Secretary's
Report 2004
Council's structural changes dominate now and up to 2007
This was a year with enormous challenges. The Nursery Nurse dispute
ended but kept us all busy tying up outstanding issues. The huge
reorganisation in Education and Social Work and the campaign against
Housing Stock Transfer also placed considerable pressures on stewards
and activists.
There were also major issues in other departments which are covered
in detail in the Service Conditions Report.
Nursery Nurses
The nursery nurse dispute is covered in the Service Conditions
Report but it is worth saying a bit about the seven hours at ACAS
that brought a reluctant resolution to the dispute. Even the rsolution
was not without its problems.
We were certain that unqualified nursery assistants had been
included and the council was just as certain they had not. In
the end the branch took responsibility for ensuring these members
did not lose out.
There is a reasonable argument that they should not have been
involved in the action and this was raised with UNISON Scotland
in our submission to the review of the dispute. Lessons need to
be learned, especially in how the union manages situations when
branches come to local settlements during a national dispute.
This dispute will live in the memories of many of us for a very
long time. It was a pleasure and an honour to represent the nursery
nurses who taught us all lessons about trade unionism and solidarity.
Because of the press turmoil at the end of the last major members'
meeting, I was unable to thank the nursery nurses for their gift.
It was an emotional moment and absolutely typical of the generosity
of spirit the nursery nurses showed throughout.
Nursery nurses eventually won a Scottish Executive review and
UNISON is represented on this.
Social Work and Education Structures
This has been a nightmare for many of us. While the reorganisation
goes on, staff still have to deliver crucial services and still
have to face a lack of resources.
UNISON opposed the plans but we also had to face the reality
that the council had pushed them through. Our priority had to
be to ensure the service would be safe, people would be treated
fairly and members' voices would be heard in building on the opportunities
as well as avoiding the pitfalls.
The branch has produced a number of submissions and responses
(see the website), has been actively working with other groups
and is in ongoing talks about all aspects of the changes.
Work is also ongoing in addressing the inequalities in payments
to social work staff. l Council Structures Huge change is in the
pipeline for council employees in the run up to 2007.
In recognition of this the council invited UNISON to a day long
management and union seminar. The UNISON speakers made it clear
that we were not opposed to change or efficiency so long as these
were not just spin for cuts and job losses. We set out the key
issues for any change - and it is often our members who are crying
out for that change because we can see how things could be done
better.
Those were full involvement, fairness in conditions and learning
the lessons of the past.
Motions from last AGM
Pensions: Taken to Scottish and UK levels building on
our previous motions in 2002 and 2003 which set the agenda for
the current national campaign.
Reorganisation of Social Work and Education: Shadow branch
structures set up. Responses provided to consultations and active
involvement to ensure that members' priorities were addressed.
These were: - clear lines of supervision, professional support
and shared decision making - addressing the resources and staffing
crisis - addressing the inequalities in social work pay - ensuring
lessons from inquiries and other authorities' experiences were
learned. This issue is ongoing at the time of writing with the
final report due to be published.
University Tuition Fees: We progressed this to Scottish
and UK level. Although our motion was not prioritised at National
Conference, the principles we set out were carried. Improving
public services: Our motion formed part of the major succesful
composite of the week at National Conference with widespread media
coverage of our contribution.
Consultation on Pay and Gradings: This motion caused considerable
controversy over the last year about the accuracy or intention
of some of its content. However with some constructive discussions,
these were clarified and the principles of the motion taken on
board for all consultations.
Car Allowances: Proved very difficult to progress with
a host of different calculations used by different bodies. The
Council remains completely hostile to any change and the Edinburgh
system is becoming more widespread in Scotland unfortunately.
Congestion Charging: Submissions and press statements
made re protecting disabled members and public service workers
who have to use their cars.
Criminal Justice Quango: Submissions made and lobbying
via UNISON Scotland and a range of other groups leading to the
Scottish Executive shelving its original plan.
Housing Stock Transfer: Work done with tenants' groups
and lobbying. See this year's AGM motion.
Access for disabled: Motion backed by UNISON Scotland.
Minimum Wage: Remitted at Scottish level to allow a formula
for automatically updating the figure. Not heard at Conference
but most of our motion - apart from the £7.50 figure -was in a
succesful composite.
Searchlight: affiliation progressed.
Mordachai Vanunu: Motion progressed through Scottish level,
relevant lobbying internationally and letter to Mordachai himself.
Honorary Life Membership of UNISON for Aung San Suu Kyi:
Although this was a 2003 motion, it is worth noting that Aung
San Suu Kyi was granted the Freedom of Edinburgh.
Scottish Dimension
The branch continues to play a full role at Scottish level. I
chair the Communications & Campaigns Committee and edit the Scottish
bulletin and website. Lyn Williams is on the Social Work Issues
group and we have strong representation on the Black Members and
Disabled Members groups. Wattie Weir is on the Scottish Local
Government Committee, Tom McLeod on Health & Safety and Matthew
Creighton on International.
Branch Office
We are in the process of upgrading parts of the branch office
computer network to increase internet access .The Branch Office
staff, Support Officer Monica Niven and Support Assistants Nicola
Lee, Julieanne Finlay and Eileen Thomson have had a busy year
with the number of immediate bulletins we have needed, the administering
of the nursery nurses dispute and the phones that never stop.
Our thanks go to them all for their work this year. Early this
year the staff were joined by Tamara Pickard who will be covering
Nicola's maternity leave. Best wishes to Nicky!
The quest for new more accessible premises continues. We have
looked at several options and narrowly lost out on one occasion
but the search will continue.
People
It seems like an annual gripe that more and more work seems
to be done by fewer and fewer people. Branch Officers really are
under pressure and we need to ask your understanding if they don't
get back to you immediately on some issues. My thanks also to
our stewards throughout the branch. As public servants we extol
the virtues of public service. That commitment to people is reflected
in stewards who take on the task of serving and representing their
fellow members.
We are only as strong as our membership and activists and the
more there are of us, the easier the job gets. Recruiting and
supporting stewards and members must again be a major priority
for this year.
As I said last year, the union will not get everything right.
But I think there is a host of evidence again this year for members
to feel proud of their union - and to feel that they should get
more involved in 2005.
John Stevenson
Branch Secretary
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