93% strike vote beats trust attempt to tear up conditions

by Mark Ferguson

Attempts by Renfrewshire Leisure Limited (RLL) to unilaterally tear up terms and conditions on overtime, travel costs and dealing with detriment have been stopped by a massive 92.9% consultative strike vote by UNISON members.

Renfrewshire Leisure Limited was established in 2002 to take over the council's leisure services. Arising out of a dispute on the grading of head leisure attendants and a restructuring exercise that left some members facing pay cuts, previously progessing negotiations broke down when the new trust chief executive introduced unilateral changes.

These included reducing overtime rates to plain time and removing excess travel expenses, claiming that they had union agreement. RLL also failed to honour their commitment to work with those suffering detriment as a result UNISON Members attended a meeting where a consultation ballot was taken.

92.9% of members voting returned a 'Yes' vote to undertake action up to and including strike action. Armed with this the Branch negotiators returned to Management and won:-

• a partial backdating of the head leisure attendant upgrading
• an extension of the protection for staff losing money, where RLL have been unable to resolve their detriment situation. All parties must be involved in assisting members eradicate detriment.
• Reinstatement of all overtime rates and other terms & conditions.

Mark Ferguson, Branch Secretary said, "The strength of our members and commitment from the branch ensured we reached a satisfactory conclusion. This proves that UNISON is still effective in representing members who are transferred."

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