tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87094366780310891782024-03-06T01:38:47.062+00:00UNISON City of EdinburghNews and views from UNISON City of Edinburgh BranchUNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-88765405049087700952017-05-16T13:02:00.000+01:002017-05-16T13:02:15.024+01:00Edinburgh Health and Social Care Inspection response<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.careinspectorate.com/images/documents/3831/Edinburgh%20services%20for%20older%20people%20joint%20inspection%20report%20May%202017.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uLoXnTw-Bk8/WRrp2DVQhZI/AAAAAAAAAtw/o7RTmII7pr45-XHQdE2ExPKq5VXLacxRwCLcB/s320/hsc.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
Many of the issues raised in the<a href="http://www.careinspectorate.com/images/documents/3831/Edinburgh%20services%20for%20older%20people%20joint%20inspection%20report%20May%202017.pdf" target="_blank"> inspection </a>published today mirror issues raised by UNISON over recent months and years, not least about central cuts at a time of rising need.<br />
<br />
The report will be very disappointing for staff, especially since the inspection comments on how committed they are to joint working and how hard they have been working to make that a success.<br />
<br />
This inspection came at a time of huge upheaval as the whole service was being reviewed. While some of that review was about different ways of working, the major issue was pressure on budgets. We know from lots of research that the eye comes off the ball when staff resources are taken up with reorganisation rather than service delivery.<br />
<br />
Health and Social care has struggled to stay within budget for several years. You cannot just keep cutting while the demand for the service increases.<br />
<br />
Westminster and Holyrood cuts mean Edinburgh has had to cut hundreds of millions over the years with another 145 million over the next three years. With health and social care accounting for about a third of the council's whole expenditure, it has obviously taken a big hit. Staffing has reduced year on year.<br />
<br />
A key issue is pay and conditions of home care staff in procured services. How can you hope to recruit and retain care staff when they can get paid £2 ab hour more in Lidl?<br />
<br />
We just cannot go on pretending that we can have social care on the cheap.<br />
<br />UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-2145281966916414042017-04-04T09:42:00.000+01:002017-04-04T19:13:57.675+01:00Vote in the UNISON NEC elections! Who the branch nominated<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2017/04/nec-elections-open-heres-5-reasons-to-vote/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O6-dQbqiSMw/WONcBu6z2lI/AAAAAAAAAtI/_HP66r3O0qwPPw1DWMTZdToJHLG-l26-QCLcB/s320/NECmap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NEC elections: 5 reasons to vote<span id="goog_1808134605"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1808134606"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is time to vote for your National Executive members. The NEC is the union's lay governing body. NEC members are ordinary members who work in the public services and, like your stewards or branch officers, give of their time to represent you. The ballot runs from 3 April to noon on 28 April. If you haven’t had your ballot by 11 April, call the helpline on 0800 0857 857<br />
<br />
The City of Edinburgh Branch nominated the following candidates<br />
<br />
<b>Scotland Female Seat</b><br />
<b>Kate Ramden (Aberdeenshire)</b> <br />
Kate Ramsden is a well known activist in her branch and in UNISON Scotland. She is a children’s rights officer. As Branch chair she is involved in representation and negotiation, giving her direct experience of the issues affecting members. Kate believes in a strong voice for members. She is an elected member of Scottish Committee and Scottish Council so has been active in shaping Scottish UNISON policy and putting it into practice. She is passionate about social justice and equality and believes that unions have a central role to play in creating a fairer and more equal society for all<br />
<br />
<b>Scotland Region Male Seat</b><br />
<b>Tam Waterson (Lothian Health Branch)</b><br />
Tam is from our sister NHS branch and is standing on a very clear platform of defending and building public services. He will oppose cuts in funding and cuts in service delivery whether in the NHS, local authority services, the police, the utilities or other public services. Public service workers did not cause the economic crisis and they should not be paying for it. Job cuts, pay freezes, attacks on our pensions are not acceptable and must be opposed. As a trade union he believes we must also work closely with community groups as we defend our services. <br />
<br />
<b>Scotland General Seat </b><br />
<b>Duncan Smith (City of Edinburgh Branch)</b><br />
Duncan is our own Branch Chair and has been active in the branch for many years. He is standing on a platform of <br />
• A UK co-ordinated response using the full force of UNISON against cuts, privatisation, pay freeze and attacks on our terms and conditions<br />
• No more leaving branches to fight austerity attacks alone<br />
• Break the 1% public sector pay cap<br />
• An accountable UK leadership that puts members first<br />
• UNISON to punch its weight. Fight austerity with action not just words <br />
<br />
<b>Scotland Region Reserved Seat</b><br />
<b>Maggie Cook </b>(Falkirk Branch) unopposed<br />
<br />
<b>Local Government General Seat </b><br />
<b>Paul Holmes</b> (Kirklees Branch)<br />
<br />
<b>Local Government Male Seat</b><br />
<b>Paul Gilroy</b> (Newcastle City Branch)<br />
<br />
<b>Community General Seat</b><br />
<b>John Gray</b> (Housing Association Branch)<br />
John is currently the Community NEC General seat representative and has been an activist in UNISON for many years and held a number of branch and regional positions including Treasurer, Health & Safety, Welfare, Labour Link, International officer and Assistant Secretary. He works as a Housing officer and is the Branch Secretary of the Greater London Housing Associations Branch which has over 3000 Community members.<br />
<br />
<b>Community Female Seat</b><br />
<b>Denise Charles</b> (Ymlaen/Forward Branch )<br />
Denise has a background as a support worker for women fleeing domestic abuse. As a Branch Secretary she set up a steward’s network to mentor workplace activists and representatives. On the SGE she has championed equalities and tackling low pay in the sector.<br />
<br />
<b>Black Members Female Seat</b><br />
<b>April Ashley</b> (Southwark Branch)<br />
<br />
<b>Disabled Members Female Seat</b><br />
<b>Pam Howard</b> (Warrington Branch)<br />
<br />
<b>Young Members Seat</b><br />
<b>Josie Runswick</b> (Bolton, Salford & Trafford Mental Health Branch)UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-80715186576724011272017-02-24T17:12:00.000+00:002017-02-24T17:12:13.475+00:00Recall AGM 2 March<b class="subhead"><span style="font-family: Arial;">RECALL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING <br /> Thursday 2 March 2017 in the Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the latest.</span></b><br />
The AGM of 9 February was short of the 200 members needed to have a legal AGM. Thanks and apologies to the 120 members who did attend. <br />
We MUST have an AGM if the branch is to be able to represent you this year. <br /> Without an AGM we cannot...<br />
<ul>
<li>Elect your officers for 2017</li>
<li>Approve the financial statement and consider updates on issues like pay, transformation and workloads. Please try to be there on the 2nd.</li>
</ul>
<strong>The papers for 9 February still apply can be <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/meetings/agm.html" target="_blank">accessed on the website by clicking here</a>.</strong><br />
<br />
For Creche or Carers Allowance, contact 558 7488 UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-90074275646054768002017-02-09T16:46:00.001+00:002017-02-09T16:46:27.858+00:00Edinburgh budget response: Defending services or administering austerity?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDCFDEVWjQ4/WJycj_jRMWI/AAAAAAAAAsk/SnqqdYYs3rsM8TVFma-bygwf3ZV_8OHVgCLcB/s1600/budget17small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDCFDEVWjQ4/WJycj_jRMWI/AAAAAAAAAsk/SnqqdYYs3rsM8TVFma-bygwf3ZV_8OHVgCLcB/s320/budget17small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<strong>UNISON's Tom Connolly made the following submission to Edinburgh City Council's budget meeting today as Joint Trade Unions Staff Side Secretary. </strong><br />
<br />
As we come towards the end of the organisational review processes associated with the Transformation programme, we have witnessed the loss of over 1400 jobs. <br />
<br />
We have real concerns of the current and future impact on our member’s terms and conditions, their lack of resources and excessive workloads and the negative impact that this has on the services provided to the most vulnerable and deprived. <a name='more'></a> <br />
<br />
These brutal cuts will have a damaging effect on the public of Edinburgh who rely on council services. The poorest and most deprived, the most vulnerable children, young people and families, the elderly, the disabled and all who reside in the areas of greatest deprivation in our city. <br />
<br />
Throughout the current Transformation programme, we were told repeatedly that we need to become more lean and agile. What this means in practice is; work harder with less. This risks excessive workloads and our members’ health – we will not accept this and we will challenge any bullying or harassment of our members and ensure that the council is meeting its health and safety requirements and their duty of care obligations to our members.<br />
<br />
On top of this we have seen our pay reduced year on year, as a result our members are not just working with less, they are working FOR less. The pay offer from the employer this year is insulting and derisory and gives an indication how undervalued they view their staff.<br />
<br />
Our members have and always will work hard to deliver the vital services they provide to the public. However, staff are reaching breaking point and are finding themselves overstretched and unable to access the resources that they need to carry out their work safely. Services are becoming too thin and too fragile. <br />
<br />
Was it right to cut services such as early years and community education? Services that support the city’s children and young people, disabled people, the elderly have been disproportionately reduced. Children and young people benefited greatly from the services that where offered including peer education and group work. Disabled people could attend groups during the day and this was a vital link for them, the same applies to our elderly residents and to those who benefited from the adult literacy service. <br />
<br />
People who are isolated have been shown to suffer greatly from loneliness, they are more prone to suffer from mental health related issues including despair and depression, is this something that our city should be proud off - I don’t think so. Over recent years we have seen a constant reduction in preventative services; surely prevention was better than cure. <br />
<br />
Our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families, and other underprivileged groups have witnessed the disappearance of the services that they need and relied on. Can you really have confidence in your pledge to give every child a good start in life and to reduce poverty, inequality, and deprivation? <br />
<br />
Throughout the organisational review process, equality and gender Impact assessments were often carried out after decisions were made, rather than, as should be, in advance to inform the decision-making process. There is a risk that the council did not fully meet their Public Service Equality Duty. <br />
<br />
The most disadvantaged and most vulnerable tended not to be consulted at all. We belief that this has led to poor judgements leaving the least powerful and vulnerable individuals and communities being disproportionately disadvantaged. We belief that this endemic practice must stop.<br />
<br />
All services lost, and those continuing to be provided by the council will have been a vital safety net to someone. Like a jigsaw all the pieces are needed to compose a meaningful picture.<br />
<br />
Our members employed in the voluntary sector, a sector that relies heavily on funding from the council, have very poor employee Terms and Conditions resulting in very low staff moral and a high turnover of staff. Some of the services provided by these organisations have been shown not to meet the standards required. We would urge elected members, executive directors, and others to reflect on the adage ‘More bang for your buck’ when considering funding.<br />
<br />
In Edinburgh, we have witnessed problems with private care homes, and in England where many local authority services have been outsourced and failed with the result that they have had to be taken back into local authority control.<br />
<br />
The trade unions will resist, further cuts and any attempt to outsource services and any attempt to diminish our members working terms and conditions. <br />
<br />
We will work alongside and provide resources where and when necessary to the citizens of Edinburgh through their community groups in the campaign to protect the services they use and need.<br />
<br />
Those who work in the public service are more than aware of what is needed to provide meaningful, dedicated and professional public services and they are prepared to go that further mile in serving the public.<br />
<br />
Closing special schools and secure units that provide invaluable support and protection to our most vulnerable children, young people and their families, is irresponsible, especially when there is no clear or detailed plan on how their needs will be met. <br />
<br />
We argued that there needed to be great caution taken when reducing the number of managers. Unlike the private sector, many managers will have clear and specific areas of responsibility that will carry a high level of professionalism and expertise applicable to specific service areas. We have lost a great deal of expertise and experience.<br />
<br />
Our role is not just to protect the terms and working conditions of our members. We will defend the ethos of Public services and will ensure that we challenge the myth that ‘we are all in this together’.<br />
It was not Public service workers or the public they serve who caused the problem in the economy but the large financial institutions. Their failures resulted in a massive bailout and the retention of their huge salaries and bonuses.<br />
<br />
Public services on the other hand are being cut to the bone. The staff employed in the service have endured years of pay freezes’ resulting in a drop in their living standards.<br />
<br />
The cuts to public services won’t work; Most spending cuts are a false economy – the redundancy costs and knock-on effects on employment, growth and tax revenue will make the situation worse.<br />
<br />
On average, every redundancy creates £29,400 in additional costs to the public sector as well as undermining morale and productivity.<br />
<br />
Most of the cost of employing a public service worker is recouped by the state through increased tax revenues and reduced benefit payments. <br />
<br />
Economic research shows that for every pound spent on local public services, 64 pence is re-spent in local economies, supporting jobs and businesses.<br />
<br />
We have argued that there are ways that we could ensure that the council uses its money effectively;<br />
Monies could be saved every year by reducing the agency bill. The agency bill is still high<br />
Reduce the number of private consultants who bring little discernible benefit. Yes - There are still consultants being used.<br />
<br />
Trade unions play a key role in supporting and empowering staff to improve and develop services – research indicates that this already saves the taxpayer as much as £3.6bn a year in productivity gains.<br />
<br />
A 9% cut in the Westminster Government block grant - despite a small real term rise this year- has seen the Scottish Government again, make a deliberate choice to cut its funding disproportionately to Scottish councils.<br />
<br />
Even although local authorities will now be allowed to keep the monies raised from the unfreezing of the council tax for Bands FGH the Scottish government caveated this by limiting the increase to 3%, any amount over this would mean that the Scottish government would cut the funding more.<br />
<br />
The Scottish government following an agreement with the Green party have agreed to allocate a further £160 million to Scottish local government, my understanding is that Edinburgh will receive around £12 million. How is this going to be spent? Will you protect services, will you pay your staff a decent wage and increase the pay offer - we wait to see.<br />
<br />
We have already seen a huge attack on the services that our council was providing. We are all being told that we need to be more lean and agile- the reality is that things have become too lean and too fragile, staff are constantly worried about their jobs and becoming overstretched by unacceptable workloads. The most disadvantaged and vulnerable in our communities are left even more disadvantaged and more vulnerable. <br />
<br />
The trade union will continue to fight against the damaging cuts to jobs and services and we will continue to lobby all politicians and senior management ensuring that our members opinions are heard and their rights to decent working conditions and pay are listened too. <br />
<br />
We remind the council, that we will use all the power at our disposal, where and when necessary, up to and including industrial action if our member’s dignity at work is not respected and immediately call for industrial action if there is any move to introduce compulsory redundancies.<br />
<br />
We call on the Scottish Government, council, and other public bodies to act on the strategies in UNISON Scotland’s ‘Combating Austerity’ report to mitigate the effects of austerity. These include measures like re-examining debt payments, PFI contracts, or Aberdeen’s example of issuing bonds of £370 million for infrastructure development.<br />
<br />
The real question is will elected members show a willingness to fight to protect local public services that meet the needs of the communities or will elected members act merely as passive administrators of austerity ensuring the silent slaughter of council services?<br />
<br />
Tom Connolly <br />
Staff Side Secretary<br />
09/02/17<br />
<br />UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-48415505110281791812017-01-23T17:19:00.000+00:002017-01-23T17:19:23.568+00:00New newsheet online<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unjanuary17.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xGQLFqGLvLA/WIY62Y0x5NI/AAAAAAAAAsU/c1FriyD_qAEZVXC76Lg0PU9hEdV6GtOcwCLcB/s1600/unjanuary17.jpg" /></a></div>
Latest updates on council cuts and updates on Pay, Transformation, Health and Social Care integration and Schools and Lifelong Learning. <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unjanuary17.pdf" target="_blank">Get the pdf here</a>UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-47604316705318068452016-11-09T16:33:00.001+00:002016-11-09T16:36:45.016+00:00Health and Social Care briefing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unnovember16.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HEIAa5dHvx4/WCNPxcExHzI/AAAAAAAAAr8/ExaihLO3eOQ2t7msTCos6J2glE_FJSHNgCLcB/s1600/unnovember16.jpg" /></a></div>
Health and Social Care integration: Proposed model will increase workloads and affect services. Avoidance of Disputes and major concerns about workloads. (pdf) <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unnovember16.pdf">http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unnovember16.pdf</a>UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-16549339255445898312016-10-11T15:09:00.001+01:002016-10-11T15:09:11.025+01:00UNISON meeting: All social care workers & assistants in homecare & reablement FRI 14 OCT 2016 <strong>East Neighbourhood Office </strong><br />
<strong>101 Niddrie Mains Road </strong><br />
<strong>EH16 4DS </strong><br />
<strong>1.30–2.30 or 2.30–3.30</strong><br />
<br />
You will be aware that we have now entered Phase 2 of the Health & Social Care/NHS Integration Process. UNISON is aware of concerns raised as to the accuracy of the information being passed to you by senior management. With this in mind, UNISON is holding two workplace meetings for all UNISON members with the purpose of answering any questions that you have.UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-52165043135686359232016-08-26T12:49:00.002+01:002016-08-26T12:49:58.512+01:00Latest UNISON News Transformation update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unaugust16.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1BfYN23IMRk/V8AspZmgO9I/AAAAAAAAArk/vpms31dITLIdtvl1zIHqRO4P9AdtWN_jQCLcB/s1600/unaug16.jpg" /></a></div>
Keeping the compuslory redundancy, stopping excessive workloads, review updates.... See the full briefing at <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unaugust16.pdf">http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unaugust16.pdf</a>UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-7466168558059033042016-08-18T11:00:00.000+01:002016-08-18T11:00:36.640+01:00UNISON: Andrew Burns ‘respectful, positive and constructive’ in dealings with unions UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch has reacted to the news that Edinburgh Council leader Andrew Burns is to stand down at the next election.<br />
<br />
UNISON Edinburgh lead negotiator Tom Connolly said: “Andrew has always made himself available to UNISON and the other trade unions and has engaged with us on regular basis throughout his time as leader. He has always done this in a respectful, positive and constructive manner.”<br />
<br />
Along with the unions, Andrew Burns played an important role in stopping the wholesale privatisation of Edinburgh’s services. His willingness to forge alliances and cooperation with others where they had a common aim to defend Edinburgh’s services led to the unique Capital Coalition.<br />
<br />
John Stevenson, Edinburgh Branch President added: “Huge challenges face Andrew for the rest of his term of office as local government carries the lion’s share of Westminster and Holyrood cuts. Not least of those will be how to stand by the pledge of no compulsory redundancies.”UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-44170847329053970982016-07-13T16:43:00.001+01:002016-07-13T16:43:19.334+01:00Want to vote in the Labour leadership election?<a href="http://www.unison-scotland.org/2016/07/13/want-to-vote-in-the-labour-leadership-election/">Want to vote in the Labour leadership election?</a>: UNISON members who are part of Labour Link are entitled to a say in Labour’s Leadership – and will get a vote – but only if you are registered before 8 August 2016. You can sign up here to registe…UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-45645611173852147982016-04-26T18:55:00.003+01:002016-04-26T18:56:35.704+01:00The Great UNISON Book Binge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/news/bookbinge2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/news/bookbinge2016.jpg" /></a></div>UNISON will be collecting books for Community H.E.A.R.T throughout April and May 2016.<br />
<br />
What we’re looking for<br />
• Pre-reading Material<br />
• Easy Readers<br />
• Story Books<br />
• Factual Books<br />
• Reading Scheme Books<br />
• Dictionaries<br />
• Children's Novels<br />
• Encyclopaedias (no more than 10 years old)<br />
<br />
Please contact Chris Goodsell on <br />
0131 558 7041 or deliver to UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch, 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT<br />
<br />
Community HEART's Founding Director and President is Denis Goldberg who was convicted at the same trial as Nelson Mandela and spent 22 years in prison for fighting Apartheid.<strong><a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/goldberg.htm" target="_blank"> Click here for more details.</a></strong>UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-49355843828937011102016-04-22T12:29:00.004+01:002016-04-22T12:29:42.383+01:00UNISON, the union in Edinburgh opposing ALL jobs cutsUNISON is opposing all job cuts in Edinburgh and is calling on the other unions to do the same. UNISON is therefore urging the Unite union to reconsider and withdraw its proposals to the council to cut jobs in the concierge service.<br />
<br />
While we are engaging with the council, giving our views on all of the reviews under way, UNISON will never argue that anyone’s job should be cut.<br />
<br />
UNISON is clear that there is a difference between engaging constructively in the reviews and doing the council’s cuts for them.<br />
<br />
You can join UNISON at <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/member.html">www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/member.html</a>UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-31589830419278649442016-04-14T14:08:00.001+01:002016-04-14T14:08:16.298+01:00Cuts threaten safer housing for private tenants – and will lose council money, says UNISON <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzwmZpn0IiA/Vw-WLHpmgBI/AAAAAAAAArQ/R9x6i3uF6wkyR4oLDrrvevvx0zDqgtrmQCLcB/s1600/housing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LzwmZpn0IiA/Vw-WLHpmgBI/AAAAAAAAArQ/R9x6i3uF6wkyR4oLDrrvevvx0zDqgtrmQCLcB/s1600/housing.jpg" /></a></div>UNISON’s Edinburgh branch is warning that cuts to the council’s Private Rented Service Team could threaten safer housing for private tenants and lose the council hundreds of thousands in income.<br />
<br />
The team ensures private landlords meet safety standards, especially in relation to houses of multiple occupation (HMO). They work closely with owners, agents and architects at the planning stages to ensure buildings comply with HMO standards. <br />
<br />
Their work with public safety and the fire service is also key to ensuring that houses of multiple occupation are safe. Registered and unregistered lets and unlicensed HMO properties are investigated and reported on. <br />
<br />
Landlords pay £55 to register and £11 for each property and with the number of registered landlords going up from 26,000 to 42,000 since 2008, income for the council is substantial - £9.7 million since 2011. But it could be more. It is suspected that there may be thousands of unregistered landlords in Edinburgh and cuts in staffing will hinder the ability to track these down, with all that means for protection for tenants and income for the council.<br />
<br />
A UNISON Edinburgh spokesperson said: “The team has been working understaffed and under budget for years while workloads continue to increase. PRS staff have identified where savings could be made and where further revenue could be obtained, whilst continuing to provide a good service to landlords, agents, tenants and other stakeholders but this has been ignored.<br />
<br />
“The council has pledged to: ‘Enforce tenancy agreements (Council and private landlord) with a view to ensuring tenants and landlords fulfil their good conduct responsibilities.’ How will this pledge be delivered with the Private Rented Service being cut?”<br />
<br />
ENDS<br />
<br />
UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-10116537446054105642016-04-11T09:22:00.000+01:002016-04-11T09:44:10.394+01:00UNISON statement on Edinburgh schools closuresUNISON is deeply concerned about the safety implication for pupils and staff of the faults found in PPP schools in Edinburgh.<br />
<br />
The union expects there to be a full and detailed inquiry and will want assurances that safety will be the top priority in any decisions taken about re-opening the schools.<br />
<br />
For many years UNISON has spoken out against the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and Private Public Partnerships (PPP) and the current Scottish Government's Non-Profit Distributing schemes (NPD) as wasteful and grossly expensive ways of providing public services. They reap massive profits for the private sector with little risk to them and are much more expensive than direct building.<br />
<br />
PPP debt from previous governments is over £22 billion. The current government's NPD scheme means that Scottish councils, colleges, the NHS, government departments and Transport Scotland are committed to paying a further £6 billion for 20 Scottish Futures Trust privately financed and managed projects. <a href="http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/12308/NPDhubPipelinepayments">http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/12308/NPDhubPipelinepayments</a><br />
<br />
UNISON's 'Combating Austerity' report calls on government and councils to look to buy out these costly schemes wherever it is practical to do so. <a href="http://unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/CombatingAusterity_Sep2015.pdf">http://unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/CombatingAusterity_Sep2015.pdf</a><br />
<br />
See also <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/15/scotland-pfi-boom-public-spending-holyrood-snp">http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/15/scotland-pfi-boom-public-spending-holyrood-snp</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-63956626289333035832016-03-17T16:34:00.002+00:002016-03-17T16:34:48.410+00:00Transport Review UpdateFollowing union representation the consultation period for the Transport Review has been extended by two weeks till the 3rd April. We are still awaiting proposals for the road workers rota, winter <br />
gritting and the permanent employment of staff from the capital budget. In reality it may need to be extended again.<br />
<br />
<b>Road Workers</b><br />
Reports suggest that Edinburgh`s roads have a repair backlog running in to hundreds of millions of pounds, that a temporary repair team has been created and what the press call the worst roads in Scotland.<br />
<br />
UNISON therefore finds it incredible that the council are paying skilled roads staff to leave the council and then issue contracts to private contractors.<br />
<br />
Despite a 2 year review, which had the support of the councillors, pointing the direction of travel towards increasing the size of the in-house roads team to bid for additional work the transformation team have only sought to reduce the staffing levels to cut the wage bill and privatise the work.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Shift Patterns</b><br />
The proposal to change the remaining road workers from week days to a 4 on 4 off shift<br />
makes very little sense.<br />
<br />
‘UNISON therefore finds it incredible that the council are paying skilled roads staff to leave the council and then issue contracts to private contractors.’<br />
<br />
This cost cutting measure requires a lot more detail to be provided to show how this will work in practise and what effect it will have on the winter gritting.<br />
<br />
When we feel there are enough proposals and a full explanation of how this will work we will consult with the depot staff to see what action is required.<br />
<br />
There are fears that there will not be enough staff to cover all the revenue budget never mind touching the capital works. It would not be farfetched to believe these proposals could lead to the demise of the in house service and privatisation.<br />
<br />
<b>Infrastructure & Network Staff</b><br />
The reduction in permanent design staff is also a major concern. Again we are paying experienced staff to leave the council only to replace them with staff on temporary contracts. It appears to be more important to get permanent staff off the revenue budget and replace them with temporary contracts on the capital budget.<br />
<br />
Keeping good experienced permanent staff which is beneficial for the service and cheaper than a succession of temporary contracts. UNISON will continue to fight for this to be overturned and stop the council moving away from permanent staff.<br />
<br />
Already there are fears, even as staff numbers are being reduced, that temporary staff are required because of the lack of permanent staff.<br />
<br />
<b>Senior Staff</b><br />
The reduction in the senior engineers and senior transport team leader from 32.5 to 21 f.t.e. and the<br />
transport managers from 20 to 11 is in total, almost a 40% cut in staff. There are not many<br />
organisations that could deal with this size of cut, never mind most of it happening over a few weeks.<br />
<br />
This has come about not because it’s the ideal structure for transport but that it protects money for the private contractors to repair roads. Only time will tell if this is a gamble that will work.<br />
<br />
<b>Health & Safety</b><br />
Concerns have been raised regarding the health and safety of road workers following the proposal to cut the number of team leaders from 30 to 11. UNISON is working on a submission for the review.<br />
<br />UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-64365592527588377872016-02-15T18:33:00.003+00:002016-02-15T18:33:33.224+00:00Remember the AGM on Mon 22 Feb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/meetings/agm.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KuRe-4VEz8g/VsIZcY5OPtI/AAAAAAAAAq8/nm3T2aye9rM/s1600/agmreport16.jpg" /></a></div>
Remember the Branch AGM on Monday 22 February 2016 6-8pm at the Augustine Church, George IV Bridge Edinburgh. Teas and coffees from 5.30pm.<br />
<br />
The Agenda, Annual Report and Supplementary Agenda are all online at <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/meetings/agm.html">http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/meetings/agm.html</a> . For hard copies call 0131 558 7488 or email branchoffice@unison-edinburgh.org.uk.<br />
<br />
See you there!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-9166324649253327192016-01-22T18:51:00.001+00:002016-01-22T18:51:22.330+00:00The silent slaughter of council services. Full text of joint union submission<i>This is the full text of the submission by Tom Connolly, Staff Side Secretary, to the City of Edinburgh Council Budget Meeting on 21 January 2016</i><br />
<br />
As we face yet another year of cuts, the trade unions have grave concerns about the impact that these cuts will have on Service provision and on our members Terms and Conditions.<br />
<br />
These continuous cuts will have a negative impact on the public of Edinburgh who rely on council services, in particular the poorest and most deprived, the most vulnerable children, young people and families, the elderly, the disabled and all who reside in the areas of greatest deprivation in our city.<br />
<br />
Through the current Transformation programme we are told time and time again that we need to become more lean and agile. What this means in practice is; work harder with less. Our members have and always will work hard to deliver the vital services they provide to the public. However, staff are reaching breaking point and are finding themselves overstretched and unable to access the resources that they need to carry out their work safely. Services are becoming too thin and too fragile. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Can it be right to cut services such as early years and community education? Services that support the city’s children and young people, disabled people, the elderly and adult literacy programs are again being disproportionately reduced. Children and young people benefit greatly from the services that are offered including peer education and group work. Disabled people are able to attend groups during the day and this can be a vital link for them, the same applies to our elderly residents and to those who benefit from the adult literacy service. Over recent years we have seen a constant reduction in preventative services; surely prevention is better than cure.<br />
<br />
Our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families and other underprivileged groups are regularly experiencing the disappearance of the services that they need. How does this sit with the council pledges to give every child a good start in life and to reduce poverty, inequality and deprivation?<br />
<br />
Equality and gender Impact assessments are often carried out after decisions are made, rather than in advance to inform the decisions making process. There is a risk that the council are not fully meeting their Public Service Equality Duty. The most disadvantaged and most vulnerable tend not to be consulted at all. This leads to poor judgements leaving the least powerful and vulnerable individuals and communities being disproportionately disadvantaged.<br />
<br />
Trade union members and city residents have been encouraged by the council to participate in completing their Budget Calculator. This is a very cynical method to inform decision making. The returns are very low and some of those who complete the task may have little understanding of statutory services, the role and function of local government or may only have their own vested interests at heart. Saying this it is significant that 63% of budget responses supported increasing the council tax.<br />
<br />
Those who have a greater knowledge and understanding, and may oppose the cuts, have no capacity through this exercise to challenge the status quo.<br />
<br />
Management and elected representatives then use the returns to claim that their employees and the public decided what should be cut. This is a cynical negation of senior management and the elected member’s responsibilities.<br />
<br />
All services provided by the council will be vital to someone. Like a jigsaw all the pieces are needed to complete the picture. It is important to keep all these pieces together, if you give one to someone else, or a few pieces to a number of people, it will create difficulties when you want to put it back together and see the whole picture. If a piece of the puzzle is lost, or someone does not look after a piece, then the jigsaw becomes worthless and not fit for purpose. If you value the puzzle, look after and care for it and it will continue to work effectively.<br />
<br />
The scenario above applies the same to the council and the services it provides. If you believe that you can continue to reduce the services (make the pieces too small –they will not fit into the jigsaw) if you outsource service to vested interests, who’s main ambition will be profit for private gain and who employ staff on low pay and poor conditions, mistakes will happen. We oppose the introduction of a local authority trading company.<br />
<br />
In Edinburgh we have witnessed this with private care homes, and in England where many local authority services have been outsourced and failed with the result that they have had to be taken back into local authority control.<br />
<br />
The trade unions will resist, further cuts and any attempt to outsource services and further attacks on our members working terms and conditions.<br />
<br />
We will work alongside and provide resources where and when necessary to the citizens of Edinburgh through their community groups in the campaign to protect the services they use and need.<br />
<br />
Those who work in the public service are more than aware of what is needed to provide meaningful, dedicated and professional public services and they are prepared to go that further mile in serving the public.<br />
<br />
Closing special schools and secure units that provide invaluable support and protection to our most vulnerable children, young people and their families is irresponsible especially when there is no clear or detailed plan of how their needs will be met.<br />
<br />
There needs to be great caution when reducing the number of managers. Unlike the private sector, many managers will have clear and specific areas of responsibility that will carry a high level of professionalism and expertise applicable to specific service areas.<br />
<br />
Our role is not just to protect the terms and working conditions of our members. We will defend the ethos of Public services and will ensure that we challenge the myth that ‘we are all in this together’.<br />
<br />
It was not Public service workers or the public they serve who caused the problem in the economy but the large financial institutions. Their failures resulted in a massive bailout and the retention of their huge salaries and bonuses.<br />
<br />
Public services on the other hand are being cut to the bone. The staff employed in the service have endured years of pay freezes’ resulting in a drop in their living standards.<br />
<br />
The cuts to public services won’t work.<br />
<br />
Most spending cuts are a false economy – the redundancy costs and knock-on effects on employment, growth and tax revenue will make the situation worse.<br />
<br />
On average every redundancy creates £29,400 in additional costs to the public sector as well as undermining morale and productivity.<br />
<br />
Most of the cost of employing a public service worker is recouped by the state through increased tax revenues and reduced benefit payments.<br />
<br />
Economic research shows that for every pound spent on local public services, 64 pence is re-spent in local economies, supporting jobs and businesses.<br />
<br />
There are also ways we could ensure that the council uses its money effectively;<br />
<br />
Monies could be saved every year by reducing the agency bill.<br />
<br />
Reduce the number of private consultants who bring little discernible benefit.<br />
<br />
Trade unions play a key role in supporting and empowering staff to improve and develop services – research indicates that this already saves the taxpayer as much as £3.6bn a year in productivity gains.<br />
<br />
The Scottish government’s announcement that the council tax freeze will remain for another year may result in another 15000 job losses in the Local authorities this is on top of the 50,000 lost since the financial crash a truly is shameful situation.<br />
<br />
The cabinet secretary John Swinney is clearly out of touch with the situation affecting local government and the impact that this is having on our communities. The richest continue to gain while the most deprived and needy continue to suffer.<br />
<br />
I would call on the SNP representatives in this chamber to hold him to account and the capital coalition to take a stance.<br />
<br />
The silent slaughter of Local Government needs to stop.<br />
<br />
The freeze needs to be lifted. We should see the introduction of a tourist tax and supermarket tax. The finance raised by these needs to be reinvested into funding the services.<br />
<br />
There is also a need for the city council to look at a short, medium and long term strategy of debt management.<br />
<br />
The trade unions will continue to engage in meaningful dialogue with the administration and council officers. However, it will remain the case that we will not participate in a manner that encourages cuts to public services or undermines the terms and conditions of public service staff.<br />
<br />
Tom Connolly <br />
Staff Side SecretaryUNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-79943324364130294532016-01-20T13:30:00.002+00:002016-01-20T13:30:30.568+00:00UNISON lobby against ‘silent slaughter’ of council services<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ezti9a6Nis/VjID6f0LOWI/AAAAAAAAApM/9L7126Pe5z8/s320/29oct350px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ezti9a6Nis/VjID6f0LOWI/AAAAAAAAApM/9L7126Pe5z8/s320/29oct350px.jpg" /></a></div>
Edinburgh UNISON will lobby the City of Edinburgh Council budget meeting on Thursday 21 January 2016 from 08.45-9.45 against 2,000 job losses and £160 million in cuts to services over four years.<br />
<br />
Tom Connolly, UNISON Edinburgh lead negotiator, said: “On top of the existing quest to find £150 million in cuts, the recent Scottish Government financial settlement means Edinburgh has to find another £10 million in cuts to jobs and services.<br />
<br />
“2,000 jobs are being lost – that’s seven times the number lost at Tata Steel in Scotland. The Scottish Government have rightly set up a task force on steel jobs but they say nothing about local government. It has become the silent slaughter of council jobs and services.”<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Tom Connolly congratulated the council administration from pulling back on some cuts in services and conditions but warned that much more needed to be done to avoid compulsory redundancies.<br />
<br />
“Councillors need to make sure officials are doing all in their power to avoid compulsory redundancies and we will work with them to do that. However, our long standing policy remains that any compulsory redundancy will lead to a ballot on industrial action”, he said.<br />
<br />
Amanda Kerr, UNISON Edinburgh branch secretary, said: “Once again it is the low paid and vulnerable, including children, elderly and disabled people who will be the worst affected by these cuts. Most council workers – about 10,000 - require protection of vulnerable groups (PVG) clearance to do their jobs. That’s how many provide direct services to children and vulnerable adults. It doesn’t take a genius to spot that those services are at risk.<br />
<br />
“We will continue to campaign for those services and against plans to hive off home care to an arms-length company with all that means for the lack of accountability and transparency.”UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-89527112284177124732016-01-18T16:29:00.002+00:002016-01-18T16:29:57.984+00:00Cuts on top of cuts - January newsletter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unjanuary16.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pma8mSn3cjg/Vp0SuCo7QRI/AAAAAAAAAqs/1wdlhRFA5EU/s1600/unjanuary16.jpg" /></a></div>
Come to the lobby on 21 January; UNISON fights off increment cut; more must be done to stop compulsory redundancies and keeping bosses to procedures. <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unjanuary16.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for a PDF</a>UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-876195489925134722016-01-12T19:04:00.003+00:002016-01-12T19:04:52.881+00:00Edinburgh signs up to UNISON Ethical Care Charter pledgeThe pledge says: "The City of Edinburgh Council endorses the principles of the UNISON Ethical Care Charter and commits to working in partnership with UNISON towards its implementation.”<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WYSPc77DTs4/VpVNdHiePAI/AAAAAAAAAqc/NaZUkyCsRks/s1600/ethicalcarecharterpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WYSPc77DTs4/VpVNdHiePAI/AAAAAAAAAqc/NaZUkyCsRks/s320/ethicalcarecharterpic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda Kerr, UNISON branch secretary, <br />Ricky Henderson, Council Health & Social Care convener,<br /> Kirsten Hey, UNISON Health & Social Care steward,<br />and Andrew Burns, Council leader, sign the pledge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
UNISON's Ethical Care Charter aims to establish a minimum baseline for the safety, quality and dignity of care by ensuring employment conditions which a) do not routinely shortchange clients and b) ensure the recruitment and retention of a more stable workforce through more sustainable pay, conditions and training levels.<br />
<br />
Branch secretary Amanda Kerr said: "This is the first step on a long road to full implementation of the Charter. We congratulate the Council in signing up to this pledge and we know it is a tough commitment to make when the Council faces such huge cuts in its funding. However, there should be no greater priority than dignity and quality of care for those who need it, and dignity and quality of pay and conditions for those who deliver that care."<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The Charter lays out three stages in the programme. The immediate principles are that services should match need, home carers will be given adequate time to meet that need, home care workers should be paid for travel and given enough time to get from one service user to the other. They should also get sick pay if they are off. <br />
<br />
Stage 2 of the charter calls for continuity of staff for service users, no zero-hour contracts, systems to support staff raising issues about service users’ needs and regular training. <br />
<br />
Stage 3 calls for the Living Wage to be paid and a proper sick pay scheme “to ensure that staff do not feel pressurised to work when they are ill in order to protect the welfare of their vulnerable clients."<br />
<br />
Much of this has already been achieved in Edinburgh for council employed staff but the Charter seeks to extend this to all staff employed in the sector.UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-64028973276037025862016-01-05T18:15:00.002+00:002016-01-05T18:38:09.835+00:00Come to the UNISON AGM on 22 Feb<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OHPdaxZYR5U/VowIC7ZvEpI/AAAAAAAAAqM/MZi-KCzL4Oo/s1600/agmposter2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OHPdaxZYR5U/VowIC7ZvEpI/AAAAAAAAAqM/MZi-KCzL4Oo/s1600/agmposter2016.jpg" /></a></div>
The Branch Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 22 February 2016 in the Augustine Church, George IV Bridge Edinburgh, from 6pm to 8pm at the latest.<br />
<br />
Branch secretary Amanda Kerr said: "This is a very important meeting. Please make every effort to participate. With all that the branch faces with cuts in jobs and services and possibly attacks on pay and conditions this is probably the most important AGM we have ever called.<br />
<br />
"If anyone needs assistance or advice about submitting issues to the meeting, please feel free to contact the Branch Office."<br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/meetings/agm.html" target="_blank">preliminary notice</a> was issued on 15 December 2015. <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/meetings/agm.html" target="_blank">Click here to go to the AGM page on our website</a> for deadlines and how to nominate for officer positions and submit motions.UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-505421376031633052015-12-28T12:19:00.000+00:002015-12-28T12:19:24.933+00:00What council cuts really mean - Tell your councillor and MSP 'enough is enough'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/undecember.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DawHSWVUiPk/VoEoer6RiSI/AAAAAAAAAp8/IdMWBk-dyZU/s1600/undecember15.jpg" /></a></div>
UNISON Edinburgh's latest cuts newssheet outlines how the cuts will affect you as a worker and you and your family as citizens. <a href="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/undecember.pdf">http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/undecember.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<b>What the cuts are doing to council staff...</b><br />
Cutting 2, 000 jobs or around 10% of staff <br />
Threatening compulsory redundancies<br />
No plan to deal with the increasing workloads and stress.<br />
<br />
Outsourcing of music instructors<br />
Outsourcing a further 25% of home care work to lower pay providers.<br />
Reducing wages in disability services whilst acknowledging poor recruitment/ retention levels.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
27% reduction in management and 15% reduction of frontline staff.<br />
Outsource, possibly via a co-operative, over 1,000 care staff in home care, care homes, day care, disability services, occupational therapy, equipment and telecare. All designed to reduce costs and eventually, pay and conditions.<br />
<br />
Instead of increasing income the environment section are ending commercial waste collection and recycling.<br />
Making the school crossing patrol post unsustainable by reducing hours.<br />
<br />
Change some venue workers to 5 day contracts including every weekend.<br />
Creeping privatisation and outsourcing of services<br />
<br />
<b>What the cuts are doing to you and your family...</b><br />
Allowing the most vulnerable to be cared for by lower paid, low morale, high turnover, and overworked staff.<br />
Closure of Panmure and reductions in Rowanfield school<br />
Reduction in support staff in special schools<br />
Reduction in support for foster carers<br />
Reduction in early years staff in nurseries<br />
<br />
Reduction in youth offending support<br />
10% reduction in sport funding<br />
Reduce children's residential provision and closure of Hillview children's residential centre<br />
Reductions in parenting support for vulnerable families and family/pupil support to reduce exclusions.<br />
Reduce youth work and adult learning.<br />
<br />
Reduction and closure of some libraries.<br />
Reduction in safer and stronger communities spend.<br />
Reduction in spend on homeless provision<br />
School music service to be charged.<br />
Withdrawal of night noise team.<br />
Withdrawal of community equipment to all except critical needs.<br />
<br />
Reduction in learning disability services.<br />
Reduction in Licensing and Trading Standards<br />
Risk of reducing council’s ability to deliver transport priorities<br />
Reduction in community policing<br />
Increase parking charges and reduced parks maintenance.<br />
10% reduction in frontline street cleaning, waste and grounds maintenance staff.<br />
<br />
Reducing garden waste and recycling.<br />
Removing lunchtime school crossing patrol<br />
Stop repairs to tenement stair lighting.<br />
Reducing spending on developing the city economyUNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-81996044335382280382015-12-22T13:22:00.002+00:002015-12-22T13:22:58.309+00:00Season's greetings<h1 align="left" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">from UNISON </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Edinburgh</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> branch secretary Amanda Kerr, officers
and staff - especially to those delivering </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Edinburgh</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 12pt;">'s services over the holiday.</span></h1>
<h1 align="left" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">
<img alt="Season's Greetings" height="304" src="http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/frontpics/xmasjumpers596.jpg" width="591" /><br /><span style="color: #400080;">A happy and peaceful festive season to all our members. Amidst all the job losses and uncertainty for council workers, we hope you can still have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. You deserve to.</span></h1>
UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-29455125543668785122015-11-24T16:26:00.002+00:002015-11-24T16:26:50.640+00:00Transformation madness must stop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nB-c9u6fFTo/VlSOrUZI-xI/AAAAAAAAAps/IChlNX-lAj0/s1600/un24november15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nB-c9u6fFTo/VlSOrUZI-xI/AAAAAAAAAps/IChlNX-lAj0/s1600/un24november15.jpg" /></a></div>
A new UNISON branch briefing says the acceleration of the City of Edinburgh Council Transformation programme in August from five years to three years created concern but to slash this again in October to 18 months came as a shock.<br />
<br />
The madness increased when the latest papers show that the Transformation team must complete all the staff reductions, programmes and reviews (excluding Asset Management) in the next six months. <br />
<br />
On top of existing reviews, 28 additional organisational reviews have been announced with no chance of 'meaningful consultation'. Half of the 1,500 VERA applications have been refused<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">. </strong>UNISON is demanding an explanation and a slow down in the process.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
The council approved the new executive structure at its meeting on 25 June as part of the council's Transformation programme. <br />
<br />
However, the chief executive returned to full council last week saying he intends to review the structure again at the top level. Proposals will be brought forward to the next meeting. <br />
<br />
This begs the question that if we cannot review and organise around a small amount people over a period of five months, how will we manage to review the whole organisation and 20,000 staff in six months?<br />
<br />
UNISON believes this accelerated programme is impossible to complete without putting at risk the staff, the public, our services and the council’s reputation.<br />
<br />
The Transformation programme needs to slow down and be carried out at a pace that is manageable for the officials, staff and the unions. <br />
<br />
Rushing ahead without all the relevant information and proper meaningful consultation will only lead to mistakes and cause the council and our services to crumble. <br />
<br />
UNISON demands that our councillors and senior officials have a serious and honest look at our concerns and consider the potential risks if this acceleration is not slowed down!<br />
Reviews<br />
<br />
We all have read about the work streams within Transformation; Business support, Channel shift, Localities, Asset management, management tiers plus Health and Social care integration.<br />
<br />
On top these we now see what city wide reviews actually mean. Almost every section and every service will be under review. <br />
<br />
We have been given a basic list of 28 review titles and have started requesting further information on these. <br />
<br />
Some members will have had initial presentations from management and been informed that their review has commenced. <br />
<br />
Where this is the case we have appointed lead officers who will be organising to meet with members involved. <br />
<br />
However it is likely that the Budget process will produce further reviews on top of this initial list. Again, we must question how this amount of change can be managed in such a short space of time?<br />
<br />
There is no denying the magnitude of this whole process and we are trying our very best to answer all queries coming into the branch. We will try to update members on a weekly basis.<br />
<br />
<b>VERA shambles</b><br />
<br />
As many of you know, around half of the 1,500 staff who applied for VERA have been refused. <br />
UNISON believes that almost everyone in the council is under threat. <br />
<br />
We have now been notified of at least 28 organisational reviews associated with transformation. This is on top of all the current organisational reviews. How can we possibly have ‘meaningful’ consultation?<br />
<br />
Yet instead of keeping VERA applications on hold until each review commences, staff have been refused outright. <br />
<br />
According to the council around 2,000 staff must leave. Why then have there been so many refusals? Is this because the staff are needed to provide vital public services? Officials need to explain their reasoning to staff and to the elected members.<br />
<br />
Every job lost is a service lost.<br />
<br />
<b>Avoiding compulsory redundancies</b><br />
<br />
Councillors have instructed officials to pursue voluntary arrangements vigorously and report back every four weeks. UNISON will monitor this closely and ensure all measures are taken to avoid compulsory redundancies.UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8709436678031089178.post-72486744440708520782015-10-29T12:44:00.001+00:002015-10-29T12:44:57.580+00:00UNISON wins major changes to voluntary severance but fight against compulsory redundancies goes on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ezti9a6Nis/VjID6f0LOWI/AAAAAAAAApM/9L7126Pe5z8/s320/29oct350px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ezti9a6Nis/VjID6f0LOWI/AAAAAAAAApM/9L7126Pe5z8/s320/29oct350px.jpg" /></a></div>
UNISON has won major changes to voluntary severance that will improve the terms, extend the time to decide and take away arbitrary deadlines for applying.<br />
<br />
The union has also praised the ruling Labour and SNP councillors for working with UNISON to find a better way forward, despite the pressures on them. It also welcomed the support of the Green councillor.<br />
<br />
UNISON remains opposed to all cuts and all job losses and we will continue to fight to get the Government to give local government fair funding to protect jobs and services. We will also continued the fight against compulsory redundancies with industrial action if necessary.<br />
<br />
But we also know that many members will have applied for, or will be considering voluntary severance/ redundancy.<br />
<br />
That’s why we have:-<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>won significant improvements in voluntary release terms (see box)</li>
<li>got the timetable extended through organisational reviews so people will know better where they stand</li>
<li>pushed for better consultation and information sharing so staff are not kept in the dark</li>
<li>kept up the campaign against compulsory redundancies.</li>
<li>But compulsory redundancies are still on the agenda and we must keep up that fight through industrial action if necessary.<a name='more'></a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<b>Voluntary severance improvements</b></div>
<div>
<div>
After weeks of hard negotiations, UNISON has won new redundancy terms and timescales.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
UP from initial 2 weeks pay per year to 2.7 weeks without pension access</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
UP from initial 1.0 to 1.7 weeks per year with pension access</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
See the Council Intranet for full details of the two stages of severance (before and after organisational reviews have started) and new details about maximum years and capping of lump sum.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Backing those left behind</b></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With thousands of jobs going but the need for services still there, we all face the risk of being expected to do more and more to cover for the cuts.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
UNISON knows council workers often work above and beyond. We know they show flexibility to serve ‘customers’. UNISON is not asking you to stop that. But the union is saying, don’t let your goodwill be abused. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There is plenty of evidence that some managers will take advantage of that goodwill and force unrealistic targets and heap on extra work to cover for lost jobs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stress and bullying are already far too common so UNISON will be closely monitoring what happens.</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We need you in UNISON and we need you to tell us what is happening on the front line.</div>
<div>
We will run surveys and workplace meetings and where necessary we fully support members to take action to protect their health and safety.</div>
</div>
UNISON Edinburghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02503193610276848388noreply@blogger.com0