Ballot opens today 1st May

Probation members in England and Wales are being asked to vote for strike action – and vote yes to action short of a strike – in a ballot opening on 1 May and closing on 20 May.

This will cover both members working for the National Probation Service and the new, outsourced “community rehabilitation companies”. If members have not received a ballot paper, or need a replacement, a ballot helpline will be open from 8-15 May on 0800 0 857 857 (textphone: 0800 0 967 968).

Lines are open from 6am to midnight on Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm on Saturday.

Earlier this year, 96% of members taking part in a consultation over the employers’ 2014 pay offer of 0% voted to reject it.

In response, the employers have now put forward a “full and final offer” of:

• a 0% increase on all pay points;
• a one-off, non-pensionable lump sum payment (pro rata to hours worked) to staff at the top of their pay band of –

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 to receive one increment as per contractual entitlement.

The union described the employers’ position as “a slap in the face”.