What Chance?

Clearly the current RMT dispute and rise to fame of Mick Lynch their General Secretary has very effectively turned a spotlight on wages generally and the sharply rising cost of living for everyone. Despite the best endeavours of both the government and much of the media to deliberately distort the basis of the dispute, it's quite likely Mr Lynch's plain speaking style will win the day and probably the claim. So, with other employment sectors rapidly joining the fray, including criminal barristers withdrawing their labour from tomorrow, where does this leave probation? 

I was particularly struck by this recent contribution:-   

The difference between the RMT union and Napo is that RMT members are more likely to honour a democratic vote to strike. From experience as a Napo member over 25 years to 2012, many members seem to take a democratic vote to strike as optional thus resulting in a lack of solidarity. As an occasional reader of this blog I note a constant thread of criticism of Napo and in particular of Secretary Lawrence. I ask you how can any trade union can function effectively without a membership committed to taking industrial action when required. Jim's blog is a great resource informing Probation staff and the wider world; however I feel that some commentators let it down by constantly sniping at Napo. I urge staff to join Napo, get involved, steer secretary Lawrence's efforts and give him some muscle in wage negotiations. As things stand, employers know that probation staff are a pushover and so you get shafted.

Of course it's long been true that probation staff have been very reluctant to strike and I'm afraid it's hard to escape the conclusion that as a result you get shafted. In May a joint union pay claim was submitted:-

UNISON, Napo, and GMB/SCOOP have submitted the following three-year pay claim on behalf of members in the Probation Service: 

• A three-year award to cover 2022, 2023 and 2024 pay years
• An increase in the value of all pay points of 3% above the Retail Prices Index (RPI) of inflation on 1 April 2022, 1 April 2023, and 1 April 2024
• An increase in the value of all Probation Service cash allowances of 3% above the Retail Prices Index (RPI) of inflation on 1 April 2022, 1 April 2023 and 1 April 2024
• Shorter pay bands allow staff to reach the top of their pay band in a shorter time
• Removal of pay band overlaps
• An increase in the HMRC Fixed Profit Car Allowance

PROBATION NEEDS A PAY RISE

While a wage keeping pace with the cost of living each year would have risen by 42.9% (compound) since 2010, pay in Probation has risen by just 1% over the same period, which means that thousands of pounds have been cut from the value of staff wages.

By ‘pay rise’, we mean an actual increase in the value of pay points. It is these values which have only gone up by only 1% in the last 12 years for probation staff.

Do not confuse your annual increment with a pay rise. Your increment is a contractual entitlement, not a pay rise.

Here is how probation staff compare with their police staff, local government and health service colleagues in relation to actual increases in the value of their pay since 2010:

• Probation Staff: 1%
• Police Staff: 15.8%
• Local Government Staff: 14.6%
• NHS Staff: 14.2%

Remember, staff in the police, local government and the health service have had their increments in addition to the pay rises above. It is no wonder that leaving probation for a job in a different part of the public sector has become so attractive.

COST OF LIVING CRISIS

Inflation is currently running at 9% (March 2022) which is the highest level in three decades. For the value of probation staff salaries not to fall back even further, they must at least keep pace with predicted rises in the cost of living, which Treasury forecasts put at 7.4% in 2022[1].

Staff have experienced an enormous surge in costs over the last year, including:

• A 29% increase in gas bills;
• A 21% increase in petrol prices;
• A 19% increase in electricity bills;
• A 10% rise in the price of buying a house and a 9% jump in rent for a new rental property.

These demands on pay packets will be even greater against the background of the 1.25% increase to National Insurance contributions over 2022/23.

--oo00oo--

I notice that Napo is showing solidarity with RMT in their current dispute. When they win, I wonder what chance there will be that probation staff will take similar action? Past behaviour is usually a strong indicator of future behaviour, so I'm guessing there will be some huff and puff; many staff will leave, but sadly most will be resigned to being continually shafted, now as mute second class civil servants. Probation has been very effectively neutered.