Service Conditions
REPORT 2002
Single Status dominates 2002
Branch demands salary protection
The implementation of Single Status continued to dominate discussions
at both local and National Level.
As a consequence 2002 saw the Branch became involved in detailed
discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council on:-
* Car allowances
* Job Evaluation
* Public Holidays/Annual Leave
* Monthly Pay
The Branch balloted relevant members on a new Car Allowance
Scheme which resulted in acceptance of a scheme based on Inland
Revenue rates. Although the result was not supported in some
parts of the Branch - and had a particular effect in Social
Work - we found ourselves mandated through our democratic processes
(ie a ballot) and therefore entered into a Local Agreement with
the Council.
We are therefore unable to pursue grievances at this time.
The Inland Revenue rates are reviewed annually and we will be
pushing for any increase to be applied to our members.
Job Evaluation
2002 also saw national agreement to extending the deadline
for the Job Evaluation to April 2004.
Discussions with the Council throughout 2002 have resulted
in agreement on the posts to be used in the "benchmarking" exercise
where over 100 posts throughout the grading structure, from
Manual Work 1 to Chief Officer level will be evaluated to decide
the new Pay Spine.
If a member's post is selected as part of this exercise they
will be entitled to trade union representation during the evaluation
exercise.
This will mean a heavy workload for officers and stewards alike
and a major drain on branch resources in the coming months
Protection risk
The Council is wary of the potential cost of Job Evaluation
and it is reluctant to use the agreed National Scheme or to
agree any consolidation of bonus in the new pay grades. They
have said they wish to to reduce our current salary protection
period. The Branch Committee is totally opposed to any such
change.
Public holidays
2002 also saw the Council proposing incorporation some of our
Public Holidays into annual leave. This was rejected by the
Branch Committee because staff (many low paid) who have to work
public holidays would no longer receive premium payments.
2002 also saw discussions on the transfer of all staff to Monthly
Pay with the Council proposing salary advances for staff
to avoid hardship. Part of this agreement would also see the
Pre Retirement Scheme extended to cover all staff. Details of
the proposals and a ballot of affected membership will go out
prior to the AGM.
Janitors' victory
Other key discussions with the Council throughout 2002 saw
the Janitor's dispute being settled when ACAS found in our favour.
Jannies shared £300,000 in back pay in recognition of the unsocial
hours of their working week.
PPP/ PFI
2002 saw the completion of Stage 1 of the Council's PPP strategy
in Education which saw Janitors, Cleaners and Catering staff
transfer to AMEY, the organisation appointed to operate the
new schools. Howdenhall Young Peoples centre is also part of
the contract.
The Council have now embarked on Stage 2 of their PPP proposals
and the Branch is campaigning to avoid the transfer of staff
during Stage 2.
Call centres
Another Council proposal is a Council-wide call centre being
prepared on the first floor of Chesser House. It is proposed
that this will operate from 8am till 8pm and there is a likelihood
the Council will want weekend working too.
The Housing Department have pressed ahead with their own pilot
call centre at Murrayburn.
The Branch is in discussions with Council regarding the conditions
of staff required to work in call centre style operations but
at this stage there has been no discussions on extended opening.
We are also in talks on proposals to open libraries seven days
a week.
Linked into Call Centre working, the Job Evaluation Scheme
and the issue of Bonus is the Council's proposals for a Human
Resource/Pay Strategy through which it intends to introduce
a set of conditions incorporating core National Conditions and
allows a choice from a selection of other flexible conditions
which have yet to be identified.
While the Branch has been involved in discussions on this proposal,
these are at a very early stage and it must be reported that
the Branch Committee is extremely lukewarm about it.
Family Care Leave/ Flexible Working
Other areas which will, as a result of Government Legislation,
require negotiation throughout all sectors are Family Care Leave
and Flexible Working (Work/Life Balance). The Government has
improved on the existing Family Care legislation and is also
introducing legislation which will enable workers to arrange
their working hours around family commitments. Members will
be advised of progress on these matters.
Joint Future
The Scottish Executive has launched an initiative called Joint
Future which involves the merging of a number of Social Work
and Health functions. The Branch is working with the Health
Branches in a number of areas which include conditions and who
or what will be responsible for delivering these services in
the future. Rates of pay will also be a major factor.
Other Scottish Executive decisions have seen voluntary organisations
being merged, reformed and disbanded. The Branch has been heavily
involved in discussions to safeguard the interests of our members.
It is interesting to note the upsurge in our membership in that
sector during the recent upheavals.
Leisure Trust Deal
The Leisure Trust Single Status Agreement has finally been
concluded following a sequence of ballots and includes new pay
scales and conditions of service. The final stages of this during
2002 were not without trouble with a number of Employment Tribunals
pursued by the Branch.
2002 also saw further discussion at national level on the Nursery
Nurses claim.
Social Work crisis
Progress is being made on a claim to address the recruitment/retention
problems being experienced in the Social Work service with various
initiatives at local, CoSLA and Scottish Executive level.
And finally...
The team would wish to take this opportunity to thank ex Chair,
Dougie Black, who left the Branch to take up a Regional Officer
post, and President, Joe Galetta, who retires this year, not
only for their advice and assistance over the years but also
for their ability to raise deflated spirits with their highly
amusing and fantastical stories about Hibs chances of winning
the Cup.
We would also like to thank the other Branch Officers and all
stewards for their support and assistance with the everyday
issues of grievance and discipline and, of course, our thanks
to the Branch Office Staff: Eileen, Julie, Monica and Nicky,
without whom little would be possible.
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