In this latest episode of the Napo Podcast, GS Ian Lawrence and National Chair, Ben Cockburn explain that this is the moment where every broken promise by the employer, every unmanageable caseload and every below-inflation pay rise comes to a head.
Ballot papers are landing on doormats. And now it’s in your hands.
Ben and Ian make it clear: we’ve exhausted every other route. We’ve negotiated. We’ve lobbied ministers, challenged senior officials, and fought for a better deal behind closed doors. Nothing. Not a penny more on the table. Not a single meaningful offer for a workforce holding up the justice system on sheer goodwill.
And now that goodwill is gone.
This is the fightback. Members are being asked two things:
- Are you willing to take action short of a strike?
- Are you prepared, if needed, to strike?
But before any of that matters, we need to hit 50% turnout. No turnout, no mandate. No mandate, no campaign. And we go back to being ignored.
This is not symbolic. This isn’t just a protest vote. It’s a call to arms. Napo’s strategy protects your pay while hitting the employer where it hurts. But only if we show up in force.
This ballot is more than a vote. It’s a line in the sand. A message that says: we won’t be pushed any further. If you’ve ever said: “What’s the point?” this is the point. If you’ve ever said: “Things have to change” this is how we change them.
Vote.
Tell your colleagues.
Organise.
Let’s remind this government what a united workforce looks like. Listen to the podcast below.
5 responses
I would not support a strike involving a walk out. We did that previously and were expected to reschedule work. So ended up losing a day’s pay still with the same amount of work crammed into less days. It was a joke. Working to rule and insisting workloads are no more than 100% is the only way forward. Refusing new case allocations whe we hit 100% and refusing to cover other work for staff. Or striking regards report writing is another strong stance that directly impacts the entire system
Lisa, your comment is music to the Employers ears. This is exactly what they want Practitioners to believe (and say). It is time to stand united as one and for us to stop employers treading all over us. Strike action is never wanted (and hopefully the threat along with a work to rule will be enough) but sometimes we have to take short term pain for long term gain (ask the Resident Doctors or the Nurses or the Barristers!). Let me be clear … I DO NOT WANT TO GO OUT ON STRIKE…. But if there is a mandate to do so by a legal ballot then as a NAPO member I will not undermine this by continuing to work on any planned industrial action days. It is, in my opinion, all about being in solidarity.
Unacceptable high work load is more important to myself (and wife) at present as having such a detrimental and negative impact.
I am minded to send a Foreseeability Notice as below, however I am very confused as to why such are not being promoted by NAPO. If all members had sent one (my believe is that few have been submitted), we may be in a better situation than now.
In terms of working to rule, given the advance of technology, it can easily be identified which colleagues are working over and above, in the evenings, weekends etc purely to ‘keep on top’ of excessive workloads. I admit that my decision not to work additional hours is increasing my stress levels ( over and above that associated with trying to manage an excessive workload of a full time colleague in 18.5 hours, criminal, all whilst trying to manage a disability) Colleagues won’t admit to such as they want to seen to be part of a team, consider themselves failing, with all negative emotions and harmful effects on health associated. However…NAPO could identify such and run with it!
Foreseeability Notification
To:Operations Manager……….
Cc:Branch Chair
FORESEEABILITY NOTIFICATION
My workload has become excessive and it is adversely affecting my health in the following way(s): ………………………………………………………………………*
I am worried for my own health in the event that my excessive workload persists and I believe that the demands currently being placed upon me are unreasonable. I am formally placing on record my concern that unless my situation is alleviated through a return to a reasonable workload, then there is a significantly enhanced risk of my being signed off work sick as a consequence of stress at work.
My excessive workload has now persisted for …………weeks/months and I notified my line manager of this on …………………………………………………….The extent of my symptoms indicates to me that the likelihood of my suffering significant ill health is becoming increasingly imminent.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, I have a duty of care for my own health whilst at work. Excessive workload leading to stress is recognised as a risk to health. Under the same legislation the Service also has a duty of care for my wellbeing. Failure to take all reasonable steps to observe this duty properly can render the Service liable for damages.
I expect that, as a reasonable employer who is concerned to minimise the risks posed to your staff by excessive workloads, you will be able to advise my line manager on how to rectify this situation.
I disagree we strike, we work to rule we refuse to take cases, we refuse to do parole and oral hearings beyond work loads we do not do Pom/com ISP oasys we let the system fail and definitely do not do home visits or see offenders alone after the attack of a probation officer if we do not make a stand they will continue to run rough shod we are not HMPPS
Since Labour have come in, they have given the Prison service a 14% pay increase and have given Probation 0%.
That is a fact – why do Probation think this is acceptable? All I hear in my office is the frustration, the anger about all of this and how tired people are.
Prison are dropping their cases into Probation and they get all the pay rises? Seriously, it’s time people step up and say no more. I am personally sick of being thanked by senior leaders for my ‘professionalism.’
Enough is enough.
Stop whining in work and take this chance to do something for you, me, your colleagues and your family.
Our work is important, very important and we deserve to be paid as such for it, enough.