UNISON CITY OF EDINBURGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RELATED SECTORS BRANCH

MINUTES of BRANCH
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

held on 19 FEBRUARY 2007 in the CITY CHAMBERS, HIGH STREET, EDINBURGH

1. OPENING REMARKS/ INTRODUCTIONS

The meeting was chaired by the Branch Chairperson John Stevenson.

2. APPOINTMENT OF SCRUTINEERS

Four Scrutineers were appointed - Jalal Chaudry (City Development), Gerry Corbett (Health & Social Care), Catriona Grant (Health & Social Care), Walter Weir (Services for Communities)

3. STANDING ORDERS

The Branch Standing Orders were AGREED for the following year without amendment.

4. MINUTES OF BRANCH MEETING 2006

The minutes of the last Branch Annual General meeting of 21st February 2006 were AGREED as a correct record with no matters arising.

5. ANNUAL REPORT 2007

No questions were raised on the Annual Report.

6. FINANCIAL STATEMENT

The meeting AGREED the financial statement as detailed in the Annual Report with the specific points of action as follows:-

· £50,000 to be transferred into the Branch Property Fund and 10% of the remaining surplus to be transferred into the Industrial Action Fund as allowed for under rule.

7. SPECIAL REPORTS

The meeting received updates on the ongoing negotiations/discussions on the following matters:-

· Updated report on Single Status (John Mulgrew)

· Additional Report on Pension Scheme (John Ross)

· Equal Pay (John Ross)

8. ELECTION OF BRANCH OFFICERS

The undernoted were elected unopposed:

President: Joe Galletta (Retired)

Vice-Chairperson: Matthew Creighton (Services for Communities), Rose Jackson (Health & Social Care)

Secretary: George Lee (Health & Social Care)

Assistant Secretary: Agnes Petkevicius (Children & Families)

Treasurer: Mike McCrossan (Services for Communities)

Continued from Page 20

Service Conditions Co-ordinator: John Mulgrew (LVJB)

Service Conditions Convener

(APT&C): John Ross (Services for Communities)

Service Conditions Convener (Craft): Walter Weir (Services for Communities)

Service Conditions Convener (Manual): Kevin Duguid (Finance)

Health & Safety Officer: Derry Morrice (Services for Communities)

Service Conditions Officers (4): (at least two must be women)

Alan Brown (Children & Families)

Agnes Petkevicius (Children & Families)

Elaine Wishart (Corporate Servies)

Irene Stout (Services for Communities)

Equalities Officer: Irene Stout (Services for Communities)

Education Officer: Dot Paterson (Health & Social Care)

Welfare Officer: (Job-Share) Gillian Allan (LVJB) Mike Smith (Finance)

International Officer: Matthew Creighton (City Development)

Recruitment/Membership Officer: Irene Heggie (Finance)

Lifelong Learning Officer: Dot Paterson (Health & Social Care)

No nominations were received for the post of Young Members Officer. This vacancy will now be remitted to the Branch Committee for consideration.

Election required for the following Branch Officer post(s):

Chairperson: Ballot results recorded were:-

Duncan Smith (Services for Communities) 84 votes

John Stevenson (Children & Families) 73 votes

Duncan Smith was duly elected Chairperson.

Communications Officer: Ballot results recorded were:-

Luke Henderson (Services for Communities) 72 votes

John Stevenson (Children & Families) 84 votes

John Stevenson was duly elected Communications Officer

9. RULE CHANGES

No rule changes had been submitted.

10. POLICY MOTIONS

1. Equal Pay

Proposed by John Stevenson (Children & Families) Irene Stout (Services for Communities)

This meeting expresses its extreme concern at the council's approach to Equal Pay. The Council's failure to accept their employment practices over the past years have discriminated against groups of workers who are predominately low-paid women has created an environment where "no- win, no-fee" lawyers are now raising litigation against not only the employer but also individual Branch Officers on the basis they were supposedly aware of Equal Pay legislation but failed to use it in the interests of their members.

The complexity of this particular employment legislation is self-evident and we are concerned that lead activists are now being asked to respond on an individual basis to questions raised by the "no-win, no fee lawyers ".

We consider both the failure of the employer to respond to this situation and the circumstances facing our lead activists to be unacceptable and call upon the union at all levels to take whatever action necessary to address these issues with a view to ensuring a fair and equitable resolution which protects the interests of all members and those who represent them.

Decision: On being put to the meeting the terms of Motion were
CARRIED unanimously.

2. Single Status - The Way Forward

Proposed by Services for Communities Stewards Committee

This union branch notes

1. It is likely that the Council's final Single Status proposals will include "winners" (members whose pay goes up), "losers" (whose pay goes down) and many whose pay will stay the same. The current branch policy is that no members should lose out under any proposed Single Status agreement.

2. The impact of Single Status proposals elsewhere in Scotland have seen some staff, often low paid, lose thousands of pounds under the proposals. This can have a devastating effect on members who are already struggling to manage on low incomes.

3. Once Glasgow Council revealed their Single Status package there was a strong vote for strike action including some who were set to benefit from the package. This threat of strike action by council workers forced their council into making significant concessions.

This union branch believes

1. Single Status is a key issue for the following year. It has the potential to make or break this union branch.

2. Communication between the branch and members must be more effective to ensure that we can fight for the best package.

3. If the council is sincere in working in partnership with the unions then it should allow members meetings in council time. This will maximise attendance and participation.

This union branch resolves

1. To improve direct communication with members. This includes using all facilities available including members meetings, newsletters, email, stewards meetings etc.

2. To ensure it is the members who should make the final decision to accept or reject the whole Single Status package.

3. To send this motion to the Scottish Local Government Committee of UNISON and to call on the Scottish region to lead a national campaign to pressurise the Scottish Executive to provide the full funds required to finance the proposals and to co-ordinate branches to win the best possible deal.

Amendment to Motion 2 - Single Status - The Way Forward

Proposed by Kevin Duguid (Finance) and Agnes Petkevicius (Children & Families)

In paragraph beginning "This union branch believes", point 2 delete "branch" and insert "shop stewards"

In paragraph beginning "This union branch resolves"

In point 1 delete 2nd sentence and insert

"This will include a schedule of Continued from Page 21

monthly all stewards meetings supported by adhoc meetings as necessary. It is imperative stewards then feed back information to their local membership without delay. Membership bulletins and meetings should be used at appropriate times."

In point 2 add at the end

"This branch will call Emergency General Meetings at the appropriate point to discuss any proposals on aspects of Single Status/Job Evaluation. Where appropriate a ballot of the membership within the City of Edinburgh Council will take place.

Delete Point 3 and insert

"This meeting calls upon all members to support the UNISON Scotland Campaign for Scottish Executive funding of Single Pay and Equal Pay settlements. We encourage all members to participate in the forthcoming lobby of the Scottish Parliament and for individuals to canvas the support of their local MSPs."

Decision: On being put to the meeting the terms of the Motion as amended were CARRIED.

3. Competitive Tendering - Homes for Older People

Proposed by Marlyn Tweedie (Health & Social Care), Ian Hood (Health & Social Care)

This AGM notes with dismay the decision of Edinburgh Council to competitively tender the management, maintenance and running of care homes for older people. Organisations, individuals and multi nationals will be able to bid and then legitimately profit from the "business".

This meeting believes that there is a fault line at the core of the rationale for justifying the market principles in public services; that is that the drive to make a profit inevitably leads to decisions that cut back on the services provided, that pay staff less money, that cut back on training etc.

The disastrous experiences in our hospitals, railways and schools prove that this is not "best value" for us - the employees and users of public services. Polls consistently show that 80% of the public are against privatisation and that public services and the ethos of accountability, equality and care from cradle to grave are highly valued and worth defending.

This meeting resolves to

1. Set up and participate in a campaign which is as large and inclusive as possible to oppose the tendering process. Every group and individual is welcome from students to pensioners and all in-between. This is an issue for all of us.

2. A steering group should be organised within two weeks of the date of this meeting, involving branch officers, shop stewards and other activists to organise the first steps in this campaign.

3. Those members directly affected should be consulted to establish their willingness take industrial action in defence of in-house provision.

Amendment to Motion 3 - Competitive Tendering - Homes for Older People

Proposed by George Lee (Health & Social Care) and John Ross (Services for Communities)

Delete 1st paragraph and replace with

"This AGM welcomes the statement from the Department of Health & Social Care that adverts placed for the tendering of Residential Care Services for Older People were placed in error and did not reflect the current Council policy of retaining these jobs in-house.

Delete all after 2nd paragraph and replace with

"In the event of a reverse of current Council policy for the retention of in-house services for Homes for Older People this meeting resolves to initiate a campaign of opposition and to seek the support of UNISON's Industrial Action Committee. This campaign should involve all stakeholders.

Decision: On being put to the meeting the amendment fell. The terms of the substantive Motion were CARRIED.

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 consideration.

EMERGENCY
BRANCH MEETING

held on 17 JULY 2007 in the

MAIN COUNCIL CHAMBERS,

HIGH STREET, EDINBURGH

The Chair explained the requirement for an Emergency Branch Meeting to consider a response to proposed Budget Cuts. This would be a single issue meeting focussing on the terms of the following motion

Emergency Motion on Budget Cuts

Moved by George Lee (Branch Secretary), Seconded by John Ross (Service Conditions Convener APT&C)

This meeting views with concern the potential impact on jobs and services arising from the council decision of 28th June 2007 to implement without delay and without any consultation with stakeholders budget cuts totalling, in the first instance, £10 million with additional reductions being brought forward to the next council meeting scheduled for Thursday 23rd August 2007.

It is imperative councillors are made aware of the true impact of these decisions which are purely finance driven with no consideration of the effects these will have on services, service users and service providers.

To that purpose this meeting agrees to seek the agreement of the national Industrial Action Committee for a programme of action starting with a lobby and demonstration at the August Council meeting.

In agreeing this motion the initial drafting of the terms of any programme of action will be remitted to the Branch Policy & Finance Committee who will refer back to an all stewards meeting on proposals in pursuance of a campaign of opposition to the cuts.

The terms of the motion were AGREED without amendment.