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LOBBY THE COUNCIL MEETING
WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2009
5PM 4TH FLOOR CIVIC CENTRE
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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