Service Conditions Host of new agreements won but cuts dominate again 1998, like 1997, was dominated by savage budget cuts. The loss of services and jobs across all areas of the Council and related sectors focussed attention on the real threat of compulsory redundancies. Once again the success of the Branch's strategy and tactics, built on membership involvement ensured the worst case scenario was avoided. Despite that success we cannot be complacent as the outlook for 1999 is no better. Whilst the focus was on the Budget situation the Service Conditions Team still had to address many issues affecting individuals and groups of members. Last year's A.G.M. mandated the Team to address the following areas : Creation of Trusts The Branch continues to represent the interests of members transferred to the Edinburgh Leisure Trust and has recently negotiated a settlement on pay which ensured they received the same 3% rise as staff in the Council. There is no doubt that there will be further attacks on service conditions in 1999 and we will continue to represent the interests of these members. Members transferred to the Theatre Trust have been forced to transfer to BECTU when the Trust decided on a single union deal. Hard negotiations ensured members transferred under conditions they wanted rather than those management intended to impose. Suspension of Staff One of the major problems of 1998 was the suspension of staff. The Team met with Council and outlined the urgent need for guidance to managers on how to deal with suspensions. We have recently issued Branch guidelines on this subject and the Team intends to monitor this issue closely as we cannot allow members to remain on suspension for indefinite unreasonable periods of time. Corporate Issues In order to respond to a number of serious problems facing our membership throughout 1998 and continuing into 1999 the Team has set up the following working groups : PFI: The group's remit is to negotiate on and discuss plans of Council to implement any PFI initiatives in Edinburgh. The group is also available to provide an information database to update stewards who may seek information.This function is of extreme importance given the Council is about to agree a major PFI initiative for Education which will involve the privatisation of support services such as Janitors and Office Staff. The PFI. Co-ordinator for 1998 was Terry O'Donnell. Best Value: The group's remit is to monitor and negotiate on Best Value which is an issue which affects all organisations who provide Local Government services. The Council's approach of cheapest is best is putting jobs and services at risk and has led to Voluntary Tendering in Grounds Maintenance and Fleet Maintenance - privatisation by the back door. The group is also charged with providing an information database to update stewards and provide training programmes. The Best Value Co-Ordinator for 1998 was Tracy Gilbert. Harassment, Bullying and Stress at Work The group's remit is to compile Branch guidelines on dealing with the ever increasing number of cases involving Harassment and Bullying and to recommend a strategy for dealing with the issue of Stress at Work. The lead officer in the group for 1998 was Irene Stout, Equalities Officer. Single Status The Branch has appointed a negotiating team for Single Status which is led by Dougie Black, Joint Branch Secretary, who is also leading Scottish negotiations on this. There will be a full ballot of members commencing on 1 March and reporting the result on 19 March 1999. If the ballot vote is acceptance single status negotiations at a local level will commence in earnest as of 1 April 1999. New Agreements 1998 was a busy year on the negotiating front with the following agreements being reached:
This agreement means that most job share and part time staff are now paid overtime rates in the same circumstances as full time staff. Whilst the above agreements only cover staff employed by City of Edinburgh Council many Associated Bodies funded by the Council use them as a model to be applied in their organisations. One area where the Branch has not concluded an agreement with the Council is the claim to have flexi time extended to all eligible part time and job share staff.This agreement has been reached in the Valuation Joint Board. We intend to pursue this issue in 1999. Ongoing negotiations As well as the flexitime issue, P.F.I. , Best Value and Harassment etc. the Branch intends to pursue other issues including the following in 1999 :
Sector issues A brief review of Sector Issues highlights the Council
reviews of Housing, Recreation, Social Work, Education and the merging of
Property Services and Strategic Policy into Corporate Services and City
Development as being continuing issues for 1999. A trend which became apparent in 1998 was the number of cases which required to be progressed to Industrial Tribunals. This was particularly evident in the Voluntary Sector where many members faced no pay rise and no redundancy payment on termination of employment due to budget cuts. Final words In closing the Service Conditions Team would wish to take this opportunity to thank all the Stewards, Convenors and Officers whose assistance and support makes dealing with Service Conditions Issues bearable if not enjoyable. And finally, of course, a big thankyou to the staff Alida, Eileen, Julie, Monica and Nicky who's patience and forebearance in times of our high stress is quite remarkable. |
 John Mulgrew Coordinator | |
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Also
on the Service Conditions Team: Secretary, Equalities Officers | |
