Pay up now!

Appreciation to those Napo members who took part in activities across Probation recently to remind Senior HMPPS management that we have pretty much reached the end of our tether as to whether or not we will get Ministerial approval to start pay negotiations. As I said in the lead up to the day of protest, Napo and Unison submitted our joint pay claim to all employers on the 18th May.

Joint Pay Claim

Your National Executive Committee meets next week on 5th June. What sort of meeting that turns into is dependent on what happens (or doesn't) by that time. Who would have thought for instance that the NPS have now fallen behind two CRC owners (Sodexo and SEETEC) in the pay stakes and are vying for bottom place in the pay league table alongside the likes of the Working Links conglomerate? As an example of the appalling way in which members are still being treated by this particularly dreadful employer, the unions agreed to get back round the table at long last for ‘no strings’ discussions on pay and reward. It was no great surprise to hear them whinge on about having no money and, at this stage, looking like they intend only to pay the contractual incremental progression. As you would expect I am about to write to them telling them where to get off having received seriously angry responses from our reps. The unions are already well advanced in our planning for consultative ballots if no serious pay offer is forthcoming.

It’s another example of why something needs to happen on NPS pay to send a strong signal to all CRC owners that they will need to step up to match the hoped for settlement. Although, as the Probation Negotiating Committee heard recently, we are certainly not expecting that pay negotiations (if they do actually take place) are going to be a friendly stroll in the woods.

We have been pressing NPS leaders almost daily to get their finger out and confirm the situation so that we all know where we stand. The team here would rather spend your time and our energy in meaningful discussions through the summer trying to achieve a breakthrough on pay but we are ready with our alternative strategy if needs be.

I will bring you more news when or if it arrives.

Cafcass board members appointed

Following on from the announcement that Edward Timpson is to be the new Chair of the Cafcass Board, the Secretary of State announced the appointments of Sally Cheshire, Catherine Doran and Mandy Jones last week as new board members. The appointments are for a period of 3 years from 14 May 2018 to 13 May 2021.

Sally Cheshire CBE is Chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the UK’s regulator of the fertility sector and embryo research, and Chair of the North region for Health Education England. She is a Board member for Adoption Counts, one of the first regional adoption agencies in England and she is also an independent member of adoption panels in the North West.

Catherine Doran is a Non-Executive Director of the Disclosure and Barring Service, she also is a Trustee and Board Member of the Over The Wall Charity which provides camps for children and young people who have life threatening illnesses.

Mandy Jones has in excess of 25 years’ experience working in the civil service in a number of high profile senior roles. She led a number of major organisational change programmes working nationally and internationally within the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and for the Cabinet Office.

I look forward to meeting them all at the Open Board meeting on 15th June.

Family Court Professional Conference

Its last call for the Family Court Professional Conference in Birmingham on 12th June at Carrs Lane Conference Centre where there are still some places available. Contact Jacqui at Falcon Road jparyag@napo.org.uk if you want to take part. It’s a really interesting agenda and members from Probation are also very welcome.

Its’ free to Napo members and new joiners on the day.