Prison education marketisation discussed at UCU Congress

In the picture from left to right; Brian Hamilton, outgoing UCU NEC prison education rep; Pauline Rattery, UCU Novus committee member, Jane Inskip, vice chair, UCU Novus; Sharon Norey, incoming UCU NEC prison education rep

UCU prison educators held a fringe meeting at the recent UCU annual congress that attracted delegates from across the union. The fringe was organised around the theme of marketisation in prison education and how UCU was fighting back in the four prison education providers, getting more organised and winning for members.

The session opened with an overview of UCU strategy in prison education from Paul Bridge, UCU head of further education. Paul discussed the need for a national contract, effective parliamentary lobbying and achieving a safer working environment.

Brian Hamilton and Jane Inskip then gave an overview of how the changes to the current way in which education is provided - through the PEF (Prison Education Framework) and the future PES (Prison Education Service) contracts - were enabling UCU Novus to build effective campaigns around health & safety and pay, and to win statutory ballots that shift the employer to make improved offers.

The final session by Ronnie Kershaw, UCU national organiser, focused on how to build effective branch organisation and recruitment and then apply leverage and get better deals for members in prison education.

There was lots of positive feedback and a commitment from the delegates to highlight the excellent work of our prison education members within other parts of UCU.

To find out more about UCU in prison education visit UCU's prison education staff on this UCU website.