So, the turnout in the recent Napo elections was 12.5% and the existing joint Chairs have a renewed mandate to carry on steering the ship pretty much on the same course. Out of 733 valid votes cast, 280 voted for the status quo, whilst 457 were obviously keen on something different - but that's first past the post for you.
I repeat what I said at the outset, namely that if you were a cynic, you could say that making sure the opposition to the current Chairs was split would ensure they got elected and that's exactly what's happened. It's pretty much the oldest trick in the political book. The figure for Dino Peros was 234 and Chas Berry 223.
It's quite bizarre, but am I the only one who can see certain parallels between the recent 'campaign' within Napo and Jeremy Corbyn's 'campaign' during the EU Referendum. I don't think I've in any way changed my mind regarding the dysfunctional nature of top leadership within Napo, but would remind members that there will be an opportunity to endorse the tenure of the General Secretary next year.
More of the same silent, lazy compliance with the two useless puppets jammed into static chairs. It is no wonder our Service has been split and privatised with apathy like this It is a mystery how members would vote for people who have no presence or obvious achievements to offer. I am inclined to think the P.O title offers the hierarchy other P.Os favour. The future is bleak for NAPO based on past behaviour predictors and as u say Jim, more of the same. I have cancelled my subscription today; there is no value in this top table and when Mr Lawrence sells Chivalry Road there will be nothing left for legal challenges, just enough for the current staff redundancy payouts. The union is doomed and I say good riddance to bad rubbish. Dark days ahead
ReplyDeleteNot happy with the result but accept that the process was followed. I will be making my mind up about my continued membership after the AGM.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/manchester-police-fails-to-record-crimes-vgtrn
ReplyDeleteUnrelated but maybe lower crime rates
Its exactly this level of engagement from staff/membership that has allowed NOMS to take over and hollow out the world of Probation.
ReplyDeleteAfter the multifarious comments on this blog around the candidates & their merits, the heated exchanges & the drift towards unpleasantness... 12.5% turnout. Well done. Lethargy is the new democracy.
ReplyDeleteMy decision to stand for Napo Chair was in no way motivated by a desire the 'split the vote' as is suggested. I took the decision on principle because of the grave concerns I have around the threats to national collective bargaining and msde this one of the main features of the campaign. If nothing else, it has brought this vital issue to the attention of Napo members and for that I make no apology
ReplyDeleteNo principle can be believable as you are on the NNC and are part of the officers group. The comprehensive motion posted on here is a clear signal the General secretary and chairs want to depart from. In the case of the weak motion you have presented for voting is at odds with the NNC motion. If one passes the other falls . If your so honestly opposed it is a position you should consider resigning if you cannot support your colleagues the General secretary and chairs. Now the vote is over and you have helped secure the status quo you come out.
DeleteResigned from napo in December after over 30 years ,no influence on the TR fiasco, no pay rise for 7 years,disgusted over the lack of transparency over the sexual embarrassment in an industrial tribunal case with the chair ,so totally inept still have me registered as a member 8 months after I left SPO NPS
ReplyDeleteTim Wilson you mean he felt betrayed by Ledger and their love affair was over too from that besotted following of the then general secretary to the tribunal Wilson failed to manage properly failed Napo and let the process of TR in the door as he failed to raise a formal national dispute over London unpaid work privatisation. Paving the way to full TR no London dispute as it was all PSOs affected saw the whole lot crash. Taking the course Tim Wilson set for Napo saw the union into the tribunal and the costs are incredible. That debacle opened the door to the current leadership.
DeleteI have not posted before, this will be the first and last. I cannot believe that you sad and sorry (if you are not you should be) people - falling for Baldrick's (Chas's) cunning plan! The only person that could have steered the napo ship out of the shit, yes, I mean DINO and you missed the chance. Many of you over the years have been known to turn him for help and advice, day and night, he knows his stuff. All I can say is that I sincerely hope that when the napo ship sinks, Dino will be safe in the knowledge that is was not him at the helm. I cannot believe that the pathetic/apathetic 12.5% got it so wrong.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you 22:40 and now the CRC ship will sink because NAPO have no interest in saving it's members. Dino, chair for breakaway CRC united union, yes please.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea, people should approach Dino with this proposition and if we are lucky, he may consider it.
DeleteNot a practical solution to anything but NAPO needs reform urgently to ensure CRCs are represented through the structures in committee by reserved places for CRC staff. The structure now is all public service NPS officials working towards a single entity . No CRC officials this is a credibility issue for the union .
DeleteNapo is such a mess. If the priority is members then drop the extortionate subs, get the members back and start moving forwards. I don't know any Union charging £20+ a month, let alone one in disarray and with hardly any members. Shouldn't be more than £10 per month, less even until it pulls its finger out!!
ReplyDeleteActually £5 per month would be about right for Napo membership!
DeleteEvery penny you give NAPO is now paying for the General Secretary redundancy reward if he is not voted out next year. One to watch
DeleteYou want more bang for your buck, get involved, become a rep or a branch officer. Thats the beauty of Unions, you get out what you put in.
ReplyDeleteWas not Napo that lost everything, it was you. You because you failed to see that withdrawing you labour was your only hope. No strike so no pay rise, no strike so they sell 70%, no strike so they take away your redundancy and make you work through the pain.
Thanks brother and sisters, now im in a job i hate and so are you.
Not that old line again and we DID strike btw. Was it not Napo that refused to modernise, gave our money to J. Ledger, dragged its feet over TR, pulled out of JR, and still continues to insult us with its cronyist leadership who will get the rest of our money when they bow out. I've omitted the question mark as this is more a statement of fact than a question, and as a result hardly anyone is involved in Napo anymore. I wish Napo was a more inviting, inclusive, cheaper and forward looking Union but sadly it isn't, and this is the fault of the leadership not the members.
DeleteProblem is there is little bargaining power when the workers are not solid behind strike action. Employers exploit this.
ReplyDeleteSorry Annonymous 23.00 you clearly don't know me or the NNC. I am one of 5 National Vice Chairs and do not sit on the NNC or the PNC for that matter. Since I was aware of the proposals in May I have opposed them at every meeting of Officers and Officials and publicly at the NEC. I also brought a motion to NEC from my Branch to insure the issue is debated at AGM and Alec Price argued the same position at PNC. It is largely down to us that the issue is not already sealed because the original timetable was to have it in place for September. I approached the other candidates and potential candidates to ask where they stood on this to het a unified position but wasn't aware Dino was standing until the deadline had passed so couldn't ask him. Friends of Dino in my branch know all of this, however, and could have helped. I stood in the end as the only candidate with a clear position. I'm not resigning as VC as I still believe we can defeat this. Some may wan't to ascribe the most cynical methods to others in order to promote themselves. That's not my style, never has been and I consider it a personal insult if you think otherwise
ReplyDeleteIf they wanted it in place by September, presumably it was not their original intention to take it to the AGM for a 'member-led' vote - excluding the 95% of members who don't attend AGM.
DeleteWell you might claim insult but you are still in that team and the claims you make are hollow. The Agm may have a say but you will drive this coach and horses through and sit back and blame the membership in the end. All this is water under the bridge what we ought to see now is the terms and conditions of the general secretary rates and rewards in this declining membership and what could a second term for him mean to napo and costs if the last one walked away with over 100k
Delete07.43 – Can you explain your metaphors? What coach and horses are you talking about? And what water is under the bridge? On national collective bargaining, it clearly is no magic wand, as we know wages in probation have declined in real terms over the past decade. Any bargaining, national or otherwise, is ineffectual if its not underpinned by some industrial power. Perhaps there is even a greater likelihood in devolved bargaining arrangements, that some areas will actually gain in solidarity and be more able to effectively bargain with employers.
DeleteThe Vice Chairs are not a team. Everyone stands as an individual and people can and do hold differing views on issues and have to argue their point in O&O meetings. Dino was part of the Officers group some years ago and would endorse this.I don't believe Chas stood to split the vote personally. Candidates don't know who else is standing before submitting their names unless candidates go public about it before hand.I voted for Dino incidentally as he was the only candidate from a CRC and has useful experience of National office and I believe like Chas he would fight to defend national collective bargaining.
DeleteThe voting system is what it is and of course it is counterfactual to suggest any trickery. A PR type system with second preferences would lead to a stronger mandate. It was a close race and all parties were equally deserving to be in it.
DeleteFrom what I understand of the NEC the officer group report is an agreed position and is led by the chair. I understand from inside source Dino was a problem, he hardly ever agreed with what was fed to the Nec and was given the label of not being a game player. I don't think he would agree lets ask him 10:16
DeleteIn January 2014 the membership was 8123 and now it's 25% smaller. A poor turnout, but in keeping with the political awareness of the workforce. Out of 6231 voters, the chairs get to keep their positions on the back of 280 votes. The apathy among the workforce is nothing new, as turnouts for these types of elections have been traditionally low. The current GS was elected on a 19.6 turnout and the one before was not much above 20%.
ReplyDeleteSome Napo income and membership figures to ponder on from Annual Returns:-
ReplyDelete2010 £2,232,509
2011 £2,203,889
2012 £2,153,337 8360
2013 £2,014,952 8008
2014 £1,940,353 7354
2015 £1,745,743 6749
Number of voters in election 6231
Restorative Justice in London by Catch 22: https://www.catch-22.org.uk/news/mayor-launches-1-3m-restorative-justice-service-help-victims-recover-crime/
ReplyDeleteGood day ,
ReplyDeleteI am really hoping you could give me some advice. My fiance got 2 years probation last week. We have been to the meeting , and condition number nine of 15 generic conditions ( example :shall maintain legal employment ect) states that he shall obtain written permission before getting married. We were planning on eloping after court was behind him. Can they refuse him , can they force us to delay.... I am feeling so hopeless really thought we were over the hump. Please help
Hi there,
DeleteJust to clarify, which country are you based in? Cheers.
So we get stuck with the 2 current innefective chairs and a vice chair who stood for election bleeting over one issue in which he felt drove him to stand for election. He claims the current chairs supported the general secretaries position in that we do away with national collective bargaining yet our members have voted for these two incompetent chairs that have achievend nothing for the members since their inception. If your a CRC member your union stands to give you nothing, just as Chris Grayling sold us down the river IL now offers CRC members as collataral damage as NAPO leadership can offer no solution to this sorry situation. Dino was our best solution but now we have a fool of a vice chair who gave no consideration to splitting the votes and a pathetice top table who has no ability to hold IL and DR to account. Neither of which have the knowledge or ability to drive our union in the right direction. Napo only survives because there is no other union for probation staff.
ReplyDeleteI'm clearly not going to convinces some people on here of my motives! However, let's remember we now have an opportunity to defeat the NNC proposals at AGM
ReplyDeleteDespite the tone of some entries on this blog,there is clearly not a tidal wave of support for Dino or else he would have gathered the votes.
DeleteThat wave was split across the three candidates remember the chairs are back but twice as many members wanting change. No mandate.
DeleteWhat appears lost in this had the election gone the other way Chas berry may well have found the most able and strongest support in the officers group to help revive Napo along the lines he wants and claims.
DeleteWont be s quorate agm and the officers and NEC will get through napo is on its way and no you wont convince anyone your old tactics have weakened us all there is always a stooge.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid you may be right. I may be part of the problem but I stopped going to the agm a few years ago due to the frustration I felt about the whole event. Top table sitting there seemingly enjoying the (false) status they believed they had, whilst we voted on totally aspirational motions. Whilst important, many were a given to the majority of people, but ridiculous in my opinion to waste time discussing as not relevant to our profession. Reminded my of the film Life of Brian. Everyone then seemed pleased with themselves -unfortunately the news of napo's vote that a motion had been passed for the sun to rise in the West didn't seem to make any difference. All the time our professional standards were being eroded without seemingly any challenge by the unions. Eg the 2003 legislation that a probation qualification not required to complete a court report. The writing was clearly on the wall.
DeleteI'm still in napo and undecided about attending this year. I did vote for Dino (I'm a nps po not in Devon and Cornwall) because I thought he has showed the gumption needed to bring about the fight required. I realise I'm opening up myself for comments such a being apathitic will not bring change, so I should attend the agm, but I don't think I can stomach listening to Ian talking crap. I'm currently in self survival mode - head down, dodging shit, hoping E3 pans out ok for me for a couple of years until Moj finally gets rid of nps. Hopefully by then I'll be in the position to get out with my pension built up enough to survive on whatever I can move onto. Hey, I must have picked that up from my attendance at the agm - thanks Ian.
Brilliant assessment so true
DeleteSurely the more of us Napo members who go to AGM the more voice we have to vote and make it clear of our lack of confidence in the top table until they start to act in their members interests? Or am I being too idealistic?
DeleteUnlikely the current incumbents will be confident of their amazing win while majority everyone else voted for others.
Delete12.5% turnout?......this very clesarly indicates that root & branch reform of NAPO has to be a priority if it is to survive in my view. from this blog I have seen no signs of such a reform just the same old internal bickering & politicking & yet more reshufflng of the deck chairs....members are allowing NAPO to wither & die.....are there enough who do not want this?......Bobbyjoe
ReplyDeleteAn independent review will enable us to modernise - become fit for purpose and have the best chance to protect our values, our jobs and our conditions.
Deleteto this challenge and demonstrate we are a capable and effective Union. The decline must be arrested before it becomes too late.
I have the knowledge, the experience, the flexibility, the vision and commitment to bring the necessary change Napo needs.
From Dino Peros statement he understood what needed to be done.
Dino received the most individual votes but could not compete with 2 people lumping their votes together to gain victory. They call this democracy!
ReplyDeletethis blog is starting to resemble the old Napo forum, where is everyone else? This blog should represent probation staff not just union members!
ReplyDelete