Probation officers vote for strikes over pay and workloads

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 21:14 · Archive

Probation officers in England and Wales have voted for strike action over pay disputes and excessive workloads.

Probation officers in England and Wales have voted for strike action and measures short of a strike over disputes regarding pay and workloads. The union Napo sought a 12% pay rise but was offered 5% by ministers, which the union described as 'inadequate'. Action short of a strike, involving overtime restrictions, is likely to begin on 23 November, with full strike action planned to follow at a later stage.

The ballot comes as probation officers face increasing pressure from the government's early release scheme launched in October to ease prison overcrowding. Under the scheme, about 2,500 offenders, including sex offenders, domestic abusers and stalkers, are set to be released by the end of the year. Probation officers are responsible for monitoring offenders' behaviour, overseeing rehabilitation, monitoring electronic tags and recalling offenders to prison for licence breaches.

Napo general secretary Ian Lawrence said the result 'vindicates the campaign to achieve a pay rise to make up lost ground in comparative pay with other staff employed within HMPPS'. Union bosses have warned that industrial action will put a system already under strain at further risk. Napo chairman Ben Cockburn warned that action short of a strike could have particular impact because the understaffed system relies heavily on officers working overtime.

How it is being reported

• Probation officers in England and Wales vote for strike action over pay and workloadsMove deals blow to government’s plans to release thousands of prisoners early to tackle prison overcrowding The government’s plans to release thousands of prisoners early were dealt a blow on Friday after probation officers across England and Wales voted to strike over pay and excessive workloads. Members of the union, Napo, backed overtime restrictions and other forms of action short of a strike, which is likely to start on 23 November. Plans are being made for strike action to follow at a later stage. Continue reading...The Guardian · 13 Nov, 20:51
• Probation Service could 'collapse' within weeks, union bosses warn, after officers vote in favour of strikes in major blow to Labour's early release scheme which threatens to put public at riskBosses of the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) union said members had backed strikes in an official ballot.Daily Mail · 13 Nov, 18:24

In this story: Napo · England and Wales · Ian Lawrence · Ben Cockburn · HMPPS

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