Victory for part time staff unsocial hours payments

After months of pressure from UNISON, the Council has agreed that part time employees can now claim unsocial hours payments (UHPs) for additional hours worked that attract these payments up to 36 hours per week.

UHPs should be claimed by the employee then approved by their their manager who can also approve backdated claims for work from 1 November 2014 to 31 January 2015.

Tom Connolly, UNISON Assistant Secretary, said: "UNISON had long argued that it was a nonsense that some part time staff were being paid less than full time colleagues.

"For example, if someone worked 30 hours and was asked to do six hours extra, they got paid less per hour for those six hours."

"A variation of the 'Modernising Pay' scheme is very rare and we are really glad that UNISON's tenacity has paid off for these members."

New branch briefing on pay

Why we are being balloted again. PLEASE VOTE! New branch briefing on employer's proposals. Hold workplace meetings now. Click here for the briefing.

UNISON Scotland has suspended the strike planned for 21 October after an improved offer from employers. The ballot will run from 20 October to 3 November.

The employers have responded to two out of three of UNISON’s demands. These are significant enough for the leadership to consult members under UNISON procedures on whether they think it is enough to settle for this year - with a major pay campaign next year - or whether the action continues.

Vote now for fair pay

See UNISON Edinburgh's new newsletter here on the pay ballot running from 9 to 29 September 2014. The ballot asks members whether they are prepared to take strike action to force the employers to respect the joint negotiating machinery and return to the negotiating table.

The Scottish Employers have imposed a pay award of 1% from 1 April 2014. And they have refused to negotiate on UNISON's claim for this period which was:

• An additional £1 per hour for all staff conditioned to the Scottish Joint Council scheme.
• Consolidation of the Living Wage
• Deletion of spinal column points below the level of the Living Wage

This action by the employers is unacceptable and shows a blatant disregard for the agreed bargaining structures and threatens the future of nationally agreed pay awards.

Branch Secretary, Amanda Kerr, said “Over the last few years we have witnessed a drop in real terms to our wages while the cost of living has increased significantly.

“Our members, who work tirelessly providing vital public services across Edinburgh deserve nothing less than fair pay and it is a complete insult to impose one per cent. We also want to get back to proper negotiations and the agreed bargaining machinery.”

NORMAL PAY FOR HOLIDAYS CLAIMS

A decision by the European Court of Justice could mean employees who normally get paid enhancements like overtime, shifts and commission - but not when they are on holiday - might be able to make a claim for back money.

It is not clear how many members may be affected (Edinburgh Council has stated that all employees regularly receiving working time payments like shift allowance also get those in with their holiday pay). However the Branch is writing to all the all of the employers where we have members as follows:-

PAY: WE NEED YOUR VIEWS

Should UNISON ignore the 1% pay imposition for 2014 and submit a claim anyway - or should the union build for 2015 instead? The branch is seeking members' views after CoSLA imposed a 1% pay rise for this year and next. CoSLA changed deal from a one year offer to two years after the one year deal had been accepted by UNISON members in a ballot. See more details at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2013/index.html  and http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2013/sepoct/1028.htm
LOG YOUR VIEWS AT http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/pay/index.html

Let us hear your views on the pay offer

PAY OFFER: Negotiators to seek more talks and ballot to follow in January 2013.
Local Government branches met on 30 November and heard that Local Government employers had made an offer of 1% from 1 April 2013. If after the 1% is applied, there are staff who fall below the 'Living Wage', this will be brought up to £7.50 an hour from 1 April 2013. The offer also calls for a 'working party' on pay for 2014/15 and on 'flexible and adaptable' working practices.

While the 'Living Wage' elements is welcome, the offer falls below what is needed to keep pace with inflation. Local Government workers have gone through a pay freeze at a time when inflation averaged 5%, food prices have been going up by 7% a year and energy prices by 15%.

The offer was made outside the normal bargaining procedures and negotiators will seek, along with the other unions, to open proper negotiations and consult members via a ballot in January 2013. They will return to a Recall Conference on 11th Jan to report on progress. Make sure your steward has your views on the offer!

UNISON to consult on Scottish pay offer

UNISON Scotland is set to consult members on a pay offer for local government workers. Dougie Black, Joint Trade Union Side Secretary, said that today’s offer from COSLA will be discussed initially at a conference in Glasgow next Friday (30 Nov).

UNISON calls for urgent action to boost council street cleansing services

News that many areas in Edinburgh are not meeting cleanliness targets will come as no surprise to many, not least the workers who strive to provide - and incidentially take pride in - this front line service despite the problems they face. John Stevenson on STV website http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/106187-unison-calls-for-urgent-action-to-boost-council-street-cleansing-services/

So what’s the answer? We have to start by acknowledging that nothing is easy when councils are being hit by a failed government policy of austerity bringing unprecedented and unnecessary funding cuts. Cuts that don’t just affect our services but affect the whole local economy. Cuts that have succeeded only in making things worse by bringing the double-dip recession UNISON had warned about since day one.

On top of that, for two years the council's efforts were diverted into a wasteful and costly privatisation exercise instead of concentrating on what really mattered - delivering the service. Millions spent on consultants would have been far better spent on front line services.

UNISON to meet with Joint Trade Unions to discuss a pay claim to tackle low pay

UNISON to meet with Joint Trade Unions to discuss a pay claim to tackle low pay
The proposed claim, for a single year, would focus on a flat rate to benefit lower paid workers and would press for employers to introduce a Living Wage. Click here for more details on UNISON Scotland Check out the website for full details http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/

Unions' fury as Edinburgh Council reneges on pay protection promise

The joint unions representing Edinburgh Council staff have condemned the Council for reneging on its promises to staff about three-year pay protection if they lost out under ‘Modernising Pay’.

Decent Work Day - today and every day‏

Decent Work Day - today and every day‏ Today trade unions across the world are mobilising to tackle the global economic and employment crisis and demand fundamental reform of the world economy. Events can be followed on a dedicated website: http://www.wddw.org/

PAY CONSULTATION

Stewards will be holding meeting to consult members on the Employers' imposition of 0.65% this year with a pay freeze for the following two years. You can make your views known at these meetings or you can respond online by clicking here. We need all responses by 1 October.

Check out the website for full details http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/