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Emergency Branch MeetingPossible industrial action against.... budget cuts and the effects on jobs and services3 July 2007: To: All members of UNISON City of Edinburgh Local Government & Related Sectors Branch An Emergency Meeting of the Branch will be held on Tuesday 17 July 2007 from 6-8pm in the Main Council Chamber, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh The Full Council Meeting held on Thursday 28 June 2007 decided to cut £10 million from the Budget which was agreed in February 2007. The unions were not advised of this plan and it was only following contact from members that our investigations unearthed this major issue. UNISON request refused UNISON made a submission to the Council Meeting asking that the matter be continued to allow full and proper dialogue with UNISON, other council unions and appropriate stakeholders. This justifiable request was refused by an alliance of the Liberal Democrat Group, the SNP Group and the Conservatives. The decision to put these financial measures in place will impact on all departments with non statutory services being removed and staffing cuts being implemented. Redundancy risk At this time we have been given no commitment that the cuts can be achieved without compulsory redundancies. It is however clear that, at the minimum, we can expect a recruitment freeze. The next Council meeting scheduled for Thursday 23 August 2007 will be considering further detail on these budget reductions and early indications are that the Council will look for even more cuts to allow financial reserves to be built up. This is a situation which impacts on all of us and as a branch we need to decide a cohesive and strategic approach to the threats and attacks to our jobs and the services which we proudly provide for the public. Below is an interim motion which will be considered by the Emergency Meeting. It must be recognised that issues will develop between now and the council meeting on 23 August 2007 and the motion will inevitably be subject to amendment to reflect these changes. It is imperative all members make every effort to attend this important meeting. George Lee Note: An Emergency Branch Meeting (which is called at short notice) can only discuss the matter for which it has been called. In this case that is budget cuts and action arising from cuts in jobs and services. Emergency Motion on Budget CutsThis meeting views with concern the potential impact on jobs and services arising from the council decision of 28th June 2007 to implement without delay and without any consultation with stakeholders budget cuts totalling, in the first instance, £10 million with additional reductions being brought forward to the next council meeting scheduled for Thursday 23rd August 2007. It is imperative councillors are made aware of the true impact of these decisions which are purely finance driven with no consideration of the effects these will have on services, service users and service providers. To that purpose this meeting agrees to seek the agreement of the National Industrial Action Committee for a programme of action starting with a lobby and demonstration at the August Council meeting. In agreeing this motion the initial drafting of the terms of any programme of action will be remitted to the Branch Policy & Finance Committee who will refer back to an all stewards meeting on proposals in pursuance of a campaign of opposition to the cuts. Moved: George Lee (Branch Secretary) Seconded: John Ross (Service Conditons Convener) |
 AGM 2008
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