,
Gatelodge is published every other month by the
Prison Officers Association. It is circulated free to
all members of the Association and is available on
general subscription. The views expressed in the
magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor or the
National Executive Committee. The Association does
not accept responsibility for any statements made
or opinions expressed in any of the articles, papers,
correspondence or reports published in the magazine.
Subscription Rates:
Non-members £15.00 Overseas £20.00
Editor: Glyn Travis
Editorial Board: Colin Moses, Glyn Travis,
Steve Gillan
Editorial Office: POA HQ, Cronin House,
245 Church Street, London N9 9HW
Tel: 0208 803 0255 Fax: 0208 803 1761
Email: [email protected]
Editorial: Contributors to the magazine are
requested to send material for the August issue by
14th July 2008.
Advertising
Business Development Manager
Juliet Goss 01778 391067
e-mail: [email protected]
Production Co-ordinator
Sue Woodgates 01778 392062
e-mail: [email protected]
Advertising Design
Joanne Osborn
Publishing
Publishers & Printers
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The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, PE10 9PH.
Tel: 01778 393313
Fax: 01778 394748
Development Publisher
Simon Moody
Editorial Design
Viv Lane
May 2008
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National Chairman
Zero tolerance
The theme of our 2008 Annual Conference, to be held in
Portsmouth, will be ‘Zero Tolerance’. The POA has
campaigned for Zero Tolerance in prisons for many years.
The recent announcement by the Rt. Hon.
Jack Straw that the Prison Service was
to take up our call for ‘Zero Tolerance’ is
welcomed. Violence and drug abuse is
the scourge of our modern society.
Politicians of all parties fail to address the
appropriate use of prisons as a deterrent
to crime. It is left to Lord Phillips, the Lord
Chief Justice, and the most senior judge in
England to issue warnings of the erosion
that early release is causing to the Criminal
Justice System. ‘16,000 prisoners have
been released early from jail since last
June’. Lord Phillips has called for a new
structure that will make it easier for the public
to understand how long inmates are likely to
spend in jail.
Lord Phillips is quoted as saying: “I
think it is still difficult for the public to
understand sentencing as a whole.” He
continued, “I think it would be very much
better if one had a clear sentencing
structure, where if you imposed a
sentence you could see how long that
individual might spend in prison and
when they would be eligible for parole.”
The Lord Chief Justice went on to say that
he does not favour fixed sentences, where
inmates would find out in advance how long
they had to serve behind bars. There has to
be flexibility to give a prisoner the incentive
for good behaviour and to allow parole.
4
The crisis we now see in sentencing
can be clearly laid at the door of New
Labour, with their misguided belief that
new prisons should only be built and run
in the private sector.
This has caused an ever increasing
crisis in the public sector Prison Service,
so leading to the judiciary being unable to
carry forward and protect the public in a
correct fashion. The levels of early release
seen since June 2007 are due to years of
under-investment by New Labour, in our
overcrowded prisons. Whilst the rhetoric
line coming from both New Labour and
the Tories is one to be tougher on crime,
the reality is we have a sentencing policy
that is so convoluted that we find we have
the Lord Chief Justice having to speak
out. The Government should abandon
its current plans of budgetary cuts inside
public sector prisons. Invest correctly in
both staff and fabric so that we can carry
out our core task to protect the public and
address inmates re-offending.
Whilst the Ministry of Justice
continues to spend what seems to be
the majority of its time attacking this
trade union through the Courts and
Parliaments legislative systems, the
public are suffering.
We should have ‘Zero Tolerance’
to crime, not what we are seeing; a
sentencing policy geared to the economics
that say we want to imprison more,
but only if it is on the cheap and totally
ignore the sentences issued by free and
independent judiciary. Prison staff should
not just be used as door keepers to the
criminal fraternity which knows that the
sentences issued to them by the Courts
will in no way reflect the sentences
they will serve. We should see a clearly
defined new structure on sentencing as
recommended by the Lord Chief Justice.
Prisons must be correctly resourced
and not be at the end of the treasury
food chain.
Until we see correctly resourced prisons
we will see a continuation of the revolving
door sentencing policy that endangers the
public and leaves prisons to be the butt
of the media who believe that we cannot
address offending behaviour. The current
Colin Moses Branch visits:
Since the April magazine I have visited
Barlinnie Prison, held an NEC at
Castell House in Northern Ireland and
met Ed Sweeney reference TUDDRA.
I have met with John Hendy QC
and LLW along with members of the
Executive reference our campaign
for Trade Union Rights. There is a
special Whitley arranged for Monday
21st April 2008 in respect of Industrial
Relations and The Right Honourable
David Hanson MP, Minister of State
is visiting Cronin House on Tuesday
22nd April 2008.
policy being enacted by the Government
is that prisons are no more than short stay
holding areas. Politicians of all parties
should be brave enough to clearly set out
what they want from our prison system
so that all parties, the judiciary, the public,
the offender and – most importantly – staff
know what they are expected to deliver. If
‘Zero Tolerance’ is to mean anything, we
must remove the ‘smoke and mirrors’
attitude to sentencing.
Colin Moses
National Chairman
Gatelodge
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National Chairman
What will the rest of
2008 bring?
The POA is, in my opinion, facing the most challenging
times in its history, and you may ask why?
On the 8th May 2008 the JIRPA will
cease to exist and we will be without
any industrial relations agreement or, in
reality, a NO STRIKE AGREEMENT.
Is this a bad thing?
The Government obviously believe
it is because they have reintroduced
legislation to penalise members of the
POA should they partake in any form of
industrial action.
This ‘anti-trade union’ legislation first
introduced by the Tories in 1994 – as
part of their strategy to try and smash
this Union – failed and New Labour’s
legislation will fail also. It is important
to assess how and what Jack Straw
evaluates as industrial action.
Below is a response from Jack Straw
to Lord Graham of Edmonton, who has
been supporting the POA in an attempt
to amend the legislation:
“The current wording prohibits the
inducement of ‘any action likely to affect
the normal working of a prison’ and would
prohibit the inducement of industrial
action short of strike action, including
‘working to rule’. To allay concerns raised
by you and others, this applies only to
prison officers and prison governors.
We cannot be certain that the definition
proposed in your amendment would give
protection from ‘work to rule’ action which
might take the form of a controlled unlock
of prisoners, a ‘go slow’ on a escorting
into prisons, staff entering the gates and
drawing their keys at the same time at the
start of a shift, or the withdrawal of good will
on ‘time off in lieu’ arrangements. As Lord
Hunt stated in the debate on 10th March,
such action could result in curtailment of
regimes and limit the provision of specialist
care for prisoners, as well as undermine
the operation of the criminal justice system.
This could have serious and possibly
dangerous consequences”.
I do not think it is a bad thing for this
Union to be rid of the JIRPA if we, as
workers, decide to take any form of
action up to, and including, strike action.
It will be as a direct result of the actions of
Government and/or the employer and as a
last resort.
We will comply with TULCRA, for
example, by holding a ballot before
action is taken in accordance with
Section 226, and if the Government
chooses not to respect our rights and
use the courts to attack us, using
any reserved powers, so be it. If the
Government ignore ILO rulings that is
a matter for them, but we will not and
must not take this lying down!
So what will the rest of 2008
bring to you?
• Workforce modernisation,
• A new multi pay year deal,
• Threats of court action,
• Changes to your terms and conditions,
• Another staged pay award,
• More assaults against staff,
• Bigger prisons,
• Less staff,
• More prisoners,
• Inappropriate prisoners in less
secure prisons,
These are some of the real issues you
face and we will deal with these one by
one and manage the affairs of the union
to ensure we achieve the best possible
outcome for everyone. To achieve this aim
we must stand side by side, shoulder to
shoulder, united as one.
What will continue is our campaign to
restore our trade union rights, a fundamental
right of every worker and member of a trade
union. This may take time but considering
our fight started in 1994 time should not
matter, just the end result.
Colin Moses
National Chairman
May 2008
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General Secretary
Justice Forum Conference
10th April 2008
Blame culture, resources and impact
upon service delivery in the Justice
system.
On Wednesday 10th April 2008 I
was privileged on behalf of the POA to
speak at the Justice Forum Conference
along with other justice trade unions,
the police federation and experts
and academics in the field of criminal
justice. I would wish to thank the
justice forum on behalf of all affiliates
to that organisation for arranging the
conference and for giving all of those
present the opportunity to raise issues
about a system that is clearly in crisis.
In my speech I stated: “The prison
system in England and Wales is in crisis”
- I have heard that before somewhere! The
prison estate in England is full to capacity
– and we have all heard that before as well.
Year on year the POA, along with every
other organisation with an interest in the
criminal justice system, has been telling the
current government and it predecessors
that our prisons are overfilled and are
being used as dumping grounds for those
with mental health, personality disorders
and addiction problems.
The prison system as a whole has
been severely overcrowded since 1994.
The current Director General states that
he does not wish to have a return to
the times when the POA took industrial
action in the 1970s and 80s by locking
prison gates to prevent overcrowding
and the consequential breakdown of
security and control. If that is the case
then he should get up off of his belly and
fight for better resoursing.
Every year the government publish
their projections about what is going to
happen to the prison population, and
for the last decade the population has
consistently been higher at the end of
those projections. So the question now
becomes – if projections are correct and
the government and the prison service
management have the knowledge, why
have we ended up in the positions of
having to use police cells at huge cost
to the prison budget and having to hold
prisoners in court cells for long periods
of time in inhumane conditions?
The answer is quite simple, and can
be summed up in three words – HER
6
MAJESTY’S TREASURY.
The failure of the Home Office, the
Prison Service but most importantly the
prisons board to secure appropriate
funding is an absolute national disgrace.
On the subject of how the POA has been
blamed I made the following points:
“The POA, over the last three years,
have been dragged through the courts
by a government intent on silencing
any voice of criticism regarding their
mismanagement. We have had the
opportunity to examine the criminal
justice system from the both sides. Our
experience has not been good. The
government has used the justice system
as a weapon to attack our Union, it’s
National Executive, its membership
and has even threatened it’s continued
existence. All this under a so-called
Labour Government!’’
On the subject of the direction in which
the justice unions should be going, I
made clear that the way forward was as
follows:
“We need to campaign together
in a forceful way. We need
to get off our backsides as
activists to educate our
membership. We need to
challenge the failures of
Government in a noisy, loud
and public way, but more
importantly where restrictions
are placed in our way by the
use of bad laws, we need to
break those laws. Stranding
together and united we can
change the justice system to a fair,
modern and acceptable system.
We can make it better for the
unions, for our members, for the user and
create a civil society for all; or we can sit
back do nothing and watch it destroyed
on the alter of financial cut backs and
privatisation. It is our duty to cause these
changes.’’
To all POA members – let us all stand
strong with our Trades Union Comrades.
Let us take the fight to the Government.
Together we are strong – together we
can win!
Brian Caton
General Secretary
Gatelodge
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Valley Parade
Valley Parade Memorial Tournament
Anyone who witnessed either first hand
or through media coverage, the terrible
scenes at the Valley Parade Football
Ground, Bradford, in May 1985 could not
have failed to have been affected by the
sheer horror. The terrifying ferocity of the
fire at the ground was vividly captured by
television for the world to witness. Men,
women and children perished in pursuit of
the innocent pleasure of watching a football
match. Many others suffered injuries from
which they have never recovered.
This year was significantly poignant as it
saw the first meeting of Bradford City and
Lincoln City since that fateful day, and must
have touched the hearts of many who still
have vivid memories of the tragic events
of that Saturday afternoon. Possibly none
more so than the current managers, Peter
Jackson and Stuart McCall, who were
playing for Lincoln City and Bradford City
on that very day.
At the 1985 POA Annual Conference,
which was held in Portsmouth shortly after
the tragedy, the delegates motivated by
the concern and sadness they shared with
those affected, decided on behalf of the
membership to provide a positive memorial
to the tragedy and Easter 1986 saw the
inauguration of the Valley Parade Memorial
competition.
In the finest tradition of the POA the
tournament has continued since that
time and, as each year passes, seems to
remain fresh and vibrant. Itis approached
with the same enthusiasm as when
it started, keeping alive the dream of
those who attended the 1985 POA
Conference, to provide a lasting memorial
in commemoration of those people who
tragically lost their lives on the 11th May
1985 at Valley Parade, home of Bradford
City Football Club.
The 23rd Valley Parade tournament
took place over the Easter weekend (21st
– 24th March), and once again was a
tremendous success, with teams of under
12 and 14 years competing for the cups for
their respective age group. In addition to
the teams from the Bradford area, teams
from Lincoln, Galway (Ireland) and Hamm
(Bradford’s twin town in Germany) also
took part. The winners of the under 12
age group this year were Hamm, and the
winners of the under 14 age group were
Bradford City. The Women’s Cup, which
was introduced a few years ago, was again
competed for – the finalists being Bradford
City Ladies and Bradford Park Avenue
– with Bradford City Ladies winning after
the match went to a penalty shoot-out.
With Easter being unusually early this
year it meant the weather was extremely
unkind (however the youngsters taking
part in the competition did not appear
to notice); before play could commence
on the Sunday the snow that had fallen
during the night had to be cleared
from the pitches. However, the sun did
eventually make an appearance, even if it
was somewhat brief.
The current Mayor of Bradford attended
on the Sunday afternoon, in what has now
become an annual date in the Mayoral
calendar, to present the medals. Stuart
McCall, Bradford City manager, also
attended over the weekend accompanied
by two players from the first team to
support the tournament; in addition
Bradford City provided 300 free tickets
for their home game on Easter Monday
afternoon for the youngsters to attend.
It is hoped that all the youngsters who
attended this years tournament left with
experience, friendship and some great
memories of the weekend.
John Boddington, MBE
May 2008
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LLW
Dismissal and personal injury c
the overlap
POA members may be forgiven for any
confusion about the apparent overlap
between personal injury and unfair
dismissal claims, and how these different
claims can be pursued, as the distinctions
are not always clear.
Essentially, a claim that an employer’s
negligence has led to personal or psychiatric
harm is a ‘common law’ claim and is
generally pursued in the main court system
(County Court or High Court). This is known
as a ‘personal injury’ claim and is based on
the employer’s breach of its duty of care.
A claim about the fairness of a dismissal
is an unfair dismissal claim which must
be brought in the Employment Tribunal.
There is a statutory limit on the amount
of compensation which can be recovered
in an unfair dismissal claim, which
is currently £63,000. In exceptional
circumstances there may be a claim
that the employer has breached the
implied contractual duty of ‘mutual trust
and confidence’. If the breach causes
financial loss or psychiatric damage, a
breach of contract claim can be brought,
generally in the County Court. Some
breach of contract claims can be brought
in the Employment Tribunal but, again,
there is a limit on compensation, which
has been fixed at £25,000 for many years.
No compensation for the manner of dismissal
A few years ago, the House of Lords held
the cases of Johnson v Unisys Ltd [2002]
and Dunnachie v Kingston-upon-Hull
City Council [2005], where compensation
for the manner or circumstances of a
dismissal could not be awarded as an
unfair dismissal claim. Compensation of
that sort can only be awarded through a
common law claim, and compensation for
‘injury to feelings’ suffered as part of the
dismissal is not recoverable.
By way of illustration, the Johnson
claim involved an employee suffering
psychological illness as a result of the
employer’s failure to follow its own
disciplinary procedures. Mr Johnson
won his unfair dismissal claim but the
cap on unfair dismissal compensation
was, at that time, just over £11,000. He
was unable to bring a separate breach
of contract claim to the County Court for
8
further damages for the psychological
injury he suffered as a result of his
employer’s breaches of procedure. In
Dunnachie the Court reached the same
conclusion over a constructive dismissal
claim. (As POA members may know,
constructive dismissal is a form of unfair
dismissal which involves a fundamental
breach of contract on the part of the
employer leaving the employee with no
option but to resign).
of the disciplinary procedure or dismissal
must be brought as unfair dismissal
claims in the Employment Tribunal and the
statutory cap on compensation applies.
There are two distinct sets of claims and
circumstances which fall in between – i.e.
injury suffered as a result of the dismissal
itself or, the manner of dismissal – and are
unlikely to be covered by a legal claim.
Compensation for pre-dismissal
negligence/breach
The Court of Appeal has now examined how
these decisions work together in practice
in the recent case of Gab Robins (UK) Ltd
v Triggs (2008). In that case, a secretary
complained that she was overworked and
bullied by her manager. She went off sick
with stress and depression. The employer
arranged a return to work meeting but prior
to that meeting, the employee resigned
claiming constructive dismissal. The
Employment Tribunal hearing the claim
found that the employer was in breach of the
implied contractual duty of mutual trust and
confidence and so found the employee had
been constructively dismissed.
The Tribunal awarded the claimant
compensation on the basis that she was
entitled to the loss of her salary from
her dismissal at the full rate. On appeal,
however, the employer argued that the loss
of salary the employee had suffered was
because she was already ill and on sick
pay at the time of her dismissal, so the lost
earnings flowed from the breach of the duty
of trust and confidence prior to the dismissal
and not, the dismissal itself. The Court
of Appeal has agreed with the employer,
holding that the loss of earnings flowed
exclusively from the employer’s breaches
of contract which had been committed
prior to the dismissal, so that loss was only
recoverable, if at all, through a common law
personal injury claim and not in the unfair
dismissal claim. There appears nothing
to prevent the employee from bringing a
personal injury claim if the legal test is fulfilled
and the claimant is still within the three year
time limit.
Then the House of Lords, in the combined
cases of Eastwood v Magnox Electric
PLC and McCabe v Cornwall County
Council [2005], specifically held that a
claim can be made in the Civil Courts for
damages for personal injury (including
future loss of earnings resulting from that
injury) where there has been a breach
of the duty of care or of the implied
contractual term of trust, and confidence
where those breaches were prior to (and
separate from) the dismissal. If those
claims exist independently of the unfair
dismissal claim, both sets of proceedings
can be pursued.
Mr McCabe, a teacher, won his unfair
dismissal claim and was also allowed to
pursue a separate County Court claim on
the basis of his employer’s breach of its duty
to provide him with a safe place of work
prior to his suspension following complaints
of sexual misconduct. In the case of
Eastwood, the employees suffered personal
and psychiatric injuries caused by deliberate
misuse by managers of the disciplinary
processes against them consisting of
months of bullying and harassment prior
to their dismissals. They settled their unfair
dismissal claims, but then brought separate
claims alleging negligence and breach of the
implied term of trust and confidence which
they were allowed to pursue.
Summary
In summary: claims regarding breaches
of contract or negligence prior to and
separate from the dismissal process can
only be pursued as common law claims
in the County Court. There is no limit on
compensation for such claims. On the
other hand, claims regarding any aspect
Recent case of dismissal of a
sick employee
Implications for members
dismissed for capability
This case has implications for employees
who are dismissed on capability grounds
Gatelodge
08-11 LLW.indd 8
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which arise as a result of negligence or breaches of contract
by their employer. If the employee is ill with work-related
stress at the time of the dismissal then he or she will only
be able to recover the consequent loss of salary in an unfair
dismissal claim from the point at which they recover and
start looking for further work. The losses due to work-related
stress or other injury would have to form part of a separate
personal injury claim. If the injury consists only of psychiatric
injury - ‘stress’ – such claims are very difficult to prove and
the employee may end up with no compensation.
In the Prison Service where a member is dismissed on the
grounds of health (capability), he is generally compensated by
way of a Medical Inefficiency Termination Payment, or even an
ill-health pension which may or may not include a lump sum.
These payments would have to be taken into account when
a Tribunal awards compensation following a successful unfair
dismissal claim. If the member seeks reinstatement as part
of a settlement of an unfair dismissal claim or, as a remedy at
Tribunal, it becomes necessary for him/her to repay any Medical
Inefficiency payment. In circumstances where the member
seeks reinstatement, we generally have to advise that member
to retain such a payment in a separate fund rather than spend it!
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Lees Lloyd Whitley
May 2008
08-11 LLW.indd 9
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LLW
10
Gatelodge
08-11 LLW.indd 10
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LLW
May 2008
08-11 LLW.indd 11
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Branch News
Branch News
Birmingham
We bid a very fond farewell to Alan
Greenwood who has given 32 years service
to the Green, as well as Ian Sutherland,
affectionately known as PP9.You both leave
with the very best wishes from the Branch
and we hope you have a long and enjoyable
retirement. Please keep in touch!
We say a big thank you to Eddie Povey
who drove a bus down to the Royal Courts
of Justice in London with Chair, Sec and
Mike Smith, along with a Officials from
Bockhill, Brinsford and Hewell Grange to
support our Union in the Court case against
the Prison Service regarding the injunction.
Many staff are asking what we think of
the new Governor. Well, perhaps the best
analogy is that under the previous regime
we were batting against a fast bowler
where we were guaranteed a yorker, a leg
cutter and a mandatory bouncer every
over. Now we are facing a sophisticated
spin bowler who has the same objectives
as the previous bowler, just different
technique and style. Inevitably this is to do
more, with less, which is different to our
members individual agenda’s which as
result of another below inflation is try and
do the same…but with less!
The new Governor has spoken of a
glasnost amongst management and
staff. Another positive aspect is that
he has bought a number of staff back
from suspension as a result of a more
realistic and less punitive outlook on staff
discipline. Mr Shanley appears to be
delivering the Prison Service Agenda ...
with a touch of humanity and realism.
It’s not everyday that a stage 2 grievance
makes it to Cleland House in London
to be heard by the Deputy Director
General. Martin Webb’s did. He was akin
12
to Crocodile Dundee strolling around
the capital, although our Black Country
Bob would have been considerably more
comfortable in his flat cap and a pig under
is arm. Needless to say the day didn’t go
without incident, with someone who was
clearly in the care of the community having
a hissy fit in our carriage. Later, Martin
offered his seat to a lady on the tube who
looked at him as though he had landed
from another planet…err well nearly,
Walsall in fact.
The two and a half year J.I.R.P.A dispute
regarding the loss of two Principal Officer
posts was won at arbitration and so these
positions are safe from the scythe... for
now. Although, we are hearing that two of
them are being earmarked for an audits
job, so perhaps they have only been
sidelined to the waiting room before the
Grim Reaper appears poised once again.
The standardised core day has caused
some consternation with members, as
we have removed ourselves from the
process. Protect and promote is the remit
of POA committee’s up and down the
country, decisions by elected officials are
not always seen as popular ones, but we
are in no doubt that we should protect
jobs and promote opportunities for our
members. The standardised core day
will rationalise regimes across the Prison
Estate exposing appropriately staffed
jails with dangerously inadequately
staffed ones. Some members should ask
themselves why they drive past these jails
to come to Birmingham and they will more
than likely say that it is safer here at The
Green. These cuts will lose avenues for
promotion for OSGs. Staff at Birmingham
should have a good look round and see
how many staff has been brought through
to the Officer rank from OSG. Members
should take a longer-term view on this as
when the order to unlock comes and staff
ask are you joking because their aren’t
enough staff, and what are the POA doing
about it? The plain and simple answer will
be, “We are sorry, the fight was 3 years
ago! You’ve missed the boat!” The fight
starts here and not on the third year of this
job cutting exercise. So while the 06:30
start and the 21:45 finish disappear over
the horizon for now, we know not if staff
will actually being going home at these
proposed times. I suspect not!
Like so many other staff, Judd Dauncey
is supplementing his income with a
secondary employment as an extra in
“Ashes to Ashes”, along with Benny
who made brief cameo in “Shameless”.
Perhaps these career paths aren’t as grim
as Ricky Gervais portrays it at £100 a day
and free meal to boot.
Work life balance shift patterns are
rapidly increasing as young families juggle
their finances to afford a mortgage. It
seems obvious to all, except the Prison
Service, that they are dependent on two
wages and staff are naturally desperate for
these to be accepted. Fifty year mortgages
and multiples of 6 x their wage are now
common practice, no wonder so many
staff are in debt as everything appears to
be rapidly increasing except our wages.
Chair and Sec were invited to meet the
Under Secretary of State, Maria Eagles
M.P and inform her that Birmingham have
some 300 beds spaces here. She was in a
state of shock at this news when she was
told that we could have eliminated the use
of a Police Station almost overnight with
a little investment. Sadly this is something
the Prison Service seem averse to and
appear infinitely happier cutting white
shirts instead. Evidently, glasnost is not
particularly new to this Committee as
we have been highlighting our potential
capacity here for three years now. So build
the population and increase the budget
and staff in post. Job done.
Ta ra
Saddlesore
Bristol
Hello to all our colleagues out there, in all
Establishments, working under pressure
with the Prison Service. We have all been
working hard here at Bristol to “improve”.
Gatelodge
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Branch News
According to Prison Service figures we
were a poor performing establishment. So
we were re-profiled. Uniform grades only
of course and staffing levels reduced. No
surprise there.
However, all of the remaining staff
continued to work hard and achieve the
Prison Service targets. Short staffed and
new profiles aside we have now achieved
Level 3 status. Does this mean we will get
a better class of prisoner now that we are a
3 star establishment? Time will tell?
I pass on our best wishes to those
who have left for pastures new. Neil
Butterworth, Usk, Sharman Wiltshire,
Leyhill and Ian Bird are all having a career
break, and Paula Stagg, Jim Lowden,
Tony Ashmead and John Davison retired
at the end of January. May you all have
a long and happy retirement. The brave
souls joining us here at Bristol are POELTS
Valerie McKenzie, Bradley Anthony, Daniel
Trick, Kieron Jones, Gareth Owen and
OSG’s Richard Chard, Ryan Phillips and
Nichola Niblett. And, of course a welcome
back to Maurice Lockey. We also have two
new Officers who should have completed
their training by the time this is published
– Chris Edwards and Ben Chandler, good
luck in your new careers.
What would happen if Prison staff said
‘sorry can’t come in today, we are short
staffed?’ Disciplinaries, sackings, who
knows, because we carry on regardless.
The audit team arrived, after a lot of
work by all here. And, they promptly left.
Apparently they were short staffed and
so could not carry out the very important
audits. News flash! Establishments are
constantly short staffed, but the auditors
still expect all the boxes to be ticked and
recorded, or they fail you. Being short
staffed is no excuse.
Sadly Paul Robinson resigned as Branch
Secretary, so after an election the new
Branch Secretary is John Chapman (me). I
hope to serve the membership here to the
best of my ability.
If anybody wants to influence Branch
Committees, or Union business and
relations, join the POA, then and only then
can you have a say.
Finally I cannot finish without saying that
Paul Maltby, who is having a terrible time
at the moment, has our best wishes and
regards. Paul I hope that all goes well for you.
You have worked tirelessly for this Branch
and you deserve so much more than the
hand that has been dealt you.
JC - Branch Secretary
Bristol
Bullingdon
Hello again from Bullingdon.
Decency; According to the Director
General, HMPS Business Plan 2005-06, the
overall test of decency is ‘would I be content
for my son or daughter to be locked up and
treated in the same way that prisoners are
treated in prison?’
If staff are to be accorded the same rights
to decency, being treated fairly, professionally
and decently by all individuals, systems and
procedures in all establishments, ask this
question: would you be content for your
son or daughter to work in a prison that is
routinely under staffed and demoralised;
where only the good will of the prisoners
and staff accumulating TOIL keeps the gaol
grinding on? To save you writing in… the
answer is probably NO!
Whilst selling membership to ‘brand
new screws’ and explaining the benefits
of union membership, I felt need to point
out a draw back of being a POA member,
that is having the Unions teeth removed by
Snatcher Thatcher. Then ‘New Labour’ lied
like politicians and reneged on an agreement
to reinstate said teeth. One recruit, whom I
suspect is too young to have remembered a
Conservative government, asked ‘Why had
we voted for Labour then?’ It reminded me
of a little anecdote:
An old POA stalwart, Bob, passed away
and was whisked to the pearly gates to be
met by St. Peter, who said that operational
procedures had changed and that there
was now a new protocol (starting to
sound familiar?) “You don’t automatically
gain entrance any more Bob; you have to
undergo a ‘tour’.”
“I wasn’t aware of this!” exclaimed Bob
“You should read your NTS!”
So, St Peter sends Bob on a fact finding
mission to Hell. When he arrives, Bob is
pleasantly surprised! Warm, sunny climate
all year round, all inclusive, relaxed poolside
bars and some really famous old politicians,
enjoying the luxurious setting, including an
ex-Prime Minister who showed Bob around.
Everywhere he went seemed like a dream
come true; lakes full of fish, never ending,
perfectly manicured golf courses, you name
it! Bob is then whisked back to Heaven. St.
Peter shows him round. “Nothing special,”
thinks Bob, “temperate climate, cold wet
winters, much like the life I left behind.”
Next day, Bob finds Peter and says, “I
want to go to Hell!”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’ve made me mind up, send me
downstairs!”
When Bob arrives, it’s blisteringly hot; the
earth is scorched dry, barren, and desolate!!
Bob is met by the same ex-Prime Minister,
Bob asks “What’s going on, it wasn’t like this
yesterday, what happened to paradise?”
“Well son, yesterday we were
electioneering, today you’ve voted!!”
Over and under 30’s Match
The inaugural under vs. over 30 (years of
age, not IQ) football match took place on
Saturday 1st March at Buckingham Town
FC. The young pretenders squad had an
average age of 22 while the more mature
team averaged 42. Following kick off it soon
became apparent that the over 30s team
was deficient in a few areas: namely fitness,
skill and tactics. Half time was reached
with a fairly respectable score of 4-1 to the
youngsters.
The break gave the over 30s the
opportunity to rethink their tactics. This
resulted in much of the second half being
played with one or two extra players making
appearances, sometimes without any one
else going off! The youngsters unsportingly
complained about this tactic, but continued
to score freely. There was a brave fight back
that saw a brace of goals for the old boys
but the writing was on the wall. At the final
whistle the under 30’ squeaked a narrow
victory of 9-3!
Everyone had a good night and we
managed to raise a significant amount of
money for charity. Thanks to the Governor,
Phil Taylor, who paid for the transport and
a nice trophy which, hopefully, the winning
team can track down where they left it. It has
apparently been photographed by Reedos of
the ‘Penny Black’ boys.
Get well soon to S.O. Matt ‘sick note’
Askins who broke his ankle during the
second half. Finally, a big thank you to all the
supporters who turned out, we hope you
enjoyed the entertainment!
Carstairs
Much has occurred at Carstairs since we
last contributed.
Firstly the branch has said ‘goodbye’
then ‘hello’ to Hughie Crawford who
May 2008
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21/4/08 11:20:56
Branch News
retired but then decided that he missed us
all too much, and has now has returned
to loiter around the site 2 or 3 nights a
week. Although no longer active in the
Union, his wealth of experience remains
for those who are in need of his unrivalled
knowledge and wit.
The branch has welcomed a new
steward, Alan Connor, to its ranks and
sends its congratulations to existing
stewards, Iain Dickson, who has
successfully completed his Registered
Mental Health Nurse training, and Bobby
Hunter, who has just been accepted for
this course which, in time, will propel him
to the very top of his profession.
Plans to completely rebuild the site at
the cost of £67 million, wholly funded
by public money, have recently been
approved. The hospital is to be reduced
in size from 240 to 140 beds, with new
regional medium secure units in the West,
East and North of Scotland providing
facilities for those not deemed to require
High Security. The development will
see an overall reduction in staff by 10%
between now and its planned completion
in 2011 which, although achievable
without redundancy, will require careful
management. Probably the biggest
challenge is that the redevelopment and
demolition of the old hospital is going
to take place on the existing site, with
patients and staff in ‘situ’. One suspects
this will have its ‘moments’, particularly
given that due to the monsoon season
from January to December Carstairs can
be somewhat muddy.
Like everyone else, I suspect the
branch faces challenges around
staff’s wages and cost saving. The
branch is currently involved in a
dispute concerning the management’s
unwillingness to pay the identified
outcome of a Job Evaluation Panel
which identified that Senior Staff Nurses
should receive a Band 6 wage. This
protracted dispute has seen the ‘Agenda
for Change’ process grind to a halt at
Carstairs and, although perhaps now
reaching its final stages, much damage
has been caused to previously excellent
industrial relations which will require a lot
of work to repair.
On the cost saving front management
are attempting to change shift patterns
which will deliver savings but badly
affect the working conditions of frontline
staff, as is the norm. Looking to reduce
bureaucrats is not an option that is
entertained. We are currently in the midst
of a consultation process with members
14
to establish if they want to accept
their proposals that see the erosion of
the extra days off obtained under the
‘Agenda for Change Agreement’.
Anyway all this keeps us busy and what
else would we find to occupy ourselves?
Best wishes to all our colleagues in
the other special hospitals and prison
estates.
Lady In The Green T Shirt
Castington
Hello to everyone out there from
Castington. Sorry for the lack of jottings
of late, but nothing seems to happen up
here. Nothing I can put into print that is!
We are the top performing North East
prison at the moment and a recent
survey shows we are the third top
prison nationally for staff morale. I can
understand this due to my wit, humour
and jottings!
We are now a high performing prison
and I must say we are very proud to be
given such an accolade.
Well done to SO Dave Wingfield on
being awarded the ‘North East Prison
Officer of The Year’ for his work with
dangerous and difficult prisoners. I’ve
mentioned it so can I have my leave now
Dave, please? Also, well done to Barry
Smith on his award for his work with the
‘Toe By Toe’ scheme.
We recently said goodbye to Bill Shaw
our Governor who took up a position in
Headquarters and Alex Tait taking over
as our governing Governor. We also
say farewell to Rob Nixon who moves
across the road to Acklington as PO,
on promotion to SO at Acklington; Neil
“Core Day” Bruce, Alan Tomkims, Vincent
Russell Smith, Graham Henderson and
Andy Carr. Good luck to them all.
Hopefully Neil Bruce will negotiate a
parking space of his own and wont jump
into one someone else is reversing into!
Just before he left Russell Smith was
awarded ‘Employee of the Month’ No
one seems to know why I’m sure he will
reveal all to Acklington staff in one of his
“During the War” moments.
Also left for pastures new at Frankland
are Dave Bishop, Gary Lockey, Fred
Coates, Paul Johnstone and Dane
Morgan.
We welcome to Castington Amanda
Haley from Low Newton, from the
school, Dez Molloy, Rachel Meling,
Steve Carruthers, Simon Howard, Emma
Nattress, Will Armstrong and Graham
Harvey. We hope you have settled in
well. Welcome to Craigand Steve Cullas
who join us from Frankland. Craig has
been promoted to SO in situ.
Also, hello to Warwick Davis who joins
us from Lancaster Farms. Warwick has
settled in well and his only fault is he
follows Manchester United. Yes, he has
to use the A to Z to find the ground (but
is looking into sat-nav) Warwick is well
known for his over zealous use of hair
gel and giving himself admiring looks in
anything that reflects back!
Welcome to PEI Steve Watts from
Durham.
Who was the keen cleaning officer
on Oswald Unit who put the new fridge
thermometer in the fridge but after 3
hours it still read 36˚C? He then went
back to check it an hour later and was
still reading the same temperature.
I think we all would have removed
the plastic cover off the readout display
which has a simulated readout on it first.
Own up Mr Short!!
Well done to PEI Phil McVay
on enduring a haircut, I heard the
Paramedics were on standby!
I would also, on a personal note
express my thanks to Steve Gillan for
donating £10,000 to the Families Fund
in aid of the four Fire Fighters who were
tragically killed in the factory fire in
Warwickshire. Anyone who knows me is
aware of my interest in the Fire Service.
May I also thank the staff at Low
Newton for the help and hospitality
shown towards staff from Castington
who have attended there on constant
watch duties.
Do the staff at Low Newton know
Ginny Senior got lost driving from the
local hospital back to Low Newton!
About 2 miles door to door I think!
That’s it from Castington, for now,
any news please pass it on to me at the
sharp end, Godric Unit.
Steve “The Scribe” Perry
Gatelodge
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Branch News
Channings
Wood
Up the strikers! What a day we had. There
was a very strong feeling of camaraderie
throughout the day. There was the obvious
inclusion of humour, mainly supplied by
Mandy Richards and myself but the only
thing missing was a cup of tea to go with
the supplies kindly provided by Shaun
Crome. The irony is that it was the only time
we have ever known his whereabouts for a
whole day!!!
So now we are having an all out war
with the Government over our tie-pins.
I have no problem supporting our NEC
over principles but I do have difficulty
supporting this. When I joined the NEC
Womens Committee in 2002 the first item
on the agenda was to find an alternative
to tie-pins for women members. When
the Committee was disbanded in 2005 it
was still on the agenda! I think the NEC
should look at the principle of excluding
a large proportion of the membership just
because they do not have the uniform to
pin the offending tie-pin to!!
Sorry I missed the last edition, but
here I am back at the computer. So
what’s been happening here in the last
few weeks? Lots that’s what! There
have been some team building exercises
going on and here is an exclusive:
one Governor, who wished to remain
nameless (shame as it’s Richard
Luscombe), went out to an adventure
park with his team. The exclusive isn’t
that his team lost as that’s not a surprise,
but the forfeit for losing was for him to be
put through a Christmas tree wrapping
machine. Apparently he looked like he
was wearing the world’s biggest fishnet
stocking! You don’t have to take my word
for it, there are pictures, allegedly!
There was a terrible accident in the stores
recently resulting in Ray being taken to
hospital in pain. Get well soon Ray, and look
after yourself.
So our Chairman has made a costly
mistake. If you want to know how much it
costs to fill your diesel car with petrol, and
then have it taken out again, Mick will give
you a breakdown of the expenditure!!
Our best wishes to Mr & Mrs. Salamone
on the birth of their beautiful baby boy.
It is now over 8 months since Richard
Easton was suspended from duty for
protecting himself after being assaulted
by a prisoner. The Governor ordered
an investigation into the incident which
was an utter and total shambles, to say
the least. The investigating Governors
should be utterly ashamed of themselves
for their actions during the investigation.
They used the wrong PSO to conduct the
investigation then issued the wrong DAPS
forms and took several months to complete
the investigation only to get it all wrong.
SHAMEFUL. We would like to know who
is going to investigate them for getting it so
wrong and for the worry they have caused
Richard?
Richard is still suspended, and now
the area manager has ordered another
investigation!! They seem to be hell bent in
making Richard suffer.
As the investigation is still on going it
would not be fair to say much more only
to let Richard know the staff (except the
Governors) are fully behind you and we
do not intend to let you down.
I would like to say a big THANK-YOU
to Darren Dundridge who is supporting
Richard through these tough times.
The PO’s recently went out on a team
building exercise, they went quad biking.
I think there must have been something
that happened, because no one is
talking…….. How strange!!
That’s it for now; don’t forget that you
can email me with the local gossip. I can
assure anonymity to all except uniform
and Governor Grades!!
‘Scoop Wilson’ - LB8
Chelmsford
Hello boys and girls,
Well here is the Chelmsford school
report for the term starting 2008.
I must start with some rather disturbing
news. One of the 6th form head boys has
been expelled from school after over 30
years. Bill Redick was a great pupil who
worked well and was revered by all. Bill
was a little bit of a scallywag that could be
disruptive in class and was prone to being
sent to the headmaster’s room. Young
William will be sadly missed about the
play ground. A few other head boys and
girls could do a lot worse than take a page
out of William’s book and stop being so
pedantic.
I understand that young William has
taken up drinking John Smiths and
listening to that awful rock music by Eric
Clapton. We wish young William well.
All the houses at the school are working
well. Ann Betty Chastity Dolly Ethel Freda
and Gerty.
The word about the playground is that
the pupils are smiling a little bit more
now and I think that might be down to
the headmaster keeping his cane in his
drawer but we still have to be their our
guard with the prefects walking about the
school still telling the naughty boys to put
their school ties on and checking that our
homework is up to date and written in the
correct manner. I don’t understand why it’s
so important for a boy to wear a tie when
he’s stood next to a girl who doesn’t? Will
wearing a tie make me a better person?
We keep being told that the board of
governors want to save money. So do
away with the ties but keep a box full in the
registration room in case we have to pick
up a school satchel and go on a school
trip. Anyway, we all have to be very very
careful now or it could be 200 lines for you
and even a bad mark in your yearly report
book. I took our gang magazine home to
show mummy what was written in it last
months rag. Mummy said I was a naughty
boy and I was sent to bed with no supper
she said I might have upset someone so I
have to ask for forgiveness. I told mummy
that everyone at school said it was a spiffin
letter and even that smelly kid who does
the registration said he liked it. Skunk
Gillespie. He smells.
Anyway back to what is going on about
the school. I was informed that the night
stalker, little Denis Bent from night class,
got in all of a fluster and called one of the
boys from the bad school ‘sir’ and started
to ask if he could use his computer. He
was so ashamed when the boy said he
was a boarding school pupil that he even
offered Wwampy Kemp all his pocket
money not to tell the rest of us at play time.
Didums. Some one told me that chubby
May 2008
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Branch News
Moran from Betty house was on a diet, but
you can still see him most dinner times in
the Red Lion tuck shop (a coke and a cow
pie please), BLESS. And he wets the bed,
so I’ve been told. Mmm!
Someone also told me that Grouchy
Crouch is getting a big tummy and will be
getting a new dolly soon. She was never in
the sex education class, she talked too much
and was always playing tag with Ping Pong
Pugh. Good luck to them.
All over the school we have new boys and
girls starting every week, and at registration
it’s hard to remember their names, but we
wish them well. And no doubt our annual
kiss chase games will start.
If the rest of the boys and girls could give
you any advice I think it would be to look,
learn, digest and be yourself. Don’t jump
in head first. And don’t be scared to ask
for help, and stand up for yourself. Well
I heard that the headmaster was not too
chuffed with me and said something about
dinosaurs to our milk monitor, Crock Carter.
I hope it’s the slipper and not the cane?
We have a school disco, soon so no
doubt the day after we will know who was
caught snogging behind the bike shed and
who was sucking up to the teachers. We
know that it’ll be the same old faces but I
think most kids will want to know at what
house or roundabout goody two shoes
Goodwin will end up at. Also, the Gillespie
Rodford gang now they are naughty boys,
especially skunk Gillespie. Rodders, well
he aint the full shilling. I think his daddy
dropped him when he was a baby but he
tries hard. They tease the girls they do. They
pull pig tails and pinch bums. Well mummy
has called me for tea now so I will leave
you with a playground thought. Say what
you have to say, admit it and be counted.
Remember it’s not a totalitarian state yet.
And I hope to see you all in detention!
Mickey B
Exeter
Greetings one and all! Once again, another
jottings comes upon us and once again
another apology to make; in my haste to
16
complete the last entries I may have got
Erlestoke all excited thinking they had a
new member of staff joining them. Alas
this is not the case! Tim did in fact go off
to Guys Marsh, a fact that everyone here
knew but me apparently!
Other comings and goings that I do
know about (hopefully!) has been Steve
Snell off to Channings Wood and John
Westaway to Dartmoor. Whilst I’m on the
subject of Westy, congratulations to him
and Emma Pretlove for the arrival of their
daughter, Olivia. Further congratulations to
Lucy and Rob Marrison on the birth of their
daughter, Isobel. Both arrived shortly after
my last entries went off for publication. My
own little “flubling” is developing well and
should be arriving around July. There will
be NO sweepstake as to its weight when it
arrives if you don’t mind!
Greetings to all the new staff that have
recently joined us. Marc Kerswell, Heather
Harvey, Gary Marsh, Mark Follett and Debbie
Lake join us from the college whilst Sandra
Umfreville transferred from Guys Marsh.
All these comings mean we must lose
some people too. Eric Rogers and Bill Coles
have retired and are planning how best to
ensure they get the most from the Service
Pension after countless years in it.
It’s been a quiet spell on the “real”
jottings front. No further entries on the tact
and diplomacy contest this time around.
Mark Dawe, however, can take pride in the
fact he’s managed to be mentioned twice
in a row. Apparently when you’re carrying
a police radio in your duties it’s never a
good idea to press that little red button
on the top accidentally. I hear the officers
that turned up lights a-flashing were very
understanding Mark!
Now, take a moment of pause to
consider those who work alongside you.
Look at them as your colleagues, friends
and perhaps more importantly, people
you can rely on to render assistance in
the event of an alarm bell. Some staff
run full pelt towards the unknown, scant
regard for their own safety. Some are more
conservative in their efforts, preferring to
conserve valuable energy to use in the
ensuring melee. Others, it could be said,
hang back and secure gates, doors and
landings, resigned to the fact that it’s a
young mans game these days and it’s
probably a false one anyway. And then,
ladies and gentlemen there’s Trev “Coolhand Luke” Denham. This man is the
epitome of cool under pressure and was
seen recently “walking with purpose”
towards our HCU with a hard boiled egg
in his hand which must have <ahem>
“accidentally” fell off the hotplate. Upon
his arrival and having performed a quick
dynamic assessment of the situation he
then proceeded to peel said egg and
consume it without a second thought!
That’s all for another issue. Keep the
stories coming and I’ll pass them up for
perusal.
Flub
Ford
Welcome to the second jottings from Ford.
I must start these jottings by passing
on the staff condolences to Naz and Mimi
Eltahir on the sad loss of their son. Our
thoughts are with you both during your
time of grief.
We welcome to Ford Officer Simon
Taylor, and S.O. Francis Quinnell. We hope
you enjoy your time here. To the departing
members of staff, remember the grass
probably is greener on the other side.
To S.O. Sally Hill – there was a message
I promised I would put in the jottings for
you after your transfer to Downview, but
what I wanted to put ESCAPES me!
We have passed the Christmas period – a
time when staff felt more like mushrooms
(if you don’t know the saying ask someone
on your local POA Committee)!! Lets hope
that the Christmas routine is better planned
this year (Governor just tell the staff on duty
what you are expecting or planning please!).
Welcome back to those of you who have
returned from the sick leave – it’s really
nice to see you again. And to those who
are currently off sick, you have not been
forgotten, I promise! You only have to pick
up the phone if needed.
Until we get our full staff in post can the
last member of staff PLEASE turn off the
lights on their way out of the door after
another under staffed shift, as it will help
towards saving the required 0.5 savings!.
Now the moan
To those wishing to complain at the contents
of my jottings, I have got this to say:
• If you are a member and if you think you
can do better, be my guest, feel free!
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• If you are NOT a member – why are
you reading my jottings anyway? If
you want to read and complain about
them, pay your subs like the rest of the
membership (forms freely available)!
Lastly, to all staff. be careful out there.
Just remember there are CAT D Prisoners
out there somewhere, just not many at Ford.
The Prisons Minister and Governor claim
we don’t have non CAT D Prisoners here so
it must be true (whoops just bit my tongue
in cheek!). But that depends on what they
want to dictate or impose on staff.
If you have any news for the next
jottings please pass them on.
De-Caff Man (New Year’s resolution)
Scrap that: put kettle on - where’s the
real coffee? RRRRRRR, that’s better!
Frankland
A fond farewell to our Governor Bob Mullen.
A large number of staff would have liked to
have said their goodbyes personally, but
circumstances did not allow. Good luck in
the future, and thanks for not painting the
prison BLUE!
Welcome back to the north east our new
Governor Dave Thompson.
A fond farewell goes to Steve Cullis who
is one of the few officers who has not left
Frankland under a darkened cloud. Little
do people know but Steve’s wit actually
influenced some of our jottings and I hope
he takes this wit with him to Castington
and launches it with renewed vigour. Steve
and I spent many a time in the woodmill
anaylsing the grafitti and wondering who it
was about.We wish you all the best Steve
and we hope you don’t have any more
problems with the BT engineers regarding
your broadband at home!
Hollywood executives were enraged to
find that prisoners were seeing old movies
on dvd every Saturday night. “Todays
inmates are being left behind when it comes
to entertainment, they are seeing films years
after they were released at the cinema! We
have to move away from the old days where
a film was shown at the pictures, then to dvd
then to the public for sale or rent. I propose
that those at Hollywood release new films to
the prisons first, then to the cinema and then
to the general public maybe a year later”.
Lottery chiefs will be announcing soon that
the prison service’s application for a lottery
grant has been successful. It will pay for
new cell doors which will have their own
letter boxes and door chimes built in. A
further application for ‘welcome mats’ for the
prisoners cells has yet to be approved.
are being kept together! Grow Up!
There is nothing wrong with pointing
things out on the detail to the SOs but
really we have to draw a line and not make
it appear to be a personal dig to that SO.
You know when its time to back off when
he comes up with the following phrases:
“You have to take the rough with the
smooth”
“I don’t want to fall out with you”
“I agree with you” (to your face)
“You didn’t complain last week when
you had reports on an early shift”
A message to all wings
Which wing?
From now on when you ring in your role you
only have to give your surname as numbers
are an afterthought now. This was brought
to our attention by an officer who had rang
his numbers in and was asked to confirm his
name rather than the numbers he had just
rang in.
Which wing looks after its loan in staff by
keeping them on the wing and putting its
own staff in the workshops?
Did you know that if you are wearing
your tie but not a regulation fleece then it is
classed as a major security breach?
History sheets
“I would like to swap my budgie for my
friends budgie on D Wing. He knows my
budgie and he knows it is placid and quiet
which is what he wants. His budgie is
very bold and maybe too much for him to
handle. My friend often gets verbal abuse
from the other inmates on his landing when
it chirps and this is stressing him out.”
Both budgies were subject to a Class B
search which was observed by an SO a
PO and a Governor.
This was obviously cleared by a
Governor much to the annoyance of the
November who had to take the inmate to
D wing, thinking he had a more important
task to do as a November!
Which Governor, whilst visiting a
bedwatch to carry out management
checks on Christmas day, wrote the 24th
December in the log? And then actually
queried what the day was!
I bet you cant guess which female officer
called the police at the Metro Centre to
report her car stolen only to be informed
that she had already sold it! The Laguna
that was parked where her car had
been was in fact her new car. Just keep
swimming Dory!
For those staff who use the lifts in
department stores and wait patiently for
the door in front to open, look behind you,
you will find that the doors behind you
have probably been open for at least a few
minutes and were just waiting for you to
turn round!
It’s only fair not to mention Dave
Mattless here.
If any staff are wondering about the
rumours going round about inmates
A message from Camelot
Will all staff please remember to put quality
entries into wing history sheets on a regular
basis and when you are on leave there is no
reason why you can’t visit the local chapel
and light some candles for your inmates.
This will show continued support and care
even whilst you are off.
Recently an “officer” (not from Frankland)
has had his memoirs printed in book form
and it hit the shelves in Asda next to other
bestsellers like last years Harry Potter and
Beano annuals!
A word of advice for any other officers who
want to write a book, if you have only two
minutes service in then why not admit it?
There is nothing wrong with starting the job
from new, we have all done it. It doesn’t look
very good when you are using phrases from
thirty years ago and portraying this big hard
image to make it look like you have years in
the job!
Next time, tell the truth!
Which SO went round the staff on Friday
11th January on his wing asking who
would like to do an ED at short notice?
This included staff who were sitting on
the toilet.
Certain SOs have been feeling the
heat just lately. You know, silly things like
details, etc. Look, if an SO details you
a workshop on a scheduled shift then
just get on with it! Stop nitpicking by
saying that an EGP is on reports doing a
report for one of your personal inmates, I
mean how petty? You will be saying that
certain staff are being protected next or
even go as far as saying that certain staff
Application of the month
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Branch News
being able to attend wing briefings each
morning, yes, they are true.
The Governor would like to thank all
those staff who returned from sick leave in
time for their weekend off.
The tie police are watching
The following is a true account of a recent
adventure with a Cat ‘A’ van.
On returning from Whitemoor after
dropping its prisoners off, the driver pulled
into the nearest petrol station which
happened to be situated near an RAF base.
When he went to pay the bill he was asked
if he was in the RAF and if so, was he a pilot
to which he replied no and laughed (unlike
some officers who would have jumped at
the chance of stating that when they go
undercover they are used for secret bombing
missions flying new jets that hadn’t even
been designed yet). On returning to the
van he found it wouldn’t start up so now he
found himself in a quandary, should he ring
the RAF for air support or the RAC?
When the RAC turned up they decided
that the van wouldn’t start up because the
RAF masts were interfering with the vans
communications systems, or was it the
mobilisers? They eventually returned to the
prison to be asked if they had their ties on at
all times!
The officer who gave this story is now in
the Witness Protection Program for staff as
he didn’t want other staff to find out how
many “driver navs” he gets, or “two dayers”
just in case the “special citeria” for selection
of staff was exposed.
A tip for new staff. If you make a
mistake it is always best to pass the buck,
please don’t be stupid and own up to
your mistakes, it is always best to blame
someone else. Also, if you are bored and
you hear that someone MAY have made a
mistake then get your head together with
a co-snake and start vicious rumours off.
Don’t worry, even if you haven’t got your
facts right it is still good fun to start rumours
off. This way you can build a reputation
for yourself where no one ends up trusting
you and no one will do XOD’s with you
etc. Believe me, this is a tried and tested
method used by some staff very effectively.
REMEMBER, YOU ARE IN THIS FOR
YOURSELF AND NOBODY ELSE!
A mention goes to Officer James
Bartlett of Glen Parva who praised our
jottings. Thank you James! As Frankland
often struggles with things to write about
we thought it best to contract ourselves
out and write about things happening at
Glen Parva instead, so pass those stories
on James!
18
The bread police are watching
Which PO on his recent expedition managed
to find a quantam computer so he could
email his wing SOs the latest Governors
notice to staff that had started three days
previously?
Thanks to SO Stewart Herkes for his
help with these jottings as Steve Jackson
has been very busy lately with various POA
matters. We wish you a speedy recovery
Steve as the staff here know you do an
excellent job!
I would just like to add that it took SO
Herkes to point out that I didn’t have to
keep lacing up my boots what with their
being zips on the sides! This proves that
I am not perfect and am able to laugh at
myself. However, I did put an SIR in about
myself because I didn’t think it was right to
be laughing in the workplace as I wouldn’t
want to give the impression to a third party
that people can actually be happy in their
workplace.
Steve Jackson & Darren Stafford
Garth
A big hello from all at Garth. We would like
to welcome all our new staff & wish a fond
farewell to those who have moved on.
To all the staff that are off ill we wish you
a speedy recovery. Whilst speaking about
sickness our jail has been hit by the flu bug
with record levels of sick being recorded.
Amazingly though the regime has been
unaffected. We still manage to meet targets
and get everything done, oh, except grant
staff leave, but no targets on that anyway.
With staff being told no ad hoc leave is
available for months moral is hitting rock
bottom. Staff cannot work without rest
and recuperation. The only outcome from
that is that staff break, they feel pressured,
stressed and unable to find motivation.
Leave should be a vital part of any work
place planning that is honoured. As the time
of year comes around when we hear leave
is going to be taken from staff, it’s important
to raise the fact that staff should be
rewarded for making the system work, not
punished by having leave taken off them.
Well, our 20 year celebration do is
getting closer the conspiracy theories are
about. The main one seems to be that
it is all a smoke screen for a mass staff
capability hearing, with the dancing being
used as a fitness testing. We wait to see if
C&R can be included in it as well.
Our Royal visit came and went with
the tweed suits out in force. It has to be
said that our Governor’s suit was much
the nicer one. Despite all the tweed on
show, our Secretary was sent all hot and
bothered by the site of our Governor in
her muddy boots and hard hat on her
way to do a site inspection. Now it’s
known about Phil’s liking of muddy boots
management meetings may never be the
same again. The hard hats are normal for
meetings anyway.
As we return from the special
delegates meeting it is with a feeling
of doom. Phil and I feel like the Grim
Reaper spreading the bad news. The
feeling of only the POA are fighting to
save jobs has never been more apparent.
It really is about time all Governors
showed some bottle and said enough
is enough, and started to fight for their
staff instead of following blindly the
lunatic brigade who dream up these
improvements!
On the issue of fighting government
and the service to protect your jobs I feel
it is necessary to express my personal
disgust with the TUC. Why the Trades
Union Congress is not breaking down
Government doors with condemnation
of what they are doing to a trade union
is unbelievable. It’s alright to say they
think we’re great because we managed
to go on strike. We want some real true
support from the TUC; we need them
to be enacting all their affiliated unions.
They need to stand up and be heard
instead of just letting it happen to us.
Again we have been dragged through
the courts, this time ending up with
another injunction. No surprise that it
went against us. Well, we have had them
before and I am sure we will get more in
the future.
As the 8th May comes ever closer and
the withdrawal from the JIRPA becomes
final we all wonder, what next? There is
no chance we will sign up to a no strike
agreement ever again, and that is right
and proper. So were do we go from there?
Well, talks need to happen but with the
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Branch News
department and the NEC at loggerheads I
wonder how anything can be progressed
or even if there is a wish to progress from
the department. I feel we are being pushed
ever closer to a position which we may
not be able to back away from! A make or
break time for this union. So it has never
ever been more important that we stay
united as members and support each
other.
On local issues the proposed profile
changes were massively rejected and
we have not had such a clear rejection
for a long time. We stand ready to
speak to management on future profile
improvements with hopefully some of our
wishes being taken on board.
I have been asked to mention the Garth
staff charity cycle ride from Lands End to
John O’ Groates. Please support the lads
and give generously to some very worthy
causes.
We eagerly await the completion of our
building works with the staff facility being
one of the last bits to be finished. It will add
much needed facilities for staff, just need
somewhere for them to park now!
As ever, your committee are here for you
if we can be of any support or you need
advice please call in on us.
If you have any comments you think
should be in Gatelodge please let me
know.
We now just wait for our party and the
following stories.
Best wishes,
Your Committee
Kennet
Hello Colleagues,
We start by re-iterating the Editor’s
apology to the person concerned
who took offence at our jottings for
the December issue. I have written
submissions for this magazine for around
five years with out incident and the last
thing I/we would want to do is offend
anybody. Although, I do think it is a bit
strong to say that I am not fit to wear the
uniform, based solely on one comment
but everyone is entitled to their opinion.
As these jottings are being written it is
the 1st April and there is no sight of the
‘New Core Day’ which was due to be
implemented nationally on the 6th April.
This is actual proof that to bring about
wholesale change, it requires the POA
to be fully onside. Initially, the Prison
Service was reluctant to acknowledge
the national failure to agree, saying that
it was a local issue. We believe it is not
a local issue. It is the biggest wholesale
change to our current penal system in
a generation. We need to have our best
negotiators to debate this and see what
the full impact will be. Three nights a
week lock up could soon be seven and
how many prison officer/prison jobs
would then be under threat?
A small number of Kennet staff
has recently attended a ‘workshop
forum’ held by the Prison Service
over the envisaged new ‘Work force
Modernisation program’. On their return
they were absolutely horrified at what
they heard and demanded an emergency
POA meeting to discuss it. Basically,
Work Force Modernisation is a Prison
Service on the cheap, with all posts
doing the work of a higher grade, things
like OSG‘s on the landings searching etc.
This is exactly why the NEC needs to
challenge things nationally, because local
division will be exploited by the Service
and used against the NEC.
This job in its current form is no longer
a job for life.
Moving on to lighter issues; POA
Health and Safety Guru Colin Halliday
engages in a rather interesting ‘sport’
and yes, you guessed it, it involves
sitting down!! Colin spends so much
time sat down that he is well on course
to consume the chair before the end of
the year through metamorphism!! Colin
firmly subscribes to the whole culture of
H&S with the ethos of ‘if he never leaves
his chair then he will remain both healthy
and safe’. As you can imagine he is of
a somewhat robust physique and his
chosen ‘sport’ is Motorised Para Gliding.
Surely a ‘sport’ far too dangerous for an
H&S Guru!
Prisons were at one time cold,
uncompromising, compassion less
places before they were made into
businesses. I can tell you that this
element still remains today following an
industrial injury involving a food trolley
blowing over in high winds landing on my
foot, breaking my big toe!! All everyone
did was take the p……. even Tom
Robson rang asking if I had been hit by
the Gravy Train, following a recent article
I wrote for Gatelodge. Well if you give it.
If any branches have connections with
Saga Holidays, Officer John Ratcliffe
would be very appreciative of this
information, due to his advancing years,
which he hopes will save him a few quid!!
On the subject of money it moves
us nicely on to Mark Abrahams. Mark
Abrahams is an institution of tightness.
Infact he is so tight that he not only
doesn’t breathe out for fear of wasting
it. He doesn’t breathe in either for fear
of over doing it!! Recently there were
spontaneous gasps in the wing office
when he tried to pay his lottery money
with an old white five pound note!! Mark,
get the kettle on you tight xxxxxx!!
If keenness was a crime then Graeme
Jones (ex Risley) would be doing life, He
never stops!! A lot of public money was
invested in Kennet creating a ‘can do’
culture. Graeme has kindly volunteered
to have a web cam fitted to his tie to
show it in practice!!
Finally, with the wedding season
almost upon us Brian Cockayne has
asked us to remind all POA members
that he is in a band and is available most
Fridays and Saturdays at short notice.
Ian Prescott
Kennet
Lancaster
Farms
I always open these jottings with a bit of
a speech about things that don’t sit right
with my personal opinion and moralistic
approach to life. Even I can’t put to you
how the recent events have shocked some
members to the core.
The death of a former colleague and POA
committee member, Frank Vinnyey, has
come as a real shock and a wake up call.
I didn’t really know him but he lived just
two streets away. I (as a new starter to the
Farms life) was put straight on a few things,
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Branch News
and I always listened – you had no choice!
What I did know was the impact he had
on the development of the committee at
Lancaster Farms.
I had the pleasure of meeting Professor
Charles Elliott, who was commissioned by
the Governor as part of the “peoples plan”. I
showed him around the unit I work on, gave
him some what I liked about life at the Farms
and also what made life hard. I was honest,
but not negative. He spent three weeks here
and interviewed many staff from all over the
establishment.
The report he has drafted was one of
the best pieces I have seen in the service
for a long time. Balanced, accurate and
well thought out, taking all sides of the
equations. Some of the relevant points
mentioned were the empowerment of
staff, a culture of allegations and the
inconsistencies in adjudication outcomes.
With all respect to Charles, it didn’t take a
highly educated professor to reach these
conclusions.
One member of staff approached me
and said what a really nice gentleman
he was. When I asked the person their
reasoning they replied that Charles
Elliott had time for them. He’d listened
to them without making judgement, had
understood the difficulties faced and, most
importantly, was respectful.
I, being uneducated with a bull-in-achina shop approach, and sometimes
tactless, thought (in my pea-like head) that
he would make an excellent Governor!
Professor Elliott also presented an
alarming conclusion that the de-motivated
staff are, by far, outweighed by the positive
hard working and dedicated staff we
have. This probably goes against the grain
especially when we have had so much bad
post strike publicity.
By the time our colleagues get the
final draft you will know what I mean. I’m
sure that if you’re one of the members
interviewed by Charles you will want to
read the report, which has the full backing
of the committee.
I’ve heard on the grapevine that
something exiting is happening this year.
Ross Kemp is one of the ‘hard men’ of
this country (he learnt his trade by working
in the Queen Vic!). This apprenticeship
lead him onto one of the best pieces of
television of recent times – watching him
on the front line in Afghanistan.
News has reached me that he has taken
on the biggest role to date in filming “Ross
Kemp follows Sean Crossley’s stag do in
Benidorm”!
Now surely he has bitten off more than
20
he can chew on this one? Fighting in
Helmand Provence is nothing compared to
the 18 ‘generals’ that are going to Spain!
I’m expecting to fill the Gatelodge with the
exploits in the coming months. I’m sure
this event will not pass without incident.
To all those going, enjoy yourself!
Talking about Grant Mitchell, our very
own Ross Kemp look alike is now a proud
father again. Wes Fish’s partner Natalie
gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Emma.
Now the poor lass will have to fight over
the tins of baby food, liquidised chicken
and runny porridge. Congratulations Wes,
it has been said you’ll do anything for
some time off!!
I was dismayed to find out about the
resignation of Sally Jordan. I suppose
the prospect of having to work for 45
years in the service was too much. Sally
talked to me about the way ‘young
men’ treated her and how they spoke
to women, the way that discipline is
questionable. It’s a shame that we are
losing someone like her. Luckily she has
the sense to go to University and have
something fall back on.
Simon Mepstead has also resigned. I
didn’t really know him but he seemed a
nice bloke. It seems strange the amount
of officers that resign now. Maybe the
lack of decent pay rises coupled with
the total lack of respect in prisons has
something to do with it? Another leaver
is Paul Clarke who has left for Garth.
We had a few chats over Stellas and he
actually does smile!
Good luck to you all on your new
ventures!
On February 14th I was standing in the
yard having a chat with Andy Baines. We
were discussing the job and generally
laying down a few rights and wrongs
when he was approached by Janet from
the kitchen. She thrust a Valentine’s card
in his hand, and all of a sudden launched
into a move that Stone Cold Steve Austin
would have been proud of! A ‘Full Nelson’
I believe it’s called?? The poor lad couldn’t
move! And then it happened: the lips
touched! He turned to me red faced and
I promised this episode wouldn’t go any
further… Magnetism I think it’s called?
Congratulations are in order for our
inclusion into the “World’s Shiniest Floor”
competition. Kim and Aggie will be making
spot checks into Buttermere 2 in the
coming weeks. Officer Lee Sutcliffe, aka
‘Mr Sheen’, has set an example of how to
wax floors. It’s the only wing in the estate
that you actually have to remove your
shoes before you enter.
The sight of him using pro social
modelling and buffing all day long brings
even a tear to the “dinosaurs” wrinkled and
well used eyes. I think the powers that be
have rumbled him. Questions are being
asked. Is the floor a health risk to eyes? Is
he going for a big claim with white finger
syndrome? Has the prison run over budget
with the purchase of d10? Does he have
OCD? Is the floor getting prepped for
‘Dancing on Ice’? Is he using winter green
(his favourite massage cream of choice)
instead of pine?
All I know is that I have made a mistake.
My new trainers have a non marking sole…
That’s spoilt my daily wind up.
So, Chris Davis is taking his new job
(MAGS – something to do with gangs
I’m told, and not the football team), very
seriously and has he bitten like a shark into
claims his job had been “given away” due
to budget cuts. He now seems to dress like
a gang member! All he needs to do now is
ride around on a BMX and lose a few stone
- I mean pounds! – and he’ll fit right in. I’m
not going to say anything else as someone
close to him has a voodoo doll and I have
already felt the wrath of her anger.
Case closed.
“We are walking in the air.. We’re walking
in the moonlight sky!” I just can’t get this
tune out of my head. It hasn’t got anything
to do with Aled Jones or a resemblance to
an officer on Buttermere. Just because I
sing it doesn’t mean anything.
To the member of the gym who asks me
on a monthly basis when his name is going
to appear in these jottings, the answer is….
Not this month!
Stay safe.
J80TDB
Lewes
Fraternal Greetings to all our colleagues
in the prison estate from the cobbled
streets of Lewes, oh and what a state
it’s in! We welcome all our new Officers
and hope you settle in well.
IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME.....
This is a famous line from a film and
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Branch News
it will certainly apply to Lewes. However,
the only people coming are the prisoners.
The staff to care for these poor individuals
are not. Spring is in the air and our two
new wings which were supposed to open
mid April will now open nearly 5 weeks
early by order of Gordon Brown himself.
We have a profile that is approximately
60 uniformed staff short, so Officer A.N.
Other is going to be very busy indeed,
chaotic and interesting times lay ahead...
we will of course let you know how this
farce unfolds.
However, it would be lax of us not to
make the following statement: No blame
for the current situation can be laid at the
door of our Governing Governor. The new
build has been an on-going project for at
least 18 months. So here we are less than
two weeks from opening, and 60 staff
short, perhaps those in charge of running
the prison service actually did the job they
are paid a lot of money to do we would
not be in this mess. Sadly they appear
more concerned with trying to interfere in,
run and ruin this Trade Union; you will not
succeed....WE WILL NOT LET YOU!
Lets set the scene: local radio on, cup
of tea in hand...advert comes on the
radio. ‘Are you in a repetitive job?’....
Er...yes...pen must find a pen... ‘Do you
want to make a difference?’...Oooo found
pen...need paper, find paper...‘Want
to do something rewarding?’...Yes...
yes I do...‘Do you want to receive a
good pension and other benefits?’...
Now poised with pen and paper at the
ready brimming with anticipation...‘Well
find out on what’s on the inside and
apply to become a Prison Officer today’.
Tears and snot bubbles followed whilst
thumbing through the Yellow Pages
looking for the Trade Descriptions local
office...it shouldn’t be allowed!
We have said goodbye to a few
members of the Branch recently and
would like to wish them all the best of luck
in their future choices. SO Quinnell has
left us to join HMP Ford. It has been said
that on a clear day with the wind blowing
in the right direction she can still be heard
from the 4s on C Wing. Also best wishes
to former SO Skelton who has made the
brave, but very enviable decision to leave
the service altogether. Hope it works out
well and your new workmates aren’t as
foul mouthed as your former.
Congratulations to the following staff
who where presented with Long Service
Awards by Governor McClennan: Murray,
PO Okopski, SO Szczotka, SO Quinnell
and Officer Harwood. It is an important
gesture to recognise staff’s work and
commitment to the service, all very well
deserved. Long may it continue.
An apology
We must apologise for our overly optimistic
take on the ‘badge’ issue. This is an
employer that expects our full co-operation
on the future Work Force Reform. Well, you
reap what you sow, so shall you reap. There
are big battles ahead with our employer
and we MUST stand together and fight
for our future. We may not win but IF WE
GO DOWN, WE GO DOWN FIGHTING
TOGETHER.
On a lighter note we would like to
announce the formation of the HMP Lewes
motorcycle stunt display team. SO Groves
along with Officers’ Price and Wade will
be appearing at local fetes throughout the
summer following a successful debut in
Bournemouth several weeks ago!
Officer Stokes will shortly begin writing
his book entitled ‘How to make new friends
by sharing a film’ and Officer ‘calling out to
any astrals’ West who will be filming his own
episode of Ghost Hunting. It will star himself
and absolutely no spirits, ghosts or astral
beings whatsoever....get a life Westy!
It would appear that there is a ‘spice thief’
in our midst we’re sure they will turmeric up if
not there will be a hot chilli pursuit!
We would like to welcome Officer Johnson
on to the Branch Committee following recent
Branch Elections and congratulate Officer
Fry who was re-elected at the same time.
Please support your Committee and work
with them, they need you as much as you
need them.
Thoughts and best wishes go out to those
off sick; we are here if you need us.
Until the next time, take care of each other
because no other bugger will...
The Rooks’ Nest
Littlehey
Hello from Littlehey,
Firstly for those that has left good
luck in your new careers and, to those
who have joined us welcome. Our No
1 has left, our loss is Highpoints gain,
and as yet no news on his replacement,
there are a lot of names being put about.
Confusion exists at present here as we
have rolled out self rostering, well sort of
rolled it out 52% on it and 48% still on a
shift pattern equals total confusion. Still
with the management sorting it out it can
only lead to utter confusion.
After attending the meeting at the
TUC our members feel we need to be
pushing for further action, as we seem
to have lost momentum from last years
day of action. We could end up losing
jobs, be given poor three year pay deals
and have OSGs doing more than patrol
officer in our evening patrol state. The
prison road shows seems to be painting
doom and gloom and, then asking what
would it take to get their proposals
in if the POA was to reject the prison
proposals and a ballot was called for.
Well from what we are hearing staff are
again willing to sell themselves. I have
heard figures of a 37 hour week, a one
off payment of between £1000–£1500
and a 12%, 3 year pay deal. Throw in
the old chestnut ‘verse’ and staff will
queue up to vote away the erosion of
their jobs.
We have been informed of an increase
to our population of twenty more places
but to cover this we can have CSH for
three officers hours. So is doubling up
the new way forward, or is this one of
Jack’s short term plans?
We have reached a critical time
here at Littlehey. The Fantasy Football
League is coming to the end and, with
money up for grabs as we go to print, a
night out at the ‘dogs’ is happening for
all the members of the Fantasy League
Committee. The cheating and back
stabbing is rife. Sounds a bit like a SMT/
POA meeting.
It has come to the Editor’s notice
that a twenty four hour guard has
been manned by the PEIs. Yes, those
in shorts, on the football and rugby
pitches to prevent Dave Roswell and
the inside gardens crew from creating
even more flower beds. It would appear
that our Dave cannot stand the sight of
any piece of open grass that does not
contain a flower bed full of his signature
pansies. Keep digging Dave.
Anybody with anything for the jottings
please send to usual e/mail.
Rough Jenny
May 2008
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21
21/4/08 11:21:58
Branch News
Parkhurst
Firstly, a big welcome to 7 new staff! Yep,
that is correct, it’s not a misprint!! Graham
Sadler, Ollie Janvrin from Parkhurst,
Adam Harrison from Albany (all converted
from OSG group), and Mark Waldren,
Christopher Lee, Julie Riley and Lisa Pullin
(from admin) a big welcome to you all and
enjoy your time at Parkhurst. So it seems
that the vacancies are being filled quite
rapidly now.
Congratulations to Keith Ross on
passing his SO board, good luck in your
new position.
We also say a sad farewell to two
members of staff: Jerry Vale, who has
gone to Winchester, apparently it’s very
quiet there!! So he informs me!! I hope
you enjoy it. I’m sure you will! You will be
sadly missed.
We also say a fond farewell to Terry
Brown, who after 33 years service has
decided to hang up his keys. Terry joined
the service in January 1974 at HMP
Haverigg. He came to Parkhurst in 1992
and worked in the kitchens, the latter part
as an SO and reverted to discipline in March
1999. You will be sorely missed and we all
hope you have a great retirement, on the
golf course I hear!!
Both had farewell ‘dos’ which were very
well supported by staff.
Just a small ditty this month
The works department had a big meeting
with the cluster team and required the lap
top and projector. On the morning of the
presentation I got a phone call from one
of the Governors in the works department
panicking saying he couldn’t get the
projector to work. On investigating the
matter I solved the problem. It helps if you
plug it in!!!
It’s with great sadness I have to report the
sudden death of Michael “Josh” Armstrong
after a very short illness. He will be greatly
missed by all as a colleague, friend and
brilliant officer, and from the amount of emails and phone calls of sympathy we have
received from other establishments he will
be miss by colleagues elsewhere.
22
All messages that have been received
have been passed on to Pam, which were
gratefully received. His funeral was attended
by at least 150 family, staff, friends and ex
colleagues from the mainland attending.
What was amazing to see and it would have
made Josh laugh, was how many officers’
barathea uniforms had strangely shrunk
in the wash!! I know Pam and the family
appreciated the support.
Josh was at Parkhurst for over 7 years,
previously working at Feltham. He worked
on B and G initially then he moved to
security. I have included some quotes from
the eulogy given at his funeral, from his
time in security:
“We remember Josh saying things on
the radio net not realising he still had the
button pressed down for all to hear, I
believe it was a naval term, something to
do with an anchor!”
“The security staff are all concerned
that they may now put on weight, now
that Josh will not be there to eat all the
Christmas chocolates!”
“We remember how, whilst Walking the
Wight, he had an amazing ability to remove
his underpants without removing his
trousers, and not even breaking his stride!”
Above all Josh was a devoted husband,
a loyal brother, a rock to his children and a
really devoted Grandad.
God bless you Josh, you will be greatly
missed. Sierra 4, you have permission to
leave the net.
Back to work issues. I don’t usually
write controversial issues but I feel it
needs raising to see if other branches
have experienced the same problem.
Recently a member of staff, who
had been off sick for a week received
an email from the SSC informing them
that because no paper work had been
returned by their line manager regarding
their sick absence, their pay was going
to be stopped! One, this is outrageous
because the person going sick is not
responsible for getting the return to work
forms so they are being penalised by
a pay stoppage. Secondly, is it legal to
stop someone’s pay? Thirdly if the SSC
sent the forms to the right person and
not someone with the same name in the
north of England, maybe the forms would
have been filled in and returned? The
person concerned emailed the SSC to
find out what was going on, but still has
not received a reply or an apology. Bring
back the local Personnel departments for
human contact.
The Rat
Send
We, at Send, have a new Governor in post.
Mr. Harnett has already improved industrial
relations with the local committee and also
staff morale in the short period of time that
he has been with us. There is light at the end
of the tunnel!
Well, 2008 and 2009 will be extremely
difficult with the financial cutbacks. We
should be having a new wing opening
anytime, but no staff in post to manage
it. The management is looking at detached
duty but we will wait and see, as one thing
it does not give is long term stability. Yet
another example of crisis management!
The Prison Service can afford to pay up
to £500 per week in hotel costs, subs and
travel expenses for staff on detached duty.
However, at the same time refuse to pay
a decent rate of overtime. It appears that
someone at Prison Service head quarters
needs to have a reality check.
Being involved in the recent area officer
JSAC it has been detected that the Surrey
prisons are not getting enough candidates.
Most importantly the poor quality of
candidates and the low standards set by
the Prison Service to recruit leaves much to
be desired. The cost of living also highlights
this as even the key worker scheme will not
help people to get on the property ladder. It
appears that the Carter Report recommends
the reintroduction of market testing of public
sector prisons. When will these people
realise that private sector prisons are not
safe and extremely dangerous? Above all
it is living of immoral earnings. They say
crime does not pay, yet it makes profit for the
fat cat private sector companies and their
shareholders. And all of this is allowed to
happen under a Labour Government!
It also appears that the Government is
happy with the appeasement approach
and not the rehabilitation approach in
tackling crime. How about changing to a
zero tolerance approach? The Government
should employ Sheriff Joe Arpaio from
Arizona, who invented Tent City, as the next
Director General of the Prison Service. Now
there is a man who knows what he is
doing and what needs to be done. The
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Branch News
Government should give him an offer he
could not refuse. Instead we will probably get
the Chief Executive of Butlins (we can all live
in hope that this does not happen)!
Next time you visit your local B&Q store,
observe the staff uniform. Do the black fleece
jackets and base ball caps look familiar?
Also, the changing of the Senior Officer
title to Team Leader is another example
of future plans of running a retail working
environment model (aka – workforce
modernisation). We might as well call
ourselves HMP Argos!!
I would like to say goodbye to SO Mark
Nunnerly, and SO Angie Stobbart, who are
leaving us for HMP Coldingley: good luck.
We still have a few colleagues on longterm sick, who we wish a speedy recovery.
Lastly I would like to thank Brian
Traynor, Pete Chapple, PJ McParlin and
also the Wandsworth POA committee for
all their help, advice and guidance over
the last three years.
I would also just like to strongly
recommend that all union reps pursue the
TUC union rep courses. To sum them up in
one word: invaluable.
A special thanks also to my TUC
lecturer, Ade Philips at West Thames College.
I have seen this branch and, most
importantly, the local committee grow from
strength to strength. Keep up the good work.
Live long and prosper. Unity is strength
– keep the faith!
Lak Dosanjh
Branch Chair
HMP Send
Shrewsbury
I start these jottings by welcoming on board
our happy little ship Officer Philip Milne
from Liverpool, and welcoming back Officer
Natalie Alderwick from maternity leave. We
also welcome back PO Trevor Beeston. Two
words sum up what caused your illness,
Trev: ‘stitch up’. Enough said.
We say farewell and good luck to Officer
Hightower (Neil Bailey) who has left the
service to work with his brother. You were
always a pleasure to work with Neil and the
‘ghost story’ will always remain with me.
Good luck.
Also leaving us for pastures new is Senior
Officer Mark Supersad on his way up north.
Good luck Mark.
Congratulations to Mark Harrison on his
in-situ promotion to Senior Officer. Well
earned and deserved Mark. For those
currently acting up and seeking promotion
– good luck. Also good luck to the OSGs
currently working towards achieving their
NVQ award.
And, to any staff off sick at the moment,
get well soon and to any who have recently
returned, welcome back.
Towards the end of February it was
announced to the staff at Shrewsbury that
our Deputy Governor was leaving to join
the Australian Prison Service. I don’t want
to dwell on this subject too much but, upon
hearing this news, the majority of staff were
seen doing the conga through the centre of
the town, and everyone was putting buntings
out to celebrate. I believe some members of
the SMT enjoyed a very good ‘leaving do’,
but from what I gather basic grades enjoyed
you leaving more.
Towards the end of this particular Deputy
Governor’s reign I think he was starting
to realise his mistakes and how he hadn’t
communicated to the staff properly. However
it was much, much too late. What staff now
need to do now he’s gone is get back to
supporting each other and, once again,
reach those high standards we were once
proud of, and were recognised throughout
the service for achieving. We all know
Shrewsbury is a good prison: the staff know
it, the management know it and even the
prisoners acknowledge that they are treated
better at Shrewsbury than in most other Cat
‘B’ local establishments. So lets all work
together and bring back the happier times.
On a lighter note I think I should
mention an incident I recently heard
about, which happened a few years ago
to Officer Paul King, when he was working
along side our local police force, prior to
him joining the Prison Service. Apparently,
Paul was assisting the ‘bobbies’
dealing with some drunken, abusive
and disruptive adults in the Shrewsbury
area, when he had cause to put hands
on a female. The female in question
was apparently of average height/build
and wearing a low cut top and was
approaching Paul shouting abuse. Paul,
not being the tallest of men, was shocked
as she approached him and as he turned
round to push her away, he put both
hands on her breasts! In sheer shock at
what he had done he stepped back, not
realising that behind him was a concrete
waste bin. Paul fell into the bin with his
rear end first leaving just his upper body
sticking out and getting himself stuck with
his hands and feet waiving about. The
woman fell about laughing and walked
away. Good skills Paul – I bet they don’t
teach that at the training school?!
Officer Phil Breeze, again, appears to
be getting himself in the news. One of his
colleagues informs me that Phil recently
started to get wound up whilst working on
‘C’ wing when a prisoner he was shouting
at totally ignored him. Phil shouted again
but, again, he was ignored. Then came
the cry: “Boss, he’s deaf!” D’oh! Sorry
Phil, but this came from your so-called
‘friends’.
Just as I was about to send these
jottings to press I was informed about
the dancing skills of ‘twinkle toes’, Trevor
Thomas. Whilst watching a comedian on
stage at the local music hall, Trev was
picked out to get up on stage. His routine
certainly brought a smile to the faces of
the many off duty prison staff who tell me
that they will never look at Trevor in the
same way again. 10 ot of 10 Trev!
As we are all aware Shrewsbury, along
with all other establishments in the
country, are striving towards a new core
day. This is going to have major changes
for the way we all operate at Shrewsbury
and all I can say to you all is times are
changing, so let’s change with them. It’s
not going to be easy and at times it’s not
going to be pleasant but we are all in this
together. Let’s get back to working as a
team and remember security and staff
safety are paramount. If in doubt, ask!
Any gossip to me in security.
PC
Stafford
Greetings once again from Stafford. Our
sincerest fraternal salutations go out to
you and our best wishes and thoughts
to our colleagues on long term sick,
and especially those who, for what ever
reason, are unable to be on the landings
at present.
May 2008
12-25 branch news.indd 23
23
21/4/08 11:22:16
Branch News
Firstly our commiserations must
go to our branch secretary, Tony
Merricks, who was unsuccessful in
his attempt to gain National Office. In
my slightly biased point of view, we as
an Association have missed a golden
opportunity to have an experienced,
straight talking and hard working new
NEC Committee member on our side.
But, I guess that’s democracy in action.
Maybe a transfer to HMP Liverpool
might swing the vote next time (only
joking!)?
Our Committee here have just
completed negotiations with the
Governor and his SMT in relation to the
‘Stafford Sixty’ project, which entails
increasing our CNA by sixty prisoners.
With this comes extra staff and
resources, and in the current climate
of cost cutting and savings that’s a job
well done. It’s nice to see some fresh,
young, eager faces walking around the
place, that we experienced staff can
mould into someone just as bitter and
cynical as the rest of us!
Personal congratulations must be
extended to Paul Cooper who has taken
the step up the ladder and has moved
to Drake Hall on promotion. All the best
Big Man.
While I’m on the subject of promotion,
Stoke fans are getting very bouncy
– especially the life long fanatics who
have crept out of the woodwork now
that they’ve won a couple of matches.
As it looks like they might get a crack
at the Premiership, please keep an eye
on ‘Match of the Day’ in future and see
if you can spot the psychos from here
singing “Delilah”. In particular, The Big
‘N Daft One, and The Scary One from
the ‘Hills Have Eyes’ (yes, that’s you
Dawsie)!
Just a quick note for Ian Taylor – Whit
doesn’t think you’re funny; in fact
having somebody uglier than him in the
establishment has done his ego a power
of good!
The next time of writing should be
after the national rugby tournament, so
anyone who is going should keep an
eye out for the names on the back of the
white shirts.
Big Bob is off at the moment so our
best wishes go to him for a speedy
recovery and, along with Ian Black, his
presence will be looked forward to by
everyone who is going.
See you next time,
The Tea Boy
24
The Mount
wonder how many staff will be saying
“Oh my God”? A big thank you to Matt
Tomlin for all his hard work over the
years, and he will continue on as a
committee member.
Mad Dog
Wandsworth
Hello to one and all from the HMPS
freefall prison.
Welcome to all new staff and those
who have transferred in, a special
welcome to Officer “Polly” who finds life
at The Mount so SWEET and enjoyable.
It is now becoming a little warmer and
the dreaded TANKTOP is being aired by
too many staff (now I have said this, have
I opened a can of worms??
Louise J recently forgot she was
married and that she now had a new
surname, when checking the next days
detail noticed Officer ….. name on the
detail, she goes home and tells hubby
he is working tomorrow. He replies “I’m
on a rest day”, but he obeys his beloved
and joins her in attending work the next
day. It is only then that Louise realises
that it is her name on the detail NOT her
husbands!
Dave “I love my tank top” Reeder has
been moved into the CRM. As he has no
hair to pull out he may attack his beloved
tank top??
Jim W recently attended an OASYS
course at Stirling House. At the end of the
first day he agreed to follow a colleague’s
car to the hotel, but as with most mentally
challenged people Jim followed the
wrong car and ended up the other side
of Newmarket before he realised his
mistake. Definitely NOT a pathfinder.
We have now completed another
regular outing to Campsfield House DC
to clear up another private company
attempt of looking after people in
custody; it will not be long till we are
given our own parking place.
As with most branches we are having
minor disputes with our SMT reference
staffing, WLB, etc. I noticed that the DG
states that serious assaults on staff have
NOT increased, well DG come to The
Mount and I will show you several staff
that have been seriously assaulted.
Bob Baker is back at work, welcome
back mate you were really missed by
everyone.
Jim Wylie is our new Chairman; I
On a different theme, our staff suspensions
here now total 10 and, although 2 are a
Police matter, the rest are still in suspension
land with slow progress in the investigations.
The shortage of Committee members is now
causing a problem for hearing dates and
allocating work to the remaining members.
We had a visit from the Minister for Justice,
Jack Straw and some time was given to
talk to the trade unions. Questions about
workplace reform were asked but the cash
sum for this work was not revealed.
The Prison Service College, Wandsworth
has seen new group of Officers start their
careers. Some of the previous newly
recruited Officers have yet to join the POA
and if you really believe it can’t happen to
you perhaps you would like to talk to the
suspended staff?
Collectively, work is proving difficult to
progress with the lack of reps to take the
lead in areas such as profiling and the new E
wing proposals.
Our presence at the local Battersea and
Wandsworth TUC is generally good but
the work is better shared. We are part of
the wider trade union movement and we
will need their help in our fight to regain our
trade union rights. If the POA is to become
better at organising then local trade councils
are the best way of finding out how to
campaign. Their experience and offers of
help will be given to any branch, should it
be requested.
In keeping with the constant request of
meeting MPs, myself and Chairman Jim
Shaw attended a social event at my local
Labour Party, with Dennis Skinner as the
guest of honour. Dennis had a collection of
Gatelodge
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Branch News
funny stones and as he is unlikely to become
Prime Minister, he didn’t worry too much
about what he was saying. The irony of the
evening was that Dennis supported us in the
vote on 127 and my local MP did not! We
gave Dennis our new badge with thanks.
Problems with pay? 28 days’ notice for
employment tribunal proceedings should
help sort the problem out.
Our Branch Chair, Jim Shaw, was
unsuccessful in his bid for the NEC but
congratulations to Steve Baines, Pete
McParlin, Steve Bostock, Brian Traynor and
Joe Simpson.
I see from the so-called pay award, my
council tax and home fuel bills have gone
up by more than 2%. The Pay Review Body
needs to be a bit more alert and see if their
household bills have gone up. Perhaps we
could send them a questionnaire one year?
I would have liked to have seen the Local
Pay Allowance increase and could not
understand the logic of yet another freeze,
especially as members of parliament claim
they need at least an extra £160 a day to
live and work in London! The Olympic tax
impacting Londoners obviously hasn’t
reached the information gatherers from
the Pay Review Body, perhaps they’re not
paying it? On this cheerful note, I’ll close.
Stewart McLaughlin,
Branch secretary
Winchester
Greetings colleagues, from sunny old
Winchester.
I would like to say a very fond farewell to
the following staff on their retirement:
SO Bernie Newland – one of the
nicest guys you could ever have the
privilege to work with. Bernie started
here at Winchester then transferred to
Coldingley on promotion, then came back
to Winchester as a Senior Officer. Cheers
Bernie, we miss the good old laughs. Oh,
and when you were my SO, thanks for
telling ‘porkies’ on my SPDR and saying I
was capable of doing the job!
Goodbye also to good old Ken Wood,
another top guy. Ken started at Lewes
but then did a ‘dodgy deal’ swap with
someone (he was always good for telling
that old story, but of course I will not name
the ‘someone’, to protect their innocence).
To Dave Casey, who I have no doubt
will be spending even more time down
at the famous old Brooklands race track.
Someone said they were convinced Dave
was there in the 1920s and 1930s when
the Bentley Boys were racing round.
Next a bit of strange one, a big goodbye
and, at the same time, a big welcome to
PO Ivan Mackrill. Finished on a Friday and
started again the following Monday. Only this
time dressed in civvies as work prep tutor.
Now to the arrivals
A warm welcome to Keilan Bond on
transfer from Feltham; he has settled
in here very well (Felthams loss and
our definite gain). On a similar note,
welcome back to Ged Dale, back from
Highdown. Also welcome back to Andy
Scott returning from Reading. I guess it’s
true that the grass is not always greener.
Also, big Winchester welcomes to SO
Steve Bolton from Blakenhurst, Officer
Neil Hosking from Wetherby, and Officer
Gerry Vale from Parkhurst – you are all very
welcome and surely needed.
A very big well done to PEO Alan
Gawthorpe, who recently foiled an escape
attempt by a ‘trusted prisoner’ (?) from
Westhill. Alan was taking a gym session and
whilst returning back to Westhill the individual
made a bid for freedom, but Alan foiled
this serious attempt. Superb, well done! It
was good to see the area manager justly
rewarded his actions with a commendation.
We are all very proud of you Alan.
Also, two other area managers’
commendations went to Andy Ross and
Tina Wade who foiled an attempt by
another prisoner who attempted to escape
via reception by assuming the identity of
an inmate who was legitimately due for
release. Again, top class and well done!
We, as all establishments, are facing the
dreaded ‘Core Day’ and its subsequent
proposed profile. We have been informed
of the plan to loose one Senior Officer,
two Officers and an OSG. The branch
committee here will fight this move to the
last line of defence. This is, yet again, an
attack on those who work on the ‘front
line’. Every individual on this committee is
working flat out, and we need to attack this
with FACTS. I think the management have
seen more requests for information over the
last few days than in the rest of their service.
One sad but true fact: I asked the
Governor who did the proposed profile,
“Can you clearly define the tasks involved
in ‘wing duties’?” To my total shock his
reply was: “Umm, well, no..” All branches,
please check that your management
are not overloading you with, what they
describe (and use as a ‘cover all’) as,
WING DUTIES!
Ok, confession time..
I have a mobile phone and, like most
people, I have customised it a little.
For example, my ring tone is that old
classic ‘Duelling Banjos’ from that good
old classic film, ‘Deliverance’. My text
tone is “Message, messaaaage” which
increases in volume (i.e. it starts off soft
then increases in volume and desperation).
Obviously, you can stop it at any time by
pressing ‘unlock’ and pushing the ‘open’
button – just like any normal mobile phone.
Steve Merrett and I attended the
recent POA Special Delegates meeting
at Congress House in London. We were
sat there intently listening to Steve Gillan
articulately speaking about item 2 of
the agenda, when – yes, you guessed
it: “Message, messaage, messsaage,
messssaaaaage!” starts wailing from my
phone! As the volume increases poor
Steve Gillan is upping his volume, trying to
out-shout the darn thing!
Picture this: I’m fighting like an idiot to
unlock the phone and shut the thing up;
Steve Merrett is beating me about the
head with the biggest Sudoku book in the
world hissing, “Turn it off! Turn It OFF!”,
and I’m hissing back, “What do think I’m
trying to do??!” whilst the whole delegation
bursts into laughter.
Why me?!
The joke of it all was the message was
in fact to tell me I had missed a call from
none other than Pete Chapple. Where’ s
the justice in that?!
My humble apologies go to Steve Gillan,
Colin Moses and the rest of the delegation,
but in mitigation and my defence it was
Pete Chapple’s fault!
To all those currently away from work
for whatever reason, we wish you all well
and a speedy return – you are, as always,
missed and surely needed.
Martin Cole
Winchester
May 2008
12-25 branch news.indd 25
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21/4/08 11:22:30
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Litigation partners
Peter Watson
William Macreath
Anne Bennie
Angela McCracken
David McKie
Alisdair Gillies
26
Litigation department
Carolyn Macbride
Sandra Biggart
Laura Salmond
Callum Anderson
Alan O’Dowd
Jillian McKenzie
Ross Milvenan
Ewen Campbell
Mark Dunn
Catherine McGowan
Iain Butler
Commercial department
Alistair Goodman
Maureen Stevenson
Geraldine Smith
Peter Reid
David Adams
Colleagues,
I would like to thank all those
members who have supported me in
the recent election for the Scottish
National Committee.
I appreciate the trust and
confidence you have placed in me
and I vow to continue to fight for you,
the member. I have been elected to
represent you and I promise I will
never forget that.
I would especially like to thank
all my colleagues at Barlinnie who
have suffered me for the past 21
years. A special thanks to the local
branch committees over the years,
and I would like to place my personal
thanks and gratitude to Willie Carle for
his patience and friendship, without
which I doubt whether I would have
been able to continue on this rocky
road.
I look forward to the new
challenge of being on the Scottish
National Committee and working
with (along with others) the local
branch representatives for Dumfries,
Greenock and Shotts.
Thank You,
Gordon Pike
Thank you
Dear Colleagues,
I have recently been elected to the
Scottish National Committee. I would
like to thank those who kindly voted
me into this post. I have gained a 1
year interim post, to which I will give
all my attention and effort, as I did at
HMP Glenochil as Branch Secretary.
The down side of this is I have had
to leave HMP Glenochil, where I have
had many good years with some great
staff. I’d like to thank the staff and the
local branch committee at Glenochil
for their support and I’m sure they’ll
continue to stand firmly behind John
(No Drama’s) Devine.
Ta!
Phil Thomas
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North of the Border
Bullying In The Workplace
Nobody should have to put up with bullying at work.
However it is evident that it does happen and everyone
should know how to deal with bullying when it occurs.
Before taking action..
If you think you're being bullied, its best
to talk it over with someone, because
what seems like bullying might not be.
For example, you might have more work
to do because of a change in the way
your organisation is run. If you find it
difficult to cope, talk to your manager or
supervisor, who might be as concerned
as you are. Sometimes all it takes is a
change in the way you work to give you
time to adjust.
What to do if you’re bullied
at work
What is bullying at work?
Bullying at work is when someone tries
to intimidate another worker, often in
front of colleagues. It’s usually, though
not always, done to someone in a less
senior position.
It’s similar to harassment, which is
where someone’s behaviour is offensive
– for example, making sexual comments,
or abusing someone’s race, religion or
sexual orientation.
It’s not possible to make a legal claim
directly about bullying, but complaints
can be made under laws covering
discrimination and harassment. If you’re
forced to resign due to bullying you can
make a constructive dismissal claim.
Examples of bullying behaviour:
Bullying includes abuse, physical
or verbal violence, humiliation and
undermining someone’s confidence. You
are probably being bullied if, for example,
you’re:
• constantly picked on
• humiliated in front of colleagues
• regularly unfairly treated
• physically or verbally abused
• blamed for problems caused by others
• always given too much to do, so that
you regularly fail in your work
• regularly threatened with the sack
• unfairly passed over for promotion or
denied training opportunities
Bullying can be face-to-face, in writing,
over the phone or by fax or email.
Employers have a 'duty of care' to their
employees and this includes dealing with
bullying at work. There are measures you
can take if you're being bullied.
Get advice
Speak to someone about how you might
deal with the problem informally. This
might be:
• an employee representative like a trade
union official
• someone in the firms human resources
department
• your manager or supervisor
Some employers have specially trained
staff to help with bullying and harassment
problems they’re sometimes called
'harassment advisers'. If the bullying is
affecting your health, visit your GP.
Talk to the bully
The bullying may not be deliberate. If
you can, talk to the person in question,
who may not realise how their behaviour
has been affecting you. Work out what to
say beforehand. Describe what has been
happening and why you object to it. Stay
calm and be polite. If you don't want to
talk to them yourself, ask someone else
to do so for you.
Keep a written record or diary
Write down details of every incident and
keep copies of any relevant documents.
procedure, or if one doesn’t exist
you can use the statutory grievance
procedure.
Some awkward situations:
The bully is your manager, but the firm's
grievance procedure says it is your
manager who you should speak to
Make the complaint in writing to your
line manager and ask that it’s passed on
to another manager to look into. If that
doesn’t happen or isn’t possible, make
the complaint to your boss’s manager, or
the Human Resources department.
The person bullying you is a sole trader
or the firm's managing director or owner
Follow the grievance procedure. It may
help you later if you have to take legal
action against your employer.
Your boss is violent and abusive
towards you and you're afraid to make a
complaint
If you think that making a complaint will
cause further bullying or harassment, you
don’t need to follow normal grievance
procedures. In cases like this, you can
still then take legal action if you wish.
What about taking legal action?
Sometimes the problem continues even
after you've followed your employer's
grievance procedure. If nothing is
done to put things right, you can think
about legal action, which may mean
going to an employment tribunal. Get
professional advice before taking this
step. Remember that it's not possible
to go to a tribunal directly over bullying,
but complaints can be made under laws
covering discrimination and harassment.
If you've left your job because of
bullying, you might be able to claim
unfair 'constructive' dismissal. This can
be difficult to prove, so it's important to
get advice from a specialist lawyer or
other professional.
Making a formal complaint
This is the next step if you can’t solve
the problem informally. To do this you
must follow your employer's grievance
May 2008
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North of the Border
Criminal Justice and
Immigration Bill
Colleagues, please see below copies of recent correspondence between
Davie Melrose and Kenny MacAskill
Dear Kenny,
Thank you for your letter dated 14
January 2008. We warmly welcome
your assurance, and the speed with
which you provided it, in relation to
the re-application of section 127 of the
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act
1994 in England and Wales.
While we remain concerned and
extremely disappointed at the steps
being taken against our colleagues in
England and Wales, we are pleased
that the different relationships and
positive industrial relations climate in
Scotland has been recognised in this
way. We will of course communicate
to our TUS colleagues in the SPS, the
content of your announcement, where I
am sure it will be received in the same
way.
As you have stated in your letter, you
are aware that SPS management and
ourselves have begun consideration
of the forward budget and efficiency
savings required under the spending
review. I feel compelled to say that
this trade union have always engaged
in partnership with SPS management
over the issue of savings, and have
been very proactive in trying to
identify savings within our current
budget arrangements. We will of
course continue to cooperate with
management in partnership, to see
where we think savings can be found
within this latest initiative.
It would be remiss of me not to take
this opportunity to state, that while we
are happy to contribute to the savings
initiative, in an attempt to realise the
sums required, we remain concerned
over the scope and flexibility for those
sums to be found from within the front
line staffing group within the SPS.
That concern is not simply based on
this staff group being by and large our
membership. This particular group
have been the main focus for savings
in the past years, and it is our view
28
there is very little scope to reduce front
line numbers any further, even with
the introduction of new build prisons,
without seriously starting to impact on
the safety, security and effectiveness
of our prison regimes. Please be
reassured that those concerns will not
prevent us from continuing to work
with management in partnership, to
find ways in which we can meet the
spending limits faced by the SPS in the
coming years.
Finally, I would hope that you are
aware of the genuine response from
ourselves and our membership in
relation to the announcements you
have made with regard to prisons and
prison staff since coming to office. The
commitment and positive support you
have demonstrated up to this point
has been a significant morale boost to
the members of this union, and I have
copied in a motion we have sent to the
STUC for this years agenda, that you
may be interested in.
We would look forward to continuing
a positive relationship with both
yourself and the Scottish Government,
and of course continuing to work
successfully in partnership with the
SPS board and management.
Yours sincerely
David Melrose
Dear David,
Thank you for your letter of 25 January
2008. As I indicated previously, our
faith in partnership working and our
commitment to positive modern
industrial relations meant that I had
no hesitation in rejecting Jack Straw’s
offer for Section 127 to be re-applied
to public sector prison officers in
Scotland. My wider consideration of
the issues raised by the approach
made by Jack Straw highlighted
to me a number of concerns. In
particular, that the power to legislate
on this matter is wholly reserved to
Westminster. This means that in the
absence of an effective alternative, the
UK Government could at some time
in the future apply this legislation to
public sector prison officers in Scotland
regardless of the employment relations
climate in Scotland or the wishes of
Scottish Ministers. While Jack Straw’s
approach to consult with me earlier
this year was appreciated, he need not
have made it and his successors are
not bound by any convention to do so
going forward.
I understand that Mike Ewart,
SPS Chief Executive, relayed these
concerns to the SPS Trade Union
Side and indicated that it was our
intention to enter into dialogue with
the UK Government to seek to improve
the Scottish position in this regard. I
understand from Mike that the SPS
TUS were fully supportive of these
intentions. I am pleased to be able to
tell you that we have been successful
in negotiating an improved position
with the UK Government on this matter.
The amendments required to the Bill to
achieve this outcome have been tabled
by the UK Government. Scottish Prison
Service officials have been in contact
with Derek Turner, POA Full Time
Officer, in order to provide the detail
of how the amendments will work with
regard to the Bill as it proceeds through
the House of Lords.
In summary, although Section
127 remains a matter reserved to
Westminster and could be re-applied
by UK Ministers to public sector prison
officers in Scotland by means of a
Commencement Order, UK Ministers
have confirmed that they will only do
this if they receive a direct request to
do so from Scottish Ministers. Clearly,
based on my previous statements
regarding the Scottish Government’s
commitment to the SPS VIRA and
Partnership Agreement, I have no
intention of making a request of UK
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21/4/08 11:34:10
North of the Border
Ministers to apply this legislation in
Scotland. I trust that you will welcome
this latest development as further
demonstration of that commitment.
Once the Criminal Justice and
Immigration Bill receives Royal Assent,
public sector prison officers in Scotland
will remain the only group of prison
officers in the UK to whom Section
127 does not apply. While I note your
concern and disappointment that this
legislation is being re-applied to your
colleagues in England and Wales, from
the perspective of Scotland, this is
nevertheless further evidence of the
success of our partnership working
arrangements of which we should quite
rightly be proud.
I welcome the commitment set out
in your letter to work in partnership
with management to find ways in
which to operate within the spending
limits faced by the SPS. I understand
that constructive discussions have
taken place to that end. I also note
what you say regarding your concerns
about the scope for efficiency savings
to be realised from within front line
services. As you know, no part of our
public service is exempt from the
tough financial challenges and it will
be for SPS management working in
partnership with trade union partners
to work through how best the required
savings may be delivered. In this
regard, and as I have demonstrated
in my recent announcements on new
prisons to be operated by SPS, I have
every confidence that SPS will deliver.
Finally, I was pleased to note the
content of the motion that you have
put forward for this year’s STUC
Conference and I look forward
to continuing our positive and
constructive relationship.
Yours sincerely
Kenny Macaskill
The results were as follows:G. Pike 760 (elected for five year term)
P. Thomas
703 (elected for 1 year
interim post)
T. McMurray
658
A. Golightly
564
I. Welsh
508
T. Doig
214
Our congratulations to the successful
candidates and our commiserations to
the others.
Mr Thomas will take up the vacant
post as soon as is practical. Mr Pike
will take up post after the Annual
Conference in May.
Scottish National
Committee Elections
Due to the sad and untimely death of
the Scottish Vice Chair, Kenny Cassels,
a vacancy for the post arose and Phil
Fairlie was elected, unopposed, into
the position. This resulted another
vacant position and an election was
run in tandem with this year’s annual
election.
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members for travel insurance
May 2008
26-29 NOTB.indd 29
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23/4/08 13:43:54
30
Gatelodge
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ULF learning at work
Test the Prison
In partnership, the POA and the Prison Service
are bringing the initiative test ‘test the prison’
to all establishments. The scheme involves
encouraging and facilitating the workforce
to take mini-skills assessment, this will then
give not only an overview of the levels of
Maths and English within the workforce,
but will also identify individuals with a skills
need. POA Learning will then offer quality
information, advice and guidance and open up
opportunities to access learning and develop
themselves both professionally and personally.
Dates for each establishment will be agreed
with the Prison Service, POA Learning,
Governor and branch committee in advance
and the event will be heavily published. The
sessions will be confidential with a ULR;
individual results will be kept private by POA
Learning. The prison service will be issued
with anonymous copies of the results; this will
provide them with an overview of the levels
of literacy and numeracy in the service. POA
learning will use the results and follow up
potential learners to up skill staff.
All those who take part of the mini skills
check will be entered into a prize draw. We are
looking to engage as many staff as possible in
these events. If you are interested in bringing
the ‘test the prison’ to your establishment,
contact us
The first event took place at Haverigg on
Wednesday 27th February 2008. Approximately
170 prison staff were on duty on the day of
campaign.
The team of 15 consisted of POA Learning
staff, branch officials, ULR’s, Prison Service
staff, and individuals from the TUC, Move Up
and NIACE.
The team were available to give quality
Information Advice and Guidance (IAG). Prison
staff were also invaluable in escorting the
teams to different parts of the prison.
127 staff voluntarily took part in the skills
checks. All were entered into a draw for prizes of
£100 and £50 shopping vouchers donated by the
Prison Service and the Governor Clive Chatterton.
Clive was also one of the willing participants of
the skills check and sat it alongside POA Learning
Centre Manager Pete France.
The results where good with the majority
of staff performing between Levels 1 and 2
(equivalent in level to a GCSE), many of the
staff did not have qualifications in literacy and
numeracy and were encouraged to attend the
learning centre and sign up to up skilling and
taking their National Test. This will be followed
through by the POA Learning Centre staff.
Laura Boyd
POA Learning
May 2008
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21/4/08 11:34:46
Postbag
Ref: Section 127
Colleagues,
This year a Labour government are reintroducing Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public order Act
1994. The act and section that prevents prison officers and members of the POA taking industrial action,
for what ever reason.
This is in direct violation of the promises they made whilst in Government opposition, there is video
evidence to show this from any of the national and international press you care to mention.
After all their false promises we now have a labour government who are re introducing anti trade union
laws, laws they tried to stop when they were originally introduced by the Conservative government of the
1990s.Perhaps I was hasty by calling this government a Labour government.
I find it hard to believe that a party that was conceived out of working class ethics should now turn on
its own grass roots.
Colleagues let us be under no illusion, NO Government, Labour or Conservative, in the
foreseeable future is going to let us demonstrate our trade union rights to industrial action.
By just reading about the majority that reintroduced the Bill is proof that both sides of the House
of Commons are afraid of the power we demonstrated on the 29th August 2007, it proves that
we do not have enough influence throughout the House of Commons to change ideals or make
promises honoured by our MP`s who we voted into power under false pretences.
It is all well and good saying we will continue to fight for our union rights but it is time to face
the truth, wake up and smell the coffee. We a trade union, that took industrial action, whether it
be legal or not, scared the mighty Labour Government, we had support from ALL over the country
from every corner of the UK, but what did we do with that national support, it appears to me and
my peers throughout the service nothing. Our PR image ZERO. We have no PR image, it is time to
sign up a professional PR company on our behalf to improve our PR image, and raise our issues to
the public throughout the land.
We must learn to work along side our sister unions the PCS, the Fire Brigade Unions, The Royal
College of Nursing, the Police Federation, etc.
Unity is strength
If we talk together we can make this Government sit up and listen, we proved we could make them
listen to us after the 29th August 2007. Imagine how they would shake in their boots if we had up
to a further 6 or 7 trade unions/federations joining us in a coordinated action or even a threat of
coordinated action.
Colleagues let us warn our colleagues in the Fire Brigade Union once they have confirmed
Section 127 is in place, and that we cannot take industrial action, they will come after you with the
same sort of legislation regarding public safety etc.
If we are to be put into the same restrictions on industrial actions as our colleagues in the Police
Federation, then, perhaps we should amalgamate with the Police Federation, and become a power
base of law enforcement officers with shared pay agreements
If the police are seen as a special case because they cannot take industrial action then the
government will do all the work for us by banning us from industrial action therefore putting us on a
par with police officers throughout the land, then WE become that special case.
Let us use the opportunity of equality rights in the law courts. It is time to use the courts to our
advantage.
I have just read that the Coastguards are about to take industrial action for the first time, I
find it amazing that with a Labour Government (?) in power public sector workers are taking
more industrial action then ever before. Come on Mr Brown look at the services you are forcing
into action through your money pinching exercises, the Police, Prison Officers, and now the
Coastguards.
If you pay us a decent wage no action would ever be needed, I hope you can read this and take
the hint Mr Brown.
Jim Wylie
The Mount
32
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Postbag
Postbag
Royal Courts of Justice
HMP Shotts heard that there was going to be
a fight. We wanted to be there to show that we
stand side by side as one trade union: Scotland,
England, Ireland and Wales. We used planes,
trains and automobiles to arrive at court ready for
the stramash ahead.
It was one hell of a journey trying to get there on
time; we were attempting to bypass determined
commuters with brollies, briefcases, rolled up
newspapers and a few blokes dressed in white
with sticks and bells called Morris.
At times it was like taking on the front line of the
Welsh pack, but we managed with a valiant effort
to overcome all this and we arrived exhausted,
battered and bruised but ready to support our
colleagues south of Hadrian’s Wall. The cheer that
erupted as we finally staggered (sober) to a halt
outside the Royal Courts of Justice was nothing
like the Hampden Roar but we did appreciate
the sentiment all the same. It was a pity some
ex-Beatle person happened to be at Court on
the same day as the camera attention was driven
towards a divorce case rather than the fact that
our fundamental rights as a trades union were
breached. We think Heather was getting less
money from Paul compared to what the Prison
Service was trying to get from us.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and
gratitude to both PJ McParlane and Jim Shaw
for looking after us so well on our visit. We can
honestly say that we have met very few gentlemen
in our young lives, but PJ is the very epitome
of the gentleman class and we appreciated the
time and effort to make our stay as liquid and
free flowing as possible. Jim Shaw’s hospitality
was second to none as he organised a day that
encompassed a full visit around Wandsworth
Prison and every landmark within London.
Thank you for the time and effort and tourist
information service provided Jim. We were also
given two books written by Stewart McLaughlin
of Wandsworth, bought by PJ for the Branch for
those interested in the History of prisons: ‘Britain’s
last Executioner’ (Harry B. Allen) and ‘Execution
Suite’.
We would also like to request a whip round
for the National Chairman so we can buy him a
wallet as we never saw him with one all night and
know he would really like to be like the rest of us
and actually get his out. The banter was excellent
and the solidarity shown on the day should be
repeated more often. ‘Unity is Strength’ is not
some throw away logo. It is a fact of this great
Union, and the message should be made clear
to those who don’t realise or recognise the fact
that as Prison Officers we are all ready to fight for
each other.
John Dickson and Ian Welsh
HMP Shotts
I am an individual
29th August 2007, a momentous day. Colin Moses
and the NEC took the initiative and demonstrated
superb leadership that would have got the great
Winston Churchill to raise his two fingers in salute.
Am I proud to work for the Prison Service? NO.
Am I proud to be a Prison Officer? YES.
I work for the good honest public of this country.
The same people that showed us overwhelming
support for taking strike action. To me, their opinions
endorsed the action taken and dispelled any doubts I
may have had.
Mr Straw, predictable as ever, again took the easy
option and made it illegal for the POA to take further
industrial action.
Well I am an individual and I don’t need the POA to
inform me that the Government and Prison Service
are treating me badly.
I know that if the membership were directed, then I
and the majority would act in unison. Therefore I have
searched my conscience and realised that:
• I don’t need to wait for an instruction from the NEC.
• I have the right as an individual not to offer my
good will.
• I need not volunteer for extension of hours.
• I can at least question any instruction to perform
un-profiled work.
33
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• If I were to perform bed watches, should I be
greedy or just do the necessary to survive
financially?
If the armed forces taught me anything it was
never to volunteer and if you obey the last order, you
won’t be put on a charge (if that order were to be
illegal I would challenge it later).
If the prison service and Government continue
to try and break the unity of the POA there will
be 30,000 plus individuals all searching their
consciences. I think most will end up travelling in
a similar direction. Depending on their personal
circumstances, some will be using motorways;
others will be on A, B and country lanes. A minority
will either be indecisive and keep going around
the roundabout or will pointlessly follow the Prison
Service issued sat nav taking every detour to
countless dead ends.
Mr Straw, my conscience is clear. You do not
deserve my loyalty and good will. I intend to
exercise my rights as an individual.
To my colleagues, I apologise in advance if my
stance causes them any hardship.
Glenn Bateson
HMP Dorchester
May 2008
33
21/4/08 11:35:25
Postbag
Meeting with MPs – Wandsworth Branch
The Wandsworth Branch is keeping with policy to meet MPs, and the most recent include Jack Straw
at the prison and Siobhain McDonagh and Dennis Skinner at a local Labour Party social function.
It really is important for POA members to engage with MPs as whatever rights we campaign for will
on day go through Parliament. I encourage all members to do their best on this front as it is an easy
way to campaign to get our message across to people who really need to know how we feel about the
way we are being treated.
Stewart Mclaughlin
Branch Secretary
P.J. McParlin NEC, Jack Straw MP, Stewart McLaughlin
Branch Secretary, Wandsworth, on the newly
refurbished e wing – there’s money but how much?
Thank you
Colleagues,
I would like to take this opportunity to
thank every branch who nominated me
in the recent election and every member
who voted for me.
I am extremely pleased that the
membership saw fit to re-elect me and I
give you the promise that I will continue to
serve you and the POA to the best of my
ability for the next five years and beyond.
Yours truly,
Steve Bostock
NEO
Well done and
thank you
Just a quick note to say well done to
Bozzie, Joe, PJ and Brian on their reelection and huge congratulations to
Steve Baines on his election to the NEC.
A big thank you to the branches that
nominated me and all the members who
voted in my favour. Your support was
greatly appreciated and will hopefully
continue in the next election.
Thank you,
Jackie Marshall
Branch Chair
HMYOI Stoke Heath
34
Jim Shaw, Branch Chairman, Siobhain McDonagh MP,
Stewart McLaughlin, Branch Secretary, Wandsworth and
Dennis Skinner MP. Dennis voted in support of the POA
over 127.
Special Project
I am writing to tell you about a project myself and several
colleagues are planning, to assist a fellow Officer at HMP
Nottingham, Simon Hennessey, who has recently been
diagnosed as having a brain tumour.
Simon Hennessey, formerly an apprentice at Hull City FC,
has been an officer at HMP Nottingham for approximately a
year and a half, and is married with a six month old son. In
December 2007 he was told that he would have to undergo
surgery to remove a brain tumour, and the operation took
place in early January of this year. The operation was
successful, and 80% of the tumour was removed. However,
subsequent tests confirmed that it was a stage 3 malignant
tumour, and that whilst ongoing treatment could be given
the tumour would very likely return within a few years.
We have now set up a fund, the proceeds of which we
intend to be used to assist and support Simon and his
family, in any way that may be required. For example,
assistance with travel expenses, respite care and any other
health care issues that may arise. This could encompass
adaptations of home environment, personal mobility issues
and social issues.
Any remaining proceeds of the fund will be place into a
trust for the future benefit of Simon’s son, Mason.
The first fund raiser we have organised is a 100 mile bike ride,
starting at KC Stadium the home ground of Hull City Football
Club (Tigers), and ending at HMP Nottingham. The event will
take place on Saturday 12 April, starting at around 8am.
Please contact the following Officers:
Richard Morley ([email protected]) or
Officer David Bryan ([email protected]) at HMP
Nottingham for further information.
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Postbag
Assaults on staff
Following a hearing at Preston Magistrates Court
on Friday 4th April 2008, a prisoner was sentenced
to four periods of six months imprisonment to run
concurrently.
In September 2007 during full association on
evening duty, four prison officers were injured when
trying to restrain a very violent prisoner, resulting in
a charge of Section 39 common assaults. However,
the Court queried whether a Section 47 should have
been a more appropriate charge.
All four officers are now back on duty after long
periods off work, recovering from their injuries.
A POA branch official – and one of the injured
parties – was pleased that the Court’s decision to
convict and sentence the prisoner, which served
to support the POA’s drive in highlighting the
unacceptable levels of violence and intimidation
Sincere thanks
Thanks
faced by Prison Officers across the estate almost
on a daily basis.
The Prison Service and the Government, who
have only recently begun negotiations on ‘zero
tolerance’, should be encouraged by the decision
of the CPS to prosecute the matter, and the
fortitude of the staff involved in maintaining their
professionalism throughout the incident, and
through to the conclusion of the trial, praised.
It should also be acknowledged that the
Governor, Richard Vince and the Deputy Governor,
Steve Valentine and the SMT, gave their full support
throughout.
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to
thank all of the
people who helped
and supported
me over the past
6 months, which
I would not have
got though without
them.
I would also like
to thank Steve
Bostock, Jim While,
and Matt Tomlin.
Thanks again,
Barry Hardy
POA H&S Representative
Officer Bob Baker
HMP The Mount
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to take this opportunity to place on record my
sincere thanks to those branches who nominated me, and to
the members who voted for me, in the recent NEC Election.
I would also like to congratulate PJ, Joe, Brian and
Bozzie on their re-elections, and look forward to working
with the NEC. I will do my up most to promote and protect
the interest of all the members during my time as an NEC
member.
Finally, if any member wishes to contact me to discuss
any issues I am always available.
Yours sincerely,
Thank you
I wish to place my thanks to Steve Cox for his excellent representation
at my recent CSAB hearing. The result vindicated my wrongful dismissal
and cleared my name in what was a Disciplinary Hearing which should
never have been brought.
Steve’s representation was professional and showed exactly why every
Prison Officer should be in the POA. I have often heard the comments about
it being “the most expensive diary in the country” but I can assure you it is
money well spent in the present climate of charge and sack.
I would also like to give my thanks to Steve Ellis, Wealstun POA
Committee, for his support throughout the Disciplinary process and the
CSAB hearing.
Steve Lewin
HMP Wealstun
Steve Baines
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