UNISON City of Edinburgh
Local Government & Related Sectors Branch
AGM 2003 Motions Passed
- Emergency Motions
War in Iraq
Nursery Nurse National Regrading Claim
Council Budget, Cuts and Redundancies (local)
- 1. Accommodation and Downsizing
2. Salary Protection
- Service Conditions Issues
- 3. Pay
4. PPP Transfer of Staff
- 5. Professional Registration Fees
The following motions were referred to the Branch Committee
for decision
Pensions and Superannuation
6. Pensions
UNISON Services and Structure
- 7. Review of Political Funds
- 8. Disaffiliation from Edinburgh Trades Union
Council
- 9. Branch Organisation
11. Conference Locations
- Policy and Campaigning
- 12. Affiliation to UK Breast Cancer Coalition
(UKBCC)
- Economic Policy
- International
13. Honorary Life Membership of UNISON for
Aung San Suu Kyi
Miscellaneous
Motions ruled out of order
- 14. Nominations to other UNISON Committees and
Forums
- 15. UNISON Political Funds Review
EMERGENCY MOTIONS
War in Iraq
Following Tony Blair's speech at the spring conference of the
Scottish labour Party, it has become clear that the UNISON supported
demonstrations in London and Glasgow would not be sufficient on
their own to change his mind and stop the drive for war.
Therefore this branch reconfirms its opposition to war on Iraq
and:
1. Calls on its members to take part in further protests organised
by the Scottish Coalition for Justice Not War and the Edinburgh
Stop the War Coalition, in particular in Parliament Square at
5pm on the day the war starts and on the Saturday following at
12 noon on the Mound.
2. Calls on the UNISON National Executive committee to call for
the reconvening of the Trades Union Congress under Rule 8 (k)
of its Rules and Standing Orders in the event of war to discuss
industrial action.
TUC Rules and Standing Orders - Rule 8 (k) In order that the
trade union movement may do everything which lies in its power
to prevent future wars, the General Council shall, in the event
of there being a danger of an outbreak of war, call a special
Congress to decide on industrial action, such Congress to be called,
if possible, before war is declared.
Amendment to delete point 2 was defeated.
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Nursery Nurse National Regrading Claim
This Branch meeting notes a national regrading claim was submitted
to CoSLA on behalf of all Nursery Nurses in Scotland. The response
from our national employers was a rejection of that pay claim
and an indication that they wish to erode current national Conditions
of Service.
It was agreed at a meeting of Nursery Nurses within this branch
(held on Tuesday 18 February) that we are prepared to take industrial
action, up to and including strike action, in pursuit of a negotiated
Pay Award which recognises the important role of this professional
group of staff in the eduaction and care of our children.
This is being backed at a Scottish level by our negotiators and
it is likely a national campaign will be embarked upon.
This Branch Meeting instructs branch officers to ensure that
any local campaign is fully supported and suitably resourced.
Further, we would seek the support of all Branch colleagues in
our pursuit of a fair Pay Award.
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COUNCIL BUDGET, CUTS, REDUNDANCIES
1. Accommodation and Downsizing
Proposed: John Mulgrew (LVJB) Irene Stout (Culture & Leisure)
This meeting views with extreme concern the unambiguous comments
from senior councillors and officials to the effect that, as a
result of office rationalisation, there will be reductions in
staffing levels. We note this will happen in conjunction with
the opening of the new Council Headquarters (proposed completion
date 2005).
We call upon the council to take measures at this time to identify
potential areas for job loss and to put in place retraining programmes
for threatened staff.
Other measures such as recruiting on a temporary basis to vacancies
in threatened areas should be employed to mitigate any threat
of compulsory redundancies.
We call upon Shop Stewards Committees to ensure this is a standing
item on Departmental Joint Consultative Committee agendas and
to put in place measures to maintain regular communications with
those staff so threatened.
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2. Salary Protection
Proposed: Kevin Duguid (Finance) John Mulgrew (LVJB)
This Branch notes with concern comments from lead council officials
and councillors to the effect that the current agreement which
provides for salary protection with no time limit will have to
be withdrawn if the authority is to be able to afford application
of the National Job Evaluation Scheme (due to be completed in
April 2004).
The inevitable proposal will be to protect salaries for a period
not exceeding three years. It is anticipated the outcome of Job
Evaluation will be salary increases for approximately 20% of staff,
no change for 60% and salary decreases for 20% of staff. This
would lead to a potential 20% of members suffering salary decreases
in 2006.
Such a proposal is unacceptable. We call upon Branch Officers
to vigorously oppose any attempt to amend our current conditions
for Salary Protection and to embark on a programme of Industrial
Action if necessary.
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SERVICE CONDITIONS
ISSUES
3. Pay
Proposed: John Mulgrew (LVJB) George Lee (Social Work)
As amended by Douglas Linton (Finance) and Kevin Duguid (Finance)
This meeting notes the end of our 3 year pay deal following
the final installment being put in place in April 2003.
We commit this Branch to oppose any attempt by the employers
to move away from our national collective bargaining framework
for pay increases
Further we recognise the application of a 3 year deal allowed
for increases in pay beyond inflation rates and that it provided
for an agreement which recognised the impact of the Scottish
Executive's 3 year funding package for local government.
We note with concern, however, the problems of recruitment
and retention of staff in local government with pay being a
major impediment to attracting new recruits.
We call upon UNISON's Scottish Local Government Sector Group
to enter into early discussions with the employers with a view
to seeking full funding by the Scottish Executive for a 3 year
pay deal which will maintain above-inflation awards whilst giving
cognisance to other awards in the public sector.
Any pay award must also be inflation proofed, in that the award
must be maintained at a minimum of 1% above the rate of inflation.
Furthermore, we call upon the Scottish Local Government Sector
Group to initiate the setting up of a Local Government Pay Commission
to try to help resolve not only the historical degradation in
real terms of Local Government pay but also the problems mentioned
above of recruitment and retention.
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4. PPP Transfer of Staff
Proposed: George Lee (Social Work) Alan Brown (Education)
This meeting notes the recent PPP protocol which ensures a common
set of Conditions of Service will apply to all staff involved
in PPP schemes and those conditions will be those applied to those
staff forced to transfer to the new service provider from the
council employment.
Whilst reinforcing our commitment to continue to campaign against
PPP schemes and their funding mechanisms which create huge profits
for the private sector, we consider the implementation of this
protocol will be a deterrent to the future involvement of potential
Private Sector partners as they will no longer be able to profit
from savings on the conditions of service applicable to workers,
many of whom are amongst the lowest paid.
We call upon the Scottish Local Government Sector Group to build
upon this protocol and to seek agreement with the employers at
a national level on a policy of no future transfers of staff in
any PPP scheme.
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5. Professional Registration Fees
Proposed: Keith Dyer (Social Work) Kirsten Hey (Social Work)
As amended by Alex Paterson and Barry Dugan (City Development)
This Branch recognises that professional registration is a necessary
requirement for workers in many areas of the Council and that
it demonstrates professional competence, responsibility and development.
We acknowledge that some professions employed by the Council
have been required to maintain registration in order to practice
for many years and that the cost of registration has been the
responsibility of the individual workers.
However, there is a recruitment and retention crisis across many
parts of the Council. We recognise that the Branch is already
in some discussion with the Council to look at solutions to this
crisis.
This Branch resolves, as part of these discussions, to gain agreement
that registration fees will be paid by the Council for all employees
who are required to maintain registration or, alternatively, that
salaries will be uprated to cover the cost of registration.
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The following motions were referred to and passed by the Branch
Committee
PENSIONS AND SUPERANNUATION
6. Pensions
Proposed: George Lee (Social Work) Walter Weir (City Development)
We view with extreme concern government comments that final salary
pensions are no longer sustainable and that alternative provisions
will have to be considered.
We note pension contributions are a form of deferred pay and
that Local Government Pension Schemes have a reputation for stability
in times of economic unrest. No evidence has been brought forward
to suggest this would change in the future.
We call upon the National Executive Council to mount a campaign
seeking protection of our pension rights being retained on the
basis of final salary and to continue the fight to eradicate inequalities
from our pension schemes.
In doing so we commit the union to take whatever measures required
(up to and including Industrial Action) to achieve success in
our campaign.
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UNISON SERVICES AND STRUCTURES
7. Review of Political Funds
Proposed: John Ross (Housing) George Lee (Social Work)
This Branch welcomes UNISON's review of its Political Funds but
notes with regret the report to the 2003 National Conference has
not been circulated in time to allow full consideration at branches'
Annual General Meetings.
We note the legislation requires affiliation to a political party
to be organised through a specific fund which members can choose
to pay into if they so wish and that only those payments can be
used in participating in the affairs of a political party.
It is our belief any review outcome must retain this element
of choice. Whilst supporting affiliation to the Labour Party as
a means by which we can influence party policy, we recognise there
will always be elements of conflict between the aspirations of
the union and those of the party.
Any review outcome must ensure the Affiliated Political Fund
pursues UNISON's policies through Labour Party structures and
not the reverse.
We urge the APF to review its workings and structures to create
an open and democratic forum which facilitates the involvement
of all those who choose to pay into it.
We believe the current structures of the General Political Fund
meet the requirements of the membership in relation to broader
campaigning and see no reason for radical change.
This meeting agrees to delegate powers to the Branch Committee
to allow that body to submit suitable amendments to the Final
report based on the terms of this motion and the following peinciples:
We believe that the APF has to:-
1. be more systematic about the alliances and actions necessary
to influence Labour Party policy;
2. become more open about how it works;
3. become more accountable to its members through adopting delegate-based
structures like the rest of the union;
4. have a degree of accountability to the bodies of the union
which make the policies which the APF pursues, while protecting
the principle that only APF levy-payers can determine the actions
of the APF;
5. fight to change undemocratic policy-making structures in the
Labour Party which have hindered the promoting of our policies
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8. Disaffiliation from Edinburgh Trades Union Council
Proposed: John Stevenson (Social Work) John Ross (Housing)
This meeting notes that since our formation as the City of Edinburgh
Branch we have maintained affiliation to the Edinburgh Trades
Council and that this branch is the largest financial contributor
to that forum.
We note with regret the decreasing influence of the Trades Council
and the lack of involvement of this branch in their affairs. We
also note the lack of activities relevant to the workings of the
branch and the very low public profile of the Trades Council.
We recognise the growing benefits of links with the Lothian Trade
Union & Community Resource Centre who have specific expertise
in employment related issues ( such as Health & Safety ) which
we have drawn upon.
This meeting agrees to disaffiliate from Edinburgh Trades Council
and to become a lead sponsor of the Lothian Trade Union & Community
Resource Centre at an initial cost of £1000.
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9. Branch Organisation
Proposed: Matthew Crighton (City Development) Ann Henderson
(City Development)
We recognise that there is a need to review the levels of participation
in the activities in the branch and to revitalise it. After ensuring
the continuation of high quality representation on service conditions
issues this is the number one priority in the coming year.
This meeting instructs the incoming Branch Secretary and Branch
Committee to put in place, from the first Branch Committee meeting
of the new year, a process of reviewing and revitalising the operation
of branch structures.
Without implying any particular criticisms or shortcomings in
relation to any of the points below, this should include consideration
of:
1. Recruitment of stewards and placing steward activity at the
core of branch functions
2. Time off and training for stewards and officers
3. Member participation in membership-led union
4. Roles of Stewards Committees
5. Recruitment of members
6. Communications Strategy with members
7. Filling of Branch Officer positions
8. Public profile - campaigning for public services - implementation
of last AGM's decision of a standing campaign committee
9. General meetings - attendance, frequency
10. Social, sports and family-related activities
This should be standing item on the Branch Committee agenda,
through which the Branch Secretary should provide regular updates
on progress. The Branch Secretary should draft a report on the
outcomes of the review for the Branch Committee's approval and
then for consideration at a future General Meeting (and no later
than the next AGM); without delaying implementation of any necessary
measures which do not require approval at that level.
Stewards' Committees should also consider these matters and it
is recommended that they too have a standing item on this topic
on their agenda.
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11. Conference Locations
Proposed: Irene Stout (Culture & Leisure) John Ross (Housing)
Whilst recognising the restrictions on choice for the National
Annual Conference (due to the scale of the event) this meeting
states its concerns with the locations chosen for other conferences.
We note this year's National Women's Conference is to be held
in Plymouth and that other locations such as Cardiff have been
chosen in the past for Annual conferences of self-organised groups.
Whilst accepting the good standard of facilities we are concerned
that the geographic location of these venues provides for travelling
difficulties and can extend periods away from home for activists
with family commitments.
The additional travelling time can also create problems in getting
time off to attend with a three day conference requiring, on occasion,
five days away from home.
We call upon the National Executive Council to ensure all conferences
are held in locations with easy accessibility for the majority
of delegates and that the location should be accessed by a mainline
railway station.
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POLICY AND CAMPAIGNING
12. Affiliation to UK Breast Cancer Coalition (UKBCC)
Proposed: Irene Stout (Culture & Leisure) Amanda Kerr (Culture
& Leisure)
Formed in 1995 UKBCC have been champions of patient advocacy,
working to inform and train women to take action and instigate
improvements in breast cancer services in their area.
We believe the work of UKBCC to be of fundamental importance
to the women of this Branch and agree to affiliate to UKBCC.
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ECONOMIC POLICY
No motions
INTERNATIONAL
13. Honorary Life Membership of UNISON for Aung San Suu Kyi
Proposed: John Stevenson (Social Work) John Ross (Housing)
Conference congratulates UNISON for its support for the Burma
Campaign UK (BCUK) and in particular for its ongoing campaign
within the labour and trade union movement to pressurise international
governments to impose investment sanctions on Burma.
For nearly 40 years Burma has been controlled by a military regime
which has been condemned as one of the worst violators of human
rights. The democratically elected President of Burma, Aung San
Suu Kyi, has only recently been released from house arrest and
remains unable to take up her role as leader of her country.
She has called for support from organisations such as independent
trade unions to highlight the plight of her people.
Conference calls for Aung San Suu Kyi to be made an honorary
life member of UNISON and for branches to press local authorities
and Regional governments in their geographical areas to award
her with freedom of the city, county or nation.
Such initiatives would raise the profile of Burmese issues which
have too often slipped down the international agenda. We call
upon UNISON to
1 embark on an awareness raising campaign within the membership
2 advise members on how they can support the work of BCUK at
a local level
3 explore options for directly supporting some of the innovative
international programmes which seek to provide educational opportunities
for Burmese refugees
4 explore options in conjunction with the Federation of Trade
Unions Burma for providing internships for refugees who are seeking
experience of collective bargaining, globalisation, advocacy and
representation
5 work within the labour and trade union movement at a national
and international level on solidarity actions with the Federation
of Trade Unions Burma
6 explore options for high profile awareness raising / fundraising
events organised in conjunction with BCUK.
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MISCELLANEOUS
No motions
MOTIONS RULED OUT OF ORDER
14. Nominations to other UNISON Committees and Forums
Proposed: David Hop (Social Work) Peter Sharma (Voluntary Sector)
This meeting supports the principles of the motion in the same
name as tabled at last year's AGM but considers it acts against
activists who are involved in other parts of the union but fail
to be elected as a Shop Steward or as a Branch Officer.
This meeting agrees that all those active within the union at
Scottish or National level (Scottish Committee, Scottish Council
and all regional Self Organised Groups) should be automatically
co-opted to the Branch Committee and have full rights as a delegate
at this Committee with appropriate support.
President's Note: Under Branch Rule D.1, the
Branch Committee has no power to co-opt members and so cannot
be instructed by a policy motion to do so.
The Branch Committee structure is designed to ensure that
all delegates are elected and accountable and includes shop stewards
committee delegates, branch officers and two delegates from each
self organised group within the branch.
However the Equalities Committee can co-opt members "where
it would be of assistance in progressing a specific issue” under
Rule D.5.
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15. UNISON Political Funds Review
Proposed: Matthew Crichton (City Development) Walter Weir
(City Development)
This meeting recognises the importance of our political activities;
and also agrees with the intention of our predecessor unions,
in founding the Labour Party, of seeking the election of a union-sponsored
socialist party, rather than hoping that parties over which they
had no direct influence would govern in the interests of working
people.
We further recognise that both trade unions and the Labour Party
inevitably encompass a broad range of views which will produce
tensions especially when in power.
The meeting remembers the nightmare years of Conservative rule
and recognises that the election of a Labour government in 1997
was a great step forward for working people and their unions.
However it also recognises and endorses the dissatisfaction felt
within UNISON about key actions and policies of the Labour government
on which we have strong and opposed views, for example, the privatisation
of the provision of public services via PPP; and international
policies like Iraq. We welcome the political funds review as an
opportunity for the union to revise and improve the ways its political
fund works, drawing on these experiences.
We believe that in the first instance the union has to improve
the ways in which it pursues it political objectives, both through
the GPF and the APF. As regards Labour Party affiliation, at this
point the APF needs to fight for UNISON policies in the Labour
Party. We applaud the start that has been made in this direction,
for example in votes on PFI at Labour Conferences, but believe
that the APF has to:
1. be more systematic about the alliances and actions necessary
to influence Labour Party policy;
2. become more open about how it works;
3. become more accountable to its members through adopting delegate-based
structures like the rest of the union;
4. have a degree of accountability to the bodies of the union
which make the policies which the APF pursues, while protecting
the principle that only APF levy-payers can determine the actions
of the APF;
5. fight to change undemocratic policy-making structures in the
Labour Party which have hindered the promoting of our policies
We recognise that the APF in this branch over recent years mapped
out these policies and striven within the APF to get these implemented.
We call on the NEC to endorse these points and bring forward
any rule changes which may be necessary for implementation of
points 2, 3 and 4; and call on the APF to adopt changes in its
structure and constitution which will deliver them.
For submission to Annual Conference.
President's Note: The NEC cannot be asked to
bring forward rule changes regarding the internal organisation
of the Affiliated Political Fund. Specifically it cannot bring
forward a rule change as requested in Point 3 of the motion, ie
to require ‘delegate-based structures' or any other internal structures.
The APF is governed by National Rule J. Rule J.8.5 Defines
the basis of the Fund and that the fund can only support the Labour
Party. Rule J.8.2 delegates the administration of the APF to the
National Affiliated Fund Committee. The operational rules of the
APF (1.1) state that any amendments to the APF Rules should require
the agreement of the National Policy Forum of APF members.
In short, while National Conference could conceivably alter
the fundamental basis of the Affiliated Political Fund (although
because it was set up by a ballot, there is a view that only a
ballot should change this), only APF members, paying into the
fund can change the rules of how the fund is organised internally.
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P&P by UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch, 23 George IV Bridge,
Edinburgh EH1 1EN, tel
0131 220 5655, Fax 0131 225 9125.
E-mail branchoffice@unison-edinburgh.org.uk
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