Probation Pay Dispute - Increments Under Attack - 24 April 08

Following the decision of Probation Employers not to pay due increments to probation staff from 1 April 2008, Napo and Unison have recorded a dispute at the National Negotiating Council and are asking members to show support for industrial action in an indicative ballot (more).

Probation Pay Dispute - Joint Napo/Unison Statement

At the meeting of the National Negotiating Council (NNC) on the 4th March Napo and Unison jointly registered a dispute following the Employers’ confirmation of their decision to withhold the payment of increments to staff on the 1st April 2008.

Whilst the Employers accept that staff have a contractual right to incremental progression they are insisting that the rate of progression is agreed as part of the negotiations on the trade union pay claim for 2008/09. The unions have made clear that this is unacceptable:

there is no written agreement suggesting increments should not be paid as laid out in the 3 year pay deal ending on the 31st March;

it is unjust and potentially discriminatory;

it will mean staff face a pay cut as a result of the increase in pension contributions from the 1st April.

Negotiations with the Employers are continuing in the hope of resolving this dispute (as well as addressing the formal pay claim) but the unions believe we must consider other options in pursuit of justice for our members in the Probation Service.

Next Steps

Napo and Unison have met nationally and agreed the next steps in our dispute. We have agreed to hold an indicative ballot of members to establish support for our dispute and commitment to any action that might become necessary if negotiations are unsuccessful. However, it should be noted that industrial action can only be taken following a statutory ballot of all members.

Branch Action

Napo/Unison Branches are to establish joint committees immediately which will organise and implement local campaigning and disseminate information related to the dispute.

The indicative ballot will start on 1st May – the joint committees will be asked to organise workplace meetings on that day which will promote the ballot and focus on the reasons for the dispute.

The indicative ballot process and format will be confirmed shortly and Napo and Unison members will receive a ballot paper with identical wording.

The ballot will close on the 30th May

Further information will be provided to Branches and the joint committees in due course. Branches are asked to provide their respective National Officials with the contact details of their joint committees as soon as the information is available.

Any questions regarding this Circular should be directed to Jonathan Ledger, Assistant General Secretary, for Napo Branches or Ben Priestley, National Officer, for Unison Branches.