Published 27 May 2014
30th May Closing Down Sale - Massive Reductions!
The 35 Probation Trusts draw to a close at the end of this week. Despite our efforts both nationally and locally to highlight that neither the NPS nor the CRCs are ‘business ready’ the Government is storming ahead with its ludicrous plans to dissolve the best performing public service in the country.
Despite surpassing Government targets and winning awards the Probation Service as we know it will cease to exist after the weekend. That’s why Napo and Unison want to acknowledge the last day by holding lunchtime demonstrations and leafleting.
Branches will have received leaflets from head office which have been jointly commissioned by both unions. So get out there on Friday 30th May and spread the word in your local community.Until the point of share sale this fight can be won to restore the service we all love and that serves our communities so well.
Letter campaign
Well done to all those Branches who have sent letters to their Chief Officers, local MPs and the Permanent Secretary, Ursula Brennan. We have had some interesting responses to some of the letters so they are clearly hitting a nerve. Importantly, MPs have thanked Branches for drawing local issues to their attention. Now the local and European elections are out of the way, MPs are looking at their own constituencies in preparation for next year’s General Election and will start to focus on their own positions much more than party policies. Local lobbying is still the most powerful tool we have and over the next few months Napo members will be asked to get out to their local surgeries and meet with MPs and parliamentary candidates. Briefings will be going out shortly to assist members in focusing on the key issues. Keep up the good work!
Campaign emails
This week we want to focus on the RSR and CAT tools that we know have been causing so much grief for members. We want to hear from you on how much time is being taken up in your area to complete the extra paperwork and how does this impact on your workload, PSR delivery and stress levels?
We also need case studies – reports are suggesting that the new RSR tool is significantly reducing clients’ risk levels despite there being no change to their circumstances. We are asking for anonymous case studies to evidence this for press and parliamentary purposes.
If you have a case that is of concern to you then please provide a brief background (offence and sentence), what their risk was before and what it is now as assessed by RSR. Please send them in to campaigns@napo.org.uk (with RSR in the subject box) over the next week.
Please ensure when sending in figures or statistics that these go via your Branch Chair to check for accuracy. We depend on this information for press and parliamentary bulletins so we must ensure all information is as accurate and up to date as possible.
PSO Campaign
Following the National Campaigning Committee meeting last week the PSO Forum is being asked to get in touch with PSOs to establish the key concerns for our members in both the CRCs and the NPS. This information is vital to ensure that Napo is fully aware of the issues facing our PSO members, these can then feed into a PSO specific campaign and provide valuable information for a PSO parliamentary bulletin. Please send issues to campaigns@napo.org.uk and put PSO in the subject box.
Stronger Union = Stronger Fight
Over the last year the Probation Service has taken a significant hit in terms of staff turnover. We know we currently have 500 vacancies nationally with London alone carrying approximately 200 of these. Some areas are recruiting again so now is the time to get new members.
Napo is the only union that has taken strike action to fight TR, we are the largest Probation union and the only professional association which means we are fighting for terms and conditions and professional values. In this changing landscape it is critical that we defend the values of the service and ensure that good practice is at the heart of what we do.
If you know someone who is not a member make sure they have a copy of the Campaign Bulletin, ensure all notice boards have up to date information on them and that membership packs are accessible or staff can go to www.napo.org.uk and request a membership pack. The stronger the union the stronger the fight!
Parliamentary Campaign
Now the local and European elections are done we can focus politicians’ minds on why they should support our campaign in order to win the general election. Napo is working with our lobbyists to get support for a Back Bench debate in July to discuss Probation post 1st June and we hope as a result of the letters to the Permanent Secretary, that have also been sent to MPs, we will see an increase in concerns at a local level and therefore greater support for a debate.
Please let us know if you have had any positive responses from Lib Dem or Tory MPs so we can approach them to get involved.
Napo is submitting a high number of parliamentary questions based on the evidence you provide us of the wheels coming off TR. That’s why it’s critical that we have up to date and accurate information to pass on to politicians. We need any information you have on stress levels, sickness and health and safety. We are also drafting an Early Day Motion and information from members is vital for our briefings.
Speak up for Justice Campaign
The TUC “speak up for justice” campaign was launched last week and posters will be sent out to Branches. The campaign involves all the justice unions and has a website and petition for members to promote.
The New Economic Foundation have also written a report which highlights concerns over privatising the justice system based on past and current experiences. Download the report