tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post3766671993327141041..comments2024-03-28T20:12:43.003+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: Napo AGMJim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-70998154501759667762015-05-29T13:39:45.845+01:002015-05-29T13:39:45.845+01:00Yes you're right. A professional trade unionis...Yes you're right. A professional trade unionist is required as leader. I suspect that unless the current GS is forced out now then the next GS will have no reason to be any different. The message Napo would be wise to change the pattern of recent years that the GS and exec earn big bucks for doing next to nothing. If Napo was running on PbR it'd be bankrupt already.Probation Officernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-78237330951219256192015-05-29T09:50:43.354+01:002015-05-29T09:50:43.354+01:00Good post PO except the last line. I think NAPO n...Good post PO except the last line. I think NAPO needs a professional trade union leader who has a full understanding of the needs and vocational drivers that underpin what Probation was about not so far back. <br /><br />It has been POs who have all been chairs of NAPO and none of them in the past 6 years, while things have got more complex have been any use. <br /><br />The disaster that befell NAPO in the Ledgergate scandal was led by the PO chair. No insight to the outcome or risks to NAPO yet they ran on despite being warned I understand . <br /><br />The subsequent PO chairs have all been more disaster in one way or another. They are just not up to the role. <br /><br />The General secretary was able to hover around and then got elected on a low turn out. <br /><br />Better external candidates may well have served NAPO better yet the way the selection process is currently arranged and managed the outcomes appear to favour the internal incumbents who have enough friends. In my opinion the wrong ones seem to get chosen .<br /><br />In relation to change of leadership it makes little difference now the GS is a spent force hanging on for a large salary having lost everything he led on If he goes honourabley as you suggest in your wish list lets hope the membership Bring in NEW people and the current internal assistant general secretary does not just expect to hop up and take over the warm cosy slippers of the current ! I think the GS will just carry on fronting up the twisted spin as no one in NAPO has what it takes and he will c collect another 250k before term ends and for what ? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-60473646768586335602015-05-29T01:16:14.692+01:002015-05-29T01:16:14.692+01:00Napo should learn the lessons from Labour in that ...Napo should learn the lessons from Labour in that allowing the wrong leader to remain at the helm can damage an organisation beyond repair and members WILL go elsewhere. I suspect that Napo feels it got away with the shenanigans around the previous GS and expects to get away with it this time too. <br /><br />As far as I'm aware there has been no call for the GS to step down YET. This should have happened when the TR battle was lost. Even better, the GS should have handed in his badge and let somebody else have a go who may have taken Napo in a better direction. If he stood down now he could even have the claim to fame of resing in the same month as the Labour leader (and probably the FIFA president too). <br /><br />In summary, Napo has little credibility at present and this is worsened by the GS remaining in post after losing against TR, the failure of JR and all the promises and 'sabre waving' that has amounted to nothing. I agree with poster(s) above, it makes little difference whether the AGM is 2 days or 3. The AGM is pointless since probation has been sold and Napo were not even in the stadium when the battle too place, let alone in the ring. <br /><br />Anything of purpose Napo want to say/debate can be put in an email. The first point should be an apology to members, the second that the GS has stepped down, and the third that it has severed it's relationship with that Tory Trojan Horse aka the Probation Institute. Maybe fourthly cut the extortionate membership fee as it's not like we're getting value for money. Erm ... fifth and sixth, put 'probation' back into the name and heart of this Union and also realise that a specialist probation Union should be led by a person with the right level of 'union skills' and ideally someone with experience as a probation officer.Probation Officernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-78986495090981204382015-05-28T22:07:55.556+01:002015-05-28T22:07:55.556+01:00First step is to disassociate itself from the PI. ...First step is to disassociate itself from the PI. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-17169763354906394722015-05-28T21:44:57.176+01:002015-05-28T21:44:57.176+01:00NAPO is the union of Probation workers, it is an e...NAPO is the union of Probation workers, it is an established organisation and has respect and some renown - unfortunately the recent And previous G.S have been weak. Surely if we remove the weakness as a matter of urgency we can rebuild confidence, unity and public respect. Our union can reinstate its credibility by employing a professional General Secretary to represent its members on the issues relevant to the majority, not the select few at the TopTable. Enough already, how do we take this forwardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-42004933359950359362015-05-28T19:33:00.949+01:002015-05-28T19:33:00.949+01:00...mmm G4S would say they had blown up parliament ......mmm G4S would say they had blown up parliament when really it was still standing......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-52871302944268930332015-05-28T16:39:33.953+01:002015-05-28T16:39:33.953+01:001358 great post but do tell shenanigans ???1358 great post but do tell shenanigans ???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-13416659273218069922015-05-28T14:51:09.660+01:002015-05-28T14:51:09.660+01:00The failings of NAPO are the failings in its membe...The failings of NAPO are the failings in its membership. Much as I mourn the potential loss of my right to strike in principle, I will not miss watching members of my OWN UNION crossing a picket line.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-78723787105261398352015-05-28T13:58:43.347+01:002015-05-28T13:58:43.347+01:00Last years AGM was all about the lots of things NA...Last years AGM was all about the lots of things NAPO were doing behind closed doors that the membership couldn't be told about because of the need to keep everything clandestine!<br />I'm still clueless as to what 'things' they might have been. All I recall is a half hearted judicial review that was swapped for a bag of magic beans from Grayling and hardly a word since. No beanstalk I'm afraid!<br />And if I wasn't disappointed enough in NAPO over their reluctance to step up to the plate and fight TR with a bit of passion (I wont mention the in house shennigans), we're now in a possition where the privateers don't want to abide by agreed terms and conditions regarding voluntary redundancy. NAPOs response? Wait it out until unions are stripped of their powers by the Tories, and the privateers can do what they want without fear of challange? That'll be the Tories fault, not NAPOs no doubt.<br />I have a great deal of sympathy for all the hard working reps who go above and beyond, but for the EXEC? I think they've just had everyones pants down, and I for one just don't trust them anymore.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-83163526597669035772015-05-28T13:09:48.267+01:002015-05-28T13:09:48.267+01:00ML.
Your comments ring true throughout all public ...ML.<br />Your comments ring true throughout all public services GPs, schools anything you can think of is being destroyed by this Tory government.<br />The success of the SNP in the last election gives me food for thought however. The last time there was this many Scots walking the floors of parliament was when James the first was king. That gunpowder plot failed. Maybe a second one may be more successful, although I have no doubt that any conspirators today would be recruited from some gaint outsourcing company such as Capita, G4S or Serco.<br />We can all day dream I guess!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-61242634952700947412015-05-28T13:01:30.539+01:002015-05-28T13:01:30.539+01:00I agree with the comment above about your union me...I agree with the comment above about your union membership not having to be Napo. If you need personal representation, join a union. If you need collective action and representation, join any union but Napo. The service faced a fight for survival and Napo made every mistake that the coalition could have dreamt they would. See if G4s or Sodexo will take your union fees for a crap service - at least they'd fuck up for less £££s.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-35294187450813500622015-05-28T12:40:44.478+01:002015-05-28T12:40:44.478+01:00this is the future. After going to GP on more than...this is the future. After going to GP on more than one occasion for severe pain spasms on thigh, which has been increasing intermittently over last 12 years, but recently worsened considerably, I was given the phone nbr for orthopaedics at the local hospital, handed to me on a scrappy piece of paper, to refer myself.. My appointment was a planned phone call to my home from someone from orthopaedics at 8 30am, when I had to describe symptoms- very difficult with my one hand which was not holding the phone, pointing out that the pain is 'here, here and here, when I move like this or bend like that' - meaningless when the consultant, assistant, receptionist or cleaner cannot see you. She suggested it MIGHT be osteoarthritis and sent me 3 5 minute exercises- scrappy cartoon format, no sheets of information or advice or referral to a gym. The whole call took less than 5 min. <br /><br />I recall an appt in 2003 for similar, but in its earlier stages, when I was referred to the hospital ortho consultant, who examined me in underwear, took measurements and had me stood straight against a chart to check for any malformation of spine (which she did find).This was after my own GP had also examined my back, showed me the bend via a mirror) before referral to orthopaedics. After being given proper printed notes and booklet by the consultant, several photographed exercises and a specific diet leaflet to ensure I had appropriate vitamins etc, I was also advised about reducing work hours, stress alleviation and carrying heavy loads (files) on the same shoulder. I was also referred to a specialist local authority gym for 6 months free membership, where I underwent further tests (told I was the most flexible woman they had ever seen, for my age!). and was given a specific fitness programme, which was re-evaluated every week.<br /><br />I believe the care that I got then, helped to stave off the crushing pain I get now. But this is the NHS in its death throes, as is the Probation Service - every man for man/woman for him/herself, and stop whingeng when you are being hurled about (or brutally ignored) in what goes for a 'care' home. <br /><br />(I am not getting at staff in specialist hospital depts or surgeries - they struggle in increasingly inferior circs, to give their best - as do many probation staff - but we need the tories out next time!)MLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-5678407767188309112015-05-28T09:12:04.983+01:002015-05-28T09:12:04.983+01:00Not on topic at all but just had my May reporting ...Not on topic at all but just had my May reporting session with my OM by telephone instead of in person. In person sessions generally last 20 - 30 minutes. This telephone reporting session lasted exactly 3 1/2 minutes and would have been cut off after 2 1/2 minutes if I hadn't insisted on telling the OM a piece of good news which rounded the call out to 3 1/2 minutes. I guess this is the way forward for those monthly reporting sessions under the new owners.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-29452819665723530442015-05-28T08:30:28.986+01:002015-05-28T08:30:28.986+01:002 days? 3 days? 3weeks? What does it really matter...2 days? 3 days? 3weeks? What does it really matter? <br />Its just the same old bullshit, upbeat talk thats got no substance, and once the last member has left the hall, the exec go back to HQ to do whatever it is they do, but it wont be much of what was delivered at the AGM.<br />NAPO are now focused on their own survival, it needs its membership more then its membership needs it.<br />Thats not to say that staff don't need union support-they just don't need that union to be NAPO!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-18331993032937341152015-05-28T07:46:52.458+01:002015-05-28T07:46:52.458+01:00Can anyone expand on alleged bonus payments made t...Can anyone expand on alleged bonus payments made to napo paid staff? On what grounds/basis were they 'earned'? How much was paid, and to who? As a PO of 20+ years' standing I've never received a "bonus", although I'm very much aware that ACO grades, ministers, senior civil servants - and now napo officials - see fit to trouser PRP bonus payments on the back of the considerable efforts of frontline staff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com