UNISON’s probation committee is recommending that members accept the final offer from the employers and Ministry of Justice on a staff transfer and protections agreement to cover the transfer of members to the national probation service, or community rehabilitation companies in April.
The union will now carry out a full consultation with members over the final offer.
The outcome of this consultation, to be carried out over the coming two weeks, will inform the meeting of the national negotiating council (NNC) on 29 January, which has been called to seek ratification of the final offer.
The committee also agreed to suspend UNISON’s industrial action ballot over the staff transfer and protections agreement, which had been due to start on Friday 10 January. The ballot will be suspended pending the outcome of the consultation with members over the final offer, and the outcome of the NNC.
The recommendation was agreed at a meeting on 8 January when the committee also agreed that it would consult members on the following pay offer to probation staff for 2013, without recommendation:
- one increment for all staff eligible for pay progression;
- 1% pay rise on all pay points with effect from 1 April 2013;
- 1% increase in London Weighting; and
- 1% increase in the following allowances: standby/sleeping-in, subsistence, out of pocket expenses and relocation expenses.
