Tuesday 4 August 2015

Napo Elections 2

I notice that Napo London Branch continue to break new ground by using Facebook in order to publish a short interview with one of the candidates for Napo Vice Chair. The piece by David Raho quickly flushed out another candidate, so in terms of balance, it's to be hoped the third will be forthcoming shortly:-

Former Napo London Branch Officer and Napo National Vice Chair candidate Charron Culnane has been answering questions put to her by members who are unsure whom to vote for in the election of national officers. We decided to interview Charron and asked her the following questions.

Who is the best candidate for National Vice Chair?

We are very fortunate that we have 3 candidates standing for the same posts in each election this time. I think having a choice is excellent for our members and ensures we remain a democratic organisation. You have 3 very different candidates to choose from for the National Vice Chair role. We each have our strengths and I think members have a difficult choice this year which is brilliant.

Why is NAPO important?

Since the split I think we need our Union more than ever. In NPS we are civil servants and cannot be seen to criticise our employers (current government). In CRC's our numbers have been divided between numerous employers and our voices diluted. We can only speak out safely through our Union. As I said in my candidate statement: alone we are one voice in the wilderness and as such we can be picked off one by one. For this reason alone I think everyone should be in a union. I personally think NAPO, being a professional organisation as well as a Trade Union is better placed to represent members. Especially when negotiating about complex practice issues.

I make no secret about being Equality driven. Since the split staff on all sides of the divide have been expected to change roles, offices, work practices etc with little regard for reasonable adjustments, mobility, caring issues or travelling difficulties in general. I want to ensure these discussions are at the top of the agenda before further changes happen. It goes without saying that I will fight redundancies with everything I have but I am a realist. I tend to plan for the worst so in the case of non voluntary redundancies I also want to try to ensure that staff with protected characteristics are not discriminated against by any process imposed. NAPO members are inspirational.

What can members do to help NAPO?

We are the members after all and the person I am aiming to represent are all members. How can I represent you if I don't know what you want me to do? I think communication between members and National NAPO needs to change. The NEC meetings don't cascade enough information back to the branches and the grass roots members and many emails from Chivalry Road just don't get read. I think we don't utilise the NAPO Web Site well enough and we also need to get better at using Social Media to keep the message out there about how dangerous the changes to our service are. I would like to see more joint action throughout the Criminal Justice System and more organising with local branches to empower you in your campaigns at local level. Due to the fact I use a crutch and can't stand up for very long or walk very far you won't find me on many marches but you will find me organising them and enabling other members to join in.


Charron Culnane

--oo000oo--

Thank you very much Charron and best of luck to you and the other candidates. At the end of the day it is for the membership to decide and we would encourage everyone to read the candidates statements and vote according to who you feel will best represent you at national level. 


David A Raho

--oo000oo--

Q. Will you be interviewing the other candidates?

We would love to. As Charron says all the candidates have their strengths. I know Chas Berry is on here so he might choose to answer the same questions as Charron Culnane but there is no obligation. Of course there is no pressure at all to do so as candidates have already made their statements. I don't know about Barry Adams but if anyone on here who knows him would like to extend an invitation then that would be excellent. All Napo members have the election statements and non members can always check them out on Jim Brown's On Probation website.

David A Raho

--oo000oo--

Thanks for the invitation David A Raho. My answer to the same questions are as follows: 


Who is this best candidate for National Vice-Chair? 

The skills required are an ability to work as part of the leadership team while holding the General Secretary and the Officials to account. At the same time it is important to have a clear sense of purpose and direction for the union. I commend the other candidates for entering the contest but I think my extensive experience as a trade unionist and as a campaigning socialist provides me with the qualities that make me the best candidate. 

Why is NAPO important? 

NAPO is unique as both a trade union and a professional association as it defends the values of an integrated probation service. No other union or professional body can claim to do the same. We have a proud record and a bright future if we can rise to the challenge of the twin threat posed by Government cuts in the NPS and the slashing of services in the outsourced CRCs. Members are understandably downcast by the loss of the battle against TR but this mood can quickly turn into its opposite with a bold campaign that links up with our sister unions in the public sector and beyond. The campaign against the Trade Union Reform Bill will be a key battleground for us as we attempt to stop this Government's attempts prevent unions from organising any type of effective action. 

What can members do to help NAPO? 

If you work in the NPS the most important thing you can do right now is sign up to direct debit and encourage your colleagues to do the same. We stand to lose nearly half our income unless the 4,000 or so NPS members make the switch before the end of the year. If you work in the CRCs you can support your colleagues bearing the brunt of the onslaught from some of the private providers; I'm thinking in particular at this stage of the six Sodexo areas where nearly 500 redundancies are threatened but colleagues in RRP and elsewhere are facing similar threats. You can do this by sending a simple message of support to those going through the consultation at the moment, but be prepared to show them more concrete support should they have recourse to take industrial action. This is the true meaning of the word solidarity and it is what will ensure we prevail and emerge from the current crisis as a stronger organisation than ever.

Chas Berry

21 comments:

  1. What a load of crap. Posting questions to candidates so they can write the MODEL answers. Oh very deer. Poor NAPO :(
    why is there even interest in the vice chair? Whoever gets it won't change anything and were still have a very poor GS and toothless NEC. The reality is, NAPO have no place in the CRC cos of the new masters don't won't to negotiate or compromise, what can the union do? Nothing from what I've seen in the sodexo talks...

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    1. your right 1822. So right . London trying to help their candidate in to do what revolutionise napo ? No more of the same trading on a worn out rhetoric.

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    2. These postings were reproduced from the the closed members only Facebook group Probation Against Privatisation and those doing so were posting in good faith to stimulate a bit of debate and interest around the elections. It is not an unusual thing for candidates to be given questions and to prepare answers in order to get to know what the candidates views are. Greater London Branch always endorse their own candidate however I have also seen them talking positively about all the Vice Chair candidates. There are constant calls on here for changes to the top table but when the chance comes then out come all the naysayers and prophets of doom saying nothing can be changed and fail to generate any support except for a handful of like minded individuals who have found a home on this site Anonymous 18:22. As a suggestion try not to stifle discussion from the comfort of your sofa but perhaps try instead to make one or too constructive contributions that don't always include references to the Napo GS and the efforts of others to encourage more participation. How do we build a stronger union that the likes of Sodexo might take more notice of? I would suggest it is not by encouraging internal strife or are you perhaps working for them? Most people who have been around awhile know that things can change gradually (even Mr Brand now accepts that) and using the democratic processes within Napo is a good start. Making the NEC more accountable to their respective branches is always a good thing as it is sometimes easy for them to forget they share responsibility and are accountable to their branch and members. All this personal focus on Ian Lawrence is quite silly and a big red herring as he does his bit and is part of a team that include some very solid individuals who are not afraid to tell him what members think. Now tell me I'm talking a load of crap and dismiss everything I say or try to do out of hand - please do - or is it time for your afternoon nap?.

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    3. "All this personal focus on Ian Lawrence is quite silly and a big red herring as he does his bit and is part of a team that include some very solid individuals who are not afraid to tell him what members think. Now tell me I'm talking a load of crap and dismiss everything I say or try to do out of hand - please do - or is it time for your afternoon nap?"

      Not crap, just completely disagree with you!

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  2. People have ridiculous expectations of trade unions. This is the most hostile environment in which they have ever operated in Probation and in society in general. My CRC has 30 odd members. One office has 4 members. What do you expect with that level of membership? The Sodexo infrastructure is not listening to CRC CEOs. Why would it listen to unions?

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    1. Maybe leadership with something about them would have helped keep membership up? I've never known another outfit like Napo for refusing to acknowledge, let alone do anything about, it's utterly dysfunctional structure and operation. It reminds me of a scene from Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy. A number of key people - hairdressers, telephone sanitisers, interior designers - are sat around discussing the foundations of a new society following the demise of earth. The subject being discussed is re-inventing the wheel, but all the talk concerns the most suitable colour.......

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    2. I am sympathetic to idea of 42 being answer Jim. However it wont be. We all knew about certain aspects of the NAPO leadership and should have sought critical answers earlier.
      Mr Rendon survived way too long for his abilities., yet he managed to do an incredible amount of damage. Before Mr Lawrence put paid to him. The GS is no different as his direction was to collude as we understand things. To date there are no published minutes of the meeting he took part in. No one appears to have the right strength of character to actually manage him. When Rendon left NAPO central, vertical on a stretcher so to speak, the NEC and top table covered it up. The complacent vice chairs grovelled into to Mr Lawrence. There and then we should have seen a formal inquiry . Yet again Mr Rendon too afraid to give the members the real inside grift to his premature departure. More damage then, so we still have to deal with the relentlessly poor GS.

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  3. I have always been pro union. Napo did very little to protect staff shafted to the crc. There was apathy amongst members but for us to be protected from redundancy for 7 months what a joke. Terms and conditions lost if we move to nps. Whose side were the unions on.

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  4. Not the members sadly.

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  5. I think Napo wanted to sell off all CRCs memberships to another union before the red herring of the seven month argument. If anyone is to blame for that mess the non enforceable agreement ( how could they agree it) then look towards the foolish pathetic chair elected under the guise of professionalism.

    So here we go again it does not matter what the candidates say they are just another group of wannabee POs claiming the same idiocy that got us here. For example London's domination yet again and their candidate says

    I personally think NAPO, being a professional organisation as well as a Trade Union is better placed to represent members. Especially when negotiating about complex practice issues.

    What in the hell does she actually think she is talking about? In a CRC what professional issue are these then ? Majority PSO members with a scattering of PO here and there. Not a proper identifiable assessed high risk case amongst them( I know that many are down tariffed but that is what they have allowed).
    That Candidate needs to do some proper research before we let her anywhere near our interest. They rely on a few key phrases for PO grade only . Anyone voting for her another wasted vote.

    The next guy Chas Berry didn't get elected but napo lets him in anyway ? (I cannot understand the NEC)
    He says
    NAPO is unique as both a trade union and a professional association as it defends the values of an integrated probation service.
    Again he does not understand that we should be a union arguing on integrated workforce strategy . Single interest the saviour of our public service. Then repeat the same misguided point.

    Any PSO in a CRC would not vote for either of these two leaving limited choices clearer. The issues candidates bring and the others is a split between the membership. NPS PO on the one hand PSO in CRCs on the other. A myopic outlook ? Perhaps, whoever, you choose in this election it is clearly PO v PSO. What a sorry state of affairs. Either way none of the candidates will be able to do any real good under the current totally incredible top table group. Sorry readers for appearing so negative.



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  6. Don't apologise 21.40, you speak sense.

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  7. I don't feel the need to get into scripted questions, I like and respect David and his motive and aims are clear. I will answer any Members question any email any phone call.

    It's interesting to read what 2 of our candidates say....... To read what they write, about professional issues about diversity equality about NPS the civil service. Important stuff but is this what the election is about?

    I want to talk about trade unionism about protecting jobs, about our members earning a living wage, to put a roof over our heads and food on the table and yes to protect the public.....if you work for NPS ....CRC .....Cafcas.....we are a trade union of members divers with different skill sets but united in our values. There is no denying there have been mistakes.......we lost direction.....we lost accountability.......and our leadership seems to have lost direction and sight of some important issues.

    Members we must return to Trade Union values we must unite ....stand as one .....stand on common ground .....Jobs for our members ....a fair living wage for a fair days work, protecting the public.

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    1. Thanks for that Barry - hopefully people will take up the offer and ask questions.

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    2. It seems no self-respecting probation worker can ever finish a sentence without throwing in that the primary duty of probation is to protect the public. The public protection agenda was a political ruse to move the locus of probation from rehabilitation/welfare to risk assessment/control. It worked, because probation remains evangelical about its public protection mandate and assumed expertise in the face of human unpredictability. What probation actually does is classify and control and this is justified under public protection but there is scant evidence that it make any difference to what happens in real life. Prediction is the stuff of films like the Minority Report.

      The first duty of probation is rehabilitation, the first duty of the police is the investigation of crime. The protection of the public, rates of reoffending and deterrence are by products, not the reason for being. If you make protection of the public the gold standard, then it makes you responsible for any harm that arises in situations where probation has a responsibility. It's a crazy flag to march under. It is not Napo's job to protect the public, its job is to protect members' interests.




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    3. Yes a good summary Nipper and I totally support your last line. I have not seen the movie though so cant talk on that. Napo has lost its centre of activity that to represent the members in fact it cannot really afford to do that now as we can see in the claw back branch cash bonanza . Any organisation not in free fall would be doing what they are resorting to. Despite Ian Lawrence well be around a while yet he is only kidding himself. Napo represent us not get confused with survival and members would not be disappearing over the hills. In relation to public protection the longer serving staff are being eclipsed now by the post 90s training and the staff actually believe they manage risk . The do not protect the public in that task they just hope. Old term staff recognise this position and the client is no longer the centre of the attention just the targets.

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  8. In full agreement Barry, well said.

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  9. Well said Barry

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  10. Listen people. Actually listen ww control the union. Not IL. If you really want him out then apply for a vote of no confidence. He works for us. What has he done for us. I'm no longer in the device but someone please file a vote of no confidence before greater perceived damage is done

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  11. Oh dear Anonymous. It seems you think the elections pointless, the organisation dysfunctional and trade unions powerless - I wonder why you're not standing?! This type of defeatest talk is self-fullfilling and I seriously have to question your motives. Fair play to Barry and Charron for putting their hat in the ring. Napo was the ONLY organisation to seriously challenge TR. We lost, but we live to fight another day and we have a future if members are prepared to get on board

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    1. Not sure which 'anonymous' you've aimed this at Chas?

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