UNISON is pleased to report that the joint probation unions’ campaign to re-open the three-year pay award to give probation staff more pay has been successful.
The unions submitted a claim to get more pay back in 2023, which His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) rejected in April this year.
However, after consultative ballots in UNISON and the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) showed strong support for taking industrial action, combined with the change of government, the escalating prison overcrowding crisis and probation pay falling further and further behind prison pay, HMPPS agreed to re-open the award and offer more money to our members.
The HMPPS offer would not have happened without the unions’ campaign to re-open the pay talks over the last year and a half.
Members’ strong support for industrial action in the consultative ballot in June was also key to unlocking progress towards this offer.
The offer that HMPPS made to the unions last week is for:
- The pay rise for all staff that was due on 1 October 2024 to be brought forward to 1 April 2024
- The deletion of the lowest pay point in pay band 2
- The temporary extension of premium overtime rates to pay bands 4, 5 & 6 until 31 March 2025.
- A temporary overtime bonus scheme.
UNISON’s probation service committee met on 1 August and agreed to accept the offer with the following conditions:
- HMPPS to confirm when the lump sum back pay will actually be paid
- HMPPS to set out what staff on each pay point can expect by way of lump sum backpay (gross pay) when the offer is paid
- HMPPS to set out the detail of the pay band 2 proposal
- HMPPS to enter into urgent negotiations with the unions with immediate effect to agree the protocols that will govern the award and payment of overtime and the overtime incentive scheme going forward for staff on pay bands 2-6.
Subject to the above, UNISON will then be in a position to withdraw the trade dispute over pay lodged with HMPPS on 20 May 2024.
Napo’s negotiating committee has also voted to accept the offer.
