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June 30, 2008
WORK TO RULE - AN EXAMPLE
Managers and specialists at telecom operator BT in the UK are switching off their blackberries and PCs and working strictly to their 36-hour week in a dispute over pay and equal pay.
13,000 Connect members are taking industrial action short of a strike - a work to rule - from Tuesday 24 June.
The members will work strictly to contractual hours, won’t work weekends or travel outside their working hours, won’t offer to be flexible or take part in informal on-call rotas
The call for action was approved by a meeting of BT members in Nottingham following reports on the failure of talks to break the deadlock. A pay rise to cover 2007-2008, equal pay and changes to pay differentials, progression and ranges are all covered by Connect’s claim
Activists were briefed on latest developments in the union’s Pay Fair campaign and how the action will be carried locally.
“Once the 36 hours are up we expect our members to go home and switch off their blackberries, mobile phones and PCs,” said a Connect spokeswoman.
“We estimate that the contractual hours will be used by Thursday in a normal week and BT will learn just how much flexibility and long hour working they normally get for our members.”
Posted by Hampshire at 09:44 PM | Comments (0)
BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS
Please Note: first point of contact for
Representation - Tina Williams.
Health and Safety - Peter Wade
Membership - Trevor Emans
Edridge - Gerry Kennelly
Further details can be downloaded here.
Posted by Hampshire at 06:53 PM | Comments (0)
June 29, 2008
MORE THREATS TO PAY
On the 24th June Napo representatives met with the chief officer and the director of human resources to discuss the implementation of the ECU agreement which only came into force a matter of months ago.
At the meeting the chief officer stated that because of budget issues he was going to introduce ‘proposals’ concerning travel allowances, including car parking, that if implemented would mean that a proportion of staff will lose money. He said that this would have to happen if redundancies over the next three years were to be avoided.
It was a similar message when he last proposed changes to travel allowances. On that occasion there was a substantial budget surplus carried over into the next financial year.
Of course, with any spending there is an issue of priorities and this organisation, for example, has seen fit to recently spend our money on consultants to train managers, despite having its own training department. It would appear that this is deemed more important than the take home pay of staff. (We will find out and let you know how much has been paid to Ad Esse.)
Napo will resist any plans that could result in staff losing money, but it could mean, depending on the details of the proposals, some form of collective action.
We send this note to advise members that once we receive details we will call an emergency branch meeting.
Posted by Hampshire at 02:16 PM | Comments (0)
PRISON WORKS?
Ricky Gervais welcomed Nelson Mandala's impeccable record since release: “And they say prison doesn’t work.”
Posted by Hampshire at 02:12 PM | Comments (0)
June 27, 2008
FACILITY TIME
There is reference to the reduction of the Branch's facility time in the Branch AGM Minutes, see below. Here are two letters, for your information, that we sent to the chief officer. We never received a substantive reply to either. There never was a proper review - just a diktat demanding a 30% cut in Branch resources, whilst the management side grows in resources. The aim of the 'review' was to weaken this Branch and in turn worsen the terms and conditions of individual members by undermining our capacity to organise.
Posted by Hampshire at 08:38 PM | Comments (0)
AGM: BRANCH MINUTES
BRANCH MEETING MINUTES
AGM – IB Road
Friday 20th June 2008
• Present & Apologies – In book
• Matters of accuracy – Previous minutes agreed
• Election of Officers
o Chair/ JNCC – Richard Marshall
o Vice-Chair/JNCC – George Clarke
o Vice-Chair/JNCC – Tina Williams
o Secretary – Tina Williams
o Treasurer – Fiona Lidstone
o Membership Secretary – Trevor Emans
o Health & Safety Rep – Peter Wade
o NEC Rep – Margaret Dunne
o NEC Rep – Steve Christie
o PSO Rep – Fran Newnham
o PSO Rep – Trevor Emans
o Edridge Rep – Gerry Kennelly
o TPO Rep – post vacant
o ARO – post vacant
o Ordinary Members/JNCC – Amy Milford
Thanks given to George Clarke (GC) and Fran Newnham (FN) for service to the branch.
Noted that Napo central to be advised of new roles. Secretary to advise Napo central.
• Matters arising/Chair’s Report
Facilities time discussed. Barrie Crook (BC) has reduced facility time to 5 days + H&S time, as of 1st July 2008. Noted that no negotiation occurred, only 3 months notice given. Concerns noted regarding arbitrary nature of decision. Members extremely unhappy with this decision. Impact to be monitored and to be discussed at next meeting.
No further monthly meetings with HR to be scheduled. However, JNCC meetings to continue and mid-way meetings to discuss agenda items for JNCC to be scheduled.
ECU update – meeting scheduled next week with management to discuss. Clarification required regarding ECU procedures eg; when job role changes. Concerns regarding threshold changes in the future. Will feedback at next branch meeting. Car parking concerns raised. Currently permits issued on a 6 monthly basis.
Code of Conduct policy discussed. This Policy has not yet been agreed but has been published as agreed with the unions. This is incorrect. Unions have not agreed this Policy. Concerns to be communicated to BC and advice to remove statement until agreed with unions. Concerns regarding lack of training regarding use of email and internet.
Sickness Management Policy – discussed at last JNCC meeting. Discussion regarding assertions given that Line Managers have discretion under this Policy yet evidence to the contrary ie; email from an AM to SPOs.
National Vice-Chair nomination – Amy Milford (AM) discussed wish to stand for National Vice-Chair. Candidate Statement presented to members. Unanimous support given for nomination.
Local staffing issues – members requested information regarding where extra funding from MOJ is being spent. Concerns regarding temporary staff retention. Exploration of employment rights for temporary staff to be clarified.
Staff Survey – Noted that no feedback from management yet. Exec members to investigate and feedback to members.
Pay negotiations update – Still awaiting update from Napo central regarding latest meeting with employers. NEC on 30/06/08 to explore industrial action options. Discussion regarding strike action – some concerns noted regarding loss of income and workload pressure due to 1 day strike action. Noted that Probation staff attempt to undertake 5 days work in 4 days where strike action takes place. Discussed staff being advised to not do this – as other public sector workers. Workload for week of strike action to be reduced by one fifth to reflect 1 day withdrawal of labour.
Work to rule action discussed. Can be effective but less of an impact than strike action. Moreover, strike action may be co-ordinated with other public sector industrial actions for major impact.
Napo Womens Conference 2009 – Proposal that Hampshire branch host the conference discussed. Agreed. Organising Committee to be arranged. Tina Williams (TW) to liaise with Cordell Pillay (Napo central) to discuss date and duration. Once scheduled organising committee to be convened. Volunteers noted.
Noted that liaison with Barrie Crook may be beneficial regarding support/financial assistance for conference. TW to liaise.
• Treasurer’s Report – Healthy balance. Due to claim 2nd half year grant. AGM costs will be paid during this period.
• Membership Report – Email report received from TE.
265 members. 19 joiners/14 leavers.
Hampshire has steady/improving membership – however nationally some concerns regarding leavers. National Recruitment drive will take place in November 2008.
• NEC Report – Amy Milford (AM) fed back Strategic Plan regarding restructure of NEC. Discussion regarding proposal for regional NEC officers. Members do not support proposal. Margaret Dunne (MD) to feedback to NEC.
Discussion regarding liaison with National Link Officer. Agreed to invite Tim Wilson to branch meetings.
• Health & Safety Report – Peter Wade (PW) advised that all H&S notifications to now go to Rob Allen, no longer Keith Knowles. Noted that a new range of non-toxic cleaning products to be used by cleaning staff.
• Next Branch Meeting date – Friday 22nd August 2008 – Town Quay
AGM MINUTES IN WORD DOC.
Posted by Hampshire at 08:24 PM | Comments (0)
PERSONAL INFORMATION - YOUR RIGHTS.
You have a right under the Data Protection Act to request from public bodies, including in this case your employer, personal information which they hold about you. This applies to all information, including information they may have received from others about you. Attached here is an outline of your rights and a template letter that can be easily amended. Contact Napo if you require any further advice on exercising your rights. You can make a DPA request via email.
Posted by Hampshire at 06:58 PM | Comments (0)
June 25, 2008
PERSONAL EMAILS
You are entitled to use Lotus Notes for PERSONAL USE, the proviso being that your personal use is not excessive. To safeguard your privacy always mark such emails 'PERSONAL' in the subject line.
Posted by Hampshire at 06:42 PM | Comments (0)
June 04, 2008
THE REVISED CODE OF CONDUCT 2008
Today there was an email from HR notifying staff of three revised policies that are now on the database. The policies – disciplinary, capability and codes of conduct – are policies that should be agreed with the trade unions as they form part of your contract of employment. We have agreed to revisions in the first two, but not the code of conduct.
Napo wrote to the HR director on 16 April and made the following point:
‘We have issues relating to the revised code of conduct, which in part relates to content, but we are also concerned with how intelligible parts of the proposed policy will be to staff.’ (Email 16/4/08).
We were therefore surprised to see it added to the database as this policy is not agreed. The first page of the policy says:
‘We have agreed the code [of conduct] with the relevant trade unions and it applies to all staff, whether you are permanent, temporary or voluntary.’ This statement is untrue – the code of conduct has not been agreed.
As regards ‘intelligible’ we were referring to that part of the code which relates to email, internet use and data protection issues. Sections in the codes of conduct have been ‘cut and pasted’ from the Email and Internet Communications Policy – March 2006). We suspect many members may not be familiar with that policy. That policy also says, (this is not in the codes of conduct):
‘Ensure all authorised users read this policy, are provided with adequate training and are both regularly reminded to comply and do comply with all “authorised user responsibilities” contained within this policy;’
Napo does not recognise this revised code of conduct. We don’t have problems with the bulk of the policy, but we strongly believe that new areas need to be agreed and other aspects need clarifying. We also say that members need to have a clear understanding of the rules otherwise they will be vulnerable to disciplinary action through mere inadvertence. And we also believe there is a need for training so as to ensure as far as possible that users of email and the internet understand their responsibilities.
Posted by Hampshire at 07:02 PM | Comments (0)
ACTION ON PAY
Members have given probation employers a clear and simple message with this ballot result. The fact that 94% support industrial action reflects members’ anger and frustration at the way they are being treated by the employers.
We still hope that we can resolve this dispute through negotiations but, if necessary, members have shown their readiness to take industrial action including strike action.
The next meeting of the National Negotiating Committee is on the 12th June when we expect the Employers to be prepared to make us an acceptable pay offer.
Posted by Hampshire at 08:07 AM | Comments (0)
June 02, 2008
RESULT OF INDICATIVE BALLOT
Press Release
Embargo - Immediate
Probation staff vote for strike action
In a ballot to indicate support for action over a pay dispute with their employers, probation members of Napo, the probation and family court trade union, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action.
Napo members voted 94% in favour of industrial action in a ballot with 52% turnout.
Napo’s dispute is based on the refusal of probation employers to pay the increments which members are due from April 2008. These increments are paid annually and reflect experience. Napo believes this refusal breaches members’ contracts. The union is also still awaiting a pay offer for a settlement also due in April 2008.
Welcoming the ballot result, Jonathan Ledger, Napo’s newly appointed General Secretary said:
“Napo members have given probation employers a very clear message with this ballot result. The fact that 94% support industrial action reflects their anger and frustration at the way they are being treated by their employers. We still hope that we can resolve this dispute through negotiations but, if necessary, members have shown their readiness to take industrial action including strike action.”
On Monday 9th June, Napo together with other justice unions, PCS and the POA, will be holding a major meeting with parliamentarians to discuss common concerns, including attacks on pay, which are faced by all the organisations.
The meeting will be from 14.30hrs to 16.30hrs in Committee Room 14 at the House of Commons and it is expected that around 200 staff from across the Justice Sector will be in attendance. Speakers at the rally will include: Lord Ramsbotham, Baroness Gibson, Edward Garnier MP, Chris Huhne MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Neil Gerrard MP, John McDonnell MP, Diane Abbott MP, Brendan Barber (TUC), Brian Caton (POA) and Judy McKnight (Napo).
For further information contact:
Harry Fletcher 020 7223 4887/ 07860 540 145 or Jonathan Ledger 020 7223 4887
Note of Editors
Napo is the Trade Union and Professional Association for Probation and Family Court staff. It currently has over 9,000 members working in the Probation Service.
www.napo.org.uk
Posted by Hampshire at 07:22 PM | Comments (0)