Is that the sound of hinges falling off gates already?

Reports are reaching us today that at least two CRC’s are in serious difficulty with their planning for the provision of the Governments flagship ‘Through the Gate’ support scheme (TTG).

Whilst none of us should really be surprised at this news, I have asked Napo Branches to provide me with details of what is (or what is not) happening across CRC’s in their locale in order that we can establish the whole picture.

Exposing the failings on service delivery is the optimum route for us in terms of our continuing campaign, and we need carefully catalogued information to keep coming in to us here please. Use campaigns@napo.org.uk with all contact coming from your private e-mail address to guarantee confidentiality.

Lords still leaping for Napo

Great to hear from: Lords Jeremy Beecham and David Ramsbotham last week, prior to the oral justice questions debate in the House of Lords. It’s comforting to know that these intrepid campaigners refuse to give up on the probation service and as always we were pleased to be able to offer them information in advance.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/150212-0001.htm#15021259000307

Justice Day Rally 23 February 2015

Napo and the TUC Speak up for Justice Campaign are supporting the Justice Alliance’s “Relay for Rights” march from Runnymede (this coming Saturday 21st through to Monday 23rd February) in response to Chris Grayling’s Global Law Summit on 23rd February, which is supposed to commemorate the 800^th anniversary of Magna Carta.

That flagship event which is being held at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre (a snip at approx. £1700 a ticket) is described as a “unique one-off high level business forum”, bringing together a “mix of business leaders, public sector decision makers and government officials around the world.” Most of you will already have twigged that the real purpose of this event is to sell off our justice system as an investment opportunity for big business.

Napo is urging members who can to support the march by taking part in as much of the relay as possible or turning out at key stages on the three day route to cheer the marchers on. The route details and more information can be found on the website https://justiceallianceuk.wordpress.com/2015/01/24/1684/ - or the Napo website https://www.napo.org.uk/defend-magna-carta-save-access-justice

See you at the Mass Rally – Monday 23 February

We are particularly urging branches and members to join the mass rally at the end of the march on Monday 23 February. Assemble 1pm in Old Palace Yard, Westminster

A flyer is attached – additional information is also on the website www.napo.org.uk

Could branches please let Kath Falcon kfalcon@napo.org.uk how many members they think are likely to be coming to the rally. Also let us know if you are planning to take part in the Relay for Rights.

Britain (and our members) needs a pay rise

David Cameron’s cynical plagiarising of the TUC’s mantra from ages ago has elicited some incredulity from a number of you. But yes Prime Minister, for once we agree with you, especially at the start of ‘fair pay fortnight’ (that’s another TUC initiative by the way).  

Following the recent indicative vote by UNISON members to reject the current pay ‘offer’ by a margin of 96%, and their willingness to take industrial action to seek to improve it, Napo’s NEC last week agreed to work with UNISON on the pay campaign. Your Officers and Officials have been tasked to explore what opportunities there might be for joining any industrial action if it should become necessary.

As I said in the memo to Branches last week, we held a full and frank meeting with Michael Spurr about the probation pay situation where we made our anger clear about how badly staff have been treated.  We await a formal response and will keep you posted.

Pay disappointment for some new starters

A good deal of time was spent last week trying to understand the difficulties being experienced over pay for some of the new NPS starters.  The position, which has been confirmed by NOMS just now, is that staff appointed to the NPS in the last days of January may well have missed the cut off for record transitions to be paid properly this month by NOMS. It is estimated that this may impact upon around 100 staff across the country. The expectation is that Shared Services will contact people to tell them that their details haven’t been processed in time and accordingly they will not be paid in March. They will however have access to an advance of 70% of their pay, but it is recognised by the employer that this could cause hardship for some.

NOMS say they are unable to do anything more in this regard - it is a consequence of ensuring staff had transferred into the NPS prior to the February cut off for continuity and thus instructions were then issued to prevent CRC’s again paying those staff again this month. We understand that PQF starters have been in the system longer and should be paid but what can go wrong often does of course.

What a way to treat people whose efforts have kept this whole TR project from going off the rails.

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