UNISON’s Probation Committee has agreed to suspend the strike called for Thursday 11 June, and the action short of strike action due to have started on Friday 12 June, in order to allow further talks to take place to seek to resolve the 2014 pay dispute.
This follows discussions with the employers at ACAS, the Government’s Arbitration, Conciliation and Advisory Service, on 5 and 8 June. At these talks, the probation employers agreed to a request from UNISON to extend the period in which we can call further industrial action in order to allow pay negotiations to restart.
The ACAS statement said:
“As a result of talks at ACAS on 5th and 8th June 2015, the two sides of the National Negotiating Council (NNC) for the Probation Service have committed to meet with a view to resolving the 2014 pay dispute.
“These talks will include discussion on the future structure of collective bargaining and pay reform.
“In view of this, the Employers Side of the NNC agree that the period within which UNISON may make a call for industrial action be extended by 28 days, and the UNISON industrial action, which was due to have started on 11 June, has been suspended.”
It is hoped that the restarted pay talks will lead to a positive outcome. The Probation Committee will meet to review the outcome of these talks and will make a decision on how to go forward. If necessary, the industrial action could be re-scheduled in July.
