MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL UNISON MEMBERS
The branch office will be open until 4pm on weds 23rd dec
and will reopen on 29th dec
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
DEFEND PUBLIC SERVICES!
Our Council controlled by the Tories and the Tories in disguise (liberals) continue
to cut away at local public services.
Driven by a philosophy which abhors publically funded services , bit by bit it seeks to dismantle
them to the detriment of all those in Wolverhampton who rely on services.
There comes a point when not only Council workers but all residents of Wolverhampton need to stand together and say ;
THIS FAR AND NO MORE!
We need a community based campaign to oppose the cuts and we need it now!
Our Council controlled by the Tories and the Tories in disguise (liberals) continue
to cut away at local public services.
Driven by a philosophy which abhors publically funded services , bit by bit it seeks to dismantle
them to the detriment of all those in Wolverhampton who rely on services.
There comes a point when not only Council workers but all residents of Wolverhampton need to stand together and say ;
THIS FAR AND NO MORE!
We need a community based campaign to oppose the cuts and we need it now!
Friday, 4 September 2009
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
PAY 2009/10 FINAL OFFER AND BRANCH
CONSULTATION BEGINS
At its meeting on 27 july 2009, the UNISON NJC committee agreed to hold a formal consultation with members on what the employers call their final offer
details of the offer can be read at http://www.unison.org.uk/localgov/pages_view.asp?did=9128
This branch has taken the decision to write to every member at their home address seeking thier view. These letters will be arriving shortly.
CONSULTATION BEGINS
At its meeting on 27 july 2009, the UNISON NJC committee agreed to hold a formal consultation with members on what the employers call their final offer
details of the offer can be read at http://www.unison.org.uk/localgov/pages_view.asp?did=9128
This branch has taken the decision to write to every member at their home address seeking thier view. These letters will be arriving shortly.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
NJC PAY 2009 UPDATE
Branches will of course be wondering whether any further progress has been made following the six-hour talks with officers from the Local Government Employers on 21 May 2009, when we agreed some positive proposals to be put to the Leaders of the four main political groupings on the Local Government Association.
Unfortunately, the LGA said that it could not consider the proposals until after the county council elections and the election of a new Chair. We are currently being told that discussions within the LGA have not reached any conclusion, with some elected members arguing against a further increase. We are putting as much pressure as possible on the LGE and relevant LGA members and hope that we will have something to report to you soon.
In the meantime, branches are urged to put pressure on your local councillors and ask them to demand a speedy response from the LGA.
Branches will of course be wondering whether any further progress has been made following the six-hour talks with officers from the Local Government Employers on 21 May 2009, when we agreed some positive proposals to be put to the Leaders of the four main political groupings on the Local Government Association.
Unfortunately, the LGA said that it could not consider the proposals until after the county council elections and the election of a new Chair. We are currently being told that discussions within the LGA have not reached any conclusion, with some elected members arguing against a further increase. We are putting as much pressure as possible on the LGE and relevant LGA members and hope that we will have something to report to you soon.
In the meantime, branches are urged to put pressure on your local councillors and ask them to demand a speedy response from the LGA.
Friday, 12 June 2009
INDEPENDENT SAFEGUARDING AUTHORITY
Where does it come from?
The ISA was established in January 2008
after being created by the Safeguarding
Vulnerable groups Act 2006.
Why was it created?
It was set up following the
recommendations of the Bichard Enquiry into the Soham murders.
What is its role?
It will consider Vetting and barring scheme referrals with the aim of helping to avoid harm or risk of harm to children and vulnerable adults.
How will it work?
It will set up a registered list which will only accept applicants who are judged not to pose a risk to vulnerable people.
It will also set up two separate barred lists, one showing those who are barred from working with children and one for those barred from working with vulnerable adults.
Who will have to register?
Most UNISON members will have to
Register.
Anyone who is employed in work or in volunteer work with children or
vulnerable adults for periods of at least once a month will have to
register with ISA.
The list includes transport staff, care workers ,cleaners, caretakers etc
What does registering involve?
Once the scheme has started you cannot start I employment, paid or voluntary, if you are not ISA registered.
The ISA will assess every pe rson
affected as to their suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults. They will do this by working closely with the Criminal records Bureau (CRB).
When do I need to register?
From July 2010 if you move into a new paid or voluntary role. If you are already in work you will need to join the scheme by 2015 and people will be asked to join gradually from November 2010.
Will it cost anything?
Yes the cost of registration will range from £58 to £100.
UNISON is campaigning for the cost of registration to be met by the
Employer
Where does it come from?
The ISA was established in January 2008
after being created by the Safeguarding
Vulnerable groups Act 2006.
Why was it created?
It was set up following the
recommendations of the Bichard Enquiry into the Soham murders.
What is its role?
It will consider Vetting and barring scheme referrals with the aim of helping to avoid harm or risk of harm to children and vulnerable adults.
How will it work?
It will set up a registered list which will only accept applicants who are judged not to pose a risk to vulnerable people.
It will also set up two separate barred lists, one showing those who are barred from working with children and one for those barred from working with vulnerable adults.
Who will have to register?
Most UNISON members will have to
Register.
Anyone who is employed in work or in volunteer work with children or
vulnerable adults for periods of at least once a month will have to
register with ISA.
The list includes transport staff, care workers ,cleaners, caretakers etc
What does registering involve?
Once the scheme has started you cannot start I employment, paid or voluntary, if you are not ISA registered.
The ISA will assess every pe rson
affected as to their suitability to work with children and vulnerable adults. They will do this by working closely with the Criminal records Bureau (CRB).
When do I need to register?
From July 2010 if you move into a new paid or voluntary role. If you are already in work you will need to join the scheme by 2015 and people will be asked to join gradually from November 2010.
Will it cost anything?
Yes the cost of registration will range from £58 to £100.
UNISON is campaigning for the cost of registration to be met by the
Employer
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
VOlUNTARY REDUNDANCY TIMESCALE EXTENDED
The Council have taken a decision to allow for the extension of the timescale for voluntary redundancy scheme approvals.
Voluntary redundancies may now be approved and signed off up to 30 April to take effect at an agreed date up to 31 October 2009.
An extension to the HR1 statutory notice 31 October 2009 has been requested to the Redundancy Payments Office. All other details on the HR1 remain the same.
The aim of the extension is to further mitigate compulsory redundancies.
The Council have taken a decision to allow for the extension of the timescale for voluntary redundancy scheme approvals.
Voluntary redundancies may now be approved and signed off up to 30 April to take effect at an agreed date up to 31 October 2009.
An extension to the HR1 statutory notice 31 October 2009 has been requested to the Redundancy Payments Office. All other details on the HR1 remain the same.
The aim of the extension is to further mitigate compulsory redundancies.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
BUYING BACK PENSION DURING STRIKE PERIOD
As the the pay dispute 2008 is now officially over , members who took industrial action should be aware that their ension contribution which was not paid for the strike days can be brought back and if they wish to should approach their employer to make these payments
As the the pay dispute 2008 is now officially over , members who took industrial action should be aware that their ension contribution which was not paid for the strike days can be brought back and if they wish to should approach their employer to make these payments
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
JOIN THE G20 MARCHJoin us on 28 March and help send a message to the world's leaders. Let's tell the G20 it's time for a new start. It's time to sort out the mess and put people first.
Want to go? contact 4093
Monday, 16 February 2009
ACAS pay 2008 update
The oral hearing with the arbitration panel took place at ACAS on 10 February. The Trade Union Side presented our submission, followed by the employers. We argued that local government has treated NJC workers as 'poor relations' for a long time - failing to invest in pay, training and good conditions, while making over-the-odds efficiency savings and putting ever-larger off sums of money into reserves. We also pointed out that the local government settlement for the next three years will far exceed inflation if economic predictions are correct. The employers argued that pay offers had been constrained by Government pay policy and the cost of the LGPS and Single Status.
Each side asked the other questions and the panel asked questions too. They were particularly interested in unallocated reserves - which have increased significantly in the last few years, and whether they can be used for pay purposes. We agreed to provide them with further information on unallocated reserves as a proportion of revenue for
2007/8 and 2008/9. We have obtained this information and are now waiting for the employers to agree it so that it can be sent to the ACAS panel.
We don't have a date for the ACAS panel's response to our submission and will let you know as soon as we get it.
The oral hearing with the arbitration panel took place at ACAS on 10 February. The Trade Union Side presented our submission, followed by the employers. We argued that local government has treated NJC workers as 'poor relations' for a long time - failing to invest in pay, training and good conditions, while making over-the-odds efficiency savings and putting ever-larger off sums of money into reserves. We also pointed out that the local government settlement for the next three years will far exceed inflation if economic predictions are correct. The employers argued that pay offers had been constrained by Government pay policy and the cost of the LGPS and Single Status.
Each side asked the other questions and the panel asked questions too. They were particularly interested in unallocated reserves - which have increased significantly in the last few years, and whether they can be used for pay purposes. We agreed to provide them with further information on unallocated reserves as a proportion of revenue for
2007/8 and 2008/9. We have obtained this information and are now waiting for the employers to agree it so that it can be sent to the ACAS panel.
We don't have a date for the ACAS panel's response to our submission and will let you know as soon as we get it.
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Monday, 19 January 2009
UNISON response to attack on redundancy scheme
Below is a copy of the letter sent by UNISON to the Leader of the Council (copied to all Councillors )
Dear Councillor Patten
Re: Cabinet – 19 January 2009 – Revisions to Council Provision for Redundancy
I now write to express UNISON’s serious concern in relation to the impact that the City Council’s financial position is having on the security of employment for our members and the proposed changes to the redundancy scheme.
Clearly UNISON believes that delivery of services are paramount to the authority and cuts to services that lead to redundancies should be avoided and scrutinised vigorously.
However, if redundancies do become necessary following the financial scrutiny, then ways and means of avoiding compulsion should be sought.
UNISON has now bee issued with a “Section 188 notice” for 95 voluntary posts.
While accepting that volunteers are preferable as an alternative to compulsion, UNISON objects to the volunteer being vetted by the authority on affordability and a 50% cap.
Volunteers should be allowed to leave regardless of cost on the current scheme without a cap.
Likewise UNISON is opposed to the current scheme being further revised from 1 April 2009.
You will recall that the current redundancy scheme was introduced in April 2008, offering twice the number of weeks payable as compensation for the loss of additional years being offered under the pension scheme.
Altering the scheme again at this stage while two section 188 notices are still pending (September 2008 and January 2009) is wholly inappropriate and a further “kick in the teeth” to a loyal workforce that is already facing the brunt of these cuts through no fault of their own.
Furthermore consultation on these changes with UNISON has been minimal, the draft report was waiting for me on the 5 January 2009 on my return from annual leave, we then met with your senior officers on 12/01/09 to express our serious concerns, a second hastily arranged meeting was then held on 16/01/09 at which our concerns were expressed again.
UNISON will take legal advice on whether these changes amount to a unilateral change to contracts (we do not agree with them) and if the consultation so far has been meaningful. In the meantime I would ask that no decision is taken on this report and that any redundancy, voluntary or compulsory is avoided where possible or paid under the current scheme.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
Adrian Turner
Branch Secretary
Below is a copy of the letter sent by UNISON to the Leader of the Council (copied to all Councillors )
Dear Councillor Patten
Re: Cabinet – 19 January 2009 – Revisions to Council Provision for Redundancy
I now write to express UNISON’s serious concern in relation to the impact that the City Council’s financial position is having on the security of employment for our members and the proposed changes to the redundancy scheme.
Clearly UNISON believes that delivery of services are paramount to the authority and cuts to services that lead to redundancies should be avoided and scrutinised vigorously.
However, if redundancies do become necessary following the financial scrutiny, then ways and means of avoiding compulsion should be sought.
UNISON has now bee issued with a “Section 188 notice” for 95 voluntary posts.
While accepting that volunteers are preferable as an alternative to compulsion, UNISON objects to the volunteer being vetted by the authority on affordability and a 50% cap.
Volunteers should be allowed to leave regardless of cost on the current scheme without a cap.
Likewise UNISON is opposed to the current scheme being further revised from 1 April 2009.
You will recall that the current redundancy scheme was introduced in April 2008, offering twice the number of weeks payable as compensation for the loss of additional years being offered under the pension scheme.
Altering the scheme again at this stage while two section 188 notices are still pending (September 2008 and January 2009) is wholly inappropriate and a further “kick in the teeth” to a loyal workforce that is already facing the brunt of these cuts through no fault of their own.
Furthermore consultation on these changes with UNISON has been minimal, the draft report was waiting for me on the 5 January 2009 on my return from annual leave, we then met with your senior officers on 12/01/09 to express our serious concerns, a second hastily arranged meeting was then held on 16/01/09 at which our concerns were expressed again.
UNISON will take legal advice on whether these changes amount to a unilateral change to contracts (we do not agree with them) and if the consultation so far has been meaningful. In the meantime I would ask that no decision is taken on this report and that any redundancy, voluntary or compulsory is avoided where possible or paid under the current scheme.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
Adrian Turner
Branch Secretary
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