The Probation trade unions have met twice with senior Sodexo management within the last week to discuss the company’s plans to implement a staff reduction programme and the associated offer for an enhanced early retirement scheme (EVR).
The statement (click here) which was presented to Sodexo last night by the trade unions, makes it clear that the unions believe that the proposals are unacceptable and that we expect the company to honour the terms of the National Staff Transfer Agreement .
As indicated, Napo will be urgently consulting with our Napo representatives from the Sodexo owned CRCs and will be referring the issue to the National Negotiating Council NNC. It has been agreed at this stage that detailed information (on which we are awaiting a final version later today) will be shared initially on an 'in confidence basis' with the local CRC representatives from each of the unions.
I fully appreciate the current uncertainty that our members within the Sodexo owned CRCs are trying to cope with and the wish to see more information. As you might expect, there are a number of hugely complex issues that have arisen from the discussions with Sodexo, and Napo has been working extremely hard to defend your interests. We are also insisting that the contractor should abide by the national agreements that were underwritten by the Secretary of State prior to TR Share sale.
At this stage I am asking that enquiries about the contents of this circular be limited to Sodexo CRC members please via your Napo representative to: Ranjit Singh (rsingh@napo.org.uk).
I will be issuing more news for all Napo members once we have consulted with our Sodexo CRC reps and at the same time as the proposals are released more widely to staff across the CRC's involved.
Yours sincerely
Ian Lawrence,
General Secretary