Recruitment Initiatives

Irene Heggie, Recruitment and Membership Services

Our recruitment initiative began at Chesser House in February 2007, then in May and July, Mary Scott, UNISON Development Officer and I visited Waverley Court. At the time talks were under way with Council over 'Modernising Pay'.

Staff were concerned about the impact this would have on their jobs and grades and many non members approached us for information and to discuss joining UNISON.

I plan to carry on visiting the main Council offices to let staff know UNISON is fighting for a fair grading system that protects members. It is important stewards encourage their work colleagues to join the union and inform them of the hard work negotiators are putting in to achieve the best outcome.

Last year also saw an increase in interest from the Voluntary Sector. I have given presentations at Visualise and Scottish Museums workplaces and more recently I spent a day at Norton Park where various voluntary bodies have their offices. I also attend quarterly induction courses for UNISON at SACRO.

Our branch office is working with full time officers from HQ to encourage members to become shop stewards and set up a committee. Visits to Waverley Court and Chesser House are advertised in advance and although some see our table as just a source of "goodies", I have found over the past three years this approach endorses UNISON's "Your Friend At Work" message to potential members and gives existing members the chance to ask any questions.

My commitment to recruitment remains a priority and I hope to increase membership in 2008.

Membership Figures at 31 December 2007

*Please note comparisons from last year's figures are influenced by departmental re-organisations and the centralisation of certain support functions

Recruited 1/1/07 - 31/12/07 = 1,013 Officially resigned = 98

Audit for proportionality and Fair Representation

Proportionality varies from year to year with a drop at Branch Committee level due to unfilled delegations and some reduction in the big shop stewards committees.

The status quo at Stewards level is disappointing and we cannot hope to improve at other levels until there are more women stewards coming through. Figures are clouded if places are left vacant if there is no woman and a two delegate dept meets proportionality by having 50%.

Figures in brackets show 2006 figures

1. Women

2. Branch Committee breakdown

Women, Manual & Craft and APT&C (and CO) Breakdown at 31/12/06

a) Women on dept.delegations

b) Manual/Craft on dept. delegations

c) Manual & Craft breakdown

% of Branch Membership= 16% (16%)

% of Branch Committee = 10% (8%)

d) Women on Manual/Craft delegate

% of Women in MC membership= 64%(64%)

% of Women among M&C delegates to Branch Committee = 20% (25%)

e) APT&C (and CO) breakdown

% of Branch Membership = 84% (83%)

% of Branch Committee = 85% (88%)

f) Women on APT&C delegations

% Women in APT&C membship =70%(69%)

% of Women among APT&C delegates to Branch Committee = 45% (52%)

NOTE: Conditions breakdowns show the percentages where conditions are known. There are a large number of members, especially in Associated and other bodies where the conditions category is not clear. There are members where gender is not recorded. Machinery not yet in place to identify shift workers, disabled, lesbian or gay, or black members. Part time and job share figures are unreliable.

ATTENDANCES

Branch Committee Attendances 2006

Name POSS ACT

Branch Officers
Joe Galletta 12 0
Duncan Smith 12 10
Matthew Creighton 12 9
Rose Jackson 12 9
George Lee 12 3
Agnes Petkevicius 12 10
Mike McCrossan 12 0
John Stevenson 12 6
John Mulgrew 12 4
Kevin Duguid 12 5
John Ross 12 9
Walter Weir 12 7
Elaine Wishart 12 7
Irene Stout 12 10
Alan Brown 12 3
Derry Morrice 12 2
Irene Heggie 12 11
Dot Paterson 12 6
Gillian Allan/ Mike Smith 12 0

Associated Bodies (2)
No delegates appointed

Chief Officers (1)
No delegates appointed

Children & Families (13)
Barbara Foubister 12 3
Carol Griffin 12 8
Katherine Hendry 12 5
Evelyn Hanlon 12 9
Tom Connolly 12 7
Keith McCullough 12 1
Alex Gallagher 12 10

City Development (4)
Frank Donoghue 12 4
John Jappy/ Alex Paterson 12 0

Corporate Services (4)
Linda Moor 12 3
Sheila McLuckie 12 7

Edinburgh Leisure (3)
No delegates appointed

Finance (3)
Steve McDonald 12 8
Alex Nuttgens 12 5

Further Education (3)
No delegates appointed

Health & Social Care (12)
Mary McCrea 12 8
Marlyn Tweedie 12 9
Pam Scott 12 3
Mo Innes 12 3
Mark Kinghorn/ Paul Flaherty 12 1
Brian O'Riorden 12 1
John Walls 12 1

Services for Communities (8)
Leah Lockhart 12 1
Alison Gowrie 12 4
Shauna Clarke 12 4
Amanda Kerr 12 6
Luke Henderson 12 9
Paul Clarke 12 7
Rory Gardner 12 7
Rob Gay/ Tam McKirdy 12 5

Valuation Joint Board (2)
No delegates appointed

Voluntary Sector (5)
No delegates appointed

Self Organised Groups (9)
Rena Lal 12 0
Peter Sharma 12 0

Retired Members
No delegate appointed

* Please note sederunt/mins not available for April meeting

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