Over the years, Napo has run countless campaigns on behalf of members.
Some catch fire almost immediately. Others take longer to build momentum.
One thing we’ve noticed is that workload campaigns often seem to be harder to get members to rally around than pay campaigns.
We’re not entirely sure why, because the truth is, they’re the same campaign.
If we want movement on pay, we need members to take a stand on workloads. Pure and simple.
We know just how exhausted you are. The relentless caseloads, cancelled annual leave, evenings spent catching up on work, and the feeling that you’re constantly one step behind. We know this is true because you tell us, and it is reflected in the cases we end up representing.
But here’s the uncomfortable reality.
As long as the work continues to get done, the employer and government have far less incentive to address the root cause.
That’s not because they don’t know the pressures exist. They do.
They know vacancies remain unfilled. They know workloads are excessive. They know people are burning out.
Despite all of this, all the extra hours you and you’re colleagues are putting in is keeping the service standing, even if you’re on your last legs.
This isn’t a criticism of your professionalism or your dedication. Quite the opposite. We know people stay late because they care deeply about public protection, victims, the people they supervise and their colleagues.
But the employer has done a really good job at making you think this is a you problem, a capability problem, a time management problem, a not making best use of the technology available problem. It’s not. It’s a collective problem that needs collective action.
So we need everyone to zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Please.
Every hour worked beyond your contracted day helps hide the true cost of running the probation service. Every time you fill a gap it allows another vacancy to remain unfilled just a little longer.
Workloads are high because there aren’t enough staff. And there aren’t enough staff because the service is struggling to recruit and retain professionals because the salary isn’t competitive enough.
It’s one continuous chain: Low pay leads to recruitment and retention problems. Recruitment and retention problems create vacancies. Vacancies create excessive workloads. Excessive workloads are absorbed by existing staff until there is nothing left of you for yourself or your family.
And because the work still gets done, the pressure to properly resource the service never becomes urgent enough.
Some members even rely on paid overtime to make ends meet. That’s completely understandable, but it also highlights the problem.
Instead of enjoying evenings with family, resting or simply having a life outside work, some you are effectively selling more of your personal time back to the employer because your basic salary isn’t enough.
Imagine what happens when that can no longer continue. When the true impact of vacancies can no longer be hidden by staff working beyond their contracted hours.
The pressure to recruit staff increases. And with that comes greater pressure to offer salaries that reflect the responsibility, complexity and professionalism the role demands.
That’s why taking a stand on workloads isn’t separate from the fight for better pay.
It strengthens it.
Nobody is asking you to stop caring.
We’re asking you to care enough to stop using your own blood, sweat and tears to glue together a service that should be properly resourced in the first place.
If we want employers to invest in probation, they first need to feel the true cost of not doing so.
And that’s why standing together on workloads is one of the strongest things we can do to strengthen the fight for better pay.
Vote Yes in the indicative ballot.
For meeting dates, updates and to find out what to do if you haven’t received your ballot paper visit https://www.napo.org.uk/confidence-broken
