| UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch |
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Election Results Service Conditions Convener Service Conditions Officer (Craft) Education Officer All other branch officer posts uncontested. Motions Passed Emergency Motions Council Budget, Cuts and Redundancies (local)
Service Conditions Issues UNISON Services and Structure Policy and Campaigning International Miscellaneous EMERGENCY MOTIONS ACTION AGAINST RACIST ATTACKS (AGM 2000) This Branch condemns the disgraceful and cowardly racist attack on UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch member and Scottish Black Members Committee officer Tamara Mhuru on her return from a UNISON meeting on Saturday 5 February. We note with shame that no-one came to Tamara's assistance but welcome the actions of the family who treated her and summoned help after the attack. This attack demonstrates that racism permeates our society and is experienced daily by our members. Many of us only recognise this when it comes to the fore with such hate and violence. Racism is an issue for us all. It tarnishes our dignity as trade unionists and as citizens and it devalues the high principles on which we sought self-determination in Scotland. We believe that a clear message should go out that such attacks must be confronted individually, collectively and with the full force of the law. We all have a role in directly challenging racism in every form, from the so-called ‘unconscious' statement or actively racist comment in the workplace, to the behaviour of individuals or groups in wider society. To stand on one side or collude gives permission to those who perpetrate these attacks. Therefore, this Branch resolves to:- 1) Send the terms of this motion and a message of comfort to Tamara and provide her with the full support of the union to seek redress for this assault. 2) Extend our thanks to the family who came to Tamala's aid. 3) Make representations at a local and national level to the City of Edinburgh Council to build on its current anti-racist policies and use its powers and influence to ensure there is a co-ordinated strategy to challenge racism in the city. 4) Build on UNISON Scotland's response to the "Stephen Lawrence - An Action Plan for Scotland" document and highlight the problem of institutional racism in public and private organisations which contributes to the climate in which attacks like this can take place. SACKED SHOP STEWARDS - GLASGOW PROPOSED: Ian Hood (Social Work) This Branch meeting welcomes the findings of the Industrial Tribunal of 14 February 2000, which ruled that Ian Fergus and Pat Maughan had been unfairly dismissed and should be reinstated. We believe that if the council are allowed to ignore the findings of the Tribunal, they will increase their attacks on employees and services. This meeting therefore resolves to: 1. Send a message of support to Glasgow UNISON, 2. Send a message to Charlie Gordon, Council Leader, urging their reinstatement; 3. Send a letter to UNISON NEC urging payment for the costs of the Tribunal proceedings.
COUNCIL BUDGET, CUTS, REDUNDANCIES 1. EXPOSING THE EFFECTS OF CUTS AND PRIVATISATION Passed as amended by Sylvia Crick and Steve McCullough (Voluntary
Sector) Local Government cannot continue to provide quality services, accountable to the people of Edinburgh, in these circumstances. We welcome Cosla's call for stability of funding for local government
and we call on the Council to join with us in lobbying the Scottish
Parliament to deliver this. • Publicly owned and run We accept that dialogue with the council is essential to minimise the threats to jobs and services arising from Best Value and PFI/PPP's but that dialogue must be effective and on a partnership basis. This AGM instructs branch officers to: Co-ordinate a year-long campaign with members, the public, community and user groups and the media to break the silence about the effects of cuts and ensure the full impact on services is known to the people of Edinburgh. The campaign must draw attention to:- 1. The continual undermining and undervaluing of the valuable role of local government and voluntary sector staff. No recognition is given to the efforts staff have made to maintain services through years of cuts. 2. Excessive workload pressures on staff in central departments and stresses caused by continual restructuring and reorganisations. 3. A crisis in many areas of Social Work leading to higher expectations with less resources. Morale is affected by lack of resources for preventative work and the concentration of high risk crisis work. 4. Increasing pressure on Residential staff, more incidents of violence and a failure to upgrade the status and remuneration of this neglected staff group. 5. Undermining of national conditions in 'outsourced' and privatised services, especially affecting manual and lower paid workers. 6. Continual funding crises for voluntary sector organisations and the growing effect on pay and conditions. In addition, this Branch resolves: (a) To restate its absolute opposition to compulsory redundancies and to maintain its resolve to fight these with industrial action if necessary. (b) To build community links to challenge withdrawals of services through campaigns, lobbying and legal action. To consider industrial action if competent and necessary to expose jobs and service cuts. (c) To demand that the council reinstate all annual inflationary elements within all grants and contracts to the voluntary sector, including cost of living awards. (d) To lobby the Scottish labour Party Conference on March 11th
2000 in Edinburgh, demanding increased funding for the public
sector.
SERVICE CONDITIONS ISSUES 2. BONUS AND INCENTIVE SCHEMES This Branch recognises the vast majority of Manual and Craft Workers are dependent on bonus and incentive schemes if they are to achieve a reasonable living wage. We consider such schemes to be contrary to the principles of Single Status as they directly discriminate against non-APT & C workgroups who have to work additional hours or achieve targets to maintain a reasonable living wage. We recognise the issue of bonuses and incentive schemes will
be explored as part of the Single Status discussions and instruct
negotiators to oppose any attempt to put in place any new wages
mechanism which would lead to reductions in contractual earnings
for Manual and Craft workers.
3. HARMONISATION AND SINGLE STATUS This Branch deplores the fact that four years after Reorganisation,
the Council has failed to progress discussions on harmonisation
of many ex District and ex Region conditions. The situation whereby colleagues work side by side on different
conditions leads to confusion and conflict and must be resolved
properly so that meaningful talks can take place on Single Status
within the national deadline.
4. CARER COSTS We note the 1997 Branch AGM called upon the council to accept Carer costs as a legitimate reimbursable expense when incurred outwith normal working arrangements. It is with regret we note the council has failed to accept our arguments and has failed to recognise this is an equality issue which they should be supporting as an Equal Opportunities employer. We call upon Branch Officers to raise the matter with the council
under the terms of Single Status and to make appropriate representations
to the Scottish Local Government Service Group.
5. PRIVATISATION OF SERVICES - PPP / PFI We view with concern Council's stated intention to include ancillary services including elements of cleaning, catering and janitorial services within the terms of any PPP or PFI contract. This intent is contradictory to the assurances provided by Labour Party spokespersons to UNISON's National Affiliated Political Forum. In particular we support the consideration that the " risk factor " required to validate a PFI or PPP " need only be attached to the capital project and not to the services provided therein. The use of PFI/PPP will over the next few years increase the financial drain on local authorities as they pay increased charges for capital, rent and maintenance. The long term effect of this continuation of the Tory policy will be to further tighten local authority budgets. We call upon UNISON at all levels in Scotland to intensify the
campaign of opposition to the principles of PFI / PPP and, as
an interim measure pending the final removal of the imposition
of PFIs / PPPs as the only means to fund major capital projects,
seek the required agreements that our members' jobs should not
be privatised as a result of the Council entering into a PFI or
PPP.
UNISON SERVICES AND STRUCTURES 6. RULE CHANGES FOR SINGLE STATUS This meeting welcomes the principles of Single Status which removes the distinction between APT & C and Manual Workers. We recognise local negotiations on a single Job Evaluation Scheme should be completed by 1st April 2002 and the harmonisation of all other conditions should similarly be concluded at that time. It is clear that the current differentiation between APT & C and Manual Workers will not be finally removed until such times as those negotiations are concluded. We therefore resolve the Branch retains its current structures until such times as local agreement is reached on the implementation of the core elements of Single Status. It is recognised such implementation will make current Branch
Structures ineffective and therefore call upon the Branch Committee
to initiate a full examination of the Branch Structures with a
view to ensuring the transition is smooth and can be implemented
without undue delay at the appropriate time. Any subsequent changes
to Branch Structure or Branch Rules should facilitate proportionality
and fair representation and will be reported to the 2001 AGM for
consideration.
7. WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION IN THE BRANCH Women members make up 64% of the Branch, yet only 43% of women are workplace stewards. Women also only make up 37% of delegation to Branch Committees and only hold 32% of Branch Officer positions. Quite clearly we must do more to encourage women members, including Women from Minority Ethnic Groups, Disabled Women and Lesbian Women to participate within our structures. We therefore call on the Equalities Officer, working with the self-organised groups to undertake a survey. The survey would be issued to all women members within the Branch with a view to establishing what practical assistance the Branch can offer to encourage and support women members to participate. Although this in itself would not achieve higher levels of Women's
representation, it would be a starting point allowing us a valuable
insight as to what issues or barriers currently prevent women
members from becoming active.
8. COMMUNICATIONS AND REVIEW OF LAY STRUCTURES Conference notes that Conference resolutions have stressed the importance of direct lay control and involvement in an efficient and co-ordinated communications strategy across the union. Conference believes this reflects the success of a communications ethos that has involved members and employees throughout the union and given UNISON a profile which, after only a few years, far exceeds that of other unions and indeed the previous partner unions. It believes that direct and effective lay control over and involvement in communications:- 1. Is a key element in the concept of a member-led union. 2. Is absolutely central to lay control and involvement throughout
the union. (a) is accountable to the NEC and the membership via Conference (b) has Communications policy, strategy and implementation both within the union and with wider society as specific remits; (c) has the powers and ability to develop communications strategies in partnership with officers; (d) is inclusive and ensures each part of the union has access to all of the union's resources; (e) has the ability to build formal and informal links at National, Regional and Branch level to ensure the maximum involvement in the union's campaigns. Conference also recognises that a corporate communications strategy for members and the public is essential to campaigning in our members interests, is crucial to recruitment and retention and benefits the trade union movement as a whole. It also recognises that UNISON must capitalise on the strength of its size and importance in the trade union movement and in British society. In accordance with the will of Conference since UNISON's inception, Conference instructs the NEC to ensure that a communications strategy is maintained that delivers:- 1. Strategic planning of communications at a time when a co-ordinated and professional approach is more important than ever, 2. An approach that can combat the formidable corporate communications machines of employers and political parties. 3. Professional services maintained in-house, avoiding outsourcing wherever possible. 4. An integrated service, avoiding the expense and waste of fragmented, compartmentalised and uncoordinated planning and provision. 5. Practical and effective devolution to Regions, while maintaining the central structures and resources necessary for the leadership, professional support, exchange of ideas and clear strategic planning essential to national campaigns and projects. 6. Systems that ensure that all services, sectors and groups
in the union have equal access to the whole of the union's campaigning
and communication resources, according to need and in line with
Conference priorities.
9. CARER ALLOWANCES We note the 1998 Branch AGM called for improvement to the level of Carer Allowances for those who incur such costs while on union business. Further, we note the Branch Officers agreed not to pursue the terms of the motion as a UNISON working party was considering that matter and would bring forward a report which would be subject to amendment at Annual Conference. It is with regret we note no such report has been forthcoming and the discriminatory payments remain in place. We call upon Branch Officers to restate our position that full costs should be met rather than reimbursement on a pre-set sliding scale. [ The terms of this motion should be adapted and submitted to
UNISON Scottish Council and Annual Conference ]
10. CHARGING FOR STEWARDS MATERIALS This Branch condemns the NEC decision to apply charges for core Organising and Health and Safety documentation. We believe it fundamental to the strength of the union that all stewards have access to relevant information to assist them in their duties but consider the application of charges may lead to those branches with little financial resources not making these important documents readily available to stewards. We call upon the NEC to reverse this decision forthwith.
POLICY AND CAMPAIGNING 11. REPEAL SECTION 28 This Branch meeting supports the Scottish Executive's moves to repeal Section 28 of the Local Government Act. We agree with Bill Spiers of the STUC, that Section 28 "is a symbol of homophobic bigotry". Further, we believe that the campaign against its repeal has opened the door for an increase in anti-gay prejudice and discrimination. We note that equality is a founding principle of the Scottish Parliament and believe that this human rights issue should not be reduced to a question of individual "conscience" and that, for instance, all Labour MSP's must support its repeal. We believe that a failure to repeal Section 28 will perpetuate and magnify abuse and discrimination against gay and lesbian people and their children in this country. We therefore resolve to: 1. Write to Donald Dewar and all local MP's/MSP's with the terms of this motion. 2. Encourage all our members to do likewise. 3. Call on our members who are parents of school children to raise the issue with their school boards, asking them to reverse the stance taken by the Scottish School Boards Association. 4. Support any protest which demands repeal of this discriminatory legislation.
12. TRANSFER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES This Branch views with concern the growing number of instances where Scottish Executive consultation papers indicate a desire to give a greater involvement to non Local Government agencies in the provision of local services. The latest example of such rationale is the consultation paper on the creation of : - a Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care to regulate Care Services and - a Scottish Social Services Council to regulate the Social Services workforce We recognise the Scottish Local Government Sector Committee has
consistently opposed this Such a campaign should build upon the principles of the Serving Scotland campaign, involving a programme of activities which would facilitate the participation of UNISON members throughout Scotland.
13. A FAIR DEAL FOR PUBLIC SERVICES This meeting notes that: • The current Best Value regime and the City of Edinburgh Council's procedures have in-built biases towards tendering and 'externalisation'. • That the imposition of Public Private Partnerships and private Finance Initiative is entirely unnecessary but creates additional costs on the public sector as well as privatisation of jobs and assets. • That the funding of most local government services has not benefited from the Comprehensive Spending Review, and that constant downward pressure on budgets is exerted by the failure to fund wage settlements in full. • That the proportion of the GNP committed to the public sector is the lowest of all governments since the mid 1960's. • That the government uses a measure of public borrowing (the PSBR) which artificially restricts the capacity of public organisations to borrow (the PSBR) which artificially restricts the capacity of public organisations to borrow for capital investment and is used nowhere else in Europe. • That the government's economic and taxation policies are failing to deliver sufficient resources to fund the services which the public want, need and voted for. • That budget limitations threaten the high hopes of the
Scottish Parliament. 1. Request that UNISON prepares campaigning material about: • The under funding of public services and the consequences of 'externalisation'. • How proper funding of other public services and the welfare state in Scotland can be achieved - simultaneously addressing social exclusion and unemployment. • The practical alternatives to austerity in the public services, increased means-testing and erosion of the welfare state. 2. Call on the government to: (I) Give the public sector freedom to borrow for capital investment. (ii) Abolish PFI/PPP and; (iii) Generate adequate levels of public resources by redistributive taxation which will reverse the massive increase in the share of national income going to corporate dividends and the wealthy seen under Conservative governments. 3. Call on Labour Councillors, MSP's MP's and MEP's to support
our call for a fair deal for the public sector, to express their
commitment to retaining public services in-house and reducing
out-sourcing and their opposition to the unreasonable restrictions
on public enterprise and public sector funding; and to press for
a new Best Value regime which favours quality and publicly-run
services.
14. THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HOUSING This branch welcomes the Council's decision to reject the call for wholesale transfer of its housing stock but views with concern considerations that the stock could be divided into smaller units for subsequent transfer to Housing Associations,Community Organisations and other providers of rented housing. We believe a housing mix is desirable but that there is a paramount need to retain a democratically controlled rented sector which is controlled by accountable councillors who are directly responsible to the citizens of Edinburgh through election processes. We support the authority's plans to address the needs of Social Inclusion and stress the availability of high quality rented accomodation is crucial to achieving the objectives of Social Inclusion. The authority must take the lead on Social Inclusion and set standards through development of its own housing stock. We welcome in principle the proposal for a Single Social Tenancy. However we also note the serious concerns expressed in the debate on this subject in the Scottish parliament on 9 January 2000 about the proposals to extend the "right to buy". In light of these it calls on the Scottish government to drop proposals to further extend the "right to buy" to housing association tenants as part of the introduction of the Single Social Tenancy. It believes that this proposal would have serious adverse effects on our policies to achieve Social Inclusion, which depend on there being a right to rent good quality secure housing. Therefore we further call upon the government to review the balance between the 'right to rent' and the 'right to buy', looking in particular at the distorting effects of discounts. We recognise the limitations placed on the council through the Right to Buy, restrictions on New Build and other obstructive governmental decisions. It is clear without changes in government policy there will be continuing reductions in the available stock which will inevitably lead to the removal of a public sector housing provision. We consider the council's independent study of the future for City of Edinburgh's housing stock provides opportunities to strengthen and develop the council's role as a direct provider of rented accomodation. We call upon the council to ensure the outcomes of the study are considered by a tri-partite partnership of council, tenants and staff unions and that the decision to reject wholesale transfer should be reinforced through this process. Further, we commit this branch to campaign with all other appropriate organisations for the retention of publicly owned, democratically controlled, affordable housing and to call upon the Scottish Executive to make appropriate legislative amendments to control the Right to Buy and to remove the restrictions on New Build. Given it would cost £ 6 billion to restore and refurbish
Scotland's public housing stock, the campaign should also call
for improved funding packages for public sector Housing initiatives.
15. FUNDING CRISIS IN NHS This Branch notes: 1. That the problems in the Health Service over the last two months are not due to a flu crisis but are a product of a much deeper crisis of the National Health Service. 2. It is a scandal that France has double the number of hospital beds in Britain, meaning delays in admissions for many. A situation in which cancer patients can have their operations cancelled up to 4 times, leading to position where those cancers can become inoperable. 3. Tony Blair was elected on the promise of increased funding for the NHS. Yet, the truth is that today Britain spends less on health care than Portugal, Spain and Greece. 4. That 17% of hospital beds were axed between 1980 and 1987 and that there is a serious shortage of nurses. This Branch agrees: 1. With the Labour peer and top surgeon, Lord Winston, that NHS funding must be immediately increased and this may necessitate raising taxes. We believe this would best be done through a progressive system to taxation. 2. That UNISON should launch a more vigorous campaign highlighting Labour's failure to break from Tory policies on the NHS such as PFI. Our Branch should campaign for this within UNISON. 3. To sponsor and support a lobby of the Scottish Labour Party
Conference around these demands in Edinburgh in march 2000.
ECONOMIC POLICY No motions PENSIONS AND SUPERANNUATION No Motions INTERNATIONAL 16. PLAN INTERNATIONAL UK This Branch supports the objectives of Plan International UK who co-ordinate the direct sponsorship of children in under-developed countries. Sponsorship costs £144 per annum and would provide a child with access to educational support or would be directed towards their Health Care. We agree to enter into a sponsorship agreement and remit the
specifics to the Policy and Finance Committee for processing.
MISCELLANEOUS 18. CHHOKAR FAMILY JUSTICE CAMPAIGN This Branch meeting pledges it's support to the campaign for justice for the family of Surjit Chhokar who was murdered in Lanarkshire in November 1998. The judicial system has, once again, failed to deliver justice. Three men have been accused of his murder. So far, only one has stood trial. The charge was reduced from murder to assaults and although found guilty he walked free from the court. The remaining two men are due to stand trial at the end of February. Even the trial judge questioned why the accused were not tried together as is the usual procedure. We deplore racist murders and support the campaign in bringing the accused to trial. We agree to: 1. Send a message of support and a donation of £200 to the campaign. 2. Build support for the campaign and encourage UNISON members to support the family by attending the court.
19. TRIDENT PLOUGHSHARES 2000 This meeting welcomes (1) the decision in the Greenock Sheriff Court that the International Court of Justice's ruling on the illegality of nuclear weapons applies in Scotland; and (2) the acquittal of three women who damaged Trident facilities on the basis that they were acting to prevent a greater crime. This confirms that the Trident programme is illegal and should be scrapped. It congratulates members of Trident Ploughshares 2000 on accepting personally the responsibility of all citizens to act to prevent crimes of mass destruction. As a union we too accept this responsibility of all citizens to act to prevent crimes of mass destruction. As a union we too accept this responsibility, on the legal grounds and also because we recognise that high defence expenditure, and the Trident programme in particular, help undermine funding of public services and civil liberties. We note that: • The government has not made any response to the ruling of the International Court of Justice; • It has voted consistently against motions promoting nuclear disarmament in the UN; • It has done nothing to fulfil legal obligations under the Non-proliferation Treaty to take real steps towards disarmament. We call on the government to accept international law and accordingly
to move rapidly to abandon the Trident programme. We call on UNISON
to place maximum pressure on the government to this end, including
publicising the government's lamentable record on these matters.
20. AFTER PADDINGTON - SAFETY BEFORE PROFIT This Branch meeting believes that the Paddington Train Disaster was a direct result of private rail companies refusing to invest their growing profits in safety measures. This cannot be allowed to continue. We therefore demand: 1. Profits are used to invest in safety and improve services rather than benefit shareholders. 2. The more advanced safety system, the ATP system, is introduced immediately despite the opposition of the private rail companies. 3. That the railways are re-nationalised. 4. The safety role of the Guard is examined and reinstated on all train services. We resolve to: 1. Raise the terms of this motion at all levels of UNISON (including Conference). 2. Write to John Prescott at the DTE with the terms of the motion. 3. Circulate petitions to all members supporting these demands.
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