NAPO NEC supports coordinated industrial action:

I am reliably informed that the NEC today voted overwhelmingly to support Kent's motion on coordinated industrial action. This doesn't mean that members will be immediately balloted, but it puts a strategy in place to unite the membership and, crucially, link up with other unions should the Government not back down. 

This is a significant achievement at this stage of the campaign that should equip the leadership of the union with the necessary tools to do the job. Of course this is only the first stage and we will need to make sure we hold the national officers to account as we move into struggle. We should remember this is our union and we all have a vital role to play in winning this battle.

Chas Berry

Motion on proposed privatisation of the Probation service (2).doc  (23 KB)

Kent NAPO Update:

We met Under Sec of State Jeremy Wright on Friday 1st Feb. He was supposed to only give us 10 minutes but we detained him for 20. Although it was a typically smooth performance from him he was flummoxed by our question on whether he expected Probation to continue OASys assessments for offenders that we did not Offender Manage and he had to admit that he didn't know what OASys was!

We did two interviews with the media - a live broadcast on BBC Radio Kent and a lengthy interview with the Kent Messenger that will appear next week in the Maidstone area. While the radio interview was a bit bruising (for me :-/) one positive outcome was that Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Anne Barnes came out publicly against privatisation and her comments were carried in news bulletins all day. The KM reporter was clearly on our side and asked "what are the killer questions I need to ask Mr Wright?"

We met up with other Trade Unionists on Wednesday at the Kent Federation of Trades Councils and have made some great links with the POA, PCS and the RMT. We also talked about the political strategy at the May local elections with a possibility that a couple of us may stand as independent anti-cuts candidates under the umbrella of the Trade union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). In my opinion TUSC can be a good vehicle for us at the moment as it is not a political party but a coalition of forces opposed to cuts that will allow us to use the elections as a platform to raise awareness about our situation. We don't expect anyone to be elected but it is a opportunity to get our message to a wider audience. If anyone else is thinking of standing please feel free to contact me to discuss the process. 


Kent's motion on industrial action, with others, is before the NEC tomorrow (4th Feb). 

I've just done a pre-recorded interview with BBC Radio Kent about the Probation Review ahead of Jeremy Wright's visit to us on Friday. I am led to believe some of this will be used in a broadcast on Thursday evening but I have also been asked to give another interview on air on Friday morning at 7.20am. I'm not sure who else will feature but you may want to tune in.

Chas Berry

Kent NAPO Vice Chair

Reject the 'offer' - VOTE NO!

NAPO members are being asked by our chief negotiators to accept the current pay ‘offer’ on the grounds that this is the best that can be achieved in the current economic climate. Kent’s Branch Executive does not accept this and urges you to reject the offer.

Members will be outraged that once again we are being asked to accept a pay freeze and the breaking of existing agreements on incremental pay progression. Members on the maximum will receive nothing, while those below them will get one point pay progression amounting to an increase below the current cost of living rises in fuel, food and other daily essentials. This is before next year’s expected council tax rises that will hit us before next year’s settlement.

We cannot allow this to go unchallenged. Anyone who thinks we are ‘all in this together’ just needs to remind themselves of the huge salaries and bonuses still paid to the banks and the ‘captains of industry’, including the outgoing BBC Director George Entwhistle whose £450,000 payoff exposes the massive benefits still paid to the privileged few from taxpayers money.

We literally have nothing to lose by rejecting this deal. Voting against will increase pressure on this weak coalition government and give strength to our national negotiators for a reasonable settlement.

We should also not view the issue of pay and remuneration as separate from the fight against privatisation and the breaking up of the probation service. The government have made it clear they want 60% of us working in the private sector for large contractors like SERCO and G4S by 2015. These companies don’t have their own staff and want to take on ours without paying the decent salaries and pensions we deserve. However, they are also nervous about taking on a well organised workforce that is assertive about its rights. Rejecting this ‘offer’ is part of the fight for a properly funded and professional probation service.

VOTE NO!

The momentum is building for 30th November (N30) and this promises to have a big impact but we need EVERY member to think about what you can do to support your union on the day. Please join pickets at your local office then come to one of the following events.

The Kent Branch EC will be joining the Maidstone March and Rally. Come and join us and bring your family. Meet outside McDonalds on Maidstone High Street at 12.00. March now assembles at 12.30 on Bank Street for a 1pm start through the town centre followed by a rally at County Hall

Medway Rally at the Command House, Gun Wharf, Dock Road Chatham 12.30 untill 2pm. Pensions gig at St Georges Hotel, New Road, Chatham at 8pm, Contact s.calder1@btinternet.com for more details

Canterbury rolling rally from Abbots Barton Hotel 10am to3pm, contact John Walder secretary@kent,nut.org.uk for more information

Dover lunchtime rally12 to 2pm, St Mary's Hall, High Street, Dover contact Frank.Macklin@gmb.org.uk for details

Sittingbourne Rally at Phoenix Centre 10am - www.kent.nut.org.uk for details

Gravesend daytimEevent Three Doors Pub from 9.30am onwards www.kent.nut.org.uk for details

Thanet, The Red House www.kent.nut.org.uk for more details

Keep up the pressure. TOGETHER WE CAN WIN!

Plans are now in place to maximise the turnout of Kent NAPO members on 30th November. Please keep up to date with developments via this blog as not all messages can be sent by official channels.

We expect ALL Kent NAPO members to abide by the overwhelming mandate of the union and at the very least DO NOT WORK on 30th November

BE ACTIVE - we encourage ALL members to be active on the day. If there is not already a picket line being organised at your office then contact one of the following contact points for advice about how to set one up:

• Maidstone - Tracy Smith and Denise Mason
• Gravesend - Chas Berry
• Tunbridge Wells - Denise Mason and David Coley
• Folkestone - Anita Boddington and Liz Bywater
• Canterbury - Eriks Puce
• Medway - Chas Berry
• Thanet - Debbie Cox
• Sittingbournes - Chas Berry

Marches and ralies will be taking place throughout the day. If you cannot attend a picket line then please attend one of the following:

• Dover - Rally at St May's Hall, contact Mike Sargent mikesargant47@hotmail.com
• Medway - rally at 12.30 at the Command House, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham
• Maidstone - March at 12.00 from town centre to rally outside County Hall
• Sittingbourne - Phoenix Centre Rally

Kent NAPO Executive Committee will be joining the Maidstone march and rally at 12.00. Why not come and join us. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A BIG IMPACT.

Plans are now in place to ensure the maximum turnout of Kent NAPO members for the industrial action on 30th November.

• We are expecting all members (regardless of which way you voted) to support the 87.5% mandate for action and DO NOT WORK on November 30th.
• We want as many volunteers as possible to help picket your own workplace. If you haven't alreday volunteered, please contact one of the following local contact points for advice

Plans are now in place to ensure the maximum turnout of Kent NAPO members for the industrial action on 30th November.

• We are expecting all members (regardless of which way you voted) to support the 87.5% mandate for action and DO NOT WORK on November 30th.
• We want as many volunteers as possible to help picket your own workplace. If you haven't alreday volunteered, please contact one of the following local contact points for advice

Plans are now in place to ensure the maximum turnout of Kent NAPO members for the industrial action on 30th November.

• We are expecting all members (regardless of which way you voted) to support the 87.5% mandate for action and DO NOT WORK on November 30th.
• We want as many volunteers as possible to help picket your own workplace. If you haven't alreday volunteered, please contact one of the following local contact points for advice

Plans are now in place to ensure the maximum turnout of Kent NAPO members for the industrial action on 30th November.

• We are expecting all members (regardless of which way you voted) to support the 87.5% mandate for action and DO NOT WORK on November 30th.
• We want as many volunteers as possible to help picket your own workplace. If you haven't alreday volunteered, please contact one of the following local contact points for advice

Plans are now in place to ensure the maximum turnout of Kent NAPO members for the industrial action on 30th November.

• We are expecting all members (regardless of which way you voted) to support the 87.5% mandate for action and DO NOT WORK on November 30th.
• We want as many volunteers as possible to help picket your own workplace. If you haven't alreday volunteered, please contact one of the following local contact points for advice

Plans are now in place to ensure the maximum turnout of Kent NAPO members for the industrial action on 30th November.

• We are expecting all members (regardless of which way you voted) to support the 87.5% mandate for action and DO NOT WORK on November 30th.
• We want as many volunteers as possible to help picket your own workplace. If you haven't alreday volunteered, please contact one of the following local contact points for advice