Redundancies down but jobs still at risk
The council redundancy toll now stands at just over 400, almost 200 down on the budget day figure.
One of the branch's regular all-stewards briefings heard this was mainly due to reorganisation and early retirements, but figures still include 350 school meals staff.
Other key areas are toilet attendants and Property Services support staff.
"We are slowly making inroads but there is still some way to go. The need for a ballot cannot yet be ruled out", said John Mulgrew service conditions coordinator.
The branch is continuing with the tactic of talking with the council and campaigning at all levels.
Branch officers are also raising work prioritisation and 'no cover' for vacant posts, given the loss of over 1,000 jobs in the last two years with no reduction in workloads.
John Ross, APT&C convenor, said, "The council seems to think staff can simply take on more work and the cuts can be hidden.
"They are ignoring the resulting increase in sickness and the impact this is having on the quality of our services.
"As we've told them time and time again - a job cut is a service cut".
Photo Caption
Social Work activist Mary Attridge is one of many who had to move job because of cuts.
"Staff are affected when they see the people they serve losing a service", said Mary.
"There is no sense in the council saying less than 50% of children take hot dinners. If fewer people went to the doctor, would you do away with the NHS? - of course not.
Hot school meals are a service to children and a service that should be kept".
350 jobs reprieved after school meals re-think
Three hundred and fifty jobs have been reprieved after a joint UNISON and community campaign to save hot school meals won concessions from the council.
Decisions on cuts have been put back until after the summer and after a review of the service involving parents and nutrition groups.
UNISON, the Edinburgh School Meals Campaign and the Edinburgh Community Food Initiative had worked closely in a combined campaign over the last two months.
The branch had kicked off the campaign with press releases, joint meetings and a deputation to the Labour Executive on 31 March.
That evening, lively singing of "Food Glorious Food" met councillors outside the Labour Group meeting while parents argued the case inside. A UNISON led demonstration followed at the full council on 2 April.
"There were too many unanswered questions about these cuts", said Morag Stevenson joint branch secretary.
"The council says less children are taking hot school meals but their own 'best value' report to the government says the uptake of free school meals has increased.
"They want packed lunches - but there was no plan as to who would handle them and how that would be done to meet hygiene standards".
"Jannies against Sannies"
This point has been taken up by janitors who have written a letter pledging support and making it clear that they will not be taking on the work of sacked meals staff.
Adele Hamilton of the Edinburgh School Meals Campaign told councillors, "Our children are our future generation. You would expect the council to give to this generation, rather than take from them. Cutting school meals will mean health will suffer, concentration will suffer, and it will encourage a 'snacking' culture in the next generation".
Adele was backed up by the Edinburgh Community Food Initiative's Chris Clark who stressed the educational value of hot school meals.
"A packed lunch will not give children a nutritional diet. A sit-down lunch provides a wider variety of foods. Children can try new foods and learn social skills like table manners, using a knife and fork and just talking to their friends".
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Trust backs off as UNISON stands firm
Edinburgh Leisure Trust has backed off from threats to force staff into accepting new contracts.
It will now await the outcome of UNISON's ballot of its members on a new conditions offer.
UNISON had stood firm in demanding proper consultation after a ballot rejected an initial offer from management.
A new and much improved offer was tabled and UNISON set about putting this to members in a ballot.
But, in the meantime the Trust wrote to employees demanding they sign up to the new deal by this week.
If they didn't, their contracts would be torn up and they would be offered new contracts without protection."This was a disgraceful move that was nothing short of intimidation", said John Mulgrew branch service conditions co-ordinator.
"Thank goodness we have now got back to sensible industrial relations. But if we hadn't, UNISON was ready take whatever action was necessary, through legal and other channels, to defend our members."
Pay: Settling for 3%?
Edinburgh members are ready to settle for the 3% pay offer this year, rather than embarking on industrial action, according to the report back from stewards' consultations.
Stewards committees were asked to consult members as part of a nationwide exercise following a negotiators' report that the final offer was the best that could be achieved by negotiation.
"Three per cent could be yet another pay cut if you take inflation into account. But members clearly have other things on their mind with cuts and redundancies. The appetite for action on pay is just not there", said John Mulgrew, branch service conditions coordinator.
Edinburgh's view will now be fed into UNISON's national consultation.
NEC elections - Use your vote
Ballot papers are out for elections to UNISON's National Executive (NEC).
All members should have one in the UNISON magazine mailed to their home address. The NEC is the union's ruling body, so this is a key election. Make sure you use your vote.
Helpline from end of April 0800 834 511
Scottish employers set to dump national bargaining
The Scottish employers have announced that they are to withdraw from the UK bargaining machinery before next year's pay round.
"It is clear the employers are intent on creating a local negotiating structure which will ensure our weaker branches see their conditions deteriorate", warned Douglas Black, joint branch secretary and chair of UNISON's Scottish Local Government Executive.
The reasons given by the employers are that, under new UK structures, they could be outvoted by 24 to four, and that they want Scottish bargaining arrangements in place for the Scottish Parliament.
The employers say they will honour this year's pay deal and all existing national agreements.
"It is ironic that they say they will honour last year's single status agreement, when the reality is that they have consistently tried to frustrate the implementation of a Scottish deal by introducing new elements and by seeking to renegotiate crucial aspects of the national deal", added Douglas.
As such Douglas seriously questions the employers' commitment to achieving a Scottish single status deal.
UNISON's white collar and manual committees meet on 21 April to thrash out a response. Meanwhile, they have called for urgent talks with the employers.
UNISON is trying to build a united front with all the other unions to fight this.
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Libraries protection agreed
But now it's a fight to protect job share and part time workers
Library members have accepted a deal which will protect shift allowances for existing staff.
But the union is now having to fight to protect part-time and job share workers because of how management is interpreting the agreement.
The deal protects existing staff's conditions (although not new starts) until such time as they voluntarily move job. This is quite a common agreement in restructurings.
But this time management is interpreting the 'moving job' issue to include job share or part time workers who change status because they go full time (for example if they lose a job share partner or change hours).
"We have told management that their plans for part time and job share staff were totally unacceptable and against the spirit of the deal", said Amanda Kerr, joint Recreation convenor.
Edinburgh success in Scottish elections
Edinburgh UNISON will again play a key role at Scottish level with activists elected to Scottish posts earlier this month.
Morag Stevenson and John Ross won seats on the Scottish Committee which oversees the the union at Scottish level.
Morag was also re- elected to the Communications & Campaigns committee, which she chaired last year.
John Stevenson joins her on the committee for another term. John edits the Scottish activists bulletin Scotland inUNISON and was re-elected earlier in the year to the STUC delegation.
Danny Currie just failed to get on the Health & Safety Committee (there were only two posts available and this is now to be reviewed).
Kenny Spence did not get on International at his first attempt, but there's still next year.
CONFERENCE DELEGATES
More manual women neededThe branch has elected its delegation for national conference but is still short of a manual woman delegate.
The place will be left vacant as a demonstration of the branch's commitment to fulfiling proportionality for women and fair representation.
"We will never fill these posts if we say 'we can't get a woman so we'll send a man instead'. We must get more women activists at grass roots level on manual grades. That is the only way to ensure fair representation", said joint branch secretary Morag Stevenson.
"National Conference sets our union's policy for the year. We must try to be fully represented".
The delegation of 10 is worked out according to the number of APT&C and Manual & Craft members in the branch, and the number of women members in each category.
The delegation is:
APT&C women
Morag Stevenson, Gail Park, Tracy Gilbert, Eileen Penman.APT&C general
John Stevenson, George Lee, John MulgrewManual & Craft women
Maureen Christie, VacancyManual & Craft general
Charlie McInally.
Upheaval looms as we make way for Parliament
Hundreds of staff face upheaval as the big move starts to make way for the Scottish Parliament's temporary home.
The first affected could be on the move by November this year with George IV Bridge and St Giles Street likely to be the first to go.
UNISONNews understands that bids are in for New St Andrews House at the East End but the new premises are far from being finalised.
"The Chief Executive is setting up a working group to oversee the moves and we are hoping for direct UNISON representation", said John Ross, branch APT&C convener.
The branch has experience from previous moves to Chesser House and from all the moves at reorganisation.
Benefits chaos - but don't tell the public
Pressurised benefits staff have been told not to let the public know about the chaos causing backlogs.
But as we go to press, the council was still denying a cover-up.
A recent management memo told staff:
"When answering queries by telephone or replying to correspondence, on no account should reference be made to a backlog .... or to difficulties with computer systems ...".
John Ross, branch APT&C convener reacted angrily to the council's denials.
"I was astounded when the press told me this letter had gone out and that management had denied all knowledge", he said.
Staff have been under enormous pressure since the Housing and Council Tax Benefits services were merged.
They had warned about shortfalls in the computer system and about problems with training. They have also been involved an a long grading dispute.
Sickness levels are up, there are backlogs and staff are being inundated by complaints from the public about delays in claims being settled.
"We said this would be a shambles and sadly again we have been proved right", added John Ross.
SOCIAL WORK
Dealing with 'old allegations'Social Work members are calling for new ways of dealing with old allegations against staff, some dating back as much as15 years.
Under current arrangements staff can be suspended for long periods pending investigations. Stewards feel this is unnecessary in many cases and the nature of the alleged offence needs to be taken into account.
"Our members want us to be part of the process of rooting out abuse and making sure children are protected. But allegations are not always about that and staff feel very vulnerable about the stigma of being away from work when that is not needed", said John Stevenson, branch vice chair.
Branch office move imminent
The branch office is set to move from St Giles Street to George IV Bridge within the next few weeks.
Since branch merger, staff and officers have had to put up with cramped and increasingly unsafe conditions in the ex Lothian branch offices. A long search for an appropriate alternative brought no success (we even tried New Parliament House) and the current move is now essential for staff health & safety.
But because of the lack of disabled access, the new office is an interim measure and a working party has been set up to look at longer term plans.
Full details will go out to members when the move is confirmed.
A letter from Cuba
Edinburgh UNISON's Lyn Williams has brought a thankyou message from CTC colleagues in Cuba's Holguin province, following her recent "school twinning" visit.
The branch had sent a commemorative paperweight and Drummond High School had sent a plaque to commemorate their twinning arrangement. Much needed supplies were also provided.
The Cuban union sent a miniature tea set as a return gift to the UNISON branch and it will be greatly treasured. The message from our Cuban colleagues reads:
"Esteemed workers of UNISON. Many thanks for your gift which is so very kind and beautiful. We send you our most sincere greetings from the CTC Holguin Cuba."
CTC, SNTECD.
Violence and bullying advice
New guides on dealing with violence at work and with bullying have been sent out to stewards this week. Ask your steward for information.
Agreement on central talks for department mergers
UNISON demands fairness for displaced staff
UNISON has called for fair treatment for staff displaced due to the merger of central departments.
"Although we have struck an agreement on central discussions to cover the mergers, we are still worried that Property Services staff are being singled out for job losses", said John Mulgrew, branch service conditions coordinator.
The discussions will involve central management, union stewards and officers and management from Corporate Services, City Development Strategic Policy, and Property Services.
The union has already raised concerns about how job losses are to be targeted.
For example, both City Development and Property Services have finance functions but it seems most jobs are marked down to go in Property Services.
UNISON, wants the pool for voluntary severances to be extended as widely as possible to avoid compulsory job losses.
"It would be bizarre if we had someone who wanted to leave, but was being refused, while someone else was being forced out the door against their will", said Joe Galletta, branch chair and Property Services steward.
Service at risk as Recreation reviewed
Voluntary tendering, less monitoring of sports training and a risk of losing contracts to the private sector are all on the cards if a major Recreation department review goes through.
UNISON is worried about plans to dismantle structures that helped the service take on compulsory tendering.
And despite a moratorium on compulsory tendering, it looks like there are plans to put services out voluntarily.
The real cost of privatisation is now showing through when it comes to sports centres.
Sports development officers used to be able to do spot checks at any time to make sure the public was getting the best advice and service.
But now the plan is to cut them back to nine to five, Mondays to Fridays with no monitoring on evenings and weekends when most people use the service.
"So much for accountability of council services", said John Ross, APT&C convenor.
Attack on time off for union duties
UNISON is resisting a restrictive clamp-down on time off for union duties and is calling for a more common-sense approach."We've asked management if they have identified a problem with time off but they have come up with no examples. We believe it is all because of the pressures of so many unfilled vacancies", said John Mulgrew, service conditions coordinator.
"There are calendars of meetings, so there should be no problem in planning that time off".
Management want seven days notice of any time off - that is clearly unrealistic when it comes to grievances and disciplinaries when management often don't give that notice.
They even wanted copies of meeting agendas!
"We want to be reasonable, we know the pressure of time off often falls on our colleagues - but we need to represent members, and they need us to represent them. We are asking for nothing unreasonable", added John.
On the negotiating line...
Negotiations with the council affect council employed staff only. But many policies are automatically applied by related sector employers. It is important that related sector stewards keep an eye on how these are being implemented locally.
Sickness absence
A new draft policy is awaited after UNISON put forward a number of amendments to the first draft.
If our amendments are accepted then an agreement will be possible that offers a more sympathetic scheme with significant improvements over the old policy.
Death benefit scheme
Negotiations are almost concluded on a scheme to give £3,000 to dependents of any employee who dies in service - irrespective of their superannuation status.
Overtime compensation
Talks are also ongoing on a method of compensating staff who do not qualify for normal overtime arrangements.
Print review demands
The Housing and Education print units are facing closure with Murrayburn staying open. UNISON is in talks about redeployment.
To give staff the best chance, the branch is pushing for jobs to be opened up across the board, with central control, rather than just at departmental level.
Janitorial review stalled
Talks on the Janitorial Review have stalled because of management's insistence on putting staff on APT&C grades, but keeping longer manual hours.
UNISON is also disputing the council's costings which make assumptions about future overtime.
The branch is preparing a detailed response.