COURT RECOVERY TU FEEDBACK 27.5.20
This is a very brief update, from National Vice Chair Siobhan Foreman, to advise members working in Court teams that TUs have recently been involved in preliminary discussions with the Probation Deputy Director, Courts to consider plans for Courts recovery. Just to clarify, The Exceptional Delivery Model (EDM) remains in place at this time.
There are several issues to consider due to the complexities of working in non-probation buildings. As members will expect, the focus of our talks has been regarding H&S issues to ensure Court staff are working in a safe environment. I hope you will appreciate due to the confidential nature of discussions I am unable to provide members with specific details at this time. I can, however, inform you that Napo, (together with other recognised TUs) have insisted that prior to all NPS staff moving back into Courts a risk assessment is undertaken which involves local TU H&S reps, SPO’s, practioners and HMMPS H&S Leads. We have also requested that H&S reps are given facility time and work load relief to undertake their TU commitments.
Regular Court TU engagement meetings will continue and as Napo Court Lead, I will provide members with regular updates. If members have issues, please raise with your line manager in the first instance.
Siobhan Foreman, National Vice Chair
INFORMATION FROM THE TUC
As reported last week, TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady announced at the Better Recovery Recovery conference that the TUC would be hosting a major free festival (online) in the summer showcasing new models of organising.
The festival “Organise 2020” will take place from 9 to 11 July, and will feature union organising stories from around the UK and around the world, host debates on major trends in organising, and offer online training sessions in key organising topics and new digital technologies.
The aim is to link reps and organisers around the country, build their skills and inspiration, and support unions in working together to recruit and organise new members and their workplaces.
If you are interested in joining in with any or all of these events – that’s the good thing about online conferences you can pick and choose – you can pre-register at https://www.tuc.org.uk/organise-2020
Further news from the TUC on government engagement
An announcement on the next stage of the job retention scheme is expected shortly and the TUC is pushing for the Chancellor to bring forward the date from which short time working will be allowed to as soon as possible. It has suggested that any employer contributions should be phased in gradually to protect jobs.
The unions are also pushing for a wider package of support to protect jobs and workers. That should include introducing a jobs guarantee as set out in their report “A New Plan for Jobs”, industry recovery panels to give tailored support to sectors as covered in the Better Recovery Report and an extension to the Self Employed Income Support Scheme for those who have lost income due to the crisis.
The TUC has also been engaged with the Department for Business to develop ‘Working Safely’ guidance and with the Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sports, which has now set up a recreation and leisure taskforce to produce guidelines for safe working in sectors ranging from libraries to broadcasting. TUC Deputy GS, Paul Nowak, has joined the taskforce and the TUC is co-ordinating union engagement with DCMS across the working groups.