UNISON has today (Thursday) confirmed that its members working in the probation service in England are to stage a two-hour stoppage on Tuesday 14 July between 8am and 10am in the on-going dispute over pay.
Previous industrial action – planned for 11 June – was suspended to allow pay talks to continue at ACAS between the union and the various probation employers.
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “Going on strike is always a last resort. We are doing everything we can to ensure we can get the best possible deal for probation workers, without having to take action. We hope the ACAS talks will be fruitful, but industrial action legislation requires us to set a date for the strike now, even though talks are on-going.”
In a ballot that closed in June, 73 per cent of members voted yes for industrial action.
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
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.