I hope that followers on Twitter noticed the regular snippets about proceedings that Yvonne Pattison and I sent out over the course of the Trade Union Congress in Brighton this week. If you didn’t see them then let me tell you that Napo played a pretty full part in the proceedings with three keynote speeches from us on prison reform, probation provision and the role of Cafcass in the Justice System (I will see if we can get the recordings up on the website next week) and two appearances by me at fringe meetings on the need for a debate among trade union members on Electoral Reform.
My personal view on this issue, is that we can no longer leave the electorate at the mercy of an outmoded, unfair and useless first past the post system, but why not let me know what you think and we can get a debate going in an open and transparent manner amongst our membership.
On the many other issues under debate it was good to see such unity amongst the affiliates in supporting the current struggles of the Junior Doctors, Steel and Railway workers and how we can and must combine to fight the increase in racism and xenophobia that has followed that fateful decision to leave the EU. We also considered how to best promote the TUC’s campaign priorities for 2016-2017 such as ensuring that working people must not pay the price for leaving the EU, how we must stand up for and promote the work that we do in abandoned communities and reach out to young workers, and seek to build a strong trade union movement despite the abominable Trade Union Act.
Parliament debates - domestic abuse victims in family law courts (it’s a must read)
A three and a half hour debate in the House yesterday where Parliament was asked to note the Women’s Aid report entitled Nineteen Child Homicides, (published in January 2016) calling on the Government to review the treatment and experiences of victims of domestic abuse in family law courts. Whilst at times the exchanges make for some very harrowing reading, this was a timely and welcome discussion about how much work still needs to be done to protect victims and potential victims of domestic abuse.
I am pressing the office of the Minister Dr Phillip Lee who made a really positive contribution to the debate, for a meeting so that he can get a wider appreciation of just how important a role our Cafcass members play in certain cases.
The E3 engagement agenda for Napo reps
As work commences on Phase 2 we have raised the need for a national stock take of E3 with senior NPS management which we have suggested must include NPS Divisional leads and local union reps. I hope to have more news on this soon but meanwhile the following standing items should appear on local JNC agenda’s so that the parties are better informed about E3 implementation and the problems being faced by members.
One example of how feedback can make a difference is the fact that we have secured a high level meeting next week specifically on AP issues which have been raised through the unions and we intend to report on the outcomes as soon as possible. Napo has also asked NOMS that until a number of things are clear about the proposal to outsource double waking night cover then there should be a halt called to the meaningless 1-1’s with staff where facts are in pretty short supply. AGM attendees are also reminded that one of the Chief Architects of E3 in the form of Deputy Director Jim Barton will be the keynote speaker at the E3 fringe that we have organised. Jim says he’s looking forward to it.
A.T. issues - again and again and again
We keep the pressure on over AT issues and we are especially grateful to many members for their contributions and London Napo Branch and Terry Wilson for an excellent paper that they sent us. This graphically illustrates the perennial problems that our team has taken up again with senior NOMS management at a recent engagement meeting.
Members all across the NPS estate, who require equipment to assist with reasonable adjustment, will be familiar with sometimes having to wait for over a year to get what they need. There are many examples of bureaucratic issues but also the lack of accountability in the system which leads to these problems. Examples given are a 14 month wait for AT equipment, a year wait for a specialist chair, members being told not to refer themselves to Access to Work, other members being told the equipment they need cannot be ordered. In short it's a big mess and we have been working to highlight how awful it is for members who need reasonable adjustments to be in place. The prospect of members having to go on extended disability leave while RAs are awaiting implementation ought to ring some alarm bells somewhere.
NNC reform - big decisions needed at the AGM
Steering Committee expects that we will have a quorate and fully functioning AGM in Cardiff in a couple of weeks’ time which will be great; but it’s not an excuse to think that you need not bother being there! If you have registered already then we need you, and if you have not then you will be most welcome.
The report on potential NNC reform that we issued to all members this week N27-2016 PLUS APPENDICES illustrates just one of the important issues that will be put before the conference. We are asking Napo members to provide a clear steer as to what bargaining structures you want us to be part of in the future.
There will also be a discussion paper for AGM which sets out the arguments for and against moving to a new structure for negotiations but its’ worth pointing out that I have reminded employers of the need to signal that they will recognise NNC legacy policies at June 2014 and NPS negotiated pay deals as the minimum benchmark for any new negotiating model. It’s a big call for them too.
- ilawrence@napo.org.uk's blog
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