Election Special 2

Have you voted yet?

"Whilst percentage turnout in Napo ballots is generally higher than those conducted in most other trade unions, it could do with some improvement. That's why I once again urge our members to please take a few minutes to take a look at what the candidates are saying and to make that important choice."

The above quote is from the General Secretary's blog on Friday and served to remind me that there are some important decisions to be made regarding the future direction of the union. It's quite clear to me from the astonishing outpouring of anger and vitriol generated by the four blog posts focused on the election, especially for National Chair, that there is a very definite mood for change and action amongst many Napo members.

So much excellent stuff comes in on this blog by way of comment that it's sometimes difficult to decide what deserves to be highlighted, but the following really struck a chord with me as being a very serious allegation and if true, goes to the very heart of what's wrong at the top:- 

I send vital evidence to Napo via their TR email as did other friends not one reply. I put read receipts on them in the end. Never read and some even deleted. It is election time and so we need to look inward at our union. National have failed in each and every way and until members wake up and get rid of this sorry lot we have no chance against NOMS or our employers.

Lets be frank. No candidate for National Chair has responded publicly on this blog and as far as I can see, there's no machinery or forum in which to have a debate regarding the various merits or demerits of any of the candidates. No opportunity to discuss what people's concerns are and more importantly, what each candidate intends to do about them. All we have are the bland, boring statements that are basically CV's, together with the avalanche of commentary that was generated on this blog.

I've been sifting through what came in and one thing is abundantly clear - there was one candidate that generated far more positive, reasoned reaction than any other. I've selected some of what I feel might help members reflect on how to cast their vote for National Chair, in the hope that it might generate a sensible discussion regarding all the candidates. By the way, this is not the BBC and I don't have to be balanced - I'm just calling it as I see it and everyone is free to chip in with their views and opinions.    

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I will not join in the bad mouthing and back biting as some have above. I am concerned about the level to which the comments on here have deteriorated. Comments, on the whole, presumably left by "professionals" who are employed by an organisation where challenging attitudes is key. I am also aware that there are statements, made in previous comments that are simply untrue. I will make not publish my assessment of other candidates.

As this particular blog entry is about Dino Peros I will comment only on him. I am a white, female, Probation Officer. I have also undertaken a variety of other roles at differing grades. I add this simply because these areas have been raised above as relevant.

I have voted for Dino Peros because I know him to be knowledgeable, passionate and committed. He is not afraid of taking on a fight. Nationally and locally, we have lost many fights in the last few years and if we do not pull together, we stand to lose more.

We have lost good colleagues and the service that offenders/clients/service users, however you wish to define the people that we work with, are getting is getting worse by the day. Ultimately, victims/the public (including potential victims), although many may be unaware are not being protected as well as they deserve to be.

We need to fight further negative change, not just to protect ourselves/our jobs and our service but to protect the public. I remain committed to this. Having read the candidates' statements and having witnessed some of them in action, it is my assessment that we would be stronger together and with Dino Peros leading us from the front.

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As a retired probation officer of some 20 years experience and NAPO member for my entire career I have known Dino for a very long time. I have no question as to his commitment to members interests and his tireless efforts to achieve what is in their best interests, sometimes in the face of apathy and lack of determination on their part! My personal experience of his abilities in disciplinary matters, pension issues, and the fact that he secured my voluntary retirement in the face of resistance from a less than transparent management panel all lead me to have no doubts as to his integrity, abilities, and determination. He's your man in my view!

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I know nothing about Dino' s skeletons; all I know is what I have seen since Dorset Branch merged with Devon & Cornwall to create SSWestern branch. Dino knows his trade union stuff and he is not afraid to challenge management where ever it lies. I want a trade union that sounds and behaves like a trade union. Dino brings that voice to the table. He gets my vote.

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It's not at all clear what the South West under Dino's leadership has actually achieved that sets it apart from other areas. The similarities are clearer: proposed redundancies, no EVR, no meaningful consultation – Xxxxx offers nothing by way of substantive achievements. But as we are in an era of post-truth politics, anything goes.

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Wrong. Dino has engaged the redundancy policy in our area. It has the same rates as EVR. This has them in a lot of difficulty. A policy written by him and agreed many years back amended properly through TR. A collective agreement. EVR continues to be offered by Working Links in stages. A major dispute is formally lodged and actions to be followed after a big meeting with all the unions soon. Nothing like this elsewhere and he has the backing of the other branch chairs in the WL contract. We had a full branch meeting today with many united from NPS and CRC. He has many past achievements but does not brag.

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It's irrelevant whether Dino is a PSO or a PO! What matters is his trade union knowledge and expertise. Dino works very hard and years ago got the excellent Redundancy agreements. He is prepared to fight Working Links tooth and nail and will not back down. He has represented me and knows his stuff inside out. He is who we need as chair to take Napo forward.

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Many comments about whether chair should be CRC, NPS, PO, PSO. What is the point of that distinction ? Dino's principles are grounded in trade unionism, protecting our rights and our jobs. Has been in Probation longer than any of them and knows his way round the trickery of the boys at the top and the slippery management. His given all is probation life to trade union and knows how to turn NAPO into the fighting back union it needs to be. If anyone thinks he does it to get facility time as suggested yesterday, you couldn't be further from the truth. He fights to the death for members when there is a case to be had unlike IL and DR who refuse to use NAPO money to defend our rights and principles. If he doesn't get in its not the union thats f.....d its us.

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Chas Berry NPS.
Yvonne Pattison NPS.
Chris Winters NPS.
Katie Lomas NPS.
Keith Stokeld NPS.
Tina Williams NPS.
Iqbal Bhopal NPS.
Tony Mercer NPS.

Dino Peros CRC.

What does this mean? Currently Napo HQ is 100% NPS. Current candidates are 89% NPS. Now it is not the fault of these candidates that they are NPS and less CRC staff applied. But Chas, Yvonne and Chris should do the right thing and stand down. We need CRC representation. Vote Dino.

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As everyone is singing the praises of Pat Waterman, maybe her words and judgements, from an earlier blog (Election Special 3, July 2014) deserve another outing:-

"Much as I like the stirring rhetoric of Dino Peros, I shall not be voting for him. This union has had its difficulties in recent years (even before we were split into two organisations). Those who held office at the time have to take some responsibility for what happened among our national officials. We need to move on if we are to survive as a trade union and, in my view, this involves bringing in “new brooms”.

I shall be voting for Yvonne Pattison/Chris Winters. As a feminist, where there is a creditable female candidate they will always get my vote. This time we have two...

I am often castigated in National NAPO circles for being too London-centric. Voting for Yvonne and Chris would certainly shift the locus of power further north. Neither Yvonne nor Chris are known for their bombastic speechifying. But there is more to being a National Chair. They are both diligent hard workers and I feel sure that my union will be safe in their hands."

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In addition the following was sent to me:-

Branch Message - Election for National Chair

It’s election time again and this year Branch Chair Dino Peros is standing for the position of National Chair. I would urge you all to use your vote as a vote for Dino and will be encouraging members from other branches to do so to. We have been through turbulent times during the past few times but none more so where Probation has been so viciously under attack by our own Government and now also private companies. This affects all of us whether NPS or CRC, 20 years or 2 years employed it matters not, we are all at risk. Risk of losing our jobs, terms and conditions being reduced, de-professionalism of Probation, and a lower level of service to the Service Users. You can possibly add more to the list.

We know we can’t turn the clock back but we can gather together by voting for a new National Chair of NAPO and that needs to be Dino. As JNCC Rep I can tell you that he is dedicated to fight Working Links all the way in order to save jobs in the CRC and to protect your terms and conditions. Working Links have made a continued effort to ignore the Unions whilst paying lip service to so called consultation. I can tell you there has not been any meaningful consultation so far and that is why SSW branch alongside BGSW and Wales are in dispute with Working Links. SSW branch, led by Dino have been responsible for bringing this to a head, and is responsible for persuading the General Secretary to hold WL to account. Sometimes tact and diplomacy just get trodden on and we need someone to tell it straight, and that is what Dino does.

NPS is currently undergoing similar problems with E3. Dino has been involved in this too. Although employed by CRC as Branch Chair he also continues to ensure he is up to date with NPS issues and to this end arranged for Angela Cossins to our recent AGM providing NPS members the opportunity to put questions directly to her.

If you have become disheartened by the events of the past three years now is the time we can contribute to a change at the top table in NAPO by voting for Dino. If you have read the candidate’s statements you will see he has the most experience of working at NAPO on a National level, experience we have seen first hand within our Branch. The others in my view remain unproven as to what they will deliver in this turbulent period. This is not a time to take further risk on inexperienced or proven inefficient candidates.

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I received my ballot paper and "Candidates' Election Statements" for the "National Officer and Steering Committee Elections" last week. I saw that, in an email he sent, Dino urged people to vote for him.

Anybody who knows me probably thinks I am capable of standing up for myself and that I can be a bit "gobby". I am not ashamed to say that this did not feel like the case during the initial stages of the TR split. I went through a lengthy appeal and grievance process and without the support of Dino (and Xxxxxxxxx) I may have been broken. Dino was available 24/7 and nothing seemed too much trouble. He gave advice, pointed me in the direction of appropriate policy, worded or proof read letters/emails, supported me and attended meetings with me. More than this, he put up with my challenging him and gave me the confidence to fight. Without the support of Dino, it is likely that I would have given up. I am so glad that I didn't.

Over the last few years I have listened to (in the office) and have read about (on-line) people's disappointment in NAPO (nationally) for not fighting as hard as members thought that they should have done. People have cited this as their reason for leaving NAPO either through cancelling their membership or, in the NPS, not signing up for Direct Debit and allowing their membership to lapse. One thing I can say with some certainty is that Dino knows his "stuff" and will use this to fight to protect members, both locally and nationally.

For me, with regards to my candidate for Chair, my mind was already made up. The choice was clear. I placed my X in the box for Dino Peros.

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A gentle reminder. If you are going to comment, please be responsible as anything gratuitously abusive will be deleted. Thanks.