Newsletters

OUTLOOK - AUTUMN/WINTER 2008

Welcome to the autumn/winter edition of ‘Outlook’, Essex County Branch of UNISON's latest Newsletter.

Although the dispute over pay in the summer might now seem a hazy memory its effects continue. Unison’s 2008/9 pay claim has now been referred to arbitration , with the results in around two months and attention has now switched to the 2009/10 pay claim. Details of the claim were circulated to members for comment recently. There is more on this in the article on page 9. The Council’s budget remains a cause for concern for all of us. The joint unions met the portfolio holder and officers in early September before the financial crisis was fully around us. One saving grace for us is that unlike many local authorities Essex had not placed money with the collapsed Icelandic banks.

One interesting fact to emerge was that despite all the pressure less than 10% of the Band 5 and 6 group of staff had opted in. Rather than go back to the drawing board and negotiate the scheme, another ‘opportunity ‘ will be given to opt in will be given next year. See below for more details.

The previous Outlook introduced members to Tracey Sparkes who has joined us on secondment from Unison’s Regional Office as Branch Development and Recruitment Officer.

Bullying and Harassment has been a strong focus of Branch activity in recent weeks and months - See more details below.

PERFORMANCE RELATED PAY (PRP)

The long running saga of Performance Related Pay in the County Council rumbles on. The County Council continues to refuse to negotiate on the issue. As we note elsewhere there is a pattern developing locally and nationally of employers refusing to negotiate until they are forced to.

We were expecting at the end of August to learn how many of the 1500 Band 5 and 6 staff to whom the PRP scheme applies had ‘volunteered’ to take part in the scheme. The scheme was then to become compulsory in 2009/10

The latest development is that in mid August the County Council has written to Managers in the Children’s and Families Social Work area to offer them an instant salary increase of up to £3000 to take part in PRP. In one sense this seems to show how desperate the County Council has become in trying to get take up of the scheme. However, at a second glance, it seems that ECC are using the market pay supplement and honoraria that they already pay to help recruitment and retention to attract people into the scheme.

Yet again we have to call for proper negotiation on this scheme. Until there is proper negotiation we would urge members to sign the pledge attached (below - please cut and paste and e-mail to unison.essexcounty@virgin.net) not to participate. UNISON still opposes the principle of PRP but, if the County insists on proceeding, it is only through negotiation that will we be able to iron out the many problems with this scheme.

I support UNISON’s opposition to the current ECC proposals regarding Performance Related Pay. I do not wish to opt out of the annual collective pay award negotiated nationally by the Union with employers. I have not opted into the scheme and pledge not to do so unless there is a collective agreement by UNISON members concerned to opt into the scheme.

Signed ………………………………………………………………

OUTSOURCING

It was said of the French Royal Family, the Bourbons, at the time of the French Revolution that ‘they learnt nothing and forgot nothing.’ Regrettably the same seems to apply to the current leadership of Essex County Council.

ECC’s track record in selecting and managing private contractors is poor, as witnessed by the problems staff perceive with the BT contract and the continuing problems with Excelcare. Nonetheless the council has recently advertised a series of tenders for private companies to take over all or some of its services for an eight year period. They argue that this is necessary to ensure the transformation required.

If this happens, it will be undoubtedly one of the largest single privatisations of a council’s services ever attempted in the UK.

ECC Councillors need to ask themselves what will be their role if this happens. 8 years is two whole ECC electoral terms. So where would the democratic control be?

Unfortunately the County Council leadership has a track record in coming up with gimmicks, such as this, only later to bury them – something similar was proposed for schools some years ago but was quietly forgotten when it was shown to be impractical.

You may wonder why you didn’t hear about this before now. The Council put its tender advert on a website on November 5tH but did not speak to any of the Council’s trade unions about it beforehand. The Opposition parties on the Council were kept in the dark. It’s even unclear whether all the Conservative/Cabinet members or senior HR staff were aware of what is proposed.

Unison is clearly opposed in principle to this and will be using all its efforts to protect its members’ jobs and conditions whatever happens.

This underlines yet again how vital it is to have an organisation like Unison on your side in these difficult times.

Sign up to UNISON and campaign to stop the wholesale of county services.

If you want to help the campaign please ring Jane Barnes on 01245 430913 and come along to the next meeting of the campaign committee.

BULLYING AND HARASSMENT SEMINAR

The Branch held a Bullying & Harassment Seminar on the 3rd November 2008 at the Shire Hall, Chelmsford.

The idea behind this seminar was to allow members to come together and discuss what Bullying & Harassment in the workplace means, together with what Unison could do to support its members facing the many difficulties around this subject.

The day was a great success, with around 25 members attending. The sessions began with me, a Unison Workplace Steward, introducing the event.

Linda Durrant UNISON’s Regional Women’s Officer gave a talk on what Bullying & Harassment meant, and ways in which members could actively deal with colleagues who were displaying unwanted behaviour towards them as well as what employers’ policies should contain. Thompson’s solicitors also spoke and had a stall with relevant information etc.

We often think that Bullying is for the playground. I have learnt that bullying does not stop in schools, but follows us into our working life. Often it leads to members going off sick, or suffering mental ill health at worst, which affects all aspects of their lives.

Bullying & Harassment is always unwanted and unwelcome behaviour, which leaves members often feeling unable to cope, and strips them of the dignity and respect that they deserve when going to work.

It is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated at any cost. We must not allow those that abuse us to continue, and if we make a stand together we will go some way to changing the culture that is often considered as acceptable, or should be tolerated.

I would like to thank all who attended, and hope that they found the day to be of use.

The seminar was just the beginning of a campaign to reach out to all our members, and offer much needed advice and support.

A Unison pack was available to all who attended giving detailed advice to members, and was a useful tool to all. If any member would like a copy please contact the Branch Office. If any members found the day difficult to attend, due either to work commitments or because of the location of the seminar and is interested in Unison holding an event in their workplace please do not hesitate to contact me.

Karen Rolfe

SCHOOLS

COLCHESTER SCHOOLS

Members may be aware that the County Council has recently initiated a consultation on the future provision of secondary education in Colchester.

The key proposal is the closure of Alderman Blaxill and Thomas Lord Audley Schools and their relocation to a new Academy on the site of the current Sir Charles Lucas College.

The proposal has proved highly controversial, particularly as the Leader of the Council was perceived in the town with coupling it with a description of Colchester as ‘a failing town’.

Criticism in Colchester has centred on the removal of secondary education from a large area in the South of the town which will require children from that and areas like Mersea to travel even longer distances to school.

There is also concern that the proposal could be motivated by the County Council’s desire for capital receipts from the sales of the sites of the two closed schools and that central Government will pay for the new Academy, relieving ECC from spending on the school.

UNISON will be working with the other unions concerned to ensure that the views of our members, those that work at the current schools and those who have children attending them, are taken fully into account in what is decided.

• More support from Local Authorities to support the running costs until it can be self-sustaining
• More Local Authority support too, for netCUDA (the credit union development agency supported by Chelmsford Diocese and which provides back-office services for local credit unions).

NEW NATIONAL CONDITIONS FOR SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF

LATEST NEWS

A new staff negotiating body has now been established to develop a package of new terms and conditions, including pay, for support staff across all schools in England (except academies). UNISON is the largest trade union for school staff and will be leading negotiations with eight representatives on this body (GMB have four and UNITE three).

A unions’ and employers’ working group has also been meeting regularly throughout this process and are now discussing contracts and job evaluation with a team of consultants.

Once a package has been put together, UNISON members will be balloted before any changes are made. UNISON will also be providing training for school reps.

For further information or if you are interested in training, please contact Tracey Sparkes on 01245 354044.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY

Arbitration

The arbitration process for the local government pay claim for 2008 is moving slowly. At mid-November the terms of reference of the arbitration hearing had still to be agreed. The unions had proposed: “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 national employers response is awaited.

Good News

The employers (including Essex County Council) have agreed to pay the original offer in November which means you should have it by the time you read this.

2009

UNISON and the other unions have already agreed the 2009 claim. It will be: “To improve real pay levels, the Trade Union side seek a one year, across the board pay increase of at least the level of retail price inflation with an additional increase for the lower paid.”

UNISON RETIRED MEMBERS CONFERENCE - GLASGOW

I am pleased to report that this year we managed to get through the agenda!

Conference started with workshops and I attended one on state pensions. This was addressed by Glen Jenkins Head of Pensions at UNISON HQ. What he did not know was not worth knowing; it would fill this page. However, if anyone would like to see a copy of the Conference Report on Pensions, please get in touch with Branch Office.

Conference itself had 36 motions with good debates on all - of course a lot of these were once again on pensions and state benefits, but there were also motions on fuel poverty, keeping couples together in care homes, human rights and abuse of the elderly, to name but a few.

I thought it a lovely Conference, well worth attending and thank the Branch for electing me to go.

Mary Feakins
Retired Members Secretary

TIMED OUT AND STRESSED OUT!

Earlier this year Connexions (formerly known as the Careers Service) returned to Essex County Council and their IT system became the responsibility of BT.

As with other branches of ECC many of their staff deliver a service outside County Hall and have to work ‘remotely’ in an IT sense.

Unfortunately the replacement IT set up chosen by ECC – Known as ‘SSL VPN’ – has inflicted weeks and indeed months of avoidable frustration and stress as staff have had to wrestle with a range of problems. Some could no longer access vital databases, open email attachments or, in some cases, connect up to all.

Even now, after a higher level of technical support had been brought in, the ‘Global’ security settings configured on the PCs used in school or college means being ‘timed our’, or the threat of being ‘timed them out’, at inopportune moments such as in a middle of a career guidance interview. Clearly this set up was not designed with input from an actual ‘practitioner’ to achieve a balance between client security and reliable and accessible IT for staff. Instead Connexions advisers have a daily IT obstacle course resulting in a decrease in efficiency and an increase in stress.

Paul Kurland
UNISON Steward - Integrated Youth Services / Connexions South

RECRUITMENT

Since being in post, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many members as well as talking to potential members.

I am currently working my way around secondary schools in central Essex to talk about UNISON and the new national framework for school support staff. In the new year, I intend to visit more schools across the County.

I have held recruitment events in various establishments such as Essex House and Ely House as well as in the Atrium in County Hall. I regularly attend the County Council inductions held in County Hall. Whilst out there, I am trying to encourage members to become more active to make !!!YOUR!!! union stronger and more influential.

If you would like me to come along to your establishment and run a recruitment event or have any other questions about UNISON, then please give me a call on 07908 142814.

I’d like to thank everyone involved in UNISON who I’ve worked with so far for making me feel so welcome.

*TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE*

Tracey Sparkes

DRIVE AWAY THE LOAN SHARKS!

Doorstep lenders and loan sharks target vulnerable groups shunned by the mainstream finance industry; they can charge huge rates of interest on small loans, so the poorest in our society can become enslaved in debt. It happens even here.

Credit Unions don’t operate by giving money, but by encouraging vulnerable people to put their finances in order and save for the future, building face-to-face relationships and helping with money management advice. They help people to help themselves – it’s not charity. It’s also an ethical savings option, Credit Unions (unlike the high street banks) are owned by the borrowers and savers who use them. Members’ savings are protected in the same way as bank account holders (much more safely than, for example, most Christmas Club savings).

If members save regularly for a time, they can borrow up to three times the amount of their savings at between 1% and 2% a month; there can also be small emergency loans. The interest rates are, as you can see, about equivalent to credit card rates, and are far lower than doorstep lenders demand. There are other services too.

You may not have heard before about our fledgling local Credit Union – Essex Savers – but it has 650 members and aspires to give everyone in Essex access to a credit union. To do that, Essex Savers needs: - More savers – please consider whether you could invest some money - More volunteer helpers – to operate collection points and help behind the scenes (training would be given)

For your nearest collection points for savings and loans please ring Essex Savers on 01245 496314. We are adding to the list every month until we have collection points throughout the County so do call for an update or to help set one up in you locality. If you would like to know how you can be part of a credit union, contact Alison Davies, Managing Director of netCUDA:

• email alison.davies@netcuda.org.uk
• telephone 01245 496235

LOOK AFTER YOUR MONEY

With the “Credit Crunch” taking its grip for our members, why not check out some of the offers UNISON can offer – just a couple of calls may save you money!

UIA Insurance -home, travel and pet insurance – low cost cover for you and your family

FRIZZELL -cheaper motor insurance and financial planning advice

BRITANNIA BUILDING SOCIETY -deals on mortgages and savings accounts

UNISON TRAVEL CLUB – find your perfect holiday on the high street and then give them a ring – they may save you £’s!

BRITANNIA ROAD RESCUE – 20% off

VISION EXPRESS - discounts on eye tests, glasses etc

LEARNING DISCOUNTS – as well as the many courses UNISON has to offer, members can also get discounts on a variety of vocational, leisure and general education distance learning courses.

UNISON also offers discounts on various attractions throughout the UK. For further details on any of the above and lots of other great discounts, please call 0845 355 0845 or visit the UNISON website on www.unison.org.uk and click on “Benefits”.

Remember if you hit hard times……..

UNISON has its own registered charity, UNISON Welfare which provides a confidential service for members and their families. They offer grants, wellbeing breaks, free debt advice and support or a sympathetic ear. Call Mary Feakins, Welfare Officer on 01245 354044 for further details or call 0207 5511620.

EXCELCARE

The Excelcare homes saga rumbles on.

You may recall the staff in 10 homes privatised by Essex County Council to Excelcare were sacked or forced to accept up to 40% pay cuts and reductions to other terms like sick pay.

The staff were clearly unhappy with this and we now have taken up in excess of 100 legal case for our members. Thus far the Courts have ruled in favour of the staff!

So we all can now be clear that despite what Excelcare & Essex County say, Excelcare is the employer!

We will keep you posted as these cases move through the Courts.

Libraries - UNISON meeting with Cabinet member

Andrew Coburn and Colin Moody for UNISON recently met Cllr David Finch, the ECC cabinet member with responsibility for libraries. Cllr Finch spoke of his vision for the future of Essex Libraries over the next five years or so.

He envisaged libraries as a “one stop shop” for not only County Council services, but also, districts, police and the voluntary sector/ charities, appropriate in individual locations. There could also be a role for Adult Learning providing services through library premises. Books will continue to play a very important role in Essex Libraries – the role of a library as a repository should not be forgotten. Another possibility is to use Mobile Libraries to assist with problems in rural areas such as lack of banking/post office provision.

Cllr Finch would like to see more new libraries built where needed and an extension of opening hours in part-time libraries. There may be ways to extend opening hours through partnership working. He views RFID as good for the user and would want it be built in to new libraries and extended to other libraries as finance permits.

In answer to a question Cllr Finch said that he does not envisage an extension to the Library Access Point scheme (libraries run by community groups and staffed by volunteers as at Jaywick.)

While he could see no quick fix for technical problems with the ‘People’s Network’ computers used by the public in libraries, he understood and appreciated UNISON’s concern about the frustration for both staff and users that these caused. He hopes that Wi-Fi access will be extended across Essex Libraries.

He recognised that although finance might be tight in the near future, within Adults, Health and Community Wellbeing, he would like to see the Adult Community Learning and Libraries departments expand. His task now would be to persuade the other councillors to support this vision.

Unison is clearly opposed in principle to this and will be using all its efforts to protect its members’ jobs and conditions whatever happens.

This underlines yet again how vital it is to have an organisation like Unison on your side in these difficult times.

EDUCATION STEWARDS SUB-COMMITTEE

We have now established a sub committee for Stewards and other activists that meet centrally in Chelmsford every two months over a relaxed lunch.

The meetings have an informal, open agenda style to ensure they meet the needs of those attending, with a ‘workshop’ slot giving practical help on subjects put forward by its members. This along with the presence of relevant officers makes the meeting very useful to all activists in both schools and colleges, so please do all you can to attend to help develop and empower the hard working members in this sector.

ADULT HEALTH & COMMUNITY WELL-BEING SUB-COMMITTEE

Stewards from this sector also meet every two months in County Hall. Again those attending find the meetings and exchange of views very useful, so look out for the dates for next year and come along and join us!