Service Conditions
REPORT 2003
2003 has seen the members of the Service Conditions Team
being actively involved across all sectors of the Branch with
involvement being particularly high throughout a variety of
Voluntary Organisations.
This has meant Officers being involved in issues ranging from
the avoidance of redundancies right through the spectrum to
the bread and butter issues of grievance and discipline.
Perhaps one of the fundamental issues of the last year was
the Council reneging on the introduction of the National Job
Evaluation Scheme, a decision that will affect all employees
of the Council and a variety of associated bodies, such as the
Fire Board and the Valuation Joint Board who use the Council's
services for their own reviews.
Job Evaluation
Members may recall that a two year extension for the job evaluation
exercise was agreed at national level. As a result employers
signing up to the Single Status agreement had until 01 April
2004 to complete the evaluation of all jobs in their authority.
The position within this Council is that they have stated that
they will not be able to comply with this timescale and they
have also made a decision not to adopt the National Job Evaluation
Scheme but to introduce their own. This will impact on not only
Council employees but also all Associated Bodies who use the
Council's Job Evaluation Scheme.
The reason given by the Council is one of cost with the protection
arrangements covering downgraded posts given as the major contributor.
The 2003 AGM overwhelmingly passed a motion backing industrial
action to sustain this agreement which was secured at local
government reorganisation as part of a package which also saw
ex District staff being required to increase their working week.
This agreement (the best in Scotland) was one which was hard
won and we will use all our available resources to protect it.
In relation to the Council's position on Job Evaluation an emergency
motion may be tabled at the AGM.
Nursery Nurses
The Branch is to mount a legal challenge over the Council decision
to deduct nine days pay from nursery nurses following their
recent 5 day strike.
Yet another example of a sympathetic approach to the low paid.
This was obviously meant to demoralise the workers but only
hardened their solidarity. At the time of writing the members
are being balloted on taking all-out indefinite strike action
(for details on the dispute see the Secretary's report).
Joint Future
Joint Future working is an initiative of the Scottish Executive
which has seen discussions between Local Authorities and Health
Boards take place seeking to improve the working arrangements
between the two bodies with a view to implementing "joined up
working" arrangements.
This has required a heavy input from stewards and Officers
from both this Branch and the Lothian health branches to ensure
that the interests of all UNISON members are looked after.
Call Centre
The Council call centre opened during 2003. Staff from Housing
and City Development have already transferred there with Environment
& Consumer Services staff to follow in 2004.
The introduction of the call centre was not without teething
problems and talks on the hours of operation of the call centre
and the conditions of service of staff are ongoing.
Social Work
The Branch Secretary has covered the inquiry into the tragic
death of Caleb Ness in detail in his report and this will be
one of the major issues to occupy the Team during 2004.
In addition to the advocacy and support that will require to
be given to members throughout the investigatory process there
will be a requirement to ensure that the interests of the membership
are protected throughout and after the decision making process
on the future provision of Social Work services.
Another issue within Social work is the requirement for all
practising staff to register with the Care Commission with them
paying the £30 fee for the privilege of continuing to work with
the department. Understandably members are furious at this and
are boycotting the registration process.
Talks on this issue have collapsed at national level and this
will be pursued locally during 2004 by the Team.
PPP/PFI
Lobbying of the Scottish Executive by the STUC resulted in
agreement on a protocol covering staff transfers and PPP/PFI
schemes.
Following representations by the Branch the Council has agreed
to implement this protocol during the second phase of PPP/PFI
and consequently staff will remain employees of the Council.
Whilst these have been some of the major issues of last year
the Service Conditions Team have been involved in many more
individual cases with an increasing number of Tribunal applications
being lodged. One significant case resulted in the Council being
found guilty of not addressing a particular case of harassment
in the workplace and they had to make a significant payment
of compensation to a member.
Agreements Reached in 2003
2003 saw the provisions of the existing Council agreement on
Family Care Leave being improved.
Agreement was reached on the extension of the Pre Retirement
Scheme to all Council staff.
Council staff can now apply for a variety of different working
arrangements as a result of a new policy on Flexible Working.
These arrangements include annualised hours, condensed hours
and term time working.
As a result of an agreement on Employment Breaks Council staff
can now apply for an employment break allowing them to leave
their job for up to 2 years with a guarantee of a post being
available for them on their return.
Work will be undertaken on updating the service Conditions
section on the Branch website which will give members access
to briefings on all agreements secured by the Branch.
We will strive to have this completed in the Spring. In the
interim, if you want to know the detail of any conditions of
service please contact the Branch Office.
And Finally...
Thanks as always to Eileen, Julie, Monica and Nicky, the Branch
support staff for all their hard work and forbearance and on
a personal note I would wish to thank them and all Branch Officers
for their support through what was a very troubled year.
John Mulgrew
Service Conditions Co-ordinator
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