Probation Dissed

The Urban Dictionary says this about dissed

1. dissing someone is showing disrespect to them
2. being dissed is the act of being disconnected, by voice or by modem, from another party

Now that our Parliamentarians are on holiday until September, let's recap where we are following the blizzard of government announcements yesterday that conspicuously failed to mention probation at all.

Ian Lawrence Twitter 18th July:- 

"Probation unions are in high level talks with the HMPPS Programme Team prior to an expected announcement on the MoJ response to Justice Select Committee report into TR. More news when it becomes available possibly before the Parliamentary recess."

Comments Yesterday 24th July:-

"I have just heard Glenys Stacey being interviewed on the Today programme. She said the problem with CRCs is that they're not being paid enough! Outrageous! They are pocketing huge amounts of money for themselves at the expense of the service. When will this stop?"

"Shockingly poor interview of Gauke by Martha Carney. No mention of fixing TR. Usual guff about prison officer numbers and pay. Where are NAPO, Unison and the POA? Massive open goal to set the record straight missed again. They must be taking lessons from Raheem Sterling. Suppose IL will cite his many appearances on RT as proof he's media savvy. Watched by 50 people and paid for by Putin. BTW, where's my money in public sector pay news?"

"I suspect Dame Glenys and the BBC have had advanced sight of embargoed plans for probation and she is the warm up act preparing us for the privateers digging deeper into the public purse."

"So, well done BBC. A beautifully co-ordinated Today programme neatly timetabled to support the Govts public relations announcements, with Dame Glenys teeing up the next round of handouts to CRCs. A grotesque slowdance with Auntie Beeb desperate for Tory affection."

Rory Stewart MP yesterday:-

"Our hard-working prison officers, managers and governors are at the absolute heart of this. They do a vital job in protecting the public every day, often in very challenging, difficult and dangerous circumstances."

Comments yesterday:-

"So the HMPPS apparently only consists of “hard working” prison officers. Do probation officers not exist anymore?"

"2.75% pay increase for prison officers? No mention of Probation? Thought they may have to pass on an increase to fund our rise? Hope our union is fighting our corner for increases to assist in probation catching up with other professions."

"So we are part of the Civil Service but not Civil Servants, and part of HMPPS but not worthy of a payrise? When will Gauke wake the fuck up and sort this shit out?"

"17 years in September and just over half way up Band 4. Rory's weasal words don't pay the bills. Hope he can sleep at night. Still, only another three years until I get my specially struck medallion. I'll be taking a leaf out of John Lennon's book and sending it back. It'll have a message attached encouraging them to stick it up their arse. In the memorable words of a disgruntled prostitute who once woke me up in the middle of the night banging on my downstairs neighbours door."WHERE'S MY FUCKING MONEY".

"If probation officers get 2.75% they will only have a further 20% to make up their pay to pre austerity rates. IL has it in hand!"

Richard Burgon MP yesterday:-

"It's rumoured that the Tories are planning another massive bailout to the failing privatised probation companies - on top of the £342 MILLION bailout last year. They know it's unpopular so don't be surprised if they try to sneak it out when Parliament isn't sitting!"

Seen on Facebook yesterday:-

"I heard that the MoJ will bail out CRCs on the basis they have a massive recruitment drive so that they can meet new HMIP standards. To give an example my CRC would need to recruit 100-120 across all grades to stand a chance of hitting them."

"Where’s the motivation for us to continue? Ever since we’ve become civil servants we’ve been treated like the poor relative that no one wants. A 26% loss (estimated) since the pay freeze came in is disgusting. I, for one, will be out if a strike is balloted. We’ve got to stand up now to get what we’re worth!"

Ian Lawrence Twitter today:-

"Napo/UNISON message to members on Pay to follow shortly. Probation not part of Prison pay review body but how insensitive does it get from the Minister to make no mention that probation pay negotiations are starting soon?"

Postscript

This blog received 3402 hits yesterday and remains the place to go for news and sharing information whenever a probation story kicks off.