PROBATION PAY UPDATE
- Unions reject final 2021/2022 pay offer
- Members to be asked to endorse a Trade Dispute and retain option of future industrial action over pay.
- Unions to plan protest action as part of the pay campaign.
- Demand made to Employer to implement Incremental Progression and AP Residential Worker back pay in December salaries.
As expected, these discussions have been especially difficult and probably would not have taken place at all were it not for the resolve shown by members across the three Probation unions which brought the employer back to the table.
At a meeting of the National Executive Committee this week, (also attended by members of the Napo Probation Negotiating Committee), serious anger was expressed that the government have ignored the claims of our members yet again. They have refused to release new money to your employer and are using the vindictive and politically motivated public sector pay freeze as an excuse. This itself has been put in place to mask their disastrous handling of the Covid pandemic.
While the government has announced that the pay freeze will end with effect from next April it does not help our members whatsoever, as the pay remit for Probation in 2021/2022 only allows for a derisory increase in pay of £250 for those any staff on a pay point under £24k.
Next steps
As you would expect, your negotiators have made it clear to the employer that the final pay offer, which we will circulate to members along with ballot material next week, represents an unacceptable position.
After a full and frank debate on the outcome of the pay talks, the NEC overwhelmingly agreed that balloting for industrial action at this stage would not be in our member’s best interests. Instead, they decided that we should be asking members to reject the offer and endorse our intention to join with our sister unions in lodging a formal Trade Dispute. This means that industrial action would remain an option subject to progress in future negotiations.
This will be part of an ongoing campaign to secure a Multi-Year-Pay deal for the Probation Service with effect from 1st April 2022. Among other things this will need to deliver: revalorisation of pay points, an end to pay band overlaps and the creation of a new salary structure that addresses the huge pay gap between our members and the salaries of workers in comparable public-facing professions outside of the Probation Service.
We have been told by the Probation Minister, the Director General and senior management, that this is a top priority, and that they are committed to delivering such a deal. Members will be expecting them to deliver on this promise once the pay freeze has been lifted.
Future Protest Action
Meanwhile we are also planning a campaign of joint protest action to support this campaign and further details about how members can take part in this will follow in due course.
Unions demand the delivery of contractual entitlements
Over the last few weeks we have regularly demanded payment of three outstanding contractual issues, namely incremental pay progression to those who are eligible to receive it, the AP Residential Worker back pay and the agreement from the 2020 Pay award that would see staff at Pay Band 1 assimilated into Pay Band 2.
The employer has committed to write to us early next week, and it is our expectation that there will be some positive news in respect of the above which is a direct result of union pressure.
Please look out for more news on pay over the next week and any consultative meetings for members which may be organised early next month.
Ian Lawrence General Secretary
Katie Lomas National Chair
I expect a very aggressive leafleting campaign to be on the cards soon.
ReplyDeleteThe Government must be scared sh*tless
Ha bloody not likely. The tardy spin above is more classic Napo
DeleteBlow hard. Serious anger omg I bet the employers were laughing
Their heads off. Unaceptable stated was it or what. Coupled to the flat drab NEC Wannabees say anything to please the employer with no industrial action means the union are doing nish just like always. Talk waffle talk blah Boris Johnstone is not in a league of his own is he.
A shameful step down from the position advocated in barnstorming platform speeches at AGM only a month ago and shows utterly pessimistic view of what could be achieved with more determined leadership. Proud to say I was the single NEC member who voted against
ReplyDeleteWell done perhaps. Being alone on issues at the nec then openly telling people. They will want rid of you shortly perhaps you will experience the packs wrath you have colluded in the past so must realise how unpopular dissent is. The Napo leader is determined . Self self self determined. The AGM a platform for his ego and corn for the chickens. How long will it take for members to realise what incompetence has brought us to. Lost terms pay employers destruction of professionalism mixed staffing economies shedding of role function. Not one legal argument. Nothing but agreement with employers and bullshit to members. Time you told the whole truth berry.
DeleteJust read the Napo blog AGM report this climb down was predicted in the posts. No surprise then.
ReplyDeleteSteve Reed is the new shadow justice secretary taking over from David Lammy who I'd forgotten was in that role.
ReplyDeleteLetter from Sue Taylor today stating the rebanding has been cleared by treasury and uplift will be paid in December, nothing about back pay.
ReplyDeleteMy reading is the Unions have screwed over RWs by trying to tie up lots of issues as soon as its been decoupled its going through.
Big slow hand clap to Union "negotiating team" who have managed to delay this overdue rebanding being settled. Hopefully the unions can stay out the way while back pay, additional hours etc are sorted out.
As expected all sorted with the RWs now that the trade unions no longer involved. Far to often thetub thumping second rate failed political wannabes in the trade unions hold progress up for the vast majority who quite rightly have not joined any of them.
ReplyDelete