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Branch Officers and Stewards at Unison Dumfries and Galloway work to provide our members with assistance whenever required.
It is important that you ensure any workplace issues are dealt with promptly, as often minor concerns can develop into something more serious. If you have a query regarding your employment, terms and conditions or general workplace issues then the following procedure should be followed;
- Firstly, speak to your Line Manager or the Human Resources department, often queries can be resolved without needing to involve the union. If your Line Manager or Human Resources department cannot (or will not) answer your query or you are not satisfied with the outcome, contact your workplace steward.
- If you don’t have a workplace steward or have difficulty in contacting your workplace steward, then please contact the Branch Office.
Your Stewards are volunteers who work alongside you, so they are best placed to give you help and support.
STEWARDS BY EMPLOYER
DGHP
Vacant
Further Education
Vacant – Dumfries and Galloway College, Dumfries Campus
Senga Mann – Dumfries and Galloway College, Stranraer Campus
The Richmond Fellowship
Vacant
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Chief Exec Service
Philip McGroggan – Cargen Tower, Dumfries
Social Work
Gavin Thin-Smith – Criminal Justice Social Work, 79 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries
EE&I
David Stainthorpe – Municipal Chambers, Buccleuch Street, Dumfries
Communities
Sean Skelton – Carruthers House, Dumfries
Education
Sheelah Smith – Annan Academy, St John’s Road, Annan
Karen Korus – Langlands School
Jan Andrews – Harthill, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
STARS
Dawn Rippingale – Cargen Towers
BRANCH OFFICERS
Branch Secretary – Jan Andrews
Assistant Branch Secretary – vacant
Chairperson – Stephen Hare
Chairperson – Phil McGroggan
Service and Conditions Officers – Callum Maccoll and David Stainthorpe
Communications Officer – John Reilly
Retired Members Chairperson – Sue Chalmers
Retired Members Secretary – Liam Chalmers
Branch Treasurer – Brian Cluckie
Health and Safety Officers – Karen Korus and Helen Kirkpatrick
Welfare Officer – Gavin Thin-Smith
Membership Officer – Vacant
Local Organiser – Alisdair Vicker
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Mental health is something no one should be afraid to talk about
Unions can play a positive role in promoting good mental health at work.
So start a conversation today.
Following the Unison members' vote by 91% to accept the pay offer we will advise the employer of our decision. Unfortunately we have to wait till the other 2 unions complete their consultation process. GMB are recommending acceptance of the offer (they delayed this consultation till now and won't complete it till near the end of February) and Unite have consulted and voted narrowly to reject the offer (they are now considering whether they should hold a 'statutory' ballot for strike action and whether they would be able to deliver effective action). Unison members by far out number the other 2 unions but we respect their right to complete their consultations. Unfortunately this will delay the timescale for paying out the pay rise. As soon as we have any more details we will let you know.
Pay offer acceptPress Release:
UNISON members overwhelmingly vote to accept pay offer for council workers
UNISON, the largest union in local government, have today informed COSLA that their members have overwhelmingly voted to accept the pay offer for local government workers.
The move follows a consultative ballot of UNISON Scotland local government members in which 91% voted in favour of the deal and in record numbers. UNISON’s ballot closed on Thursday 31 January.
Results of the ballot were announced at UNISON Scotland’s Local Government Committee today (Friday 1 February).
The pay offer would deliver 9.5% cost of living increase over three years: 3.5% for 2018-19, 3% for 2019-20 and 3% for 2020-21. In addition it provides a commitment to fully consolidating the living wage, putting more money in the pockets of lower paid council workers, something UNISON has been campaigning on for years.
It also provides a commitment to re-open negotiations in the event of another local government bargaining group’s total pay offer value is revised such that it becomes greater than the sum agreed between COSLA Employers and the SJC Trade Unions for the SJC workforce for the period of the agreement. The award will be backdated to 1 April 2018.
UNISON Head of local government Scotland Johanna Baxter said: “This is a great outcome, delivered as a direct result of the campaigning activity and political lobbying efforts of UNISON members up and down the country. The cost of living increases meet current and projected levels of RPI and we have secured commitments to fully consolidate the living wage and maintain parity across the local government workforce. Our members have been waiting on a pay increase for over a year now so look forward to receiving their increase soon."
UNISON chair of local government committee in Scotland Mark Ferguson said: “UNISON has campaigned hard to get the best deal we can for local government workers. While the offer does not make up for the many years of austerity, the offer, and particularly the commitment to consolidate the Living Wage, provides important safeguards for our lowest paid members.
"We will work to ensure this is properly delivered and local government workers will now receive back dated money in their pay packets in coming months.”
Notes:
- The improved pay offer has come after months of campaigning and negotiations by the SJC trades unions.
- The offer would deliver cost of living increases of 3.5% for 2018-19, 3% for 2019-20 and 3% for 2020-21. In addition it provides a commitment to fully consolidating the Living Wage and provides for negotiations to be re-opened in the event that any other local government bargaining group’s total pay offer value is revised such that it becomes greater than the sum agreed with the SJC trade unions.
- Read COSLA offer letter here: Formal SJC Pay Offer 191218
- UNISON are the largest trade union in Scottish Local Government – representing 80,000 local government workers across the
country – and the largest trade union in the UK.
Local government workers have endured a decade of austerity with job cuts, and a decade real terms pay cuts.
The online ballot closes Bert soon - if you haven't already voted please make your opinion count - vote!
You can vote on the revised pay offer here:-
unison.tfaforms.net/56 or you can phone 0800 0857 857.
Please note you will need your membership number or National Insurance number.
