The POA

18/08/2026

POA General Secretary and TUC President, Steve Gillan, addresses the 2026 Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival

18/08/2026

Another private prison fiasco - across the prison estate prisoners are being released early due to a lack of capacity meawhile cells lie empty at this private prison because they can't recruit staff.

17/08/2026

National Chair Mark Fairhurst discusses the early release scheme.

12/08/2026

Understaffed, Overcrowded, Under Pressure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7RLR36wxeQ

The POA recently joined the Hope in Hell podcast for the first part of a three-part conversation exploring the pressures facing today’s prison system from both the frontline and lived-experience perspectives.

POA National Executive Committee members Phil and Dave discuss the impact of understaffing, overcrowding, reduced regimes, recruitment and retention challenges, and the loss of experienced officers, alongside Gary and Rodney’s reflections on how these pressures affect prisoners, rehabilitation and safety across the estate. It is a wide-ranging and candid discussion about the realities facing both staff and prisoners, and the importance of properly resourcing the service if prisons are to operate safely and effectively.

12/08/2026

Listen now to episode 87 of the POA Podcast - GFTU and training for POA reps

In this episode we look at the training provided by the POA for local representatives. Much of this is delivered in partnership with the GFTU – the General Federation of Trade Unions. 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 (https://poauk.org.uk/) and GFTU (http://www.gftu.org.uk/) websites.

06/08/2026

The POA @ 'The Big Meeting' - Durham Miners' Gala 2026

05/08/2026

A worker's right to withdraw their labour is a fundamental human right recognised by the International Labour Organisation, an agency of the United Nations. This MP does not support the
call to reinstate the Right to Strike for all the UK's Prison Officers.

03/08/2026

31/07/2026

POA Podcast episode 86 - POA Members' survey 2026

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