The POA podcast

This episode is about post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – a fast increasing and worrying phenomenon amongst Prison Officers. The POA announced it had commissioned research work into this often overlooked and misunderstood condition and report author Joanna Binley joins us on the podcast to describe her findings. We then welcome Caroline Sheldon and Tracey Varela from the MoJ’s Employee Psychol...

In this POA podcast episode, we look at the union’s work on gender equality with four of the union’s leading female activists – AGS Angela Montgomery, NEC members Jackie Marshall and Sarah Rigby, and Branch chair Kirsteen Brown. They discuss planned moves, false advertising over flexible working, the importance of boundaries at work, the menopause and returning to work after maternity leave. All t...

The menopause is becoming a major issue on the bargaining agenda for all unions, including the POA. In this toolkit podcast, Nikki Pound who leads on this for the Trades Union Congress explains why this is happening, and POA NEC member Jackie Marshall talks about the specific challenges for the union - and what is being done to address them. This toolkit podcast accompanies the feature article in...

Health and Safety is the focus of this episode of the POA podcast. Deputy General Secretary Joe Simpson together with Assistant General Secretaries Mick Pimblett and Andy Baxter discuss the Health and Safety protocol with HMPPS that allows union members to respond to dangerous incidents without facing the possibility of being charged with inducing unlawful industrial action.  There is also an...

POA General Secretary Steve Gillan and Deputy General Secretary Joe Simpson discuss the POA political levy/fund, and the political campaign work that is done through the fund. More information at www.poauk.org.uk

In this episode, Professor Gail Kinman talks us through her ground-breaking research into the true state of health and safety at work for Prison Officers. Her reports in 2014 and 2020 set out a stark picture of sub-standard arrangements. But exactly what needs to change? And what would we discover if Gail carried out a fresh survey today . You can read her reports in full here and here . Also, cog...

In this episode, General Secretary Steve Gillan reports on why the Government’s recent White Paper on prisons strategy is a “missed opportunity.” Grahame Morris MP (Lab, Easington) tells us about his Prisons (Violence) Bill – aka the “Safe Inside” Bill – which has its Second Reading in Parliament on 25 February, and what all POA members can do to help it become law. (For more information on the Wh...

The Wandsworth Prison Museum is an Aladdin's Cave of documents, uniforms, displays, kit, memorabilia and artefacts - including the original lock and key to the jail.  Our expert guide is the museum's founder, curator and  long-standing POA member Stewart McLaughlin.  What becomes clear is that the histories of the prison and of the POA itself are closely inter-twined.  The past...

As a union of 30,000 members, the POA can use its purchasing power to get some really good deals for members, and to partner with people who really understand the work members do.  This month's POA podcast talks to some of these service providers to understand what they are offering and where they're coming from. Do listen in - you may be surprised on both points! We hear from Tax Refund, Ser...

The POA looks after its members whoever they work for and wherever they are located.  This episode looks at the experiences of union members working across the UK's devolved administrations - Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.  With contributions from Liz Saville-Roberts MP (PC, Dwyfor Meirionnydd), Scottish Justice Minister Keith Brown MSP (SNP, Clackmannanshire and Dunblane), POA of...

In this episode former Northern Ireland Regional Chairman and Honorary Life Member Finlay Spratt looks back at his 30 years as a POA representative, together with area secretary June Robinson. Both have been awarded the MBE for their work which includes establishing the Northern Ireland Prison Service Trust in the years following the Good Friday Agreement. 

Privatisation in the UK's criminal justice system arrived in the 1990s (The Wold becoming the first privately run prison in 1992), and there are currently 14 establishments and some other services run by companies like Sodexo, Serco, G4S and Mitie.  In this episode, POA Assistant General Secretaries Andy Baxter, Angela Montgomery and Mick Pimblett discuss how the union organises in the privat...

In the latest POA podcast, we get to grips with the various pensions issues that the union is campaigning on -  the Alpha scheme, the new 2022 scheme,  the McCloud ruling on discrimination, and Payment Plus are all capable of being complex and confusing.  The General Secretary and senior officers are joined by pensions specialist lawyer Ivan Walker to demystify the situation, and gi...

68 is too late is the POA campaign to lower the age - currently set at 68 - at which prison officers can draw their pension.  Members of the National Executive Council (NEC) explain how this problem developed,  why the campaign is so important for both union members and the prisoners in their care, and what POA reps and members can do to make the campaign a success. More information on t...

Why is the POA upgrading its social media output? What are the union's hopes for the short videos and podcasts that have already started to appear? In this 12 minute trailer,  the POA's senior officials and the people making the videos and podcasts talk about why this move isn't just a  good thing to do, it's a necessary step in keeping the union strong and improving communications with...