Thank you to all the members who came along in person and online and gave up an hour on a beautiful Wednesday evening.
A special thank you to all the Education support staff and our branch women members group for being there and asking all the right questions.
Questions at the meeting
Some concerns were raised early regarding members who have still to receive their ballot papers.
If you have not yet received your ballot papers, please log on to your MyUNISON account and make sure that all your details are correct. If you need a replacement paper call 0800 0857 857.
Several members raised their concerns regarding the employers paying back-dated pay rises as a lump sum at Christmas time. While many members will welcome this at an expensive time of year, low paid and part time colleagues find themselves in a worse financial situation with taxes and suspension of much needed state benefits. UNISON has campaigned on this issue. Recently Katrina Baird, Children and Families Convenor attended Full Council, in support of a motion to allow City of Edinburgh Council employees to opt for spread back pay when lump sum payments would cause financial difficulty. Despite support from some councillors, this a battle has still to be won.
Other members expressed their worries about which groups of workers being asked to strike. UNISON Edinburgh fully recognises the selflessness of Education support staff and Waste Service staff by striking on behalf of the full membership in 2023 & 2024. UNISON Edinburgh continues to argue at regional local authority level and with the UNISON negotiating team against asking Education support staff and Waste Service staff to strike again. Selective action may be used again this year if the membership does support the ballot but no decision can be made until the votes are counted. Education support staff and Waste Service staff have already done their bit; other members (or all members) would be expected to need to rise to the cause in the event that industrial action cannot be avoided.
It is important to understand that the current Pay Ballot is a Full Member Ballot and in order to force the employer to increase the current miserable and unacceptable offer, a majority of members is needed. The threat of strike action is legitimate leverage and you are urged to vote YES YES