Probation staff may strike over pay

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The National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) said the service faced "massive cuts" of up to 12% over the next three years which will hit pay.

Staff have been told that wage increments, worth hundreds of pounds a year, will not automatically be paid or will be treated as part of annual increases, the union claimed.

Napo said it believed this was a "blatant" breach of contract which it will challenge. The union also claimed that staff in areas including Sussex had been asked to work five days for four days pay, while others had been threatened with losing their job if they did not take unpaid leave.

The union's solicitors are checking the legality of refusing to pay incremental wage rises and officials warned that if the situation continued, there will be industrial action.

Napo warned that cuts in pay and conditions will leave staff demoralised and make it "impossible" for the service to function properly.

Probation programmes would then be hit, leading to more crime being committed, said Napo.

Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of Napo, said: "The budgetary situation in probation is untenable. Staff cannot be expected to take on more and more work for less pay and stand by and see colleagues made redundant.

"This is bound to lead to a deterioration in service and more re-offending. The union is taking legal advice, will be lobbying parliament in due course, and will take industrial action if that becomes necessary."

A dispute with probation officers would add further pressure on the Government, which is already facing criticism from police officers for refusing to backdate a 2.5% pay award.