Published by Devon County UNISON, Matford Lane Offices, County Hall, Exeter

The views expressed may not reflect the views of the Devon County UNISON Branch

• Job Evaluation - The Final Decision Is Yours
• More Stewards Needed! Branch Officers Too!
• UNITY - An Editor's Note

Job Evaluation - The final decision is yours

By now, every UNISON member of DCC should have received a ballot form asking whether or not you accept the proposed settlement negotiated with management by UNISON and other trade unions.

If you haven't, then please contact the Branch Admin Office on 01392 383424 as soon as possible to obtain your ballot form - don't think that your vote won't count because it will - every vote is vital.

Please do not think that if it is a No vote then it will go away - it will not. The decisions regarding the new pay and grading structure will be taken out of the negotiating team's hands and ACAS will become involved. In all likelihood this would mean that more people's pay would go down, less people's pay would go up and there would not be as much pay protection for those people who's jobs are red circled (going down) or arrears pay for those whose jobs are green circled (going up).

UNISON has worked long and hard with other trade unions and the management team to thrash out the terms of the proposed deal that we believe to be among the best in the country. Remember that we have negotiated:

• One years arrears pay for those who's pay grades are going up
• Three years full salary protection for those who's pay grades are going down along with training and staff development to move them out of the 'red circle' by April 2010
• Up to six years equal value compensation for staff who qualify
• Full appeals process for all staff who think their new grade is incorrect

For further information in depth, contact your workplace steward, visit the UNISON Branch Website at www.devoncountyunison.org.uk (- you're on it now!) to be advised on its strengths and weaknesses or read the full documents at the Job Evaluation page on https://staff.devon.qov.uk/jobevaluation (opens in a new window). Staff who do not have computer access should contact the Branch Admin Office for a hard copy.

The ballot closes on 17 Nov 06 with the results being known shortly afterwards - should it be a Yes vote then all staff will be informed of their new pay grade at the end of November. It is your financial future that you are voting for - use your vote wisely!

Job Evaluation - answers to questions

Following on from the recent clinics held in schools countywide, here are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions posed by concerned staff members:

Q. How will the school pay for regradings?

A. The authority is seeking extra funding to pay for day one costs of arrears and compensatory pay.

Q. How will my pension be affected if I go down?

A. You can apply for a Certificate of Material Change to protect your pension in the last 10 years of service, this can be issued on the last day of salary protection (3 years) which in effect would give you 13 years protection. This will be fully explained in the Job Evaluation booklet that will be issued in November.

Q. My duties were changed in September to ensure I fit with a lower grade will I receive any back pay for my previous role?

A. Yes if the role is evaluated upwards then you will be entitled to receive the back pay up to September.

Q. The head is already applying pressure to agree a lower graded profile despite the fact that my duties meet the higher grade, what can I do?

A. Do not sign to agree but mark it clearly not resolved and suggest to the head you seek advice and guidance of the Job Evaluation Team.

Q. Can I appeal on the final decision if I am unhappy?

A. Yes all staff including school based will have the right to appeal, details on how to will be issued in November.

Q. When will we know what the grade means in terms of pay?

A. In Nov 06.

Q. What are the time scales for the head / principal to discuss this with me?

A. Over the next two weeks.

Q. What if my job is unique?

A. The exercise is about 'best fit' not 'perfect' but if you really cannot identify any of the profiles as your role seek the advice of the Job Evaluation Team.

Q. What happens if I go down in grade?

A. You will have full salary protection for 3 years and the opportunity for training and development to assist you in career moves.

More Stewards Needed! Branch Officers Too!

Yet again, we issue a call for help from you, our members - especially those who do not work for Devon County Council.

This branch is in desperate need of both more UNISON stewards and workplace contacts. UNISON is a 'lay-led' union which means in effect that its members volunteer to do the work that needs doing - and at the moment that is a lot.

We are quite stretched at the moment - the more stewards and workplace reps that we have, the less stretched our already overworked stewards will be which means in turn that we can offer a better service to our thousands of members throughout the county.

The Branch Admin Office is putting together a basic recruitment pack for workplace reps - get in touch if interested. It goes without saying that full TUC accredited training is available and the support of some very experienced branch officers.

Speaking of which - more Branch Officers are needed:

We need:

• an Education Officer
• a Membership and Recruitment Officer
• a Health & Safety Officer (who needs to be a Health & Safety Rep in the first instance)
• an Equalities Officer
• a Young Person's Officer
  and
• a Black Member's Officer

- full details available from the Branch Admin Office.

Please give your full consideration to taking on any of these roles - there has never been a more important time for UNISON to be active in protecting the rights of each and every one of its members - and for that to happen we need your help more than ever before.

Bookings through the web

Although all course bookings need to go through the branch admin office, full details of courses and downloadable forms are on the website:

• www.devoncountyunison.org.uk/education/courses.html
  and go to
• www.devoncountyunison.orq.uk/aboutunison/stewardresource/index.html for expense forms.

UNITY - An Editor's Note

I make no apology for basing almost this entire edition of UNITY on Job Evaluation - it is that important to all of our financial futures.

There will be another UNITY before Christmas - articles, ideas and suggestions are always welcome. To that end, please forward anything that you would like to be considered for publication in UNITY to either the branch admin office or by email to: steveryles@devon.gov.uk.