Branch update – Feb 2015

This year has started with a flurry of activity – our new Regional Officer, Robert Rae & Local Organiser, Karen Roberts started working with us on 5 January.  The Council budget proposals were in the consultation stage; UNISON was the only union to participate in the Stakeholder Equality Impact Assessments.  The normal activity of supporting individual members and scrutinising management continued and included; direct support to 87 members; 1012 items of email correspondence; numerous phone calls and consideration of all the scheduled Council committee reports.

Holiday Entitlement – New case-law has led to many employers imposing a holiday entitlement for additional work which UNISON has not agreed.  If you are receiving additional holiday entitlement for; extra hours, overtime or any other reason, you are likely to be getting less than has been agreed for contractual holidays and this needs proper negotiation not imposition.  Please contact the branch office immediately if you are affected, there is a legal time limit of 3 months for backdated claims, there may be £100’s owed to you.  The Council imposed their scheme on 15 November CHECK YOUR HOLIDAY PAY RATE!

UNISONWelfare – A member who works locally for a National charity was wrongly advised by her employer about maternity pay, when UNISON notified the local manager of the error, they tore up the correct forms in front of our rep saying we were wrong.  So the mother of a new born baby was left destitute having no electric or heating at home, no rent and a long wait for the benefits system to help.

Her employer’s response – no offer of any support just a grudging apology.

UNISON’S response – an immediate £50 loan from Branch funds and thereafter a referral to UNISON’s There for You Fund; within 3 hours they authorised a £150 grant followed by a full support package assessment.  The severe distress of the immediate situation was considerably reduced and the member felt supported and very importantly was able to care properly for her child….and the correct process will now be put in place!

Council Budget 2015/18 – UNISON reps attended all of the public consultation meetings and we submitted our formal response to each of the Councillor Groups, it is available on our web-site news page.

North Case – The members participating in this case are being asked to consider the negotiated settlement proposals, a few members who had not participated in the case have asked for support, further information from the Branch and UNISON’s legal team will be prepared.  A full report on equal pay will be put to the AGM.

Job Evaluation Grievance – Our concerns about the decisions made by the “Appeal Panels” involve a variety of issues regarding their application of the process and this of course gave rise to concerns regarding their ability to make appropriate assessments of the staff submissions.  We are in discussion with HR and trust we can reach an agreement on how to best ensure that UNISON’s members can have confidence that a fair and process is being applied.

Matching Policy – Our budget response advised Councillors of UNISON concern that the current Policy is not fit for purpose.  We are delighted to report that the HR team have confirmed that new Policy proposals will be prepared and placed before Council in April.

D&G Council; Extreme Weather Policy – Some staff have been asked to “pay back” time when workplaces were closed.  This is not acceptable, UNISON has contacted the Education department and they have suspended any claw-back arrangements pending a meeting later in February.

Local Government Pay 2015/16 – The pay claim has been submitted and negotiations continued on 20 February at a meeting between the Scottish Joint Council.  Some local Councils have split from COSLA, UNISON officials have held talks with these Council’s and we understand they wish to continue within the SJC bargaining processes.

International Woman’s Day – The Branch is sponsoring a film screening of “Who’s Counting? On Sex, Lies and Global Economics” at the Robert Burns Film Theatre on Sunday 8 March at 3pm.

UNISON Communications Awards – Your branch has won the UNISON Scotland Communications 2014/15 Gold Award for the Best Online Presence for our new website.

Health & Safety – Karen Korus, our Branch H&S Officer has been appointed as Chair of the Council’s Joint Safety Committee.