Earlier this month, the Serco Prisoner Escort and Custodial Contract (PECS) was pleased to host Community General Secretary Roy Rickhuss CBE.
Serco PECS securely transports prisoners and detained personnel between Prisons, Police Stations and Courts, and manages them when in the courts, in the Southern half of England. The CYP team within Serco PECS also supports the welfare of younger people appearing in court. The contract handles over 20,000 people a month across the country, employing around 1800 staff in vehicles and courts. Community is the joint recognised trade union for the contract.
Roy was accompanied by Adrian Axtell, National Officer for the Justice and Custodial Sector, and was hosted by Chris Hodkinson who heads up the operation in Serco as well as PECS team member, Community NEC member and Chair of the Community Justice and Custodial National Committee Nick Hunt.
Chris Hodkinson said:
“We were really pleased that Roy was able to take time out of his busy schedule to come and see us and meet our brilliant staff. Many of our staff are members of Community Union and enjoyed meeting him and listening to what he had to say. We were all most impressed by how much he knew and understood of our staff and our business.”
During his visit, Roy met some of the members in one of the Serco vehicle bases, and took the opportunity to understand how the operation worked along with all the good work the staff do. He also looked round one of the modern Serco prisoner transport vans, as well as visited one of the London courts run by Serco to meet staff representatives.
Roy Rickhuss CBE, General Secretary of the trade union Community, says:
“It was great to meet the team at Serco PECS and hear about the vital work they do keeping the public safe and supporting our judicial system. On my visit I got to go on a tour of one of our courts based in London operated by Serco, learning all about the role our members play in making sure it runs smoothly. I even got to see one of the new prisoner transport vans and spend my first, and hopefully last, time in a cell.
Our justice and custodial workers go above and beyond to keep the public safe. They work late nights, during weekends and over holidays. They truly are our hidden emergency service. Community will continue to campaign for workers across the sector to ensure that their contributions to our society are recognised, their pay is protected and their working conditions are safe.”
If you are a member of Community and need help or advice, please contact us at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.
© Community Trade Union 2024