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Scottish Parliament Playground Survey
December 18th, 2015A petition to Scottish Parliament public petition committee is : Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review and amend national legislation and guidance given to local authorities to ensure that all primary schools are required to provide playground supervision in the twenty-minute period before school starts. The Public Petitions Committee […]
Read More...THERE FOR YOU – WINTER FUEL GRANTS 2016
WORRIED ABOUT PAYING YOUR WINTER FUEL BILL? With rising fuel costs and another cold winter looming many members on low income are worried about how they’re going to pay their winter fuel bills. Help is on hand ‘There for You’ has set up a limited fund to help UNISON members on low income by […]
Read More...SCOTTISH YOUNG MEMBERS DEVELOPMENT WEEKEND
STIRLING COURT HOTEL, STIRLING UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, 4-6 MARCH 2016 The branch is keen to support and encourage our new young members to come along and find out more about their union and how they can get involved. It is a great weekend that provides valuable insight in to the union and gives new young members a […]
Read More...Unfair Trade Agreements
TTIP, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and US, is one of a raft of new, aggressively neo-liberal trade deals being negotiated around the world that, if passed, will hand unprecedented levels of power to multinational corporations. A similar agreement between the EU and Canada called the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) […]
Read More...Independent Review of Planning
The UNISON Scotland Evidence to the Independent Review of Planning UNISON is Scotland’s largest public sector trade union representing a range of public sector workers including Scotland’s planners. Despite the radical reform of the planning system in 2009 the government is proposing further changes to the performance management of planning authorities. The real issues in […]
Read More...Stress Awareness Training
November 9th, 2015UNISON’s training course on Stress Awareness will be held in the branch office on 1 December 2015 from 9.30-1.30. The course is free to any employed person; teas, coffee and a light lunch will be provided. If you would like to attend please contact Roseann at the branch office tel 01387257393 to reserve a place.
Read More...NEW Council Carers Policy
November 4th, 2015The Council has acknowledged in a new policy that many of it’s employees have to deal with the daily demands of caring for dependants and dealing with emergency situations. It is also likely that some employees will find they need to provide long term care for a seriously ill dependant.
The new policy defines a carer as; someone who provides unpaid support to a dependant who is affected by long-term illness, disability or addiction who could not manage without this help. A dependant is the spouse, partner, parent, grandparent, civil partner or child of the employee, or anyone who lives with the employee as part of his/her family and is dependent on the employee.
Read More...EQUAL PAY No Win No Fee ?
July 21st, 2015It would be cruel if any Council employees who have missed out on claims are hit with huge legal fees
Read More...Professional Registration & Fitness-to-Practice cases
Many more job types will soon require compulsory registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). We expect many members will need support to gain their initial registration because historical data is being held by this organisation about incidents which involve employees who don’t yet need to be registered. These matters will need to be investigated before you can be registered.
Read More...ZERO tolerance policy on alcohol
The Council has changed it’s policy on alcohol to ZERO TOLERANCE
Read More...Council Reshape
June 19th, 2015Almost every part of the council will see changes over the next three years and we would encourage members across every one of the Council operations to participate in developing the new Council structures and services. If you are interested in supporting the Council
Read More...“Pop Up Shop” and Family Fun Day
May 27th, 2015Due to unforeseen circumstances this event has been cancelled.
UNISON Dumfries and Galloway has organised a “Pop Up Shop” in Dumfries to provide members with more information on exciting training opportunities, becoming more active within your union and information on how the Health and Social Care Integration will affect you.
Read More...School Uniform Grants 2015
UNISON’s scheme helps members on low incomes deal with the cost of school uniforms.
Families on low incomes can struggle to make ends meet, especially just before the start of the new school year.
Read More...UNISON Pay Conference
March 26th, 2015During a day of impassioned speeches and strong feelings about the impact of the government’s continuing pay freeze and years of declining pay in local government, a range of
Read More...Equal Pay Report
March 17th, 2015The Branch AGM meetings in Stranraer and Dumfries received a report on Equal Pay in Dumfries & Galloway Council. The report includes
Read More...Job Evaluation Grievance Settled
March 10th, 2015Following a series of detailed discussions with HR we have agreed
Read More...Branch update – Feb 2015
February 21st, 2015If 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 you
Read More...Gold Communications Award
February 9th, 2015The Branch won Gold at the UNISON Scotland Communication Awards 2014/15 and a first prize of £150.
The communications committee considered our new
Read More...AGM 2015
The Branch is holding the AGM at 2 locations this year, they are;
Stranraer, Council Offices, Sun St, 5.30pm on Wednesday 11th March.
Dumfries, Council HQ, English St, 5.30pm on Thursday 12th March.
Read More...Response to Council Budget Proposals 2015-18
February 3rd, 2015Given the extent of the restructuring and the job losses which will be required to achieve the budget reductions we are particularly keen to ensure that
Read More...Equal Pay – North Case
January 24th, 2015Dumfries & Galloway Council UNISON members participating in the North Case have received letters regarding UNISON’s equal pay claim on Wednesday 14 January. If you are involved but have not
Read More...Workers Dumped On
In UNISON Scotland’s report Dumped On – Working in Scotland’s Waste Management Services, we detail the experience and expectations of a workforce trying do their job in an a constantly changing environment. The report reveals
Read More...Fit For Work Scheme
January 23rd, 2015Fit for Work is a new UK Government service for all employees who are off work.
Once an employee has reached or is expected to reach 4 weeks sickness absence they can be referred by their GP for a Fit for Work assessment by an occupational health professional who will look at
Read More...EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY MONITORING
January 8th, 2015You may be aware that Dumfries & Galloway Council has various responsibilities and duties under the Equality Act 2010 so it needs to take steps to collect and monitor employee equality and diversity information, specifically in relation to the “protected characteristics”. They will soon
Read More...Council Budget Consultation
December 20th, 2014The Council issued it’s draft budget proposals on 18 December it intends saving more than 32 million pounds over the next 3 years. This is to be achieved by cutting services, restructuring the Council, future efficiencies & more service reviews. Staff are already working at capacity to deliver quality services and the stress this places on everyone is high, how will another 500-1000 job losses affect the
Read More...Job Evaluation Grievance
UNISON has raised a collective grievance to try and resolve concerns we have about some outcomes from the Appeals part of the Dumfries & Galloway Council Job Evaluation Scheme
Read More...Winter Fuel Grant
Applications form for UNISON Winter Fuel Grants for 2015 can now be submitted. Please contact
Read More...Workplace Eating Facilities
The Labour Research Department are carrying out an online survey of canteen and
Read More...Christmas Craft Fair
November 25th, 2014The Branch is holding a Christmas Craft Fair on the weekend of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November, why not come along and do a spot of Christmas Shopping with some of our members showcasing their hand made product.
Read More...UNISON’S UNIQUE POLITICAL FUND – BALLOT SUCCESS
November 11th, 2014UNISON Scotland is urging all members to defend the union’s campaigning voice by voting ‘yes’ to keep its unique political fund. The ballot runs from 1-30 November.
What’s political?
The best way to define this is
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