Probation Pay 2015/16 – Napo secures offer for staff at the top of their pay scale

The Napo Officers have agreed the recommendation from the negotiators to ask our members in the NPS and CRC’s to signal their acceptance of a pay offer which has been made to the NNC Joint Secretaries this week. This has emerged from the discussions between the probation unions and NOMS about the outstanding elements of the joint unions pay claim for the year 2015-2016.

Background

The last two Governments have imposed a stringent public sector pay policy that has resulted in a real cut in wages for our members working within the probation service. Whilst we have seen a minimum recognition of the contractual entitlement to pay progression, our members who have reached their pay maxima have suffered a real cut in pay with no upward movement in their particular pay band.

The negotiations with NOMS have again been especially difficult and last week the NNC Joint Secretaries received the attached offer for distribution to members during local consultations which should be arranged as soon as possible. This provides a minimum and pensionable £300 underpin for members who have not been in receipt of a pay increment as a result of the 2015/16 unions pay claim.

Nobody here at Napo will claim that the offer is a huge victory, or that it represents a fair reward for the efforts of our members in maintaining services in the post-TR world.

Nevertheless, it’s worth reflecting that

• It’s the first pensionable pay award of any sort for staff at their pay maxima since 2010.
   
• Napo has successfully argued that the terms of the Local Government Pension Scheme should apply to the offer and extra funding has now been provided to make this possible
   
• Napo does not agree with and reserves its position on the assertion by NOMS (which will be seen in the full offer) that future payments of this type would not attract a pensionable element.
   
• The offer needs to be seen in the context of other pay awards across NOMS and elsewhere which have not provided a similar payment.

What you would get

The increases on offer by pay band are as follows. Our understanding so far is that (with the exception of two CRC’s who are currently transitioning their payroll services) all outstanding increments should have been received by Napo members working in a CRC. Branch Chairs are asked to let us know if this is not the case.  

Of course the offer makes it clear that NOMS cannot make payments of the lump sums on behalf of the CRC’s, and that the unions will need to establish communications with the CRC’s (through the NNC Joint Secretaries) for them to effect payment should their respective members signal acceptance.

The Officers share my view that while this represents some welcome news in tough times, it merely highlights the continuing inadequacies of the probation pay structure.

The offer proposes that the remaining monies in the 1% “pot” are shared between those staff who are at the top of their pay scale and have received no incremental award.

The proposal is that the monies are shared on the basis of a one off but pensionable payment. This is an important principle that has followed strong representations by us in the discussions with NOMS. There is a a weighting for higher paid staff in recognition of the proportionately lower % increases and the time it has been since these staff received any significant inflation based award.

The unions also recognise that the overall response to the joint pay claim is inadequate. It is appalling that, despite everything that probation staff have had to cope with following the imposition of TR, the HM Treasury remit could still not accommodate even a below inflation basic increase for all staff. Nevertheless the  Probation trade unions reluctantly believe that this is the best that can be achieved by negotiation in these circumstances.

Looking ahead

These difficulties again highlight how fundamentally broken and unsustainable the current pay arrangements have become as a result of the Governments pay policy, and we will shortly be engaging in ‘shadow discussions’ with NOMS whilst we await a remit for 2016-2017 pay and beyond.

Our focus will be on attaining a shorter route for pay progression and a future reward structure that more fairly reflects your skills and the work that your employer expects from you.

Pay Ratification Form will follow for Branch Chairs and Secretaries only.

Branches will be organising meetings at which members can discuss and vote on this offer and all members are encouraged to participate. In line with the national constitution (section 20 (a) (vi)) these meetings do not have to be quorate.

The closing date for the ratification process is 12 NOON MONDAY 16 MAY 2016.

Many thanks in anticipation of your support in organising the consultation process.

Click here for the Pay Offer

Yours sincerely

IAN LAWRENCE         DEAN ROGERS     

General Secretary      Assistant General Secretary

CHRIS WINTERS        YVONNE PATTISON

National Co-Chair       National Co-Chair