Probation strike date set for 11 June 2015

UNISON has today confirmed that its members working in probation in England and Wales are to stage a 24-hour stoppage on Thursday 11 June.

This will be followed by five weeks of action short of strike action from Friday 12 June.

In the ballot – which closed this Wednesday – 73 per cent of members voted yes for industrial action and 88 per cent for action short of strike action.

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “Going on strike is never an easy decision but probation workers have been treated badly by this government. It is no wonder they are furious and ready to go on picket lines to fight for fair pay.

“But there is still time for more negotiations and for the employers to come up with a real pay offer.” 

UNISON balloted its members because of the employers’ failure to improve their zero per cent pay offer to probation staff for 2014.

Notes to editors

UNISON represents 4,300 probation workers in England and Wales.
Details of the 2014 probation staff pay offer:

Zero per cent pay increase and a one-off/non-pensionable cash payment for staff at the top of their pay scale, as follows:

Pay Band 1          £300
Pay Band 2          £300

Pay Band 3          £300
Pay Band 4          £330
Pay Band 5          £345
Pay Band 6          £385

All staff received their contractual entitlement to one increment on their salary scale.

About 20 per cent of the probation workforce are at the top of their pay scale.