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1. Council Review Procedures - Potential
Libraries’ Action
Proposed by John Ross (Services
for Communities) Irene Stout (Services for Communities)
The meeting views with concern the
manner in which the council is now using Review
Procedures as a means to impact on terms and conditions
and continuing employment rights. This has been
highlighted by the recent review of the Library
Service with Services for Communities.
During this exercise management have
strived to enforce their contention that all current
posts have been deleted and replaced with new posts
for which individuals would have to apply for and
undergo full recruitment and selection processes
including interview. They also contend that as all
posts are ‘new’ they can apply different terms and
conditions.
We welcome management's recognition
of our members' concerns and that purposeful negotiations
are now ongoing to facilitate a mutually acceptable
review outcome.
This meeting agrees in the strongest
terms this is an unacceptable approach to organisational
change and that we will seek union support at all
levels to oppose such actions.
We call upon Branch Officers to negotiate
a corporate protocol for the assignment and matching
to posts affected by review processes.
(Carried as amended)
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2. Home Care Cuts and Privatisation
Proposed by Health & Social Care
Shop Stewards Committee
This AGM notes that cuts and privatisation
of our Home Care services continues. The department
of Health & Social Care envisage that 75% of Home
Care will be delivered by the private sector within
5-6 years. At present this is approximately 55%.
This is being implemented alongside
a policy of “re-able” where some service-users are
given an in-house service for 4-6 weeks after which
their care may be cut and privatised. The policy
of re-able is that people are helped to be as independent
as possible.
No-one would argue with this as a
theory. However, we have serious reservations that
it is being used as a justification for cuts and
privatisation. In November 2007, a campaign was
set up to publicly campaign against this. Since
then, our evidence - and we have plenty - bears
out our concern; namely that service-users are not
receiving the quality of service they previously
had and staff are under unbearable pressure to deliver
basic services.
Much is made to Councillors of the
lower costs of the private sector. But we know this
isn’t the whole story. Often when they have a large
section of the work, they increase their prices.
Staff tend to be very low paid, don’t enjoy fair
conditions and stay for only a short time. This
reflects badly on the quality of care delivered.
We ask this AGM to affirm its continuing
support for this campaign and its opposition to
cuts and privatisation. We also recognise that many
Council sections and departments face cuts and privatisation.
We actively support all struggles, campaign, etc
against these and hope we can give support and strength
as necessary.
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3. Underfunding of Children’s Services
Proposed by John Stevenson (Children
and Families) John Ross (Services for Communities)
This branch welcomes the various UNISON
responses to the aftermath of the death of ‘Baby
P’ and to the second Laming inquiry. While these
responses focus primarily on children’s services
in England and the legal context (for example, the
Children’s Hearing system) is different in Scotland,
this branch believes that many of the problems identified
are common across all social work services.
These include:-
1. Continuing chronic underfunding
of children’s services, both locally and nationally.
In 2006/7 Scottish local authorities spent an average
of 70% over the Scottish Government’s Grant Aided
Expenditure on children’s services. This has not
changed materially since the ‘concordat’ between
the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish
Local Authorities and in many areas the pressures
on funding have hugely increased.
2. Unrealistically low staffing levels
and continuing vacancies. In real terms, front-line
qualified staff in children and families social
work have been cut despite the increased pressures
and expectations on social work.
3. An ‘inspection culture’ which focuses
on achieving often meaningless targets while ignoring
whether expected standards can be achieved within
the resources currently allocated. This leads to
priorities being set on bureaucratic indicators
rather than real practice outcomes.
4. A focus from the Scottish Social
Services Council which concentrates on sanctions
against practitioners while failing to exercise
any meaningful sanctions related to its other duty
of ensuring employers deliver on their side of the
codes of conduct, including providing adequate resources.
5. An increase in the time front-line
staff are having to spend on recording data primarily
for statistical purposes, often related to inspections,
at the expense of direct service-user contact. The
problem is increased by the lack of admin support.
6. A growing managerialist approach
which fails to support front-line staff and acknowledge
their crucial task of working with intense and complex
situations.
7. Increasing and unmanageable caseloads.
These issues, among others, have led
to a general feeling throughout the workforce that
the system is unsafe. Practitioners are justified
in believing that they will be held responsible
for any tragedy irrespective of whether they were
adequately supported or resourced.
While it is unrealistic to expect
no child will ever come to harm, it is realistic
to expect that the government and local authorities
should face up to their responsibilities to adequately
resource children’s services.
This branch therefore calls for:-
1. A continuing campaign to expose
the resource crisis in children’s services involving
research into caseloads and practices and regular
publicity on the issue to ensure that the public
and decision-makers are made aware of the seriousness
of the situation.
2. A national review of staffing and
caseloads which recognises the complexity of the
service and real time required to fulfil the task.
3. A governmental and local authority
strategy that owns up to the problem and sets out
a plan to invest in front-line Children and Families
social work at a level that makes the task realistic.
This should involve the trade unions and other stakeholders.
4. Call on UNISON to co-ordinate meetings
of members and workshops/conference as necessary
to continue the process of gathering evidence of
the difficulties faced by front-line Children and
Families social work staff.
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Service Conditions Issues (ie
pay and conditions)
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4. The Next Pay Claim - Members’
Involvement
Proposed by John Stevenson (Children
and Families), John Ross (Services for Communities)
This AGM welcomes the UNISON Scottish
Local Government Committee review of the 2008 Pay
Campaign, called for by this Branch, which will
look at:-
1. Lessons from the claim itself and
how it developed
2. Lessons from the joint union campaign
3. An analysis of communication and
leadership issues
4. Implications for future collective
bargaining.
This AGM believes that any claim must
address low pay and is best united around if members
can play a full part in deciding the claim themselves.
This AGM therefore instructs Branch
Officers to mount a major consultation exercise
after the review is published in April 2009 to give
all members a say in the next pay claim and campaign.
As well as usual workplace meetings,
the consultation should involve new ways of involving
members, for example, a website forum, surveys,
small groups, workshops and other ways of ensuring
as many members as possible have their say.
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5. Car Mileage Rates
Proposed by Irene Stout (Services
for Communities), Mike McCrossan (Service For Communities)
This meeting considers the removal
of Essential Car Allowance payments has been to
the detriment of members of staff who, in the interests
of their services to the community, require access
to personal transport.
There is no doubt that if members,
individually or collectively, decide that it is
no longer in their interest to provide a vehicle
on a casual basis to fulfil their responsibilities
there would be an impact on service provision.
It is clear that employers have now
settled upon localised arrangements based on casual
payments with Inland Revenue guidelines being generally
applied.
This meeting supports branch officers
in seeking upgraded mileage payments given the Inland
Revenue guidance has not been updated for several
years.
It notes that action on car mileage
rates was agreed at National Local Government Service
Group Conference 2008 and supported by this Branch.
This AGM instructs Branch Officers to seek an urgent
update on progress on this.
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6. Equalities Commission
Proposed by Irene Stout (Services
for Communities), Dot Paterson (Health and Social
Care)
This meeting welcomes the principles
of the Equality Bill which was referred to in the
Queen’s Speech in December 2008 and which will be
the subject of consultation during spring 2009.
Whilst recognising the intent of reinforcing
fairness in society we consider that the principles
highlighted to date are high on rhetoric but low
in substance. We view it as essential that the widest
possible involvement of UNISON is essential if we
are to represent fully the interests of our members
in legislative amendments which will impact both
within their employment and within their personal
lives.
We therefore call upon UNISON Scotland
to call a seminar involving all stakeholders with
a view to taking forward a consensual response during
the consultation period. It is also essential that
we strive to ensure maximum media coverage on the
contents of that submission.
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7. Stewards Accreditation
Proposed by Dot Paterson (Health
and Social Care), Irene Stout (Services for Communities)
This meeting notes the legislative
requirements for the accreditation of Shop Stewards
via formalised training programmes. It is of concern
that there has been a growing number of instances
where management have refused the required time
off for training on the basis that service contingencies
are paramount.
Such a response restricts the abilities
of the union and Shop Stewards to fully represent
the interests of the membership.
We therefore call upon the union to
seek statutory rights to time off with training
for Shop Stewards which would replicate the provisions
currently in place for Health & Safety representatives.
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Pensions and Superannuation
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8. Public Sector Pensions
Proposed by John Ross (Service
for Communities), Irene Stout (Service for Communities)
This meeting condemns the continuing
media and political attacks on Public Sector Pensions.
Comments from Tory politicians like, “Pensions Apartheid”
and “gilt edged” and Lib Dem statements that our
pensions are “unsustainable and unaffordable” must
be challenged.
The reality is that the average local
government pensioner receives only £74 per week.
Attacks pensions not only affect the lowest paid,
they also add a further tax burden in having to
pay additional welfare benefits.
Public Sector pensions are deferred
wages. They are paid through workers’ contributions
and by wage levels that reflect pension costs.
This Branch supports affordable pensions
for all workers and believes that any solution should
be based on levelling up, making private companies
face up to their responsibilities, not cutting public
sector pensions.
The campaign to defend our pensions
must start now to be ready to challenge politicians
in the run up to elections. We therefore call upon
the union at all levels to seek comment from politicians
from all parties and to highlight responses to our
membership with a view to initiating a campaign
to profile the value of public services and the
providers of those services.
The union should also mount a media
campaign to inform the public of the reality of
how our pensions are funded. We also call upon Labour
Link to take on this campaign.
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UNISON Services and Structures
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9. Transfer of Branch Funds
Proposed by John Ross (Services
for Communities), Mike McCrossan (Services for Communities)
It is proposed to take this motion
with the Financial Statement
This meeting supports and homologates
the decision of branch officers to transfer monies
during the past financial year towards the Branch
Hardship Fund and the Branch Premises Fund.
We do so in recognition that the potential
for industrial action in the coming year on issues
such as Job Evaluation and Pay Modernisation requires
contingency measures at this stage.
Also we recognise the accessibility
of the branch office remains a problem and we continue
to seek alternative accommodation.
Branch Officers should continue to
monitor finances in the coming year and to take
appropriate action to ensure branch funds are directed
to the benefit of the membership.
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10. Strike Pay - Pension Contributions
and National Insurance
Proposed by John Ross (Services
for Communities), Elaine Wishart (Corporate Services)
This branch supports the principle
that selective strike action can be influential
in periods of industrial dispute with employers.
We recognise that in such situations we are dependent
on direct action from specific groups of members
rather than the total membership.
In normal circumstances the union
would undertake to recompense loss of take-home
pay either through payments from the national body
and/or supplemented by local finances. It is, however,
of concern that current practice does not provide
for payment towards employer pension contributions
which results in long term loss for those involved
in selective action. There are also issues pertaining
to National Insurance contributions.
We therefore call upon the NEC to
put in place any measures required to maintain pension
levels and to consolidate National Insurance contributions
for those who take action on behalf of their colleagues.
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11. Climate Change Concerns Action
Proposed by Matthew Crighton (Associated
Bodies), Paul Clarke (Services for Communities)
This meeting recognises the need for
urgent action to be taken to address the damage
Climate Change is causing to our planet.
Workplace activities and negotiations
We call upon our branch/our employer/our
union to immediately implement a range of measures
to address the environmental devastation being caused
by Climate Change.
We will initiate joint environmental
committees and call for and seek to negotiate joint
climate change action plans/green workplace action
plans for each employer, department and major workplace.
We will seek to create the role of
environmental representative who will co-ordinate
UNISON input into these action plans; accountable
to the appropriate local union structures, e.g.
Stewards Committees. This role can be taken by existing
stewards or H&S representatives; or, where there
are joint plans or negotiations with employers to
create them, they may be nominated by stewards committees.
We will arrange appropriate training
for UNISON representatives to be able to carry this
forward. The branch creates an Environmental “steering
group” to raise the profile / awareness of environmental
issues. It will also consider the option of a future
rule change giving formal status to the role of
environmental representatives.
We will seek to negotiate facility
time and joint training for these activities. We
call on the City of Edinburgh Council and other
employers to agree a Climate Change Plan with UNISON
and to provide funding to invest in proposals which
can provide cost-efficient reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions.
Campaigning
We aim to increase campaigning activity
in the coming year, focusing on strong and binding
legislation at Scottish and UK levels and at the
UN talks in Copenhagen. As well as agreement on
targets for emissions reductions UNISON should campaign
for:
The UK and Scottish government to
produce realistic conversion plans for the achievement
of these targets within their own economies; and
to immediately change current policies which are
inconsistent, e.g. on aviation expansion, road building.
A duty on all publicly-funded bodies
and major private employers to consider climate
change in all decisions and report on progress annually,
with negotiated green workplace agreements.
A binding international treaty which
requires developed countries to meet stringent emission
reductions targets, a financial mechanism to support
developing countries in: implementation of their
plans and programmes for adaptation to and mitigation
of climate change, and which subordinates other
international bodies like the WTO and IMF to the
objective of an environmentally sustainable and
just development of the world economy.
We aim to organise a city wide campaign
involving as many groups etc including eg Trades
Council to build for the Scottish Climate Bill rally
on 22nd April 2009 at the Scottish Parliament.
We will participate in activities
aimed at maximising public mobilisations around
the Copenhagen Treaty and the talks leading up to
it.
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Policy and Campaigning
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12. Welfare of all Children Paramount
Proposed by John Stevenson (Children
and Families), John Ross (Services for Communities)
This AGM notes with pride that a motion
from this Branch has resulted in a Scottish UNISON/BASW
Guide on supporting Asylum Seeker and Unaccompanied/Separated
Children and ultimately a UK UNISON Guide - both
to support our Social Work members in ethical practice.
It restates the principle that children
living in Scotland have the same rights under Scottish
legislation irrespective of their immigration status
and the local authority has the same duty towards
them.
While much has yet to be done, this
Branch welcomes the results of the wider campaign
which include:-
1. Leave being given to 1,100 families
to remain in Scotland
2. A ‘lead professional’ to ensure
children’s welfare is addressed
3. An inspection process for immigration
services
4. A requirement for immigration staff
dealing with children to be Disclosure checked
5. The ‘welfare of the child’ principle
being included in Home Office Guidance
6. Forthcoming legislation which will
impose a statutory duty of the ‘welfare principle’
on immigration services.
7. The removal by the UK Government
of its reservation from the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child.
This branch pledges continuing support
for the work on this campaign.
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13. Edinburgh World Justice Festival
21-23 May 2009
Proposed by Matthew Crighton (Associated
Bodies), Paul Clarke (Services for Communities)
This meeting agrees to support the
Edinburgh World Justice Festival in 2009. It welcomes
the sponsorship of the Festival in 2008 by UNISON
Scotland and calls for this arrangement to continue
in 2009.
It believes that the Festival should
be an opportunity for raising the public profile
of pressing issues relating to social and environmental
justice world-wide and that it should be an opportunity
for dialogue with organisations and activists from
across the world. In order to enable their messages
to be heard we urge that UNISON works with the EWJF
to organise a high-impact launch event which will
use video-conferencing and related technology to
achieve these objectives.
Referred to Branch Committee
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Economic Policy
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14. A Response to the Crisis
Proposed by Luke Henderson (Services
for Communities), Rory Gardner (Services for Communities)
This Branch recognises that the economic
crisis which is unfolding round the world will have
a massive impact on working people and their families.
The crisis is showing that the market
left to itself is not a self-regulating system but
is prone to disruptions which now threaten millions
with the loss of their jobs, homes, and pensions.
The key issue is who will pay for
the crisis. While £billions of public funds have
been promised to bail out the bankers unemployment
has risen steeply and the government has done little
in practice to help workers being laid off through
no fault of their own.
There will be attempts however to
shift the blame away from the millionaire Chief
Executives in banking and finance. Already the mouthpiece
of big business the CBI has tried to create hostility
amongst workers in private firms by claiming pensions
in the Public Sector are a drain on resources.
In contrast this Branch agrees with
the statement by UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis
on 3rd December that: ‘ It’s the workers, vulnerable
people, pensioners, and people living on benefits
who pay the price of the crisis.’
This branch rejects the attacks on
the public sector by business leaders who are trying
to divert the blame from their own excesses and
mistakes. The fact is that investment in public
services is needed to boost the economy as well
as to meet the increasing demand as people turn
to those public services to help them cope with
the recession.
This Branch believes firstly therefore
that UNISON nationally must demand that the government:
(1) ensures that banks and businesses
that are bailed out with public funds are nationalised
under genuinely democratic control as part of a
planned approach to deal with the crisis;
(2) imposes a windfall tax on the
energy multinationals and uses it to tackle fuel
poverty;
(3) instructs the banks who have received
public funding to adopt a socially responsible approach
and avoid house repossessions through mortgage breaks
and other strategies;
(4) launches a nation-wide house building
programme to bring construction workers back into
employment and solve the crisis of homelessness.
5) Embark on real investment across
the public services to boost the economy and build
and maintain the infrastructure to speed up the
recovery process.
This Branch believes secondly that
UNISON must act in a concerted way at all levels
with other trade unions in the private or public
sectors to defend workers under threat by:
(a) supporting workers taking action
to defend their jobs, pay, conditions, or pensions;
(b) proposing that the Edinburgh Trades
Council launch an Anti- Cuts Campaign and makes
the annual May Day rally a focus for a united fight
back;
(c) calling on the Scottish Region
of UNISON to work with STUC to plan a day of solidarity
between unions in defence of workers jobs, conditions,
and rights;
(d) call on UNISON to work with the
TUC and STUC to promote these policies and organise
whatever demonstrations or events are required to
support them.
(Carried as amended)
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Policy Motions
In line with practice since the
inauguration of the branch, motions have been
prioritised under the following headings. In addition,
they are prioritised on whether they are urgent,
instruct the branch to act on an issue within
its remit, and need a branch meeting decision.
Where there is no clear priority, they are in
the order in which they were received.
- Council Budget, Cuts, Redundancies (local action)
- Service Conditions Issues (issues like pay
and conditions)
- Health & Safety
- Pensions and Superannuation
- Policy and Campaigning
- UNISON Services and Structures
- Economic Policy
- International
- Miscellaneous
Any motions not dealt with will
be remitted to the Branch Committee.
COMPOSITES * Movers of motions
marked thus are asked to try to merge them into
composites to simplify business.
EMERGENCY MOTIONS Must be
urgent, unable to be submitted within the timescales
and relevant. They require a two-thirds majority
to be heard. Because of rapidly changing
developments in the Council Budget, Single Status
and Equal Pay, negotiators will wish to submit
emergencies on these so that the content is as
up to date as possible.
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