The Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On

Conference welcomes UNISON’s submission to the Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into ‘The Macpherson Report: Twenty Years On’. Conference notes with concern the following statistics on the representation of Black staff within the police workforce set out in our submission to the Committee: 1)The proportion of Black police staff and in particular Black Police Community […]

Opposing the Cap on Exit Payments

Conference notes that in 2015 and 2016 the Government legislated for a cap of £95,000 on exit payments in the public sector. In April 2019 the Government launched a consultation on proposed draft regulations and guidance to bring the legislation into force. The consultation ends on 3 July 2019. Conference further notes that: 1) The […]

Pay Progression is a Contractual Entitlement

This Conference notes that at the point of transfer of probation staff to Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and the National Probation Service (NPS) on 31 May 2014 the “National Agreement on Staff Transfer and Protections” provided that “the CRCs and NPS will adopt the existing Agreements on Pay and Conditions of Service for all staff”. […]

Excluding future HE, FE and sixth form staff from LGPS (England)

This union opposes plans, outlined in the consultation “Local Government Pension Scheme: Changes to the Local Valuation Cycle and the Management of Employer Risk” launched on the 9th May 2019, from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government , that would allow further education colleges (FECs), higher education institutions (HEIs), and sixth form colleges […]

Police forces at pride events

Conference notes that increasing numbers of police forces sponsor or support their local Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Plus (LGBT+) pride events, seeing them as opportunities to build confidence in the community, showcase their commitment to diversity and equality, and recruit new staff. Conference believes that Pride events offer a similar opportunity to UNISON police and […]

PCC’s and Precept Increases 2019

This Conference notes that the Government raised the maximum amount that the Police Precept portion of Council Tax could be increased by. The majority of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) therefore used this offer from Government to increase their Police Precept by this increased maximum amount. Many PCCs used the justification that it was to […]

Two Bites of the Misconduct Cherry

Conference notes the practice of many Police Professional Standards Departments using evidence gathered for the purpose of a criminal investigation during internal misconduct proceedings of Police Staff Employees. Conference is appalled at this practice. Conference believes the data and information gathered for the purpose of a criminal investigation should not be used for any other […]

No place for profiteers in Probation

The privatisation experiment of Transforming Rehabilitation has shown that there is no place for profiteering in Probation services. Many of the Community Rehabilitation Companies ran into trouble very quickly as a result of unachievable contracts which inevitably lead to reductions in staff, service quality and standards. Conference should be reminded that all of these Probation […]

Away from Home Overnight Allowance

The Police Staff Council (PSC) Handbook 2017 introduced payment of an overnight allowance payable to police staff in certain circumstances. Sadly many months after its welcome inclusion in the handbook the circumstances under which the allowance can be paid remains unclear in many police forces. Conference therefore calls for those entrusted to negotiate with the […]

Bring All of Probation Back Into Local Democratic Control

This conference notes the Government’s decision to bring all offender management work currently carried out by privately owned Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) back into the public sector from the Spring of 2021. This is an admission that the Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) reforms have failed despite the best efforts of CRC staff and some CRCs […]

Police and Justice employers and Workplace Adjustment Passports

Conference notes that although disabled workers are legally entitled to reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, some Police and Justice employers continue to delay or seek to avoid implementing reasonable adjustments. In particular adjustments agreed with one manager may disappear when staff move teams or change managers. Some employers have implemented workplace adjustment passports. […]

Negotiating disability leave policies with Police and Justice employers

Disability leave is time off from work for a reason related to someone’s disability. It is an example of a reasonable adjustment which Police and Justice employers have a duty to provide to disabled staff under the Equality Act 2010. It is different to sick leave – in many cases the worker is not actually […]

Facility Time Shambles

Effective organisation. Effective representation and effective negotiation can only take place when we have effective trade union facility time agreements. We have again seen the Private Sector Probation Services put the National Probation Service (NPS) to shame, with their facility time agreements and their negotiating structures. The NPS are fettered by Cabinet Office Guidelines on […]

Remember Enhanced Voluntary Redundancy (EVR) and Other Broken Promises?

During Transforming Rehabilitation (TR1) UNISON worked extremely hard to protect staff during the split and staff transfer. We managed to secure a staff transfer agreement to ensure additional protections to the staff transfer scheme and an Enhanced Voluntary Redundancy scheme to remunerate staff who were asked to leave the Probation Service. We are now facing […]

Shame on YOU, End Low Pay in Probation NOW

When it comes to low pay, the Private Sector Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) have put the Civil Service to shame. The vast majority of CRCs have abolished Band 1. They have got rid of a pay scale that would have paid staff less than the minimum wage. The National Probation Service (NPS) on the other […]