Napo the largest trade union in the HMPPS Probation Service (England and Wales) has today served notice of its intention to ballot its members to support a campaign of industrial action. This follows an unresolved trade dispute on Probation Pay and Workloads and a deadlock following recent negotiations with the employer on a joint Napo, UNISON and GMB claim for a 12% pay increase in 2025.
Napo General Secretary Ian Lawrence says: ‘Our pay claim reflects the relentless demands that are seriously impacting on the well-being of overworked and stressed-out Probation staff. This has in turn led to a staggering 103,000 working days lost due to mental illness in the Probation Service. Sadly, our long running trade dispute remains unresolved despite every effort on our part to secure a recommendable pay offer. Napo members have consistently delivered policies at a moment’s notice under this and the previous government, to supervise the release of Prisoners back into the community to free up space in Jails, but have yet to receive the respect that they deserve and a pay rise that will truly demonstrate that this government values them beyond kind words.’
The Probation trade unions say that pay in the Probation Service has decreased by 60% in real terms over the last 10 years and that it has fallen behind the salaries available to comparators such as staff in Prisons, Police and the Youth Justice sector.
The plan is for the postal ballot for strike action and action short of strike action, to be issued on the 25th July with a result being declared on Friday 22nd August. Should members vote in favour of action this could be enacted at any time in the following six months. It is estimated that industrial action will place even greater pressure across all aspects of the justice system.
Ian Lawrence added: ‘It’s both very sad and somewhat ironic that a trade union who broadly supports reforms to the justice system such as a presumption against short-term prison sentences and policies that will provide a clear benefit to our communities and the taxpayer, finds itself in such a position. This reflects the lack of attention by the previous government to the vital role played by Probation and the fact that our members regularly report that enough is enough. It is not too late to resume negotiations, but we now need the direct intervention of Government Ministers to help us achieve a realistic outcome that will help to stabilise the Probation workforce.’
Notes:
Napo has submitted a joint pay claim with its sister unions, Unison and GMB, for 12%. The civil service pay remit is 3.25%
Current starting salaries:
Administrator: £23,583
Probation Service Officer: £26,475
Probation Officer: £35,130
Senior Probation Officer: £44,100
Napo General Secretary Ian Lawrence says: ‘Our pay claim reflects the relentless demands that are seriously impacting on the well-being of overworked and stressed-out Probation staff. This has in turn led to a staggering 103,000 working days lost due to mental illness in the Probation Service. Sadly, our long running trade dispute remains unresolved despite every effort on our part to secure a recommendable pay offer. Napo members have consistently delivered policies at a moment’s notice under this and the previous government, to supervise the release of Prisoners back into the community to free up space in Jails, but have yet to receive the respect that they deserve and a pay rise that will truly demonstrate that this government values them beyond kind words.’
The Probation trade unions say that pay in the Probation Service has decreased by 60% in real terms over the last 10 years and that it has fallen behind the salaries available to comparators such as staff in Prisons, Police and the Youth Justice sector.
The plan is for the postal ballot for strike action and action short of strike action, to be issued on the 25th July with a result being declared on Friday 22nd August. Should members vote in favour of action this could be enacted at any time in the following six months. It is estimated that industrial action will place even greater pressure across all aspects of the justice system.
Ian Lawrence added: ‘It’s both very sad and somewhat ironic that a trade union who broadly supports reforms to the justice system such as a presumption against short-term prison sentences and policies that will provide a clear benefit to our communities and the taxpayer, finds itself in such a position. This reflects the lack of attention by the previous government to the vital role played by Probation and the fact that our members regularly report that enough is enough. It is not too late to resume negotiations, but we now need the direct intervention of Government Ministers to help us achieve a realistic outcome that will help to stabilise the Probation workforce.’
Notes:
Napo has submitted a joint pay claim with its sister unions, Unison and GMB, for 12%. The civil service pay remit is 3.25%
Current starting salaries:
Administrator: £23,583
Probation Service Officer: £26,475
Probation Officer: £35,130
Senior Probation Officer: £44,100
Hope members all vote. Also Prison Officers are technically civil servants and they haven't been constrained by the 3.25% remit...
ReplyDeleteWhy action short of an all out strike? We already know that people are working additional hours for free so are unlikely to work to their contracted hours or other forms of non strike industrial action.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody else remember the strike around pensions? It was for half a day and then we were instructed to rush back into the office to catch up on the work that had been lost,’so as not to inconvenience the courts.’ Outcome, loss of half a days pay for us, no loss whatsoever for them.
The employers know a paper tiger when they see one and will immediately begin a campaign to divide and conquer using fear and propaganda.
Greater emphasis should be placed on the 60% drop in income in real terms over the past 10 years rather than pointing to the problems staff are having with mental health problems.
I suspect Mr. Lawrence et al have been forced into this position and will be looking for any opportunity to back out, after all, there is a limit to how much tub thumping you can get away with.
Yes a very good summary of which i easily agree. I think this blog exerts pressure on the failing Napo . As for the message ends then adds a note sort of looks like I have enough and members can read it here but really it is just blister. Look at the last pay fiasco here we are again.
DeleteProbation staff are daft docile kids these days no one will strike and most would cross a picket line absolute losers
ReplyDeleteInteresting so people vote to strike on the advice of the union. The same union that did nothing about TR, that sells their members out in job evaluation, and that picks which of their members to support in a grievance. You do realise that those at the top of the union don’t lose their pay, that the employer will still invoke competency proceedings if you miss a target and finally none of the big unions give a tuppeny toss about probation.
ReplyDeleteComment left on another post this evening:-
ReplyDelete"To be frank it’s time to defund the probation service, stripping it back to core public protection duties. Which is arguably, all it really does now but at a significant cost. Once you add on the monies spent on “strategy” (in name only and certainly not in practice) within the MoJ, this will amount to significant financial savings. That money should then be released to youth services who stand the best chance of impacting early on people’s lives. It’s also time to consider parenting classes for all new parents. Wrap around services for families who need it and greater priority on access to benefits, stable accommodation and employment. Although by this point prison defunding should also be considered to release further cash for local offender services. I appreciate this view will not be shared across the board but let’s face it, the probation service is no longer an agent of change more an agent of incarceration in the community. Let’s spend the money where greater successes will be achieved, if not in the short term then definitely in the longer term."
Yippee, a one or two day strike. Prior and after, we'll be working like donkeys to catch up on the work, and then without two days pay for our temerity.
ReplyDeleteWe can technically strike for up to 12 weeks. Whilst I'd like to think we'd go for this, the younger officers in the office won't as they have too much debt or just don't understand the need to fight for their rights.
We need to strike on the FTR48 release days. Make the government realise if they want to free up prison space, they actually need Probation and need to give us a pay rise.
DeleteEveryone should refuse to do any prior preparation and any catching up.
Everyone is pushed beyond their limits with all the changes at play. Enough is enough!
If I was inclined to vote for this - I would want strikes on FTR48 release days
ReplyDelete