Branch Update – February 2014

The Branch AGM’s are on 25 & 27 February, the Agenda and Branch Officers report was posted out to all members this week.

Please help raise awareness about UNISON and support our Branch car sticker campaign, UNISON partners have contributed to a range of prizes to allow us to thank our members, these will be given throughout the year and the first is a family holiday which will be awarded on 15 March.

Since the January Executive meeting the Branch Office has supported members with the following matters;

• 31 new or continuing cases; Giving support to individual members and also around 10/12 general telephone enquiries each day. Includes; 1 dismissal and 3x Employment Tribunal requests to Scottish Region.

• 600 hours pre-school legislation; A discussion meeting with Education member’s was held at the Penningham Nursery and letters have also been sent to individual Nursery members.

• Education Service Reviews; In the first of four reviews – Supporting Learners, meetings have started with the Education Dept management on the implementation/information gathering part of the review.

• Scottish Futures Trust; Following an information meeting we requested an update from the DGC Assistant Chief Executive regarding structure and possible TUPE issues.

• EEI; Met with Head of Service about budget cuts implementation, discussions are ongoing on restructure matching pools.

• Social Work; Further meetings held/scheduled on; the management restructure & residential children’s home rotas. Raised concerns about the recruitment processes being applied to the restructure.

• Chief Executive Service; Attended Joint Trade Union meeting.

• Stow College; Health & Safety distance learning courses for Branch activists were initiated and we also progressed with forward planning of our Stewards training needs.

• DGC budget meeting; – Noted positive changes following public consultations and the public’s support for frontline services. Discussed with Councillors the value of good quality service reviews.

• Attended – Scottish Local Government meeting, Scottish Council meeting and Scottish Communities AGM.

• Councillor Groups; Regularly meet groups to discuss forthcoming and ongoing issues.

All of these matters were discussed in detail with Stewards at the February Executive meeting. A further update will be issued to members after each Branch Executive meeting.