MINUTES of BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
held on 21 FEBRUARY 2006
in the CITY CHAMBERS, HIGH STREET, EDINBURGH
1. OPENING REMARKS/ INTRODUCTIONS
The meeting AGREED the Emergency Motion on Equal
Pay Claims would be submitted to the Agenda.
2. APPOINTMENT OF SCRUTINEERS
Four Scrutineers were appointed - Gerry Corbett
(Health & Social Care), Elaine Wishart (Corporate Services),
Eileen Thomson (Branch Support Staff), Julie Finlay (Branch
Support Staff)
3. STANDING ORDERS
The Branch Standing Orders were AGREED for the
following year.
4. MINUTES OF BRANCH MEETING 2005
The minutes of the last Branch Annual General
meeting of 14th March 2005 were AGREED as a correct record
with no matters arising.
5. ANNUAL REPORT
The Chair advised the meeting that due to an
administrative error the Lifelong Learning Officer's report
was omitted from the AGM Annual Report. It was agreed a copy
of the Lifelong Learning report would be circulated to the
meeting. The following question was raised on the Annual Report.
Proposed New Care Home Proposed by Marlyn
Tweedie (Health & Social Care)
"The AGM 2005 supported a campaign opposing
the proposal to tender the management of 4 new care homes
for the elderly. So far there hasn't been a campaign. Can
we now agree to implement the decisions of last year's AGM
and build a campaign? All the evidence suggests that the feeling
of our members is as strongly against privatisation as it
was a year ago.”
The Service Conditions Convener (Manual) advised
the meeting that the proposed new build of two facilities
would be serviced in-house but should any further expansion
lead to any proposals to externalise service delivery the
branch would mount a robust campaign of opposition. The movers
of the question accepted this as a positive response.
6. FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The meeting AGREED the financial statement as
detailed in the Annual Report.
7. SPECIAL REPORTS
The Service Conditions Co-ordinator appraised
the meeting on the progress in negotiations on the following
issues: - i. Equal Pay ii. Job Evaluation
8. ELECTION OF BRANCH OFFICERS
The undernoted were elected unopposed: -
President: Joe Galletta Chairperson:
Chairperson: John Stevenson (Children & Families)
Secretary: George Lee (Health & Social Care)
Assistant Secretary: Agnes Petkevicius (Children & Families)
Treasurer: Mike McCrossan (Housing)
Service Conditions Co-ordinator: John Mulgrew (LVJB)
Convener (APT&C): John Ross (Housing)
Convener (Craft): Walter Weir (City Development)
Convener (Manual): Kevin Duguid (Finance)
Health & Safety Officer: Tom McLeod (City Development)
Equalities Officer: Irene Stout (Culture & Leisure)
Education Officer: Dot Paterson (Health & Social Care)
Communications Officer: John Stevenson (Children & Families)
Welfare Officer: (Job-Share) Gillian Allan (LVJB) Mike Smith
(Finance)
International Officer: Matthew Creighton (City Development)
Service Conditions Officers (4): (at least two must be women)
Agnes Petkevicius (Children & Families)
Elaine Wishart (Corporate Services)
Alan Brown (Children & Families)
Gerry Corbett (Health & Social Care)
Recruitment/Membership Officer: Irene Heggie (Finance)
Lifelong Learning Officer: Dot Paterson (Health & Social Care)
Election required for the following Branch Officer post: Vice-Chairperson
Ballot results recorded were: -
Matthew Creighton (City Development) 122 votes
Rose Jackson (Health & Social Care) 123 votes
Lyn Williams (Children & Families) 63 votes
Matthew Creighton and Rose Jackson were duly
elected Vice-Chairperson
No nominations were received for the post of
Young Members Officer. Nominations will continue to be sought
via the Branch Committee for this post.
9. RULE CHANGES
Rules B,C,D and H - APT&C and Manual Conditions
Proposed by John Stevenson (Children & Families)
John Ross (Housing)
The meeting was advised the motion had been
withdrawn. Full terms of the motion can be obtained from the
Branch Office.
10. POLICY MOTIONS
Emergency Motion - The Branch Secretary
appraised the meeting on the current position with regards
to Equal Pay. An Emergency Motion was tabled on this issue
and received the required support to be submitted to the Agenda.
With the agreement of the movers Motion 1 (Equal Pay, Single
Status and Outsourcing) and Motion 2 (Equal Pay) fell.
Emergency Motion - Equal Pay Claims
Proposed by John Stevenson (Children & Families)
John Ross (Housing)
This meeting notes the updated legal advice
for members who are being offered compensatory payments in
relation to Equal Pay Claims. The focus at this stage is on
large groups of predominately women workers who are not in
receipt of bonus payments which have been applied to groups
of predominately male workers whose jobs have been assessed
at the same grade.
We also note with concern the compensatory payments
do not equate to the full value of the potential bonus payments.
Further, we note the compensatory payments will only be made
following the employee signing a binding legal document which
removes an individual's rights to pursue any issue pertaining
to equal pay as opposed to addressing the sole issue of bonus
payments.
This meeting therefore supports the legal advice
that members should not agree the terms of the legal document
and that, where an Equal Pay claim can be demonstrated to
have substance, we will request the union's legal officer
pursue it on behalf of the member(s).
Decision: On being put to the meeting the
terms of the Emergency Motion were CARRIED unanimously.
3. Housing Stock Transfer
Proposed by John Ross (Housing) John Stevenson
(Children & Families)
This meeting commends the partnership working
between UNISON and Edinburgh Against Stock Transfer (EAST)
which led to the council tenants rejecting the council's attempt
to transfer their houses to a Housing Association.
We note the intensity of the council's campaign
for a YES vote and call upon Branch Officers to seek the costs
of that campaign and to issue them into the public domain.
The rejection of stock transfer in Edinburgh may be pivotal
to other such campaigns across Scotland and full benefit of
that result must be taken by UNISON Scotland.
We call upon UNISON Scotland to convene a conference
on options which may or may not be open to councils who wish
to modernise their housing stock. Such an event should be
open to all stakeholders with local branches being encouraged
to urge local councillors, MSPs and MPs to attend along with
representatives from Tenants Organisations and other Trade
Unions.
Amendment to Motion 3 - Housing Stock Transfer
Proposed Duncan Smith (Housing) and Luke
Henderson (Environmental & Consumer Services)
Final paragraph, at the end of the first sentence
after "housing stock” insert "while keeping it under council
ownership.”
Decision: On being put to the meeting the
terms of the Motion as amended were CARRIED.
4. Disability Leave
Proposed by John Ross (Housing) John Stevenson
(Children & Families)
This meeting agrees current sickness absence
monitoring procedures discriminate against disabled members
who may have higher absence levels due to their disability.
We consider this to breach the terms of the
Disability Discrimination Act. We note the growing campaign
from Trade Unions and pressure groups for such absences to
be excluded from sickness absence monitoring processes and
support those representations made by the Staff Side to the
Joint Consultative Group on this matter.
It is recommended a briefing paper be issued
to Branch Labour Link representatives and all City of Edinburgh
Councillors. We call upon Branch Officers to draft a suitable
motion for Annual Conference with a view to increasing pressure
on parliamentarians to recognise this is an issue they should
legislate on.
Decision: On being put to the meeting the
terms of the Motion were CARRIED unanimously.
5. New Council Headquarters
Proposed by John Ross (Housing) and John
Stevenson (Children & Families)
This meeting requests the Branch set up a Working
Group with involvement from all departments who would be based
in the new Headquarters with the group being led by the Branch
Health & Safety Officer.
The purpose of such a group would be to monitor
progress and to ensure they are satisfied with accommodation
proposals as they affect the individual departmental work
areas and any joint accommodation.
The Group would also take responsibility for
communications with the membership with appropriate involvement
of the Branch Communications Officer.
Decision: On being put to the meeting the
terms of the Motion were CARRIED unanimously.
6. Discrimination in Pensions
Proposed by John Ross (Housing) Irene Stout
(Culture & Leisure)
The terms of this motion to be adopted as branch
policy and forwarded to National Delegate Conference. This
Conference welcomes the Civil Partnership legislation which
will give parity of pension provisions (as currently provided
to married couples) to same gender partnerships. We view this
as a major step forward but note with regret the same improvement
has not been extended to non-married heterosexual couples.
We call upon the union at all levels to work with other interested
parties to campaign for Equal Rights for all contributors
to Public Sector Pension Schemes.
Decision: On being put to the meeting the
terms of the Motion were CARRIED with one abstention.
The meeting AGREED it would appropriate for
Motion 7 and Motion 8 to be taken as a group debate.
7. Pensions
Proposed by the Housing and Health & Social
Care Shop Stewards Committees
This branch condemns:
1. The findings of the Turner Report that recommends
raising the state pension retirement age to 68.
2. The Government's proposals to increase the
retirement age in Local Government to 65 and abolish the ‘Rule
of 85”.
3. The hypocrisy of the CBI who talk about a
two-tier pension provision between public and private sector
when they sit on huge pension savings. This branch believes:
4. Raising the retirement age will mean that
after a lifetime of work many more, particularly manual workers,
will die before receiving any kind of pension.
5. The so-called pensions ‘crisis' is being
exaggerated in order to justify the government's attacks on
all our pensions.
This Branch resolves:
6. To submit this motion to the next Scottish
Council.
7. To call upon the Local Government Service
Group Executive to organise a mass campaign in defence of
the Local Government Pension Scheme which includes an industrial
action ballot leading on to possible strike action.
8. Protect our Local Government Pensions
Proposed by Health & Social Care Shop Stewards
Committee)
This Branch:
1. Condemns the finding of the Turner Report
that recommends raising the state pension retirement age to
68.
2. Condemns the Governments proposals to increase
the retirement age in Local Government to 65.
3.Condemns the hypocrisy of CBI bosses who talk
about a two-tier pension provision between the public and
private sector when they sit on huge pension savings.
This Branch believes:
1. The real pension divide is between top bosses
who continue to access their huge pensions at 60 and everybody
else who at best can accrue modest pensions if any at all.
2. Raising the retirement age will mean that
after a lifetime of work many more, particularly manual workers
will die before receiving any kind of pension.
3. The so called pension ‘crisis' is being exaggerated
in order to justify the government's attacks on all our pensions.
4. That the Economic Support Ratio statistics
show that by 2045 the proportion of those working will fall
to from 33% to 27% but that a modest growth rate of only 1.75%
per year will see gross national product doubling in the same
time, more that offsetting that fall.
This Branch resolves:
1. To call upon the Local government Service
Group Executive to organise a mass campaign in defence of
the Local Government Pension Scheme which includes an industrial
action ballot leading on to possible strike action.
2. To publicise this motion.
3. Send this motion to the next Scottish Council.
Decision:
On being put to the meeting the terms of
Motion 7 and Motion 8 were CARRIED unanimously.
9. Management of Offenders Act 2005
Proposed by Catriona Grant (Health & Social
Care) and Vikki Kerr (Health & Social Care)
This branch recognises that the management of
Offenders Act 2005 has a major impact on legislation and service
provision regarding offenders both in the community and serving
prison sentences.
We recognise the setting up of the Edinburgh,
Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority (CJA) and
the effect this will have on service provision and possible
reorganisation within the five local authorities.
This branch resolves to initiate a UNISON Criminal
Justice meeting with the other relevant UNISON branches in
the local CJA in order that shop stewards and branch officers
can support members and negotiate for members regarding re-organisations,
pay and conditions, keeping services in-house and good practice.
This meeting will be called as near as April 2006 as possible.
Decision: On being put to the meeting the
terms of the Motion were CARRIED unanimously.
10. Protection of Asylum Seeker Families
Proposed by John Stevenson (Children & Families)
John Ross (Housing)
The terms of this motion to be adopted as branch
policy and forwarded to National Delegate Conference. Conference
deplores the unacceptable treatment of asylum seeker families,
many of whom have been happily settled for years in the UK
and in particular the practice of removing these families
from their homes in dawn raids.
Conference is particularly concerned about the
impact of these tactics on the children of asylum seekers,
and believes that such inhumane and degrading treatment breaches
their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child and possibly domestic legislation.
It creates distress and fear not only for those
children directly affected, but also for other refugee children
who must live in terror that it could happen to them. Conference
also condemns the practice of this government of deporting
unaccompanied asylum seeking children as they become adults,
after they have been cared for in this country, often for
many years.
Conference fully supports the online petition
"An amnesty for Scottish asylum families” and other similar
initiatives to highlight the injustice of the current policy
and undertakes to promote these to branches and members.
Conference further resolves:-
1. to campaign for an end to the forcible removal
of asylum families and in particular, an end to the practice
of dawn raids.
2. to campaign for an amnesty for all asylum
families living in this country for a year or more, in line
with the precedent set in 2002 by the then Home Secretary.
3. to campaign for alteration to regulation
to entitle individuals admitted to this country as "unaccompanied
asylum seeking children” to receive right of residence.
4. to urge branches to write to their MPs, MSPs,
and AMs to raise these matters and seek their support.
Conference recognises that if there are measures
that UNISON members can take in the interim to protect the
interests and safety of children and families who are asylum
seekers, they should be fully supported in doing so.
It recognises that legislation designed to
protect the interests of children and their families in England
and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland may have a role in
protecting children of asylum seekers from abusive situations
created by practices under other legislation. Conference therefore
instructs the NEC to build urgent links with the relevant
Children's Commissioners, UNISON members who are practitioners
in the field and relevant legal advisers to research whether
and how such legal action may be applicable.
This AGM also calls on the Branch to progress
support structures for staff who may become involved in such
situations via a working group of Branch Officers and senior
stewards from the Children & Families and Health & Social
Care Shop Stewards Committees.
Decision: On being put to the meeting the
terms of the Motion were CARRIED unanimously.
11. Edinburgh Trade Union Council
Proposed by Matthew Crighton (CityDevelopment)
and Duncan Smith (Housing)
The meeting agrees that the branch should affiliate
to the Edinburgh Trades Union Council (ETUC) and instructs
the Secretary to bring a report to the Branch Committee with
a recommendation about implementing this decision. This should
cover the likely areas of co-operation with ETUC, the management
of the Branch input to ETUC, the number of delegates and the
affiliation payment.
Decision: The meeting AGREED with the
Branch Secretary's comments that to preclude a Working Party
to consider this matter whilst passing a motion recommending
a particular course of action was not appropriate. The meeting
therefore AGREED the subject matter of re-affiliation be remitted
to the Branch Committee for consideration without recommendation.
At this point of the meeting the Chair advised
the AGM was closed with all remaining motions and vacant Branch
Officers posts being remitted to the Branch Committee for
decision and action.
