ilawrence@napo.org.uk's blog

Monday in Westminster, with a high octane TUC rally and Parliamentary Lobby against the Trade Union Bill which saw over a thousand people unable to actually get into Central Hall. No matter, because an impromptu additional stage was provided outside in the form of the Fire Brigades Union 'Battle Bus'. I was honoured to have addressed the masses from the top deck and then make my way into the main event for my speaking slot there.

Every week in Napo brings new and often unexpected challenges and this one typified the way in which we work collaboratively to try and address our members' problems and ensure that our external supporters get the information they need to bring others to account.

On Wednesday a debate took place in Westminster Hall where Stephen Kinnock MP (Aberavon) secured a time limited opportunity to ask the House to consider the implementation of TR.

Today sees a number of staff briefings taking place across the Purple Futures (Interserve) CRC’s where the audience will get the opportunity to hear from Senior Managers and watch a corporate video about the Operating Model that has been designed to make the contract a success.

I have almost forgotten the number of times over the years that I have heard politicians dismiss huge public demonstrations against their policies as being ‘unrepresentative’. The TUC rally against Austerity and The Trade Union Bill last Sunday also coincided with the People’s Assembly event. It resulted in the biggest public gathering (outside of Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadiums) that Manchester has seen -possibly since the early part of the last century.

STEP INTO MY OFFICE? – IT’S THE BLUE FORD AT BAY 6!

The post-TR shambles manifests itself in increasingly incredulous ways and now we are investigating reports that the relocation of established office premises is adding even worse problems to the general chaos, where new premises have yet to be secured or refurbished.

Another full on five days doing what our members expect us to do, has seen the Officers, Officials and myself engaging with NOMS senior management on the harmonisation of policies, a meeting of the NEC, a meeting of the National Negotiating Council, supporting the PCS National Gallery Strikers and a review meeting with the publishers of the Probation Journal Sage Publications.