9.
Rule Changes
Rule
Changes require a two-thirds majority vote at the AGM. Copies
of the current rule book are available from the Branch Office
on request (0131 220 5655) or at www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/rules.html
The explanations in italics are provided by the Branch Secretary
to assist members and do not imply support or opposition to
the particular rule change.
Rule
Change 1
MOVED: Irene Stout (Recreation) SECONDED: Tom McLeod (City
Development)
Rule
D
(This will change the frequency of Branch Equalities Committee
Meetings)
In rule D.5.6 delete "monthly” and insert "bi-monthly”
Rule
Change 2
MOVED: John Stevenson (Social Work) SECONDED: John Ross (Housing)
Rule E 2(g) - Role of Branch President
(These changes set out structures for matters relating
to support staff directly employed by the Branch)
Delete
wording in E 2(g) and substitute with: - "Act as a route of
appeal as required by Rule B5 on staffing matters in the context
of agreements applying to branch employed staff”.
Rule
E3 - Role of Branch Chairperson
Add new point 5 as follows: - "5. Any other responsibilities
as outlined in Rule B5”
Rule
E4 - Role of Vice Chairperson (2)
Delete 1, 2 and 3 and substitute with 1,2,3 and 5.
New
Rule B6 "6. Branch Employed Staff Structures
(a) Staffing Sub Committee
For all staffing policy matters except the consideration of
individual or collective cases under the agreed staff Disciplinary
and Grievance procedures, the Branch will establish a Staffing
Sub Committee. This sub-committee will consist of the Branch
Chairperson, Branch Secretary, Branch Service Conditions Convener
(or nominee), Branch Treasurer and three members elected by
the Branch Policy and Finance Committee.
(b)
Staff Grievance and Disciplinary Appeals
(i)
Staff Grievance and Disciplinary procedures will be those
agreed from time to time with the staff trade union(s). These
procedures will require clear lines for appeals purposes as
follows.
(ii)
The Branch President will provide a first line of appeal for
staff grievance and disciplinary matters. The President may
seek advice and assistance in this task from other branch
officers.
(iii)
As the ultimate line of appeal, the Branch will establish
a Staffing Appeals Committee comprising the Branch Chairperson,
Branch Equalities Officer and one member elected from the
Policy and Finance Committee. The Vice Chairs will substitute
for the Branch Chairperson if she/he has already been directly
involved in the case in question.
(iv)
The procedures for dealing with staff grievances and appeals
will be those agreed with the staff trade union(s) from time
to time.
Rule
Change 3
MOVED: John Stevenson (Social Work) SECONDED: John Ross (Housing)
Rule
E 19
(This reflects the change of title at national level)
Change
‘Youth Officer' to ‘Young Members Officer' in title. In Point
d) change ‘Youth Conferences' to ‘Young Members Conferences'.
Motions approved
CAR ALLOWANCES
See also 'Car Allowances
explained'
This Branch notes the decision of the Branch
Committee on 4 February to accept the result of the essential
car users ballot as a mandate to accept proposed changes in
conditions. It notes that this was a difficult decision given
management's inflexible position in removing essential status
from staff for whom the use of a car is essential to performing
their duties.
For Social Workers, for examples, there are
significant issues regarding workload and service delivery
along with staff safety issues. There are also significant
losses in earnings of up to £800 per year. This Branch regrets
that the Branch Committee and the balloted members did not
have all the necessary information before them prior to coming
to their decision. This includes:
1. There was no information as to whether the
‘buy out' would or would not attract tax. If, as it now seems,
the payment is taxable, members must be reconsulted immediately.
2. The Branch contravened its own policy of
opposition to the Council's insistence of seeking cuts for
one group of staff to avoid redundancies in another group
of staff. The Branch Committee instructed Branch Officers
to separate the conditions issues and refused to treat all
the elements as a ‘package'. Despite this the covering letter
for the ballot explicitly made a link between acceptance of
the offer and the avoidance of redundancies. This not only
contravened the mandate from the Branch Committee, it was
also perceived by many members as either moral blackmail from
the union or its unwillingness to challenge the Council's
redundancy threat.
3. The reasons for the Branch Committee recommending
that members should accept a cut in conditions and loss of
earnings were not satisfactorily explained in any literature
to members.
4. The financial implications for individual
essential car users i.e. users doing 225 miles per month stand
to lose £675 per annum were not made clear.
Because of the above, this Branch meeting believes
that the ballot process has resulted in members' anger being
directed at the union rather than the Council.
It is recognised members may wish to cease using
their vehicles for work purposes given the reduction in car
allowances.
Such action will directly impact on individual
workloads with inevitable backlogs being created.
Branch officers are instructed to raise with
management the need to introduce mechanisms to monitor workploads
and to ensure adequate resources are allocated to address
backlogs.
Proposed by: Carol Stewart (Social
Work) Seconded by: Mo Innes (Social Work)
STOP THE DEPORTATION OF BAKKARI ADOUI
NOTE: The points at the end of the
motion were acted upon on 20 March 2002
In 2001 the City of Edinburgh UNISON Branch
agreed to support the campaign of opposition to the threatened
deportation of Bakkari Adoui.
Bakkari Adoui has lived in Edinburgh for 3 years.
He is an asylum seeker from Tanzania who fears for his life
if he is forcibly returned. Amnesty International reported
on "systematic torture and mass arbitrary arrests" and "indiscriminate
and disproportionate use of force against civilians".
On Saturday 9th March 2002 Bakkari Adoui was
detained at his local police station. From there he was taken
to Manchester detention centre and then on to Harmondsworth
detention centre near London. Neither Bakkari nor his lawyer
were given any notice of his detention and/or threatened deportation.
Bakkari's lawyer is doing all he can but UNISON
can continue its support of Bakkari by requesting David Blunkett,
Home Secretary, allow Bakkari to return to his home in Edinburgh.
This A.G.M. therefore calls on UNISON to protest
against Bakkari's detention and to contact the Home Office
as soon as possible urging Bakkari's release. The terms of
any correspondence should also be forwarded to all Edinburgh
MPS and this motion should also be submitted to Scottish Council
for action.
Proposed by: Marlyn Tweedie (Social Work)
Seconded by: Sylvia Crick (Voluntary Sector)
Campaigning for Positively Public Services
Proposed: John Stevenson (Social Work) John Ross (Housing)
This Branch notes the widespread demoralisation of local
government and voluntary sector staff due to continued attacks
on public services and the pay and conditions of the workers
who provide them.
Yet it notes that a UNISON MORI poll shows people in Scotland
value their services and 91% are opposed to the private sector
running public services.
This branch notes the success of its campaign to draw attention
to the crisis in Childrens Services. It also notes that it
has resulted in united calls to the Scottish Executive to
provide more funding for councils.
We resolve to take this strategy further to national level
and locally by by developing well-researched critiques on
all of the services we provide, to build and maintain public
support.
This Branch calls on the Council and the Government to abandon
outdated privatisation and PFI schemes and to look at imaginative
ways to modernise public services by giving them the public
investment they need.
Whilst we recognise industrial action may be needed to defend
our members, we also need to lobby politically and in partnership
with community and other organisations to address the policy
issues that create the threats to jobs and services and the
undermining of pay and conditions.
We therefore resolve to to intensify the campaign for the
themes of UNISON's ‘Positively Public' and ‘...for World Class
Public Services' campaigns in Scotland.
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9. Campaigning for Public Services and
Public Employees
Proposed: Matthew Creighton (City Devt) Gavin
Martin (Environmental & Consumer Services)
We recognise that the principles which underpin
public services are under threat at all levels, from the
global (GATS) to the local (PPP). This means that the quality
of services, their availability to all and the pay and conditions
of the workers who provide them are all in question.
In these circumstances the ability of our
union to achieve success in negotiations for its members
is underpinned by its ability to achieve influence and win
arguments in the public and political arenas. Each relies
on the other.
Therefore we need to promote the campaigning
role of our branches, activists and members. In each locality
we aspire to the trade union movement, and our union in
particular, to have a central role in forming and giving
voice to public opinion on these matters.
We believe that at any time there will be
a need to be putting forward our views and policies on specific
or general issues, so, to these ends, we agree to set up
a Campaigns Working Group in the branch, accountable to
the Branch Committee via P&F, which can co-ordinate campaigning
activities and generate participation by activists and members.
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2. Joint Futures
Proposed: George Lee (Social Work) John Stevenson (Social
Work)
This meeting recognises the benefits of closer working between
Local Government and Health Services but is concerned about
the limited timescales for consultation on issues like a Human
Resources statement of intent and a Developmental and Training
Plan.
This branch is concerned that:-
1. Indications suggest management structures will consist
of Partnership Boards. This would create a democratic deficit
with responsibility to the Scottish Executive rather than
the communities they serve.
2. While welcoming the avoidance of duplication in service
provision, we cannot ignore the potential for Job Loss and
the implications for Service Conditions with staff transferring
between agencies.
We note discussions have started between local branches in
Local Government and Health to ensure local negotiating teams
are in place as soon as possible. We welcome the efforts of
UNISON officers involved in the development of Human Resources
proposals but consider it imperative a UNISON agenda for "Joint
Futures” be drafted with the active involvement of those members
who stand to be affected.
A framework must be put in place forthwith to facilitate
that involvement. This meeting requests Branch Officers initiate
discussion processes with members who would potentially be
affected by Joint Futures.
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Redressing local government pay problems
Proposed: John Stevenson (Social Work) John Ross (Housing)
This Branch believes that the most recent pay campaigns have
been unable to address the fundamental issue of Local Government
pay falling behind other sectors of the economy.
The recruitment and retention problems faced by many local
authorities can only be addressed by a commitment from central
government to adequate funding. We therefore must start consultation
now on a pay strategy well before the end of the current settlement
in 2004.
Recognising that the problems are so severe that they are
unlikely to be solved by the normal pay negotiations, this
branch are-iterates its call for the Government at UK and
Scottish level to set up a comprehensive review of local government
pay to address the long term problems, recognising that respect
for the users of public services is directly related to respect
for those who deliver them.
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4. Industrial Tribunals
Proposed: John Ross (Housing) John Stevenson (Social Work)
This meeting notes the growing number of issues which require
to be taken to Employment Tribunals for resolution and recognises
the skills required for representing members in such forums
require to be developed through structured training programmes.
We call upon UNISON Scottish Region to put in place as a
matter of urgency suitable training programmes for those who
represent members in Tribunals.
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5. Discrimination in Pension Schemes
Proposed: Irene Stout (Recreation) John Ross (Housing)
This meeting welcomes the support of employer's bodies for
amendments to the Local Government Pension Scheme to the purpose
of removing/amending those regulations which discriminate
against non-married partners.
We note this matter now lies with the Government and that
they have failed to progress the necessary changes to date
as they are considering the financial implications of similarly
amending other pension schemes.
We call on the National Executive Committee to actively campaign
for immediate positive action on this issue and to seek the
support of the Affiliated Political Fund in raising this mater
within the Labour Party.
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The following motions were passed by the
Branch Committee
6. Nominations to other UNISON forums
Proposed: Kevin Duguid (Finance) Douglas Linton (Finance)
This Branch supports the principle of our representatives
participating in the work of other forums in UNISON (eg Scottish
and National organisations and Self Organised Groups).
We recognise such participation can facilitate individual
development of skills and assimilation of knowledge which
can be of benefit to the branch and, similarly, our policies
and initiatives can be taken forward to other parts of the
organisation.
Paramount to this principle is a recognition that there should
be dual benefits for the branch and the organisation with
accountability to both.
This Branch resolves only to support nominations where there
is clear evidence that the nominee plays an active role within
the Branch.
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8. Ending Ringfencing of Local Government Finance
Proposed: John Ross (Housing) John Stevenson (Social Work)
This meeting views with concern the actions of the Scottish
Executive which are leading to a growing percentage of Grant
Assisted Expenditure (GAE) being ringfenced for initiatives
determined by the Executive and not locally elected councils.
This undermines the principles of local government where councils
are elected on the basis of local manifestos rather than national
issues.
We note the intent to grant councils the power of wellbeing
and the right to direct expenditure to new initiatives which
councils consider to be of benefit to their local communities
but consider such powers to be worthless without the power
to determine all areas of expenditure without interference
from the Executive.
We call on the Scottish Executive to cease the practice of
ringfencing and to put in place a financial framework which
allows councils to determine their own priorities.
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10. GATS
Proposed: Matthew Creighton (City Development) Kevin Duguid
(Finance)
This meeting recognises that the General Agreement on Trade
in Services poses a major threat to public services. It expresses
alarm at the support given by the UK governments to expand
trade in public services; and at the decision of the WTO to
speed up negotiations on GATS. It supports efforts by those
governments which are seeking to ensure this process is required
to show the effects and supposed benefits of liberalisation.
We call on the UK government to state clearly that it will
refuse to enter into or sign up to/support any agreement which
obliges it to introduce liberalisation, free markets or privatisation
on any public services; or to weaken its powers to regulate
other industries.
We call on the Scottish Executive and public authorities
to give support to this position.
We expect UNISON-linked MP's and MSP's to give active, vocal
and public support to this policy.
We expect all UNISON representatives to promote this policy
in appropriate forums and not vote for any policy which does
not protect public service from the threats in GATS. Our expectation
in this respect includes APF representatives within the Labour
Party.
In doing the above we will lend support to and co-operate
with the activities of the World Development Movement over
GATS.
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11. Missile Defence and Nuclear Disarmament
Proposed: Matthew Creighton (City Development) Malcolm Bruce
(Voluntary Sector)
We recognise with alarm that we live in a world in which
major powers, in particular the USA supported by the UK, are
increasingly using force and military power to achieve their
own ends rather than use negotiation, international law or
any international institutions like the United Nations; and
that actual military campaigns are ignoring the principles
of international law like the Geneva Convention. We believe
that in these circumstances the use of nuclear weapons becomes
more likely.
At the same time the USA is spending billions of dollars
on increasing the scale and technological sophistication of
its armouries. The USA's intention to develop and deploy National
Missile Defence is the prime example. It will enhance both
the capacity to use nuclear missiles as aggressive first strike
weapons and the ability to deploy non-nuclear weapons throughout
the world. We note that the use of facilities in the UK is
central to NMD. This would set up our country as a target
in an increasingly dangerous world. We believe that if a British
government were to allow this it would be betraying the security
of its peoples as well as the cause of global peace and security.
We reiterate our opposition to all weapons of mass destruction,
including nuclear weapons, and our belief that the UK should
disarm itself of them unilaterally and devote its energies
to the cause of nuclear non-proliferation. We unequivocally
oppose National Missile Defence (NMD) and call on the government
to give a commitment that it will not support it nor allow
British facilities to be used for it.
We expect UNISON-linked MP's and MSP's to give active, vocal
and public support to this policy. We expect all UNISON representatives
to promote this policy in appropriate forums and not vote
for any policy on defence or international relations which
differs from it. Our expectation in this respect includes
APF representatives within the Labour Party.
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