Wolverhampton General branch

2009-09-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-09-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

BRANCH DECISION ON PAY
today was the closing date for the branch ballot on pay the final result was;

FOR THE OFFER 71%
REJECT THE OFFER 29%

THERE IS A NATIONAL MEETING ON THE 9TH OCTOBER WHERE ALL THE BRANCH RESULTS WILL BE COLLATED AND AFINAL DECISION MADE

2009-08-19T00:23:00.000-07:00

PAY BALLOT
DONT FORGET TO VOTE BY 4TH SEPTEMBER!
if you have not received a ballot form contact the branch office
on 554093

2009-08-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-07T00:18:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-06-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-18T04:56:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-11T04:15:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-03T00:22:00.000-08:00

JOIN THE G20 MARCH

Join 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

2009-02-16T00:07:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-29T03:39:00.000-08:00

SAVE OUR SERVICES!
NO TO CUTS IN DAYCARE
HOMECARE
LIBRARIES
ADULT EDUCATION
ETC..
LOBBY THE COUNCIL MEETING
WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY 2009
5PM 4TH FLOOR CIVIC CENTRE

2009-01-19T04:57:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-09T07:29:00.000-08:00

BRANCH MEETING
Tuesday 16th December 2008

Council Chamber, Civic Centre - 7pm

Agenda:
Tranformation
Job cuts
Single Status

2008-11-04T04:06:00.000-08:00

PAY LATEST

The NJC Trade Union Side met on Monday, 3 November 2008 and unanimously agreed the following proposed Terms of Reference for the arbitration process over NJC pay fro 2008-9.

“The Arbitrator is asked to consider the arguments put forward by both sides and make an award to resolve the 2008/9 pay dispute.

All parties accept the arbitrator’s decision is final. In particular, this means:

a) No further industrial action will take place during the arbitration process or following the Arbitrator’s decision, and
b) Any award will be implemented in full without delay”

The Employers’ Side are also considering this form of words and we hope to hear confirmation from them by the end of this week.

The arbitration process will be conducted by a panel of three arbitrators. The names are yet to be provided to both sides by ACAS and agreed. The process will involve both Sides making detailed written submissions to the Arbitration Panel. The exact timings are being established, but it is envisaged this will be done by the last week of November. This will be followed by an oral hearing, probably in early December.

Review of the Green Book

The branch consultation was very clear that branches want the terms and conditions issues separated from the 2009-10 pay claim. This view was supported by the other two NJC trade unions. There have been no further discussions with the Employers on the review since we last updated you in Newsletter 20 in September.

2008-10-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

PAY DISPUTE - EMPLOYER AGREES TO PAY "ON ACCOUNT"

The employers and the NJC have agreed to UNISON's request that the 2008-9 pay offer will be paid "on account" pending the outcome of binding arbitration of the dispute via ACAS. This means an interim award of 2.45% will be paid before christmas - backdated to April 1st. Click here for more details.

2008-10-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

NJC COMMITTEE AGREED THE WAY FORWARD ON PAY

UNISON’s NJC Committee met on 18 September to review progress in the
negotiations which have followed the two days of action in July over the pay award for 2008/09 and the joint statement with the LGA which followed them.
A number of important decisions were made at the meeting. They are explained in detail
below. The decisions were:
· Not to ask members to take any further industrial action in relation to this year’s pay
offer
· To refer this year’s pay offer to ACAS for binding arbitration.
· To approach this year’s pay offer, any review of the Green Book and pay for 2009/10 separately
· To submit a pay claim to the employers as soon as possible 2009/10
· To agree the Trade Union Side’s aims for any future review of the Green Book.
· To undertake an in-depth review within the NJC Committee of the negotiations and
events surrounding this year’s industrial action and to draw up plans to increase our
bargaining strength at local and national level.
· To hold meetings of the full Joint Trade Union Side of the NJC on 1 October and
3 November

Three Joint Secretaries’ meetings have been held since the July action. UNISON and UNITE have consistently pushed the employers to resolve the outstanding pay dispute and this was the first point included in the framework for the negotiations, which was agreed after the second meeting.
Unfortunately the employers claim that there is no pressure on them to increased their final offer of 2.45% and 3.3% for those on scale points 4,5and 6—either from individual local authorities, the
Local Government Association or the Government. The joint Trade Union Side of the NJC
Executive therefore met to take stock of this situation on 10 September and to consider the unions’ aims for any review of the Green Book which might take place in the future. The 2007/8 pay
settlement included such a review.
The Trade Union Side recognised that members need and deserve a pay increase as soon as possible. With no apparent prospect of an improved offer, there was therefore a unanimous decision by all three unions—including the GMB—to recommend to their respective national committees that the matter be referred to the Arbitration and Conciliation Service (ACAS) for binding arbitration. The national agreement—the Green Book— provides for either side of the NJC to do this and we believe that the employers will not stand in our way

NJC Committee's recommendations
The NJC Committee—UNISON’s lay committee—with representatives from each Region,
considered a lengthy report from the negotiators on 18 September and also looked in detail at the results of the consultation on members’ views over further industrial action, which it
requested at its last meeting. With few exceptions, branches responding said that members were not willing to take further action—either ‘all out’ or selective. The Committee therefore decided not to call for further action and to accept the recommendation of the Trade Union Side and seek binding arbitration.

2008-10-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

TRANSFORMATION- IS YOUR JOB AT RISK?

The City Council has now issued UNISON with a HR1 form (formally a Section 188 Notice) under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
This notification gives official notice that the local authority intends to make up to 300 posts redundant by 31 December 2009.
The local authority has also informed UNISON that it will be January 2009 before they know exactly which posts will go, however, we are aware that the posts will be from the 1700 employees currently working in customer services, finance, human
resources, information technology and procurement.
The first proposed compulsory redundancies will not take place before 1 April 2009.
The job losses are a direct consequence of the partnership for customer efficiency
services (PaCES) and the introduction of new systems by the City Council’s partner Axon.
The City Council believes the partnership will save £60 million over the next ten years, however, it has now become apparent that more money than first realised has to be put into the partnership by the council at an earlier stage, putting further strain on the council’s finances and leading to the partnership being re-negotiated even before it’s signed!
In the meantime the council has announced further savings will have to be found to bridge a £35 million shortfall by 2011.
UNISON is now having weekly meetings with Chief Officers and consulting on ways of avoiding compulsory redundancies, including external recruitment restrictions, not filling vacancies, redeployment into the new structures and seeking volunteers from across the council. (Although the Council is refusing to adopt this option).
300 job losses should not be acceptable to the council tax payers of Wolverhampton, UNISON will do everything we can to avoid compulsory redundancies, managed
correctly the 300 compulsory redundancies are avoidable.

2008-09-15T01:37:00.000-07:00

PAY UPDATE

Whilst national negotiations continue , there is little to report.
Negotiations have resulted in two joint statements ;
http://www.unison.org.uk/localgov/pages_view.asp?.did=7558

All branches were asked to consult members on what further action
they would be prepared to take . This branch decided to hold a postal ballot of all members ,
the results of which will be posted tomorrow

WHAT NEXT?
In the interim a march and lobby of Labour Party Conference organised by local government unions will take place on SUNDAY 21st SEPTEMBER in Manchester.
The branch has organised a coach to take members tot he lobby
Furhter details can be obtained from the union office at
unionoffice@wolverhamptonunison.org.uk or phone 07932 797139

2008-08-22T00:28:00.000-07:00

BRANCH BALLOT

In view of the importance of the decision as regards further

Industrial action it has been decided to carry out a postal ballot of all members .

You should receive yours soon.

2008-08-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

PAY OFFER LATEST

All UNISON branches have been asked to carry out a consultation with members as regards to what action (if any) are they prepared to take in the event of current talks failing.
contact your steward or the branch office to give your view

2008-08-05T00:24:00.000-07:00

Union to enter talks with local government employers

On 23rd July UNISON’s local government National Joint Committee (NJC) voted unanimously to back further talks with Local Government Employers, aimed at settling the current dispute over pay.
Discussions between UNISON, Unite and the Local Government Employers led to an understanding that talks can go ahead, with a timetable to be agreed at a later date. Joint talks are scheduled to start on 13 August.
In the light of this decision the NJC agreed not to name a date for further strike action. Progress will be monitored over the coming weeks and the decision reviewed in September.

2008-07-08T06:21:00.000-07:00

STRIKE RALLY
Wednesday 16th July 2008
12.30pm
Piazza Civic Centre

2008-06-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

MEMBERS VOTE TO STRIKE!

UNISON members in local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted by 55% to 45% for a programme of sustained strike action over a 2.45% pay offer.

The National Joint Council committee have agreed with 55% of our members that we will fight for a decent pay rise. They also confirmed the 16th and 17th of July will be the action dates.

This decision needs to be ratified by the Industrial action committee on Friday (which it is expected to do).
Once it is formally agreed this branch will begin building for the days of action.
UNISON is a democratic organisation and it is hoped that all members will abide by the ballot result and support the strike!

2008-05-20T00:25:00.000-07:00

UNISON is calling upon all our members in local government to vote “YES” in the official ballot for strike action in opposition to the employers’ “final offer” of 2.45% – an offer which falls well below the rate of inflation and amounts to a pay cut in real terms.

The strike ballot starts on 30 May.Following a national consultation exercise, UNISON members have decided to reject the pay offer from the local government employers,The offer is to increase all but the lowest pay points by 2.45%.

The Retail Price Index is currently over 4% - and prices of many basic commodities are going up far faster. The average family is spending 20% more on food compared with a year ago!

If we accepted another pay rise below the rate of inflation we would be accepting another year in which we could afford to buy less at the end of the year than we could at the beginning.

The decision to reject the pay offer is a decision to reject a pay cut.In the past – in 1989 and 2002 – national strike action by local government workers has forced the employers to increase “final” pay offers. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.We are not alone.

The Government are trying to force all public servants to accept pay rises below the rate of inflation.This has already lead to disputes with teachers, college lecturers and civil servants.Money can be found when the Government want to find it to bail out Northern Rock or to correct unpopular decisions on tax. Money could be found for fair pay for public servants.We can coordinate our campaign for fair pay with other groups of workers to maximise pressure on the Government and employers.If members vote for action, UNISON will call a two day strike in July – if the employers do not back down further strike action will be called.

Vote YES for fair pay – vote YES to strike action!

2008-05-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

PAY OFFER CONSULTATIVE BALLOT RESULTS

The results in wolverhampton branch were;

in favour of accepting 350 those rejecting the offer 771

Within the West Midlands region the vote was split 50-50

The result nationally was a 54% majority rejecting the offer

On this basis the national Service group executive have called for a formal national ballot on a date to be arranged