Secretary's
Report 2002
Includes Communications Report
Give staff the respect and the tools to deliver services
It has been a year where the long term lack of recognition of
local government staff has come to roost in a recruitment crisis.
The problem is due to a range of factors. The main one is ignoring
UNISON evidence over the years that pay was falling behind not
only the rest of the economy but also the rest of the public services.
There is also the press attitude towards public service, especially
in social work, where the jobs we all do are consistently undervalued.
And Edinburgh's relative prosperity means that staff from cleaners
to senior administrators can get better money elsewhere.
What is so disappointing is that it has taken a market crisis
to alert politicians, not the inherent value of the jobs public
service staff do.
Of course, alongside the posts the Council can't fill, there
are those they won't fill because of budget decisions. Staff soldier
on covering the extra work. But instead of thanks they get morale-sapping
attacks on conditions and lectures on getting to work when it's
snowing.
On the positive side, we appreciate the Council's response in
trying to address social work recruitment in Edinburgh and across
Scotland.
While on the one hand we have constructive partnerships, on the
other we have a Human Resources strategy which seems intent on
portraying the capital as Scotland's 'penny-pinching' authority.
Improvements which would cost little and petty cuts which make
staff feel undervalued recur regularly. You only have to look
at the Equalities and Service Conditions reports in this booklet.
Edinburgh must rebuild staff morale and give our members the
resources to deliver services in 2003.
National influence
The Branch has played a key role on the Scottish and UK stages
in 2002.
We delivered new policies at National Conference on Discrimination
in Pension Schemes and Counselling for Lay Activists.
We also spoke to defeat a move to narrow the broad anti-war coalition.
At Scottish level we were active in a range of issues from the
Social Work Crisis to Public Services Campaigning, the Fire Dispute,
Pensions, Child Care and many more.
Members have also participated in the Womens, Black members and
Disabled members conferences.
On the international front, we said goodbye to ANC veteran Denis
Goldberg on his return to South Africa, not to retire but to take
up a government post. The branch presented him with a quaich and
a book of banners.
Communications
A major highlight of the year was the sponsorship of the 'Roses
Turn to Bloom' at the Edinburgh Mela. The General Political Fund
put in the lion's share with contributions from the Branch and
UNISON Scotland.
Those who were there will never forget the evocative multicultural
rendering of Hamish Henderson's 'Freedom Cam A Ye'.
We did not put out as many magazines this year as we liked to
have, mainly because of shifting news meaning the mags would have
been out of date by the time you got them.
Nevertheless, the Branch won Runner-Up in the UK Magazine Competition.
And for the second time, our Website won the award for Best Website
in the UK. See it at www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk.
Branch changes
2002 has also been a year of big changes in the branch. The new
membership system which allows direct access to national records,
eventually got up and running. It then got down and did nothing
when our new equipment was installed. Several nights of socialist
grumpiness followed until we got it working again.
The Branch has made a major investment this year in new computer
equipment and new office furniture. The next step is to get new
more accessible premises and the search goes on.
People
Dougie Black, Branch Chairperson, has been appointed to
a UNISON full time officer job. Dougie led the Scottish Local
Government Service Group and was a key player on the UK group.
He was Branch Secretary of the old Edinburgh District Branch and
of the new Branch before becoming chair.
The respect he commanded from members and management alike, his
experience, his knowledge and his calm and always sensible advice
will be greatly missed but will be of great value to the branches
he works with in his new job.
Branch President Joe Galletta is leaving the Council too
after 25 years as a union activist. Joe has given so much to the
union over that time.
Many members have been glad to see Joe delivering his speciality
of being called in at short notice to represent them in a crisis.
And sadly we lost Health & Safety Officer Danny Currie last year
after a long fight with cancer. Tributes are paid to him by Joe
Galleta and Tom McLeod in this Annual Report which demonstrate
the key role Danny had in building health & safety awareness in
the Branch.
No branch can lose activists like these without a major effect
on the pool of experience and on workload and we desperately need
new and energetic activists to come through.
Because of changes in my job, I have not played as big a role
this year. I must thank the branch office staff and the rest of
the branch officers for their support and solidarity despite having
to take on extra work. In particular I would want to record my
thanks to John Ross whose sense of humour, mammoth workrate and
uncomplaining interference, sorry support, has been greatly appreciated.
He writes a good letter and it is an odd experience getting a
letter from yourself asking you to reply to yourself!
JOHN STEVENSON
Branch Secretary
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