President's Message
Report 2002
Proud to say I am President of a Branch which has achieved
all expected of it
The Annual Report is meant to be a look back over the previous
12 months but my report is of a more personal nature.
On 31st January 2003, I will be leaving the Council having
taken early retirement. My departure comes at a time when we
celebrate 10 years as the public service union, UNISON, and
6 years as the City of Edinburgh Branch.
The creation of UNISON was a radical step merging unions with
different cultures and organisations. Many suggested the combination
of white collar workers from NALGO) and blue collar workers
(from NUPE) was unworkable but they have been proved wrong.
The combination of different experiences allied to the wealth
of expertise within the new membership has ensured this Branch
fulfils all the expectations of the membership.
It has not been easy. We have had to struggle with a Council
which at times forgets its best asset is those who provide the
services to the people of Edinburgh. We have faced redundancy
threats, savage budget cuts and antagonism from councillors
and officials alike but, despite all these attacks on our members,
we have ensured there have been no compulsory redundancies and
we protected each and every member.
Vibrant
We have lobbied hard, on occasions taken strike action, taken
hard decisions but we have always made sure that UNISON and
its members were a voice to be heard and an organisation to
be treated with respect.
In 1996, when this Branch was created, I was apprehensive.
How would all the various lead officers from our constituent
unions, with their strong personalities and different ways of
working, mould into a vibrant body truly representative of all
its members?
Six years on I am proud to say I am President of a Branch which
has achieved all expected of it.
The future in local government carries many threats. The Council
is rationalising its accommodation and has not attempted to
mask its ambition to further downsize. The Scottish Executive
has more and more control on where monies are spent. The union
is about to begin very difficult and complex negotiations on
pay increases and Job Evaluation.
Local Government is not the animal it was when I joined NALGO
over 25 years ago and it will be a different animal five years
from now.
Challenges
There are many challenges ahead but I am sure those who take
on the role of being your representatives will be more than
capable of giving the leadership required to protect the membership.
Over the years I have made many friends through my involvement
in the union, too many to list but they know who they are. I
would like to place on record my thanks for their friendship,
the comradeship we shared and for all the help and advice I
have received.
Specifically, I would wish to extend my best wishes to Douglas
Black, Branch Chairperson, who has taken up a new post with
UNISON as a Regional Officer. Dougie's commitment to the Branch
will be a loss but the union will benefit from his skills and
expertise in a different way.
We should also note with sadness the tragic loss of Danny Currie
who was for several years the Branch Health and Safety Convener.
In closing I would wish each and every one of you best wishes
for the future and I would urge you all to support your union
at all times for, after all things said, it is YOUR union!
Viva UNISON!
JOE GALLETTA
Branch President
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