Napo has today issued a comprehensive briefing to individual members about the position in respect of ongoing negotiations on E3 and this is also available on the Napo Website. This makes it clear that while the unions have reached agreement on the process of implementation, there are many aspects of the programme that require further negotiation and clarification especially in respect of the previous JE for VLO and AP staff which it has been agreed will be the subject of further review.
In its earlier communications to staff and recent postings on their intranet, NOMS have indicated that the formal launch of the E3 programme will take place on the 1st June, and we understand that some NPS divisions have started to publish news of the activities that will be taking place over the next month.
The position is that the probation unions submitted evidence prior to the E3 consultation period and we expect to see the response to this from the employer next Tuesday. This will also be publicised on the NOMS Intranet. This communication will also seek to address the many questions and issues that have been raised as part of that process.
In addition to the response to the feedback from the consultation, there will be some additional documents published, which are intended to support the implementation of E3 across NPS, these are:
The Resourcing Policies which explain the principles and processes that will be used to implement the new E3 structure.
The updated version of the E3 Implementation Agreement which has now been the subject of is final negotiations. This confirms the protections secured by Napo in respect of no redundancies, 3 years pay protection and a guarantee of placement in the protected pay band within the three year period.
Napo to seek JNCC Meetings
NPS Divisions have been asked to create implementation boards to put the required changes in place and Divisional Directors have been told that the implementation will be staged according to the amount of change required to reach the E3 end state. NPS JNCC Reps are asked to ensure that they seek early meetings with their Divisional Directors and press for as much information as possible to be made available.
We envisage that there will be briefings to provide line managers with the necessary information for them to brief their teams about how E3 will impact on operational practice.
One to one meetings
From the end of June, we expect that staff whose current role is in scope of the Phase 1 E3 design will be having a 1:1 meeting with a HR representative. The purpose of this meeting is for each staff member to understand what the impact is on them individually and for information to be gathered to assist in planning the actions needed to implement the new structures. These will not be formal meetings, and at this stage no member should commit to anything until their future position within the E3 structure is made absolutely clear by the employer, and after they have sought advice from their Napo representative at a later stage if they deem it necessary.
Where to get more information from your employer
NOMS will be referring staff to an area on their intranet https://intranet.noms.gsi.gov.uk/support/e3/what-does-it-mean-for-me which provides further information on E3, of which there is a section on frequently asked questions. Many of these questions have come through the unions from our members and have been passed to NOMS for them to provide answers to.
Further questions from members
We would ask that individual members refrain from contacting Chivalry Road directly with unanswered questions but channel these through their Napo representatives for onward transmission to Chivalry Road. This will assist us in gauging reaction and taking up the issues arising directly with senior NOMS management. Napo will of course then provide further updates to members at every opportunity.
We fully appreciate that the E3 programme is creating substantial uncertainty amongst members and your union is doing all that it can.
Yours sincerely
IAN LAWRENCE CHRIS WINTERS YVONNE PATTISON
General Secretary National Co-Chairs