The following is taken from the Napo Forum website in relation to former Assistant General Secretary Harry Fletcher and how much he was being paid to temporarily fill the obvious vacuum created by his departure:-
I have been disappointed by some of the employment practices that have brought NAPO into disrepute, the very Union that trained me to represent vulnerable members. The vacuum of 'no voice' from the Press Office has allowed TR to trundle through at a rate of knots, with only 20 days to go until Probation officially splits! Where is the accountability? Sadly these practices have been a distraction at a critical time and it us our members that will be paying the price with their careers particularly after share sale.From my limited perspective Harry Fletcher is the only voice that has any influence in political spheres, I recall whenever there was a view to be heard on the criminal justice system Harry's view could be heard on TV or Radio, since NAPO manoeuvred Harry out, the vacuum was created, now there is discontent about how much it costs for Harry's involvement? This is a price worth paying as the current Press Office(r) is doing little to influence both media and political spheres, despite scouring the media daily I see no evidence of any influence! Napo's ship is so far adrift if calling in someone who understands the business, has the contacts, whatever it takes is fine by me!
Regular readers will be aware that I recently discussed Harry's 50 point 'Action Plan' and the NEC discussion as to extending his contract until October. Harry has consistently delivered for Napo in the fight against TR and only at the weekend was quoted in the Observer in relation to the absconding prisoner Michael Wheatley:-
"Open jails are needed to help rehabilitation," said Harry Fletcher, an adviser to the probation union Napo. "However, prisoners should only be allocated following a full risk assessment. In this case staff seem to have been worried about further offending and absconding. There is a history of running away while on day release. The issue is a failure of government to provide enough secure places and pressure on staff to move prisoners through the system."
Members might like to consider whether Harry's success has proved a little too much for the present General Secretary and as a result could have possibly led to the extraordinary decision to cease with his services forthwith. I understand the decision was not put to a vote by the NEC and one has to ask exactly who has their hand on the tiller as the good ship Napo heads for the rocks? I think members deserve an explanation from the Chair, Tom Rendon.
Thank you so much Napo, this is the best you can do? I have been so underwhelmed by your national campaign but this is the last straw. You couldn't organise a piss up in brewery.......A Geordie PO
ReplyDeleteIt is deeply regretful that NAPO as professional association & trade union put all its eggs in one basket with Harry Fletcher. In all the years Harry has worked for NAPO did anyone not think of allowing time for someone to shadow him so that the contacts, knowledge, experience and know how could be passed on. Instead we have a peculiar situation were he walks away from NAPO, we recruit him back as an advisor, to advise us on, what is in effect, NAPO’s information, which he gathered in role as a NAPO representative. I find that very bizarre and very short sighted for a union.
ReplyDeleteI think the top flight of our union may have a different agenda then the rest of us.
Delete'You go on strike whilst I apply for CRC".
To many open goals missed with no shout.
We're doing this but can't disclose it yet.
This may not meet with a good response, but what exactly has been agreed in my name?
I really feel sold out.
To Anon 21.08 part of the reason HF wss retained as an advisor after retiring last year was to assist TB (introduce to contacts etc)in early stage of getting into role I understood from NEC feedback.
DeleteAmateur doesn't begin to cover it....
ReplyDeleteSorry, I don't understand... is Harry Fletcher still working with NAPO or not? If he is then, in my opinion, good. Whatever the circumstances of him leaving when he did, he is a credible voice when we desperately need one and for the first time in months I have seen reference to NAPO because of him which given everything that is happening is a disgrace. If his services have been dispensed with over or since the weekend then... what the hell is going on at Chivalry Road?
ReplyDeleteWhere I live, for the price of my subs I can get six bottles of Echo Falls wine. At the moment I feel that is where my money is better spent.
ReplyDeleteBut would not do you much good in terms of securing a local rep should you ever get caught up in capability/sickness etc proceedings!
DeleteReps will be a thing if the past soon, and employment law will be whatever the private company dictates it to be.
DeleteGet your echo falls. It's the best deal at the moment.
We are where we are now and it is regrettable and as has been said it was a case of let harry get on with it and leave him to it. No use in regret as there is no time and whats the point of that? Napo spent money on a press officer an on Harry when they could of had one decent well trained Press officer/Campaign bod who could have had lunch with him and picked his brain. Napo needs modernising and that means a lot of renewal which means a lot of people who have been around a while making room for others - it wont happen because individual needs are put before the unions. Napo is stuck in 1983. Unfortunately there is noone to do it that want to do it and members put a lot of faith in an inexperienced chair who really blew it and is a spent force and a dead duck who wont resign and wont be reelected by a diillusioned membership. I dont think any stepping up to the mark will take place as there seems to be nothing new and its same old same old. Harry was good but he is probably not what Napo needs and would be better working in Parliament helping. I dont think it is the general secretary fault because he needs to renew his team and chop out the dead wood and remove any dead ducks as well.
ReplyDeleteThe GS doesnt appoint National Officers-members vote them in and National Officials are appointed by panel made up of appointed NEC reps (whom members vote in from their respective branches)and some National Officers.
DeleteIs the GS responsible for asking National Officers to improve / holding them to account if they are not doing well enough?
DeleteReply to anon 23.13 no National Officials (who are paid Napo employees)are line mansged by GS.The Officers are seconded Probation staff and are managed by thr Chair. All the employees are accountable to members via the Officrrs Group and NEC.If membrrs have evidence of concrrning behsviour on patt of employees/Officers they should bring it to attention of thr Chair & not engage in innuendo which is no help to anyone imo
DeleteA good PR company would knock this into shape in a week, so why hasn't it happened, ideological concerns!!
ReplyDeleteThe press officer was not a press officer she is a probation officer. I don't recall having any media training when I trained to be a p o. Why didn't they recruit a media person? I asked someone in the know last week. Answer - it was all about friends giving jobs to friends. Nothing to do with experience, knowledge or what's good for us. Total joke.
DeleteMaybe it hasn't happened because people are being a bit too precious at Chivalry Road and thinking about themselves rather than what is best for the service.
DeleteTo Anon 22.24 I font know who friend in the know is but Officisls are appointed by a panel who all have a free vote.Check with your NEC rep if you dont believe me. Each yr the NEC vote for fellow members to form an Employers panel in case of situations like selecting new staff.Its highly unlikrly one candidate would be "friends" with everyone on a panel and obviously unprofessional.
DeleteAgain I have to ask, has NAPOs top table been complicit in TR? How have we got to such a sorry position with no coherent view, stance or argument? Academia condemns TR, the profession condemns TR - its only interested parties who have voted it through (actively or otherwise). So what, if any, interest did former GS Benny Hill have? What interest, if any, does the current GS have? Why have NAPO been so silent and ineffective? Or is it simply they've been thoroughly outplayed by the moj? Ole?!?
ReplyDeleteInteresting phrase just used on news which might apply to napo - "learned helplessness"
ReplyDeleteI've been reading through old blogs, as you do. Does anyone remember this from a few months ago?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous8 February 2014 14:52
My own personal opinion is that if the General Secretary or any other staff at NAPO HQ having affairs with each other, then they should resign from their position.
I’m not being prudish, it’s just that how do we (the people who pay their wages) know that any professional incompetence is not being overlooked? I'm not suggesting this was the case, just hypothesising
I would hate to think that someone who wanted to stand for a job at NAPO HQ felt they couldn’t because the other person listed was seeing the GS. Or if one of the individuals having an affair was so piss poor at their role, but was not being asked to step up their performance due to their ability between the sheets.
I know that the very nature of affairs make them clandestine, however people know and tongues do talk.
Anonymous8 February 2014 22:15
Sounds like you know something. Maybe the same thing that lots of us know? ....and why we wonder if our leadership have their eyes distracted on other 'things'. We know there are people on the NAPO payroll who are not performing, at least not in their jobs.
Jim Brown9 February 2014 09:53
Maybe it's the same I was told some time ago?
essexandrew9 February 2014 10:16
'The same' - what - is there still more scandal to be revealed - lets have it ALL out now... '
This reads as highly unpleasant gossip and am surprised & disappointed JB keeps such entries on the blog.If people hsve real concerns they should pass them on (maybe via Branch Chair and NEC rep?).It's a sad and seedy post and unhelpful "contribution" when we have real concrete problems to deal with at present.
DeleteIs Harry no longer advising NAPO then? I thought they were looking to extend his contract? What's happened?
ReplyDeleteJim you have not made it explicit - please either remove this post or say precisely what you know - thank you.
ReplyDeleteHarry Fletcher made the decision to walk away from Napo when we needed him most. His choice! We need to stick together and stop looking for a scapegoat.
ReplyDeleteI'm not interested in whose shagging who that's there choice they are all adults. Let's stop this bollocks and start focussing on preventing the split. No one is blameless.
ReplyDeleteIf something has impacted / is impacting on the campaign then it is important. If not then it isn't. Without the appropriate transparency or an internal investigation who can truly say.
DeleteRubbish, it's just gossip and conjecture. Do people who post on this blog really think that this stuff doesn't happen in every union? Of course it does . The reason it's being aired so much is that we have never been in such a fight before and neither has our union. For the record Harry isn't a saint either! Can we just pull together and stop airing our dirty laundry in public....it's pointless. Our members voted for each and everyone of our officials let's move forward and concentrate on winning the war!
DeleteOK. I suggest we move forward by either re-employing Harry or by employing a professional PR person to help us out. Preferably both.
DeleteI also suggest that any major decision to do with our campaign is run by the NEC first.
And I suggest Napo start asking each Trust for evidence that the data used for staff split was accurate - before Trusts no longer exist, and evidence is 'lost'. It will be interesting what they find.
I suggest that we focus on loss of professionalism for POs allocated to CRCs and on the increased responsibilities expected from PSOs.
For the future I suggest we look closely at what MOJ plan to do with NPS staff.
I think the way this (possibly necessarily) has been written leaves scope for speculation and increased uncertainty - there have been comments that imply different scenarios - I think it best if all speculation is withheld right now and we await definite information.
ReplyDeleteI had a contract for 6 months that has not been renewed.The last 6 months have been frustrating.I devised a number of ways forward by and large they were not acted upon which is napos right.Napo is at a crisis point and the strategy of waiting or hoping that something will turn up will not work.I did not want a new contract unless there was support and real fight and action so i have moved on into other areas.Good luck to the rank and file it is you who must fight until the service is sold off! Harry Fletcher
DeleteMr Brown - an oblique blog today. I'm not sure I understand the point and feel I've missed something. Am I being stoopid?
ReplyDeleteIf I was Harry Fletcher; I'd tell NAPO to fuck off too.
DeleteYou've done nothing to raise to profile of probation privatisation, even when you can't miss the open goal.
just what is it you've agreed to?
Is the probstion institute and Graylings promises worth your integrity?
Only you know, but the rest of us will find out.
I'm really sorry if some people feel my wording is oblique - but let me spell it out. Harry's services have been dispensed with. Harry is no longer an advisor to Napo. Harry has been sacked.
DeleteIf I hadn't left NAPO already due to being let down I would be even more furious than I am now - if at all possible. Grayling has totally vandalised a system that worked. Now all I see are rows of empty new desks and piles of files on the floor needing attention. Managers absent. People off sick. colleagues under unrealistic pressure and it's all yet to go even further downhill on 1 June. Risky business, literally. The public has been conned. NAPO has been weak. Unbelievable.
DeleteWorrying about Harry at 02.03 Jim? Seems to be nostalgia week, The 'old days', Harry, NAPO history. You seem to be voicing all the concerns that we shall having a heated debate about today in our OMU. Or rather not. As the ship goes down the orchestra plays
DeleteAnon at 06:47 - Well spotted - I'm actually in the middle of the North Altlantic heading for New York and at 05:00 local time passed the point many miles to the north where RMS Titanic lays at rest. The maritime metaphors are therefore very difficult to resist indeed.
DeleteAnon 06:47... but Harry was back as an advisor and for the first time in months we were seeking Napo being quoted in the press. If that was the effect that Harry had in a relatively short time why sack him now and at a time when critical questions are being asked of wider CJS "reforms". Napo desperately needed and needs a voice. Harry was that voice and became it again when no one else seemed to be able to penetrate the national press. I am gobsmacked on this one.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. The decision smacks of feathers being ruffled rather than an objective take on the situation.
DeleteI'm pulling out of my grievance I was to go before a panel of worthies to help slow this train wreck but why should I bother when those at the top are so piss poor. However I have to say they our local reps have been fantastic but like me they have sold out by those at the top. It's time for a coup because as I have said many times before the. fight has a long way to go.
ReplyDeleteCant we start a new democratic union led from the bottom up, perhaps organise it on the net, this blog could be used to discuss exactly how we do it.
papa
Papa this would not be a logical or fair decision for yourself surely to pull out of your grievance?.If an issue has grieved you it has grieved you regardless of what somebody else may or may not have done. Please have a further thought to pay justice to your own initial concerns that gave rise to yr grievance. From what I recall Harry offered his services after retirement for a time limited period .That presumably has come to an end so at most it could be said a contract has not been renewed not that he has been "sacked"
DeleteNapo is dead. I'll be resigning today, looking for alternative interim arrangement and hoping papa's idea seized upon.
ReplyDeletePlease rethink this! If you join Unison you would not be entitled to representation for 3 mths.Whatever yr particular concerns are about Napo it would be better playing yr part in resolving them within the organisation-each membrrs voice does count via Branch meetings/NEC and AGM if people attend and articulate their concrrns. Othrr Unions whilst bigger (eg Unison and PCS)do not afford individual membrrs such significance.
DeleteTotally agree, we are where we are and need to protect our interests !!!!
DeleteOn a brighter note, heres one in the eye for Grayling.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ibtimes.co.uk/operation-cotton-chris-grayling-not-allowed-present-valuable-material-fca-appeal-1448474
British judges said Justice Secretary Chris Grayling is not allowed to intervene in an appeal against the decision to throw out the Operation Cotton trial after it was claimed that the government's legal aid cuts meant there could not be a fair trial.
DeleteThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was pursuing a fraud case against five men it accused of operating a land banking scam following an investigation dubbed Operation Cotton.
But Judge Anthony Leonard QC said their trial could not continue because he accepted the argument of Alexander Cameron QC, who was representing the accused, that the men were unable to find sufficient defence barristers because of the cuts to legal aid.
The FCA is challenging the decision to scrap the trial in the Court of Appeal.
Grayling had approached the court to offer "valuable material" that may help the FCA's appeal case.
He and the Ministry of Justice fear the consequence of Judge Leonard's decision because it could lead to many other big cases, where the legal costs are high, being stopped on the same basis.
However, Reuters reported that the appeal judges said they could only look at material provided in the original case and would not accept new evidence from Grayling. They added that their decision is imminent.
In February, justice secretary Chris Grayling unveiled a £220m cut in the government's yearly legal aid budget by 2018/19.
Fees in complex and high-cost cases will be slashed by 30% and in other crown court work by up to 18%.
This has led to outrage among the legal profession with strikes taking place.
Critics of the cuts say justice is priceless and that people accused of crimes are entitled to quality representation.
Just to say what I know - Harry was told that Tania Bassett can handle all press and parliament, Ian Lawrence thinks there is nothing left to do in parliament after the OR bill has gone through, Ian and Tania are always late to meetings and often leave early, Napo seem to have given up on fighting TR and have put all their eggs in the JR basket, which may not work as Ian doesn't understand the difference between process and policy. Not sure I understand either, but I have heard from a well-placed source that JR is in danger of not working. Money is tight and they think Harry is dispensable.He has also been so much more successful than anyone else he is threatening. All conversation is now about the election and my impression is that Napo, especially Dean, is banking on Labour getting in and the share sale somehow being delayed. Big risks in my view.
ReplyDeleteI am disappointed as I was willing to offer my services for free to help Harry with his Action Plan and could be the person shadowing Harry as was discussed on this blog earlier. The Action Plan won't now be happening and Tania has never been willing to learn about parliament so I'm not sure how that will go.
I have signed the letter objecting to my transfer to the NPS and so will resign on 31 May. I will then not be in Napo. My first real experience of a union has been a disappointment and last night I pondered on all the management and others involved in this debacle who have looked after themselves first and wonder whether some of Napo have also been looking after themselves.
Sorry to sound fed up but I have spent many hours trying to defeat this thing and when I found out Harry was not working anymore, my last ounce of energy left me. If we could get a new General Secretary, Press Officer along with the new Chair in October maybe we could carry on fighting. However, any new Chair would have to deal with Ian who is no fighter as far as I can observe.
Ian will not allow his job to get in the way of his career.
DeleteMy hope is that Dino Peros will stand in the Chair's election, so now is not the time to leave napo. We need to stay and get someone like him, with the bottle to stand up to this government, voted in as our Chair.
DeleteNever, ever whilst I am a member...
DeleteUnless the rules have changed unemployed probation folk can retain full membership of Napo at no cost to themselves - check the constitution, don't take my word for it.
ReplyDeleteIn between General Meetings Napo policy is determined by the NEC, others can only act if matters have been delegated to them. The Officers can only make policy in emergency.
Act in haste and or temper - repent at leisure,
I hope Joanna and others will stay members, if there are lots in a similar position there may need to be a small subscription, but that is for the treasurer to propose in due course.
I don't know whether there will be any sales before the next election, but that does not matter because the split has been achieved and CRCs and the new NPD will stay on parallel lines. And, as we have been informed, the spilt is not being contested in any judicial review. To hear that Napo may be pinning hopes on a new Labour government seems naïve. So, should the timetable be slowed and sales postponed, I think any victory would be pyrrhic.
ReplyDeleteAt some point there will be private sector involvement, whether it's a Tory or Labour government next time. The Labour Party will have no interest in renationalising probation. After all contestibility is their baby! And so is the legislation that permits the split. Grayling is not a mutant.
Governments want to stop being the employer of all probation staff - to reduce costs by outsourcing this payload, as the private sector will do it for lower costs, just as they do in the prison service. And these 'savings' will be achieved by cuts to wages and terms and conditions for employees, excepting those higher up the tree who will be amply rewarded.
Dino Peros for our next chair!!! I wouldn't trust him to sit the right was on the lavatory have you seen him chair a meeting ? Comment to Joanna Hughes when you say Ian an Tania turn up late for meetings what are you implying?
ReplyDeleteWhen I was NEC Rep Harry would swan into meetings and stay just as long as necessary to deliver a verbal update. I always found him arrogant, dismissive of us mere plebs and self serving. He resigned fron napo when we needed him most
ReplyDeleteRegarding the allegations of a relationship afoot in Chivalry Rd ( again)
ReplyDeletehas anyone had any thought for the partner's of these people? This is not the place to raise this.....if there are concerns raise them in your branch ask officials to raise concerns up the line, there is a process for those concerned about the possibility of a repeat of the Ledger situation.
Remember you can not write whatever you want under the guise of anonymity - remember libel laws....
a rep
pls dont talk about libel laws, to censor ppl's voices.
DeleteI didn't make the allegation I was asking Joanna Hughes to elaborate on her observations!
DeleteSo, Harry's gone.....so Tanya Bassett is now going to do the job she is being paid for....so.......???
ReplyDeleteSo............ there is no evidence she is competent to do it.
DeleteAgree with anon 18.50, Dino will bring further issues, can't communicate, can't chair meetings, egotistic and self serving, Also agree with anon 19.01, many years of watching Harry coast in and out of meetings, arrogant and acting like a celeb. He walked away from Napo and took his contacts with him, he let us all down. NEC does hold officers to account, Tanya has a hard act to follow, don't tar them all with same brush, Mike McClleland has excelled in negotitions, it is the likes of Yvonne who will do anything to get out of work. Members vote in the officers, if you think you can do better....
ReplyDeleteOne of the difficulties in deciding whom to vote for is "knowing" the candidates.Those who get around to conferences,deliver rousing speeches and/or who speak to lots of motions etc are "visible" but that behaviour does not equate to ability to manages staff,represent/negotiate and work collectively with members(listening picking up on key issues etc).To get a better handle on a candidate's ability Branch reps need to liaise with eachother as to what is known and invite candidates to branch meetings.It's not easy!
DeleteWith regard to Dino, you took the words out of my mouth!
DeleteWe are in the climate where we need strong leadership; where people are going to stand up against the constant erosion of terms and conditions and public services. Without strong leadership, cuts will be deeper. Anyone who knows Dino will know that he is a strong negotiator and fighter for pay and conditions. That is what's needed at this point in time.
DeleteAnyone who knows Dino knows what a bullshitter and shit stirrer he is. He doesn't want to do his day job! As I said before I wouldn't trust him to sit the right way on the lavatory.
Delete