Since the indicative ballot on excessive workloads closed – with a decisive 90% of voting members saying they would be prepared to take industrial action – Napo has continued to press the employer and Government for real change on a range of issues.
We have asked them to make clear:
- If they intend to make any progress to meet Napo’s 7 asks on Workloads
- When Probation staff will have a pay offer for 2026/27.
We took this to the new MoJ Ministerial Team this week, which includes Lord Chancellor Alex Norris and Probation and Prisons Minister Catherine McKinnell.
It was made clear that major improvement needs to be made by HMPPS on workloads and Probation pay if a damaging industrial dispute is to be avoided.
Our points were well received, but nothing tangible has materialised at time of writing.
Given the deadlines we set for HMPPS have passed we will now move to the next stage of our campaign, a formal ballot and industrial action if that’s what members vote for.
Next Steps
At this week’s National Executive Committee (NEC), representatives unanimously agreed we should go to a formal ballot on industrial action since sufficient progress on pay and workloads simply has not materialised.
Unless the Government and HMPPS turn words into actions we will be taking advantage of recent legislative changes to run the formal ballot on industrial action electronically – the first time in Napo’s history.
We are holding a members meeting on 17 September 2026 at 12 Noon to give you all the information you need. Meeting link on the campaign page here
Branches are being told to prepare for ballot and Napo HQ are doing other necessary work centrally.
Our resolve not in doubt
Members have told us that some in Probation Regions are doubting members will take the action needed.
Our last ballot clearly tells us otherwise and speaks to the power of our collective action. We are clear that we have had enough of excessive workloads and inadequate pay.
The employer needs to take this trade union’s members seriously and put something meaningful on the table quickly if they want to prevent industrial action.
4 responses
As agency I am unable to vote on pay and/or action , despite being full Napo member – I am assuming I am not part of this ?
Is there a petition set up by NAPO linking to an auto-populated letter to email local MPs?
Not as of yet. We will be deploying various campaign methods during in the run up and during industrial action.
NAPO. Why is it accepted to see no progression for workers at the top of the pay scale? Workers who have been with the service a long long time and worked through the hardship of the last 20 years plus. Do we not deserve to get an extra 4/5% on top of our salary?
So in theory those not at the top of their scales can see an uplift which is quite attractive but 5% for a band 2/3 at the top is quite frankly atrocious. What it says is that there is no loyalty to those workers who are still with the service 20 years onwards. It’s a disgrace. That amount will only reduce because the employer is losing the committed long term workers due to the poor wage hence why i think there ones at the top of pay scale are forgotten about.
Why is no one fighting for that? I pay over £20 a month for NAPO and I as well as a few of my colleagues I work with feel forgotten about. We are struggling to live and pay bills yet because we have worked here the longest we don’t get an increase. Band 3 is just over 33,000? For long hours, stress, commitment and dedication to our job.
Do people really think that’s an acceptable wage for the amount of work that we do and the dedication we put in. I feel so under valued and upset by this. I may as well go and work in a supermarket.
5% is an embarrassment, its an insult and does not help in the current cost of living crisis for people on the lower bands.