Staff Side Report - for Annual General Meeting 2006

I would have liked to start this report with a positive look back on 2005, but I have always believed that honesty and integrity is paramount in any group that has the privilege of being elected to protect the service conditions of our members.

Therefore I can only list the never-ending stream of issues hitting a small group of individuals seeking to respond in accordance.

Job Evaluation

Members cannot have failed to note that the authority are seeking to delay the implementation of the findings of J.E. Obviously your representatives continue to argue against any delay which could disadvantage staff who would probably gain through the results but have had their service externalised before they can see the benefit.

With the assistance of Ken Pearson - Regional Officer, the negotiations on Job Evaluation now form part of the Corporate Joint Consultative Committee a forum that allows access to Directorate Heads.

Performance and Reward

For those of you who attended the authority's road shows on this you will no doubt be no clearer on their intentions! Competency based appraisals, Performance linked to Reward and tangible benefits! We understand due to budget deficit some of this work will now need to be shelved, UNISON however will continue to press for real workforce planning to ensure staff have every opportunity to have training, development and career progression through a Knowledge and skills framework.

Car Allowances

The authority continue to withhold the NJC increase and we have now reached final stage of our grievance procedure. No doubt the authority's proposal to remove essential users will raise its ugly head again this year and staff side will ensure all members are kept informed of any proposals.

Contact Centre

Staff side members have been negotiating to ensure any staff that is transferring to the new centre are not disadvantaged and continue to be involved in the process.

Social Services

When is there never a restructure or a review of this service! PCT's, Learning Disabilities and Residential Home closures to name but a few. This service in particular is under tremendous pressure and the stewards working within this service will need the support of the whole branch to take this forward.

New Directorate Structures

From April 2006 the authority will have a new directorate structure and therefore the representation at Joint Consultative meeting will change accordingly.

Libraries will move to the Environment, Economy and Culture JCC and the new Children's services directorate will merge Education and Children's services but will require Education stewards to come forward to serve on this group as a matter of urgency.

Staff Side Development

The need for stewards to participate at staff side is now more than ever essential to ensure the ongoing development of those less experienced to be guided and mentored to take on this important role for the branch.

There are areas of policy discussion such as the Guidance and Procedures group, checking the content of policies used by the authority that we struggle to send representatives to as there are too few stewards becoming involved to pick up the workload.

This is a plea to any steward who would like to give something back to the branch to actively take part in both the Executive meetings and staff side thus achieving a stronger more developed branch.

Moira Andrews
Feb 06