In this final mail out to Probation members in 2025, we have set out our views on a number of questions that we have frequently received from members (listen to the latest podcast episode here).
Obviously, the long wait for a formal pay offer from the employer has caused huge amounts of anger, frustration, anxiety and disillusionment for members, which we have communicated back to Ministers and HMPPS senior managers at every available opportunity. While, at time of writing, we have still not received a formal pay offer we wanted to remind members how Napo will deal with this when it does arrive.
What happens when a pay offer is received?
After the negotiators for the trade unions receive a formal pay offer, in writing, from the employer there are a number of steps Napo will take. This is to ensure the confidentiality of the offer, the integrity of the process involved and so we can determine the position that their negotiators will take in terms of the next round of face-to-face negotiations with the employer to try to achieve the best outcome for the members involved.
In Napo’s case this also involves confidential discussions, as required, between the negotiators who meet with the employer’s representatives in pay negotiations and our Probation Negotiating Committee (elected from Napo’s membership).
Once the next round of negotiations with the employer have ended the negotiators will discuss the final outcome with the Probation Negotiating Committee, who will determine whether this represents a pay offer it can recommend to Probation members in England and Wales. As previously discussed, there is an existing commitment that whatever pay offer is put to a vote of Napo members there will be a recommendation from your Probation Negotiating Committee whether members should accept or reject this pay offer.
It is at this point that we will share details of the outcome of this year’s pay negotiations with the wider membership, alongside the recommendation of the Probation Negotiating Committee on whether to accept/reject this offer and the process by which members will be balloted.
As members would expect, prior to and during any ballot period we will also hold national (online) meetings for Probation members in England and Wales regarding the pay offer, share further information by mailouts on this as well as its effects on other issues (for example the existing trade dispute with HMPPS on pay and workloads) and set out what happens after this ballot closes, depending on either outcome.
When a pay offer is received, we will work through the process set out above as quickly as we are able without sacrificing the need to properly, and confidentially, progress the negotiations with the employer in order to achieve the best outcome we can for the members involved.
We want to express our appreciation to members for their patience during what has proven to be an incredibly frustrating and disappointing episode. This is not the position we wanted our members, or the wider workforce, to be in and we have done all we can to progress this following the outcome of the ballot on industrial action several months ago.
The shameful failure to deliver a formal pay offer to Napo and the other Probation trade unions remains entirely the responsibility of this Government and our employer.
Listen to Napo General Secretary, Ian Lawrence on Times Radio about the PAC’s report
38 responses
Did we expect anything less
Under valued
Under paid
Over worked
Please can we continue to ask why Sussex Police are awarded Sussex Weighting to their wages but we were assessed as not needing it? It makes no sense that they get it but we do not!
If a pay offer stalls for longer than Feb 2026, NAPO must show leadership and direction and ensure a strike ballot takes place !
In addition, NAPO needs to ensure that case loads and work related stress are issues being taken seriously because unreasonable high case loads , common throughout the Probation Service , are seriously linked to stress , attendance management and retention. This needs to be highlighted if NAPO is to be taken seriously as a union that means business.
There was a strike ballot and not enough voted to go forward with it so in this case, while agreeing, it is down to the membership to get involved. Could do this by making sure their details are up to date to ensure that ballot papers are received.
Just a thought, is there not a contractual requirement for the pay rise to be awarded and in the event that there is not one put forward the management side are in breach of contract and employees ‘could’ leave due to this contract breach?
This is not good enough
Why do we keep stalling we need to strike now
Not keep waiting, on the off chance we will get another offer, next week or next month. Or in 12 months
We should not be using empty threats of potential strike action we should down tools and get on with it.
I understand everyone’s frustration and anger, because I’m just as disappointed and furious about the lack of respect the organisation and the Government have shown all of us yet again this year. However, for strike action to be a legal and for all of us members to be protected, Napo must ensure that a formal postal ballot is carried out and the necessary thresholds are met. Postal ballots are expensive and as a small specialist union, we do not have endless resources for balloting members unfortunately. The last ballot in August did not meet the threshold as less than 50% of the membership voted. We all need to pull together, speak to our colleagues, ask them to update their address on the website to ensure they receive the ballot papers and encourage them to vote (even if that vote is a ‘no’). Napo’s staff group/leadership cannot do this for us, it is our job as members to get the mandate and show that we will no longer accept this treatment. I am hopeful that the next ballot will be successful if the pay offer is not adequate.
I believe the Ballot being in paper form led to a lower turn out than we could have received if it could be digital in some way. Is this something that can be considered for the next Ballot? As its clear we need the next one to pass
It’s every year
We have to go with the metaphorical begging bowl!
Every year the ministers deliver a speech saying how much we are valued clearly not enough value to pay us nearly enough of what we are worth – it’s becoming a norm a culture if you like that we have to always protest to be paid what we are worth
I have been asked to join a union. I don’t see the point. Nothing seems to happen for the union members. Or would I know more if I was a member of a union. Just asking?
I am forever seeing other departments striking and getting pay deals but never hear anything about probation. According to this government they have put more money in peoples pockets. My pay has actually gone down due to the immediate withdrawal of unsocial hours pay. I see no action from unions on this. So please before I pay my £25 per month tell me what you will do for me. Thanks.
You take the pay rises negotiated by the Union each year !
I think the fault lies with NAPO. They are not strong enough to fight on our behalf. The public have no idea what work we do, we are an invisible service and without public support, we are not able to exert as much pressure as doctors, teachers, etc. NAPO needs to do more to ensure the public are aware of the vital work we do to keep them safe. Without public support, we will not achieve as much.
I also believe that if NAPO leaders were on the same wages as us, the negotiations would improve.
They are not strong enough ? We mean we ?
SERIOUSLY! Ridiculous, no pay offer and we’re still waiting – Probation only operates due to the goodwill of its employees and once again we are being walked over – COMPLETELY IGNORED start immediate work to rule, only do what we are contracted to, take our legally entitled breaks (very few do), etc,
Do something !
This is why we need to work to rule if industrial action is needed. No loss of wages. Significant effect. People can stop working extra for no pay to prevent public harm and it would be noticed. Unfortunately, we only would get to do it once and the goverment would legislate to prevent action in future.
The Unions are useless!……There were numerous attempts to make justification for a strike and do it when it had maximum impact………all those released on SDS. FTR, TPRS, etc …..however, we continue to stall……its all a joke!
Should Napo not now be fighting for the second pay rise in April also
As I am sitting here doing a 12.5 hour night shift I am wondering the same. But by the track record they will leave those negotiations until end of 2026.
On the queries about unions being useless, and what does a union do…
Unions Unison, GMB and Napo are working together on this pay offer.
They only ever do what their members wish, so the government has to make the offer first. Though their members may say they are fed up waiting and wish to strike or work to time etc -but their members have to vote for this… they balloted for this earlier this year and not enough members voted to strike.
They are only ever as powerful as their members wish them to be. So… if you aren’t a paying member of a union you can’t vote on the offer and whether to strike or not. Also,
If you get into an issue with your employer about sickness or performance etc you may wish to have a union representative by your side. But if you aren’t a union member this isn’t possible.
Please consider joining as it’s about supporting the working person. Too much power in one It may seem like a waste of money but one day you may wish you had joined.
I do hope the unions and government are considering what will happen to the following years pay rise also.
It is difficult to consider paying £25 per month when NAPO don’t seem to be doing anything. What has NAPO done in respect of the recent vicious attacks on Probation Officers? Still no personal alarms and no briefings in respect of ant considered increase in security.
Napo is haemorrhaging members and I’m afraid I’m now going to be one of those leaving too,
I am of the understanding, we were told that there would be news on another offer before Christmas, which came directly from NAPO on 12/12/2025. Where is this?
We are now almost 3 weeks on from Christmas, and once again, there has been nothing. Now I understand that this is dependant on the employer providing this offer, and NAPO have no control over this, however, it felt like another bout of false hope was promised, but with no follow up at all to explain why there has been nothing.
I personally think the false hope given is worse than waiting and receiving nothing at all.
Do we not think, now that we are well into the new year that there should be some form of teams meeting as there has been in the past to provide any most recent updates, or re-address the issue. We are nearing closer and closer to the end of the financial year, and STILL do not have any form of progress on this. Before you know it, as others have said, we will be into the next financial year, which no offer will be given for that either. When we cross that threshold, are we going to be back paid to April 2025, or will that all be forgotten and we start again, begging for recognition to be back paid to 2026?
I think more reassurance and explanation is needed. No false hope, but realistic answers about what is being done.
NAPO aren’t interested in local issues. I had a legitimate gripe with a policy – explained why I was right, pointed to the black and white within the policy and the representative told me that ‘it wasn’t in the spirit of the policy’ and ‘the employer likely won’t budge’ – the rep never gave me updates on my case. I had to do all the chasing and work myself, whenever I queried it, the rep always asked me ‘oh, have I not sent you the emails?’
I took the case to HR, and they acknowledged I was correct and the manager was in the wrong – NAPO were a complete waste of time and I cancelled within the first month, you need wins and you need good will – yet your rep threw that one in the bin as a loser, silly.
As for the cost of it, NAPO charge way too much in terms of the fees to join / maintain – it should be £5 and it would be hardly noticeable, plus the likelihood is that you’d get way more uptake and way more engagement from people. I know I’d probably shrug it off for the that price, but £23 a month, for what, legit for what?
Labour gave the Prison Service 10% upon their successful election victory, a further 4% on the following recommendation and now look to go another 2% come April 2026, that is 16% – whereas Probation have had nothing under this government, and as no deal has been agreed, we’re just in limbo, but the unions want to claim victory for bringing the 3 year CONSERVATIVE pay deal to a close in October of 2024 instead of April 2025 and think the £10 a month extra I got as an uplift a victory vs the Prisons 10% at the time? Pathetic.
Honestly guys, anyone who has no warnings on their record – just take stock of your options – depending on when you joined, check the Civil Service Policy on sickness, and if you feel as stressed and as angry as I do about all this, then you take the time you need to feel a bit better, the employer aren’t going to look after you and that is the only honest and straight forward takeaway you can be sure of.
Any news on pay negotiations?
Now is the time for collective, visible action/messaging…. At the next ALL STAFF call with (very well paid senior executives) all staff that dial in should leave the call within the first 5 minutes. This is a simple yet visible message that we are angry and fed up of not being heard. We can give a visible message that we feel we are ignored. What makes this more frustrating is we should now be negotiating for 2026! This impacts our wellbeing, quality of life, our families and our ability to cope financially with the costs of living.
This is a very good idea! I for one will be doing this
What I find astounding and cannot get over since finding out last year is that Victim Unit PSO colleagues are now Band 4 which is the same Band as qualified Probation Officers who have not only had to do intensive training and academic studies to be come a Probation Officer but for the most part are in field teams with excessive caseloads. This is nothing against PSO colleagues in Victims Unit, as this is what was negotiated for them but it is time that the same level of negotiation and challenge is made for Probation Officers and PSO colleagues in field who have been over worked for many years with little financial reward. The Pay Band for Probation Officers needs to be increased in fairness, this annual cat and mouse game of trying to negotiate a pay deal then eventually being awarded an additional 1-2% is a slap in the face.
Strike Action as far as I am concerned is ineffective, as all that happens is the participants lose out on pay the days that they strike then upon return to work, their work is still there so playing catch up for the missed days through strike. What is required is work to contracted hours, and everyone sticking to this, surely this would be more effective.
This is why we need to work to rule if industrial action is needed. No loss of wages. Significant effect. People can stop working extra for no pay to prevent public harm and it would be noticed. Unfortunately, we only would get to do it once and the goverment would legislate to prevent action in future.
It’s disgusting that a pay offer has not been completed for 2025! As others have stated, we are coming into the new financial year in April. Will we all be back paid for the 2025 financial year when an agreement is made, then once that is done will you then be fighting to increase again post April 2026 to continue bringing probation in line with other services pay? It’s beyond ridiculous and feels like we at probation are just being told to suck eggs (to put it politely), keep quiet and get on with it.
I’ve never been on strike before, mainly because I’ve never felt this undervalued. I’ve been in this service 20 years doing various roles, and 20 years in other completely different jobs prior. I generally felt that prior to Probation my hard work and conscientiousness were rewarded in line with my efforts. A colleague asked me the other day that if a ballot was called, would I go on strike. I was actually disappointed that without hesitation I replied ‘Yes’. I feel year on year that successive governments, and even more regretfully, senior Probation management, are content, even pushing (for their own ends), to watch people be put under more pressure and thinking that we’ll soak it up while our salaries are not only not increasing, but being eaten away compared with the cost of living. Let alone recognising the true value of what we do by paying us appropriately to start with. It’s way out of balance. I’ve got a few years work left, if this pay deal isn’t realistic, those years won’t be in Probation. What should be more worrying for the Service is that a lot of my younger colleagues are also thinking the same.
If the unions have no teeth, I’m afraid that’s because of us, the members. Ministers will see that we aren’t voting and that we can’t be bothered, so will offer us nothing.
If we are a part of HMPPS can anyone tell me why probation staff are not valued?
Our counterparts in prisons are paid nearly £7000 more than us..
Why do we always have to wait to negoiate our pay when police a nd prisons staff always get their pay increase every year without any negoation ?Perhaps we need to highlight more what we do and all the new governments schemes impact our staff more.
STRIKE
For those of us at the top of the pay scale any pay offer under inflation is actually a pay cut. The years of under inflation rises have decimated our salaries and heavily impacted on the cost of living. Perhaps those who are not long in the service don’t care quite as much and choose to leave rather than strike. I would leave if I could but am too far in with my pension to start all over again in another job at the bottom of the scale.
I for one have only been carrying out my contractual hours and will not be taking part in any extra hours offered this includes Training and away days, If they cannot respect me as an Employee how can i respect them as an Employer, oh wait i get a savoury from Greggs as a bonus in kind lol.
i voted for strike action and will vote again without hesitation.
The long drawn job of trying to get a pay offer from this Government has made me start looking for another position away from the MOJ and in an environment that is already heavily understaffed you would hope they would take note and offer.
If the government fails to provide a pay offer to civil servants, unions like the PCS typically escalate industrial action, including strikes and targeted, coordinated action to pressure ministers. They may also initiate legal action, leverage public campaigning, and lobby for better pay, as seen in the 2022/23 disputes.
Actions unions can take include:
Industrial Action & Strikes: Unions can ballot members to take national strike action or targeted, sustained strikes to disrupt services and force negotiations.
Action Short of a Strike: This includes work-to-rule, working only contracted hours, or refusing to perform extra duties.
Increased Campaigning: Mobilising members through increased activism, media campaigns, and public-facing campaigns to highlight low pay and declining living standards.
Political Pressure & Lobbying: Pressuring the government to revise the pay remit, especially if it falls behind inflation.
Organising & Recruitment: Building union strength in workplaces to increase the impact of any action.
Unions often argue that without a formal offer, the government is trying to impose a pay freeze or below-inflation rise, requiring a unified response.
It’s about time the unions did something to get us noticed – WORK TO RULE start NOW
And now there is no update until AUGUST !!!……… well this is just no surprise !!!! ………. The Probation Negotiating Committee of Napo has been actively involved in the ongoing negotiations regarding the 2025-2026 Probation Pay Offer. The committee has met to determine the next steps following the indicative ballot results, which showed a strong rejection of the offer by 88.97% of voting members. The committee is now preparing to ballot on industrial action and will formally notify the employer of the outcome. They are also working on a plan to issue a postal ballot for strike action and action short of strike action, with a result expected on Friday, August 22nd. This plan aims to address the long-standing unresolved trade dispute on Probation Pay and Workloads and the recent deadlock following negotiations. The committee’s actions reflect the collective efforts and concerns of Napo members regarding their pay and working conditions.
I’m sorry I’m a little confused.. what makes you think there will be no update till August this year? The last thing the unions said is they are waiting on a counter offer as we rejected the 4% and they don’t provide one quickly we will vote to strike .. I’ve heard nothing since then and not heard anything about not hearing till August 2026?
Seriously unions come on! Why are we just waiting again for another offer?! Why are we just sitting on our hands and knees.. appears the unions aren’t bothered neither since we still aren’t striking! Getting a bit beyond a joke now to be honest