The POA podcast

Deputy General Secretary Mick Pimblett outlines how the POA will use the forthcoming TUC and Labour Party conferences to press home the union’s campaign for a restoration of the right to take industrial action across the UK. Plus key information about a fringe meeting on 28 September at which member involvement will be crucial. More details at poauk.org.uk

General Secretary Steve Gillan looks back over his year asthe TUC President, and reflects on what it means for the POA to have one of our own in this role for the very first time. More information at poauk.org.uk .

The Durham Miner’s Gala is a fixed part of the POA’scalendar. Every July for the last 140 years, trade unions have gathered, with brass bands and banners, in a demonstration of trade union solidarity that is widely loved and admired. In this episode, General Secretary Steve Gillan, NEC members Jackie Marshall and Roger Moran, David from HMP Low Newton and Patience from HMP Nottingham share their experiences of the Gala. If you’re thinking of coming along but are not quite sure, they all have some advice to offer. More information from the POA and the Gala organisers.

In this episode we look at the training provided by the POAfor local representatives. Much of this is delivered in partnership with the GFTU – the General Federation of TradeUnions. But what exactly is the GFTU and how does its collaboration with the union give the best trade union education and training for POA members? Deputy General Secretary Mick Pimblett joins Gawain Little(General Secretary) and Henry Fowler (Assistant General Secretary) of the GFTU in discussing the collaboration with the POA, how the training is actually delivered, and what the so-called “Workers’ Retreat” is like as a venue for such important work. More information from the POA and GFTU websites.

On the eve of the launch of the annual POA members’ survey*,National Chair Mark Fairhurst and General Secretary Steve Gillan discuss why the union survey is so important and valuable. Put simply, the POA survey asks the questions HMPPS do not and would not. More information at poauk.org.uk The on-line survey opens on 1 August and closes at the end of September. *The survey covers operational grades in England and Wales based in public sector prisons

In the new Ask The Chair podcast episode, National Chair MarkFairhurst responds to questions on a wide range of subjects – regional pay, allowances for specialist grades, staff safety when on escort duties, problems in the youth custody estate, and the right to strike and “68 is too late” campaigns. Also, questions on the viability and desirability of prison officers being linked to police officers’ terms and conditions and will England beat Norway at the weekend. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions and apologies that we didn’t get to every single one. Don’t forget you can ask your question byemailing askthechair@poauk.org.uk . Please include your name and location so we can check membership details.

If you’ve enjoyed a POA video, listened to one of the POA podcasts, engaged in any way with the union online at X, or Facebook, accessed the POA website or responded to a call to action associated with a POA campaign, then that is the POA communications strategy in action. But where does this strategy come from, and how can the union’s leadership know it is working? In this episode, Deputy General Secretary Mick Pimblett, website designer Tom from Plus Purple, film-maker Gregg from Consequential Films and campaigns expert Neil from Unity Consulting give us a guided tour the POA’s communications work – all underpinned by the belief that the union is stronger when communication is two-way, and takes place for members as well as with them. More info at poauk.org.uk

It is now two years since a major change to the regime of health and safety inspections in HMPPS. A key element of the new approach has been the employer and union working in partnership. But what does this mean in practice, and what difference does it make? Can a new way of working lead to lasting cultural change on health and safety? NEC members Jackie Marshall, Phil Hannant and Roger Moran share their experiences with HMPPS’s Jason Morley. Visit poauk.org.uk for more on this and all POA campaigns.

The annual Valley Parade Memorial football tournamentcommemorates the fire at Bradford City FC in 1985 which cost 56 lives. The POA is at the heart of maintaining thetournament and was instrumental in it’s creation. Former National Chair John Boddington and NEC member Jackie Marshall discuss the importance of the event, and we also hear from a local government officer, tournament referee and a local “soccer mum” on why the tournament, and the POA’s support for it, is just so important. More details at poauk.org.uk

Ask The Chair is the opportunity for POA members to put their questions directly to POA National Chair Mark Fairhurst. No question is off limits and the first Mark knows about it is when the question is read out on the show. This time round we have questions - and forthright answers – on the 68 is too late campaign, OSG overtime (spoiler alert – you are entitled to overtime, and not obliged to take TOIL), the joys and challenges of POA conference and as always, a pointed question on the fate of Mark’s beloved Everton FC. More info as always at poauk.org.uk. Email your questions to askthechair@poauk.org.uk , and don’t forget to include your name and establishment.

The issue of Separation Centres was thrown into sharp focusfollowing the horrendous assault on three prison officers at HMP Frankland last year. The government commissioned the Hall report as a result and it’s 13 recommendations were published toward the end of 2025. In this episode we catch upwith NEC Vice-Chair Dave Todd and NEC member Phil Hannant to discuss what improvements we can expect to see – and what further changes are necessary but more challenging. More information at poauk.org.uk

The union’s campaign for the right of members in England,Wales and Northern Ireland to be able to take industrial action has received a boost from the influential European Committee of Social Rights. The Committee has said that the continuingprobation on the union is inconsistent with Europe-wide standards of human rights. National Chair Mark Fairhurstand General Secretary Steve Gillan place this development in the context of the union’s work and the case it is taking to the European Court of Human Rights – and set out the key role POA members and officials can play in sustaining thecampaign. More information at poauk.org.uk

The Branch Officials' training course is a vital tool in the training and development of the union's representatives. But what does the course cover? What do students get out of it? Is it as good as everyone says it is, and what makes it that way? We get views from four of the reps on last month's course, plus Assistant General Secretary Andy Baxter. Between them, they will answer all these questions and plenty more besides! More info at poauk.org.uk

In the new Ask The Chair, Mark Fairhurst answersquestions from members on body scanners and women prisoners, Payment Plus, the recent exemption secured for overseas-born prison officers, the absence ofinterviews in Band 3 recruitment, just how independent is the Prison Service Pay Review body and what was the best-ever Everton team. Forthright and to-the-point, no subject isoff-limits. Ask your question at askthechair@poauk.org.uk More info at poauk.org.uk .

Engaging younger members in the union and keeping themactive is an essential part of the POA’s strategy, and the Young Members Consultative Committee is a key body for delivering that objective. In this episode, Jordan, Lewis and Tyler, threemembers of the Committee join Deputy General Secretary Mick Pimblett to share their hopes and experiences and explain why young members are very much the present as well as the future of the POA. More info at poauk.org.uk

The Women’s networking event is now a firm fixture in the POA calendar, but what goes into making the event so popular and successful? NEC member Jackie Marshall gives us the inside track on last November’s gathering, and Dawn Orchard explains why HMPPS employee relations are supportive of the initiative. We also get views from two first-time attendees, Patience and Rhonda. If you’re curious but uncertain whether or not to get involved, everyone has encouraging and supportive words for you! For details of all POA activity, visit poauk.org.uk

National Chair Mark Fairhurst discusses the results of the2025 POA members’ survey, highlighting the mismatch between what respondents are saying to the union, and the picture painted by the MoJ’s own survey work. He also sets out why maximum involvement by members is so important in making sure the employer has a clear view direct from front line. More information at poauk.org.uk

Ask The Chair gives POA members and reps the chance to ask National Chair Mark Fairhurst……anything! (and he doesn’t see the questions before-hand). In this episode, questions come from Preston to London, and covers subjectslike emergency response teams in the high security estate, the challenge of Iron Man competitions and whether Everton can get the better of Liverpool in. this season’s Premier League. Got a question? Email askthechair@poauk.org.uk . Visit poauk.org.uk for more info.

The Tolpuddle Martyrs festival takes palce each July and isa form fixture in the POA calendar. In this episode we hear about the origins of the festival, why it lies close to the heart of the union, and how the union’s involvement has changed and grown over the years. We also hear from Tyler and Mark, two lay POA reps, on their impressions of the festival. It’s fair to say that it’s not at all what they expected. More details on the Festival at their website and of course from poauk.org.uk

The union’s long-running campaign to lower the retirementage for operational grades gets a new boost today (Wednesday). Following the recent members’ survey, to which there was over 3,000 responses, there is now a new chance to put the views of POA members directly to government. Click on the QR code in the members’ communication issued today to access automatically generated emails for you to send to the key government offices. GS Steve Gillan and AGS Andy Baxter explain what is happening and why – and why the union will simply not let this issue go. More info at poauk.org.uk