Thursday 8 August 2013

Things Turn Ugly

As all families are only too well aware, it's at times of stress that people are likely to show their true colours. I tend to think of Probation as a family and we're in the middle of a fight for our very survival. In a situation like this, we're likely to see the best and worst in people. Old animosities and prejudices will surface, scapegoats sought and blame apportioned. There will be pain and anguish as some normally rational and professional colleagues try and gain advantage or curry favour. It's not going to be pretty or for the feint-hearted. There will be tears before bedtime.

It strikes me that this blog has come to occupy quite a strange position in the scheme of things. Whilst officially it remains unacknowledged, readership is steadily increasing and any google search on the subject of probation encouragingly gives the blog a high ranking. I don't seek to be controversial for it's own sake, but rather share what I think is relevant information, with a personal view thrown in. It seems to fill a gap, both judging by the hit counter and contributions from readers, but there are signs that cages are being rattled in certain quarters and it would appear that several Trusts have now blocked access to the site. This is regrettable and somewhat petty, but sadly I think gives an indication of what is bubbling away under the surface.

I've never understood how a union can have within its membership both the rank and file and senior management. Old mining colleagues used to laugh themselves silly at the mere thought of an NUM meeting having pit management in the same room, let alone the same union. It's utterly absurd and surreal to be sat in a Napo branch meeting, as I did once, to discuss the subject of impossibly high caseloads and management bullying, only to find the ACO sat in one corner! Of course it spoke volumes about the social ineptitude of the individual concerned that they felt it appropriate to turn up, but the nettle really should have been grasped many years ago. 

I've long been aware that for the rampantly ambitious, active union involvement has never seemed to hinder advancement. In fact the cynical might be tempted to say it considerably assists the process, again causing much amusement amongst former mining colleagues. There was a period when virtually the entire branch executive at my Trust were managers and the Napo Health and Safety rep was my SPO during a dispute over caseloads at my office! In many ways an utterly bizarre union, having to cope with the schizophrenic consequences that flow from also being a professional association. 

Meanwhile Napo's General Secretary Ian Lawrence continues to skirt around the recent ballot turnout issue:-

"All things considered the turnout was very healthy, and the fact that traditionally not all members choose to take part in any kind of ballot, or prefer to follow the majority verdict, are also an important factor in the total return. But in case you were wondering the response was a good deal higher in percentage terms than most of the inept Politicians who rule over us manage to achieve in their elections."  

What the hell does that mean? I can't help thinking that this year's AGM is going to be very uncomfortable indeed. 

Anyway, news reaches me concerning other Trusts and their efforts at match-making. In one instance, apparently no union representatives were invited to a key meeting between Chiefs and a possible suitor, but as is the way of these things, some of what was said has leaked out and it doesn't make pleasant reading. It is said that at this meeting an ACO described PO's as:-

"too rule bound, slaves to a tick box culture, unable to innovate, were dinosaurs, lacked vision, were too expensive and that any future plans must consider reducing pay and even abandoning the PO title as qualified staff will not be required in the new world."

Apparently some people at the meeting were:- 

"very unhappy at the rudeness of Trust ACO's and CO's, and very unhappy about how they rubbished what we do" and "Trust managers were desperate to give an impression that they bought into the new world order to try and guarantee their place in it."   

24 comments:

  1. I have long shared the sentiments underpinning your remarks on Napo – it being the broad church and able to represent management and maingrade, which is like chasing two hares at once. I was also bemused by the mental gymnastics on the subject of turnout. So patronising and elitist. Napo complains about lack of transparency from others but operates like a secret society. I can't be bothered to deconstruct his 'All things considered...' reasoning but in applying his spin he forget to note that when it actually comes to industrial actions Napo members have have a habit of crossing picket lines and that risk is enhanced by a low turnout. Personally I think the Napo salaried staff are more preoccupied with securing their own futures and thus their priority is membership levels, not who employs the membership.

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    1. netnipper,

      It's chicken and egg - officers reflecting the membership, or membership reflections on the officers lead? Maybe we both get what we deserve?

      Cheers,

      Jim

      Delete
  2. Blog blocking? It's very obvious that there is many more agendas at play then just save the service. Trying to restrict access to information, free speach and social comment, is just part of the process of keeping people confused, frightened and unaware until the switch is ready to be flicked for the final solution.
    I feel that those ready to embrace TR are very misled indeed. They're the pawns in a much larger political game. I mean in yesterdays news alone Serco are making most of their Gurkha employees redundant, and ambulance workers in cambridgeshire are living in tents! Whoever embraced the concept of privatisation for these people really did them a favour and enhanced their lives.
    And what about all this tagging crap with G4S? Withdrawing from the contract? It's not just G4S workers that won't have a job, it's all the others who have subcontracting deals with G4S that are likely to be using the food bank in the near future.
    I read a lot of other blogs. Some get a mention on this site and others like Red pepper blog, and the new 'We own it organisation' don't. What is very apparent when you do read these sites is just how low profile the save probation issue is. Firemen, postal workers, bin men and even libraries have pushed themselves out there and have created far more public awareness then probation workers have. I guess perhaps that may be because they don't have management attend their meetings or influencing their decision making.
    The profile for Save Probation needs to be raised dramatically and very quickly in my opinion, and I personally don't feel the union are focused enough on this.
    Remember too, free speech and social comment have not yet been privatised. Keep tapping those keys, and two fingers to the thought police!

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    1. Funnily enough 'We Own It' did get a mention the other day on 'Got To Be Another Way' and I'll have a look at 'Red Pepper'.

      Thanks,

      Jim

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    2. Sorry Jim, just put it down to age please.

      Delete
  3. Ian Lawrence is of course an employee.

    If Full Napo members require him to always announce voting statistics they can require it, if necessary via a motion to their branch meeting for the national executive committee.

    I agree there can be discomfort about having members who are assistant chiefs, I recall some of those being Napo's best advocates, and particularly recall David Mathieson, but that was way back probably before Napo became a TUC member. Mathieson was not the last, there was at least one ACPO member of Greater London Branch about ten or so years ago who seemed to be good for the ordinary members - of course then we were in the 'new Labour' phase of trades unionism.(I have never been an advocate of the Labour Party - and in no way since Boateng's speech at a Napo AGM about Harry Fletcher being a dinosaur!)

    I suspect that Jim is old enough to remember back when Napo, after contentious debate, agreed to seek membership of the Trades Union Congress. Probably up till then the interests of senior managers were often the same as probation officer members, at that time there were few ancillary officer, now probation service officer members.

    No doubt ahead will be a need to review who is and is not eligible for full membership. Retired staff can now opt for a different sort of membership other than associate, which is my category - and so without a vote - I don't remember the precise alternative, but it did not seem to be of much benefit when it was offered to me.

    I realise I am already in danger of having Jim delete these remarks, so I will not say anymore and hope what I have written is thought to advance consideration of the issues rather than stifle debate.

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    1. No danger of deleting discussion and debate Andrew!

      Thanks,

      Jim

      Delete
    2. Maybe unions just like charities, have blurred the edges a little too much and have lost sight of their fundamental underpinnings?

      Delete
  4. Netnipper: I really thinks it sad that in order to get turnout statistics it may require a motion at a meeting. This is protocol that would be worthy of a Kremlin or some other self-serving bureaucracy. I don't think it's about first causes as regards chickens and eggs. I think Napo should focus on the truth. If it's a derisory turnout, say so and advise the membership that their wish to oppose TR is considerably – fatally – weakened by wafer-thin support. If some wish to be their own worst enemy, than let that particular truth ring out, as then they will only have themselves to blame

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  5. So true netnipper....and given the timescales for implementation of TR, true colours are now emerging. I have been driven to distraction in recent months, as middle mangers appear to be making a song and dance about things they generally would not bother themselves with...a lot of hot air being blown, with emails - with even higher managers copied in - where relatively unimportant and non issues are exposed as if massive wrongs; so that they can advertise the fact that their professional standards have not been found wanting. Oh and there are those, SPO's suddenly asking to do flat rate PSR's - and bothering the rest of us, about how to go about it and what things mean - doing so on the false premise that they are lifting the load, they are actually increasing their skill base for what happens next and earning double pay - as some are absent from their paid job, in order to do their flat rate report..................no integrity, no dignity, no common sense.

    On the point of SPO/ACO's being Napo members, as I recall when they seemed to be an influx of them, (late 80's) they nearly always represented what I would have considered, a good manager, knowledgeable, experienced, supportive and had my back...unlike those I refer to above - who couldn't mind their own business, let alone someone else's back.

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  6. Well said netnipper. If people subscribe to a union to represent their interests, then they have a right to be keept in the loop about everything that goes on.
    It should be a union obligation to inform it's membership of statistics that relate to ballots and turnouts. It's not for the membership to have to prise that information out by way of a motion.
    Information is scarce enough as it is, you would think that those representing your interests would provide you with what little bits they were able to provide.

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  7. Anonymous wrote on 8 August 2013 at 15:26

    "It's not for the membership to have to prise that information out"

    Of course Napo members should not have to prise information from staff and officers but if simply asking does not get the information, Napo does have a process to clarify what the policy will be in future. It is better just to use the process to show those with the current responsibility for steering the ship, that the crew and owners are concerned and believe they are entitled to influence the direction being navigated.

    It seems that things went very wrong with Napo centrally over more than a year or perhaps even two or three. We still do not know the outcome of an Industrial Tribunal.

    Napo did not just lose one general secretary but also an assistant general secretary in addition to Harry Fletcher who retired. So far I have not seen the information, with personal details minimised(I think I have worked out the basis of the conflicts), that I feel I need to have to understand the decisions that were taken on behalf of members. However as an associate member I am not in a position to demand the information whereas collectively full members are. I realise there are probably legal restrictions about what can be reported - in which case - I would have hoped the officers would have instructed our (Napo's) lawyers to compile a statement for full members and perhaps a separate one for the press and public.

    Maybe those full members have heard all they need and are keeping it from the rest of us? I am not sure but am sufficiently concerned and interested to consider turning up at Llandudno in October and trying to find out more about what has been going on.

    Clearly, it is not the paid staff that are responsible for the release of information, but the officers and collectively the members of the national executive committee.

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    1. Time is becoming very short and far too short to have to go through red tape to obtain information that in my opinion should, as a matter of course be presented to the membership.
      After all as someone pointed out awhile ago on this blog, NAPO is it's membership not the executive.
      We all want transparancy.

      Delete
  8. The ACO who made the remarks about being ' too rule bound' and slaves to a tick box culture needs to be named and thoroughly shamed; that is a disgraceful slur on his colleagues who have worked hard to provide him/her with the lifestyle that accompanies the salary.......disgraceful

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  9. The following is a comment left today anonymously on another post 'Attention all PO's and PSO's' and seems particularly relevant, so I've posted a copy here:-

    NAPO has always had a too cosy relationship with employers seeing itself as a 'professional' body rather than a grass routes trade union. I have sat in meetings with member ACOs present which has stifled workload debates, staff fearing repercussion.
    NAPOs response to this whole rehab rev farce has been one of roll over and let it happen or 'write to your (Tory) MP' . I have learnt far more from this blog than at any staff briefing (sic) or NAPO email. Why don't NAPO in cosy Horesferryville, circulate details of this blog?
    Senior managers have also been told not to criticise Grayling and staff have also been warned about entering the debate on social media sites etc. Sue Hall CEO did at least go on local TV to criticise the changes unlike any other chief.

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  10. I'm saddened that at this most critical time, even in the face of destruction of the profession, that it looks like the indicative ballot turnout may have been poor. It's beyond belief really.

    It continues to feel like a huge number of staff currently just don't understand or care enough to stand up and be counted and it does make me wonder why they came into this job in the first place when they clearly care so little about the probation tradition.

    In our office there seems to be a general apathy and resignation to simply try to ride out the changes that are coming. Workload demands from SPOs seem to increase without any complaint from staff, who seem scared to even have a voice in case they are seen rock the boat and somehow impair their chances of surviving the coming storm (whilst the same SPOs breeze out the door saying "don't work too late" without any sense of irony).

    As another contributor noted, if NAPO lack the evidence of member support then they should accept this as fact and those same members should repent at their leisure.

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    1. Like you, I do wonder what it will take to shake people out of apathy and resignation. All ideas welcome.

      Cheers,

      Jim

      Delete
  11. Wheather it's NAPO, the governmet, apathetic staff, Serco or G4S, we're all in a shite place right now. At least this blog gives me the oppertunity to air my views (and frustrations), and for that I'm grateful. And to those that take the time to comment, to agree or disagree, keep it up eh?

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    1. Thanks for that - much appreciated!

      Cheers,

      Jim

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  12. I speak to colleagues in different Trusts on a regular basis, and it's clear that the atmosphere in offices up and down the country is getting ever more poisonous - I suspect the comments in the main post above are but one example, and reflective of the thinking in many more than just one senior management team.

    Last week there was a 'live chat' on the Guardian website about how to bring the public and private sectors together to get the best out of both. Being more than fully-occupied at the time (two hours on a Friday lunchtime! Even taking 30 minutes is a struggle these days) I didn't read it live but a round-up of the comments was posted a few days later (http://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2013/jul/30/public-private-sector-outsourcing-partnership). One member of the 'expert panel' had this to say: "Public sector staff are easier to motivate: The activities in a public sector organisation are all directed ultimately towards making society better; in a private sector organisation ultimately towards making profit. The task of motivating people within such an environment - even at middle/low levels - should be approached differently to reflect this. Ironically, in this area, public sector managers have an advantage which they must exploit."

    I think we can all agree with that summary. But at the moment it seems to me that the precise opposite is happening. Senior managers in all trusts would do well to remember that, whatever ends up happening with TR (and I'm one of those who still thinks it can be resisted) they will have an angry and severely disillusioned workforce on their hands. The service has run for many years on the goodwill of staff, putting in many hours of extra work and going far beyond job descriptions to help people, and covering the true impact of ever-dwindling budgets. I simply cannot see this continuing for much longer, whether Grayling gets his way or not.

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    1. Tim,

      Thanks for that - very interesting indeed - I'd like to quote this in a future post.

      Cheers,

      Jim

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    2. By all means, Jim - it didn't take me more than one or two PSRs being 'interpreted' by solicitors to realise that you shouldn't write something down if you don't want it quoted!

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  13. Have you seen this? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23592852 This is what you get when public sector work is undertaken by private sector companies who don't give a stuff about their staff.

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