Exploratory talks begin on recovery strategy
Last week we advised members that discussions were due to take place with all employers where Napo are represented to explore their initial thoughts around how they intend to approach the easing of the C-19 lockdown.
That process started this week and Napo and are our sister unions have been engaging with senior leaders in the NPS, and CRC’s and we expect to have similar talks with PBNI and Cafcass very soon.
Safety is paramount
Our position on any easing of the EDM arrangements has always been clear and has been strongly reinforced in the early engagements and our subsequent input into emerging draft guidance that will underpin recovery. None of the above should come as a surprise, and we are also looking at what may be needed within Courts where any number of difficult challenges have been jointly identified. More updates on this and our current work regarding the Approved Premises Estate will follow.
As we have repeatedly said, if we thought the challenges in establishing the EDM process was difficult, then the route map towards easing them is going to present us with some big hurdles.
Napo’s approach has been consistent with that adopted by our sister unions in Probation as well as the affiliates to the GFTU and also aligns with advice from the TUC. This in itself stands four square with the current campaign being run by the National Education Union who are engaged in difficult discussions with Government about when it is safe to see Children return to Schools. See here the 5 NEU principles and how you can support their campaign.
It has been very uncomfortable to see the disgraceful abuse being heaped on Teaching workers by publications such as the Daily Mail and Daily Express this week. In one there was a feature article alongside a photo shopped image of ‘Teacher Heroes’ showing ‘all white’ images of staff and children in what is proudly one of the most culturally diverse institutions within the UK. It’s worth remembering that many citizens from Liverpool still boycott the Sun decades after it peddled lies about the Hillsborough Disaster and hopefully the TUC will suggest that trade unionists and their families everywhere will give these two newspapers equally short shrift.
What we are demanding
Clearly there will be pressure from a Government elected on the mantra of being tough on crime, to see an increase in the implementation of court orders and community service. The additional driver for this we have been told, is the difficulty in maintaining the remote contact and ‘doorstep visit’ strategies invoked as part of the current EDM’s. Our initial response here has been to point out that if the EDM’s have restricted the C19 casualty rate among staff and service users and there is no discernible tidal wave of crime, then why try and alter them?
Aside from this is the woefully inept messaging from Government Ministers and some of their advisers which hardly inspires confidence amongst anyone I speak with that they appreciate the well-founded fears of the British Public.
As our members will imagine, a whole host of issues have materialised in the discussions around the potential to ease lockdown by the 23 employers where we are represented. It’s also worth reporting that we have been speaking up strongly in support of managers who will be expected to oversee a relaxation of ‘lockdown’ It’s also obvious that any increase in staff into a workplace along with service users can only happen if rigorous hygiene standards are in place. Of course most Probation Offices don’t start from a very high base here, and there is absolutely no faith that the existing FM contractors will be able to deliver the required cleaning standards. Another reason for this work to be brought back into public ownership and control where cleaning staff can be offered a decent wage and safe working conditions.
While we are being reassured that there is no rush to implement the recovery strategy, we have challenged senior leaders to explain exactly who it is intended should return to F2F duties and how. Even if a substantial number of staff remain working at home, the Government advice to walk or cycle to work is a non-starter for many who may be required to return to a workplace, meaning that use of public transport is inevitable and thereby represents a significant risk in itself. And is the employer going to pay for Car parking costs? Even if it is at all possible to enact Social Distancing on public transport, this could see an individual’s journey time increase massively as they wait to get on a bus, train or tube to complete their inward and outward journeys.
Then comes the issue of social distancing in the workplace where the farcical interpretation of what is and is not safe, by whichever Minister is on the daily press call, again does little to inspire confidence.
Our position is that social distancing, that is remaining at least 2m distant from other people not in your household, is the best way to protect staff, clients and the general public and where strict social distancing cannot be maintained the workplace in question must not be used or, for example in the case of Approved Premises where it must remain open, proper PPE should be used in every circumstance where social distancing is breached.
We are trying to be constructive, but while the daily C-19 infection and death rates show little sign of abating, we need to seriously address the hugely sensitive issue of Risk Assessments in workplaces, both in terms of what they should include and who is going to sign them off. We will be commencing important negotiations next week.
PBNI Pay talks to commence
Despite receipt of the long awaited backdated settlement of pay awards for 2017/18 and 2018/19 in March, Napo members in Northern Ireland have had just as rough a deal on pay over the last few years as their sisters and brothers in England and Wales. The suspension of Stormont and the inertia in the central decision making process has not helped the employer and unions in maintaining an impetus to pay negotiations, but next week sees the commencement of discussions following the submission of a joint pay claim by Napo and our sister Union NIPSA last week.
More news will follow from the talks, and it is hoped that the welcome restoration of devolved Government will give some leeway to the Board in recognising the efforts of staff who have worked hard to deliver quality public services.
Everyone benefits from Trade Unions
rates our efforts keep safety at the top of our huge agenda alongside our business as usual issues.
Napo’s efforts mirror those of our sister unions and demonstrate the value of having an organisation that speaks up for staff, calls managers and government to account and is prepared to work constructively with employers.
Why not share this with colleagues who you know are not a member of a trade union to show what we are doing for all workers? Unions especially Napo, are relevant and are here to stay.
Have a restful Bank Holiday weekend