SCOTTISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE REPORT TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL
9 APRIL 2005
1. INTRODUCTION
The work of the Scottish Local Government Service Group is contained
within its workplan. This is reviewed and revised according to the
needs and demands of the membership in Scotland taking into account
the National and Regional priorities and policies.
2. SINGLE STATUS
A substantial number of Councils have identified this year to implement
the job evaluation scheme and assimilation to the new spinal column
of hourly rates. This will require branches entering into negotiations
on grading structures and related matters. However, there remains
a number of Councils who have advised that they shall not be in
a position to implement the agreement in the forthcoming year but
in a future date. Councils are still pursuing a policy of linking
terms and conditions of employment to the assimilation process.
The Service Group is considering the most appropriate action to
bring forward the timetable within these Councils and continues
to pursue the agreed strategy in accordance with UNISON's national
strategy.
Negotiations with employers regarding future grading structures
are now taking place.
Training for branches together with supporting documentation providing
guidance and advice is being worked upon. This continues to place
heavy demands on the resources of the Service Group.
3. LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY SETTLEMENT
At long last a settlement with the employers of 2.95% from 1 April,
2004 and a further 2.95% from 1 April, 2005 has now been achieved
following the result of the GMB and TGWU ballots for industrial
action. Councils have been asked to implement the new spinal columns
as soon as possible. The Service Group can now turn its attention
to planning future claims and a longer term pay strategy taking
into account the national policy.
4. NURSERY NURSE DISPUTE
A report was presented and approved by the Local Government Conference
on 3 December 2004. The Service Group are now implementing the recommendations
from the report.
5. DELEGATE MEETINGS
The Service Group continues to progress issues through occupational
delegate meetings. This method of working is considered to increase
the involvement of members directly affected and has proved effective
in representing members' views and UNISON policy with the Scottish
Parliament and COSLA.
* Social Work Issues Group - This group continues to meet on a
regular basis to progress issues identified by members, including
giving consideration to recruitment, retention, training and the
resources necessary to enable members to do their job effectively
and safely with a degree of job satisfaction. A further Joint Futures
delegate meeting has been convened for the 10 March, 2005. The Committee
at its March meeting have agreed to convene a further Social Work
Conference in the spring.
* Occupational Therapists - A meeting of Occupational Therapists
from Local Government and the Health Service Groups met on the 8
of December, 2004 to consider issues affecting both services, a
further meeting takes place on 7 March, 2005.
* Education Delegate Meeting - was held on the 17 November, 2004.
The meeting considered wide range of issues relating to members
employed in Education Departments and emphasised recruitment as
a priority. The Service Group is now engaged in carrying out a plan
of action arising from the meeting within its overall workplan *
Housing Delegate Meeting - A delegate meeting to consider the transfer
of housing Stock is being organised.
* A Further Education Delegate meeting - was held on 26 November
2004 the issues identified at the meeting are being included in
the Service Group's workplan.
* VisitScotland - The service group is involved with the transfer
of staff from convention bureaux and Area Tourist Boards to the
integrated tourism network of VisitScotland. The discussions are
at a crucial period with the transfers taking place in April, 2005.
6. SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
The Local Government Committee continues to make comment and representations
to the Scottish Executive on proposed legislation including local
government pension scheme and other matters of concern.
7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME
The Service Group this year will be heavily involved in trying
to influence government's proposals to alter the Local Government
Pension Scheme as outlined in an address by Glyn Jenkins at the
December Local Government Conference. The Local Government Committee
supported the TUC's protest day on the 18 February and to request
a ballot of members in local government in Scotland to join with
our colleagues in the rest of the UK in a one day strike on Wednesday,
23 March, 2005 in opposition to the government's proposals is currently
being undertaken (click here
for updated details of outcome)
8. SCOTTISH JOINT COUNCIL.
The Annual meeting of the Scottish Joint Council was held in November
2004. An event to discuss the role and operation of the Scottish
Joint Council was held at the Crief Hydro on 28 February and 1 March,
2005. Councillors, Cosla officials and advisors together with the
trade unions participated in the event that was facilitated by two
consultants with a communications skills background. The event resulted
in a constructive plan for the future operation of the Council and
closer working relationships between both sides. A full report is
being prepared by the consultants and will be circulated to all
branches.
UNISON continues to play an active and lead role in the Equalities,
Diversity & Development and Modernisation Working groups and
a new training and development working group is being formed.
9. SCOTTISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
The Scottish Local Government Committee has since only met
once on the 3 of March 2005, since the last Council meeting in February.
The Scottish Local Government Conference met on 18 February
2005.
Work Programme - The Scottish Local Government Committee
now operates a continuous work programme based on Scottish and UK
objectives. The Committee receives progress reports on the range
of issues included in the workplan at its meetings and updates its
priorities accordingly. Also included in the work of the Service
Group this year will include our involvement with Gershon and the
efficient government together with contribution to the Political
Fund Ballot the Election for the General Secretary. The Committee
is alert to the future financial restraints on Scottish Local Government
and shall be considering working with COSLA to lobby the Scottish
Executive on future funding.
The report reflects and represents a broad outline of the work
undertaken by the Scottish Local Government Committee.
JOE Di PAOLA
Scottish Organiser (Local Government)
top
Scottish Local Government Report to Scottish Council February
2005
1 INTRODUCTION
The work of the Scottish Local Government Service Group is contained
within its workplan which is reviewed and revised according to the
needs and demands of the membership in Scotland, whilst taking into
account the priorities and policies from National and Regional levels.
2 SINGLE STATUS
A substantial amount of Councils have identified this year to implement
the job evaluation scheme and assimilation to the new spinal column
of hourly rates.
This will require branches entering into negotiations on grading
structures and related matters. However, there remains a number
of Councils who have advised that they shall not be in a position
to implement the agreement in the forthcoming year but in a future
date. Councils are still pursuing a policy of linking terms and
conditions of employment to the assimilation process. The Service
Group is continuing to pursue the agreed strategy in accordance
with UNISON'S national strategy. This issue will demand a substantial
part of the resources of the Service Group.
3 LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY SETTLEMENT
At long last a settlement with the employers of 2.95% from 1 April
2004 and a further 2.95% from 1 April, 2005 has now been achieved
following the result of the GMB and TGWU ballots for industrial
action. Councils have been asked to implement the new spinal columns
as soon as possible. The Service Group can now turn its attention
to planning future claims taking into account the national policy.
4 NURSERY NURSE DISPUTE
A report was presented and approved by the Local Government Conference
on 3 December 2004. The Service Group are now charged with implementing
the recommendations from the report.
5 DELEGATE MEETINGS
The Service Group continues to progress issues through occupational
delegate meetings. This method of working is considered to increase
the involvement of members directly affected and has proved effective
in representing members' views and UNISON policy with the Scottish
Parliament and COSLA.
- Social Work Issues Group - This group continues to meet
on a regular basis to progress issues identified by members, including
giving consideration to recruitment, retention, training and the
resources necessary to enable members to do their job effectively
and safely with a degree of job satisfaction. A further Joint
Futures delegate meeting has been convened for the 10 March,.
- Occupational Therapists - A meeting of Occupational Therapists
from 8 Local Government and the Health Service Groups met on 8
December, 2004 to consider issues affecting both services.
- Education Delegate Meeting was held on the 17 November
2004. The meeting considered wide range of issues relating to
members employed in Education Departments and emphasised recruitment
as a priority. The Service Group is now engaged in carrying out
a plan of action arising from the meeting within its overall workplace.
- Housing Delegate Meeting - A delegate meeting to consider
the transfer of housing Stock is being organised for February,
2005.
- A Further Education Delegate meeting - was held on 26
November, 2004. The issues identified at the meeting are being
included in the Service Group's workplace.
- Visit Scotland - The service group is involved with the
transfer of staff from convention bureaux and Area Tourist Boards
to the integrated tourism network of Visitscotland and is attempting
to meet with members throughout Scotland.
6 SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
The Local Government Committee continues to make comment and representations
to the Scottish Executive on proposed legislation including local
government pension scheme and other matters of concern.
7 LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME
The Service Group this year will be heavily involved in trying
to influence government's proposals to alter the Local Government
Pension Scheme as outlined in an address by Glyn Jenkins at the
December Local Government conference. The Local Government Committee
at its meeting on 20 January agreed to support the TUC s protest
day on the 18 February and to request a ballot of members in local
government in Scotland to join with our colleagues in the rest of
the UK in a one day strike on Wednesday, 23 March, 2005 in opposition
to the government's proposals.
8 SCOTTISH JOINT COUNCIL.
The Annual meeting of the Scottish Joint Council was held in November,
2004. Arrangements are being made regarding a two day event to consider
the operation of the Scottish Joint Council at the Crief Hydro on
28 February and 1 March 2005. In the meantime UNISON continues to
play an active and lead role in the Equalities, Diversity &
Development and Modernisation Working groups.
9 SCOTTISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
The Scottish Local Government Service Group Committee has
met on 7 Octobet and 20 January, 2005.
The Scottish Local Government Conference met on 3 December,
2004 and is scheduled to meet again on 18 February, 2005.
Work Programme - The Local Government Committee now operates
a continuous work programme based on Scottish and UK objectives,
in particular recruitment. The Local government Committee receives
progress reports on the range of issues included in the workplan
at its meetings and adjusts its priorities accordingly. Also included
in the work of the Service Group this year will include our involvement
with Gershon and the efficient government together with contribution
to the Political Fund Ballot the Election for the General Secretary.
The report reflects and represents a broad outline of the work
undertaken by the Scottish Local Government Committee.
Joe Di Paola,
Scottish Organiser.
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