GFTU BGCM Report 2017

Resolution 7 (continued) (2) This BGCM believes that a cultural change is needed in order to address the issue of domestic violence. The tolerance of sexual and physical violence against women and girls is based on attitudes and beliefs which persist today, decades after the first equalities legislation. The White Ribbon Campaign is a worldwide movement which encourages men to stand with women to condemn domestic violence and asks them to speak up about the issue with fellow men. (3) The MU calls on the GFTU and its members to support the White Ribbon campaign, encourage male comrades to sign up and encourage unions and employers to promote the three national helplines - one for female victims, one for male victims and one responding to perpetrators to motivate them to recognise the problem and get help to change. (1) On the 1st June 2014 the Probation Service was split into 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies, and a National Probation Service. On 18th December 2014 the 10 year contracts for the CRC’s were signed off with the new providers with a view that the contracts are mobilised in February 2015. (2) Since the split last year the probation service has been in chaos. There are significant staff shortages which are resulting in high workloads, impacting on service delivery and causing significant levels of stress for staff. ICT failures have resulted in staff having to duplicate work up to four times before assessments and reports can be saved successfully on the IT systems. None of the IT is Assistive Technology friendly having a disproportionate impact on disabled staff. Sickness absence has doubled in both organisations in just four months with 46% of members reporting stress related problems due to their work. In some cases, when members tried to raise concerns about public safety and staff welfare with clients, MPs and other stakeholders they were threatened and criticised. This Biennial Conference calls on all unions to work together to fight stress at work by sharing and promoting best practice; and championing managers and staff who raise these concerns internally and when necessary externally. Conference notes that the government’s ill thought out plans to “reform” probation (3) has had a serious impact on Napo members with little or no consideration for their wellbeing. This in turn has had an impact on service delivery which in our view places a direct risk to the public as it undermines public protection and risk management. We call on this GFTU Biennial conference to support all public sector workers who are being asked to do more for less. We acknowledge the impact the outsourcing of probation has had on staff, communities and offenders. Conference supports Napo’s campaign to hold all probation providers accountable to deliver quality services, a duty of care to employees and provide ongoing support for our members in relation to health and safety, good practice and good industrial relations. Resolution 9 Oppose the Privatisation of Children’s Services (1) Government have planned for the marketization and privatisation of children’s social services, including child protection investigations and assessments, since early 2014. After huge public opposition to initial proposals, Government moderated regulations to limit transfers to not-for- profit mutual or charities. Resolution 8 Outsourcing and Accountability

Implementation

Implementation

Solidarity has been given to NAP throughout this struggle and the General Secretary attended their Conference as a speaker.

Implementation

The GFTU supported a letter from play work campaigners in The Guardian end May 2015 protesting against the decline in London services. The General Secretary acted as Chair of the Chooseyouth Campaign throughout the period and had many articles on the decline of children’s and youth service published.

Implementing 2015 Resolutions | Page 15