A sustained campaign by UNISON has forced local government employers to bring forward an improved pay offer for this year.

The original offer, which the employers claimed at the time would be their final offer, was for a mere 0.5% with a fraction more for those on the bottom points of the pay spine. The revised offer is a 1% increase, again with a little more for the lowest of the low paid, and an additional one day of holiday per year.

The extra holiday will not apply in Wakefield as the Council already exceeds the national minimum by more than one day.

The union is recommending the deal as the best that can be achieved through negotiation. The branch is now consulting on the offer and details of the consultation ballot are enclosed for those in local government. Please complete the consultation form immediately as the timetable is extremely tight.

Speculation that hundreds of Wakefield Council staff are to be transferred to NPS (Norfolk Property Services) as part of a plan to outsource large areas of Council services have been quelled by Chief Executive, Joanne Roney.

Joanne used a recent meeting with UNISON Rep’s to announce the news that no decisions have been taken or are likely to be taken anytime soon. She confirmed that the Council has indeed held discussions with NPS but these were very broad ranging and a report to Cabinet, which we understand proposed to move those discussions to the next level, was pulled at the eleventh hour in favour of a longer term strategy.

Speaking after the meeting Linda Bratley, UNISON Branch Secretary, said: “We are pleased that Joanne was able to reassure us that the Council will not look to outsource any services as a perceived solution to budget pressures. The union called for a review rather than privatisation because we said the option for retaining services in-house had not been explored fully.”

We understand that NPS have also been talking to Barnsley MBC but talks seem to have gone cold with Barnsley looking at retaining services in house.

A review will be conducted by Senior Managers in facilities management (building cleaning, catering, building maintenance) between now and the end of September and will look at a range of options to improve service delivery. UNISON has been invited to play a significant role in the review and we will be seeking meetings shortly with senior operational managers. We will be holding meetings with members soon to discuss how best to respond to the proposals.

We are also keen to recruit new stewards in these service areas, so if you want to have an opportunity to play a more active role in supporting the union and helping to shape and influence the future direction of services please get in contact. If you want to find out more information about the role of a steward you can call the branch office Tel 01924 305360.

UNISON Rep’s are heavily engaged in negotiations with Wakefield Council as the pay and grading review enters its final and most critical stage.

The Council has almost concluded its evaluation of all existing jobs, thus creating a new rank order of jobs, with the biggest job at the top and every other job falling below in order of size. There are more than 1700 jobs in the rank order.
Now the rank order has been determined the next task is to develop an appropriate pay structure. The council is proposing a new structure based on 12 grades each consisting of 2-3 spinal column points. This is a significant departure from the existing pay structure that has six spot salary points, Scales 1 to 6, two Senior Officer grades and seven Principal Officer grades. The new pay structure has far fewer grades and removes all spot salaries.
We are now discussing where the boundary should sit between the various grades and therefore in which band each job should fit. The discussions are long and complex and at the time of writing we are some way from reaching an agreement. Both the union and the Council are committed to conclude the negotiations by the end of September. If we are able to reach an agreed position, such that we can recommend the deal, a ballot of all members will be organised in the autumn.

If we are unable to secure agreement the Council will have to decide how it wants to proceed. If this is the case then it is likely that the Council will seek to introduce the agreement by gaining the agreement of individuals and/or by terminating the current contracts and offering immediate reengagement on the new terms.
The Council has also made a number of proposals to change existing conditions of service. The proposed changes are in part being proposed to save money to offset the additional costs of the new pay structure. We have already responded to the proposals and the Council is considering our submission.

One change that we have rejected out of hand is a proposal to reduce sick pay benefits. The Council propose that if on the first day of sickness you have had in the past 12 months more than 2 episodes of sickness of more than two days, or a single occurance of more than 15 days, any entitlement to sick pay will be suspended. This is a blatant and significant breach of the national agreement and at the time of going to print we have written to the Council insisting that the proposal be withdrawn.

All Council employees should have received a letter from the Chief Executive explaining the process to date and setting out what will happen between now and next April, which is the date for the new pay structure to go live.

Why not continue to be a member of this Branch of UNISON by applying to the Branch (tel. no. 01924 305360) to become a retired member once you have stopped working – you will then still be entitled to a wide range of UNISON benefits such as cheaper insurance, financial services and car breakdown cover.

UNISON Welfare - our own registered charity - will still be there to provide support exclusively to UNISON members and their dependents at times of special need.

By keeping up your membership of the Branch you will still be able to take advantage of the special offers this Branch negotiates on behalf of its members.

Our Branch also has an interesting social side for retired members which includes organised visits to places to interest. Contact the Branch Office on 01924 305360 if you want to be put in contact with the organisers of the social events.

Hello, my name is James Paton and I’m the new Wakefield Branch Welfare Officer.

UNISON, as a caring trade union, recognises that you may have needs and issues that occur outside of work or the workplace and are not directly work related but may affect your work. It recognises that work is part of our life, not all of it, and that there are many ups and downs in the demands of modern life. This is recognised in the welfare support the union can offer, should you need it.

As well as a small branch Hardship Fund that can be applied to, UNISON nationally offers through its charity “UNISON Welfare”, which is exclusively for UNISON members and their dependants a range of services including:

• Financial assistance
• Support and personal advice
• Debt advice service
• Wellbeing Breaks (A special form is required for this.)

These are all available through the national office which can be contacted confidentially by letter, telephone, or e-mail at:

UNISON Welfare
1 Mabledon Place
London
WC1H 9AJ
Tel: 0207 5511 620 welfare@unison.co.uk
Please see the UNISON welfare web site
www.unison.org.uk/welfare/index.asp
If you do not have access to the web from home, this can be done through any local library that can help you to log on.

The leaflet “How We Can Help?” is obtainable from the Branch office, tel: 01924 305360.

If you wanted to have more local support and information or an initial chat, as your local Welfare officer I am here to talk over the phone, by e-mail, or meet face to face to discuss in complete confidence anything that may be concerning you. If I can’t help the chances are UNISON Welfare or national office will know someone who can.

If you wish to discuss anything in the first instance do feel free to contact me on my personal mobile number 07872 055 769 or e-mail me in confidence at jamesjohnpaton1@googlemail.com, or leave a message & details for me to contact you at the UNISON Branch office. I don’t work for Wakefield Council directly, but am part of the Wakefield branch and work in the centre of Wakefield should you need to meet with me.

Best wishes
James Paton