UNISON suspends probation strike to allow for more talks

UNISON has today (Tuesday) suspended the industrial action in probation planned for this Thursday in England to restart pay talks with the employer. The action short of strike action has also been suspended.
 
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “We hope these new pay talks will lead to a positive outcome for probation workers. We are committed to continue working as hard as we can to settle this dispute.”
 
UNISON members working in probation were to stage a 24-hour stoppage on 11 June because of the employers’ failure to improve their zero per cent pay offer 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 ontheir salary scale.
 
About 20 per cent of the probation workforce are at the top of their pay scale.