Exeter day care
rationalisation (16 Dec 05)

The Exeter Social Services budget is in serious trouble and all areas are being looked at for savings - nothing new here. The spotlight has fallen on older persons day care provision as an area for potential savings by management, suggesting that two centres will merge.

You may have read in the local press about another union claiming a leading role in this process, opposing it 'as they say it is a cost cutting exercise' - surprise - and saying they had arranged a meeting with management on 5 Dec 05 to discuss it.

Once again, in actual fact it is UNISON which has been setting the pace in these negotiations, being the only union fully engaged in negotiations. No other union has attended any meetings or made any contact with management.

What has UNISON done?

1. Attended every management meeting with all staff, not just members, offering advice and support.
2. Given advice and support ensuring that member's views have been fed back not only to management, but also to elected county and city councillors.
3. Ensured an open and transparent consultation process has been set up by management ensuring that all stakeholders - staff, clients, carers, councillors - are informed and their views are heard.
4. Negotiated an extension to the minimum consultation period to facilitate the consultation.
5. Negotiated to ensure a fair P&P process is in place; ensuring equal and fair opportunities are available to everyone involved in the process.
6. Placed management under pressure in negotiation to identify that anyone displaced would be retained in employment supernumerary and not at risk of redundancy.
7. In reply to questions put by UNISON to management they have been made to do their homework; they have now identified that all staff currently employed will be needed in the new arrangements - nobody will be displaced!
8. This was notified to UNISON on 1 Dec 05 - where was the other union?
9. Oh yes! - had that other union bothered to turn up at the meetings they would have known that this was indeed a cost cutting exercise, management stated this from the outset. With day care running at 43% take up across the city rationalisation was inevitable, the proposals could have been much worse and have not been opposed by members in principle. With UNISON's help the process will be relatively painless.
10. The meeting the other union 'has arranged with management' is in fact the regular JCC meeting between management and all the recognised unions, the meeting at which the other union is notable only for its regular absence!
11. The only thing for that union to talk about will be which day centre of the two being looked at will be retained. That decision is still to be taken, but as the sites are only a mile apart it is not a major issue for members as now there will be no job losses and of course UNISON will be fully involved in that discussion.

Result of negotiations: UNISON 11 Alternative Union 0

UNISON's out there fighting for its members every day, where it counts, not just in the papers - encourage your colleagues to join for support in these unsettled times!

Update (21 Dec 05):

Management have now contacted your UNISON Negotiators and advised that following consultation with Directorate Senior Management, it has been decided that the result of the process will be announced week commencing 16 Jan 06, when local managers involved return from their leave. UNISON will be available to support members at this point.