What a ‘yes’ vote really means

Across the probation unions, members are facing a deeply personal decision: do I accept or reject the 4% pay offer?

Napo has strongly recommended that the offer is rejected, but there will be some members who are seriously contemplating voting yes.

This isn’t because they believe 4% is good. It’s about getting through the month. It’s because their bills are rising, pay is disappearing as soon as it lands in their bank accounts, and the anxiety of wondering how they will make ends meet is very real.

When you are under that kind of pressure, even an imperfect deal can feel like a lifeline, and that deserves understanding not judgement.

We know the members considering accepting are not celebrating this offer. They are weighing survival against principle. When finances are tight “something” can feel better than “nothing”. And in a democratic union, every member has the absolute right to vote according to their circumstances. Our job is not to criticise. It is to make sure every member sees the full picture before deciding.

The bigger picture

Voting yes may ease the pressure today, but it also writes part of tomorrow’s story.

Each pay award does not happen in isolation. They shape expectations, influence future negotiations, and signal how much this profession is valued.

Accepting less risks locking probation staff into a cycle of falling behind. Behind inflation, behind workload, and behind colleagues across the wider justice system.

And the truth is, the pressure is not easing. Workloads remain intense. New demands are coming. With the impact of sentencing changes, more responsibility will be placed on already strained shoulders.

Members must ask themselves: does this offer truly reflect the weight of the job? Does it recognise the emotional toll, the professional risk, the relentless demand? Does 4% really match what is being asked of you?

The profession you hold together

We respect our members because we know for them this isn’t just employment, it’s a vocation. Every day, members support people in crisis, protect communities, and hold together a system under strain. Many have given years — decades — to this work. Walking away is not what most want. And that is exactly why this fight matters.

Because low pay is not just about today’s bills. It shapes the future of the profession. Too many new recruits arrive full of purpose, only to leave when reality hits; when they realise dedication does not pay rent, does not cover energy bills, does not match the workload. When people leave, pressure grows on those who remain. Experience drains. Stability weakens.

We are not pushing for more for more’s sake. We are pushing because members deserve to stay afloat, not slowly drown under rising costs and rising demand.

Respecting every choice

Every member’s situation is different. Every vote is personal. Voting yes does not mean you think this is a good deal. It may simply mean you need relief now. That choice is yours and the union will always respect the democratic will of its members, whatever the outcome.

But one thing matters most… Vote

Turnout is strength. Turnout is pressure.

A strong vote tells employers that pay matters. It tells government that probation staff are demanding respect. It shows that members not only care about the people they support and the communities they protect, but about themselves, their profession, and its future.

Whatever your decision please vote. Your future depends on it.