AGM 2008 Report
Lots of business at AGM
In a busy and interesting AGM, held on 20th Feb 2008, members set
Branch policy on a range of key issues.
The meeting considered a record seven motions which looked at members'
terms & conditions and the services they provide, as well as wider,
citizenship issues such as housing & child poverty.
It also considered the annual report,
which outlines the work of the branch over the past year. This shows
how busy the branch has been kept on a range of issues from single
status and equal pay to the voluntary sector and the work done to
keep members up to date with developments.
UNISON CALLS FOR YES VOTE ON PENSIONS
The AGM heard that the new Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
will deliver benefits for all its members, and especially for the
lower paid, and UNISON is calling for a YES vote when it
goes to ballot in March.
Dave
Watson UNISON's Scottish Organiser and a key negotiator for the
Trade Union side in the pension negotiations, told the meeting that
the action taken by UNISON members in 2006, in defence of our pensions,
had laid down a clear marker for the employers and the Government.
"Although it was the worst possible time to negotiate on pensions
- with attacks on other schemes in the public and private sector
- we have been able to get a scheme where everyone's pension will
rise and contributions will be fairer, with 60% of our lower paid
staff paying less," he told the meeting.
"We have also kept a final salary scheme and we have got a number
of other improvements, including increased death in service benefits
and extended partners' pensions.
"There will also be more choice for those retiring with an
option to take up to 25% of your annual pension as a lump sum. Every
£1 of your pension that you give up will become £12 as a lump sum.
"This gives members greater flexibility, but will also mean savings
for the pension fund, as experience shows that large numbers of
members will opt for a lump sum and a smaller pension," said Dave.
There followed a lively question and answer session when Branch
members were able to get very helpful clarification on some of the
more complex issues in the scheme.
Thanking Dave on behalf of the meeting, Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair
paid tribute to the work of UNISON's negotiators in getting a scheme
which was both fairer and also offered benefits and protections
for all its members. She called on the meeting to vote YES
in the ballot and to encourage colleagues to do the same.
UNISON members conditioned to the LGPS will be balloted on
the scheme between 3rd and 21st March. Click
here for further information or to return to the pensions update
page.
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AGM Challenges Criteria for shift allowances
Branch negotiators have been sent to negotiate changes to the criteria
for shift allowances, implemented following single status.
"The
current system is complex, divisive and just doesn't work, "Lesley
Ogston, Residential Care sector told the AGM. "Relief staff,
who make up a large proportion of the workforce in residential services
for the elderly, often work full-time, but do not meet the criteria.
It's the same with staff who work split shifts, one of the most
demanding types of shift work", she added.
Bob Revie, Branch Secretary pledged support from the Branch Committee
to take these proposals back to the negotiating table.
Click here to see motion
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Like for like funding call
The Branch will call on UNISON Scotland to build on their joint
campaign to secure proper funding for the Community & Voluntary
Sector.
"For
too long our voluntary sector members have been hit by a lack of
funding. We are calling for their pay & conditions to be the same
as their colleagues in Local Government and for proper funding to
ensure high quality services to their users," said Bob Revie.
Jean Montgomery, Cornerstone steward told the meeting that their
pay award of 1.5% was well below even the paltry Local Government
award. "However, even worse than that is that Cornerstone is having
to close down services to vulnerable adults because they can't afford
to maintain them," she added.
These concerns about service closures were echoed by members from
Inspire who also described unacceptable working conditions - 10
hours without a break. They pledged their willingness to work with
the UNISON stewards in Inspire to campaign against the erosion of
their terms & conditions, and for improved funding for the voluntary
sector.
Click here to see motion
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Better recognition for school support staff.
The AGM supported the work of the Branch and at Scottish level
to protect the interests of our members who support the education
of our children in schools, and called on UNISON through the STUC,
to seek the support of the teaching unions in getting proper recognition,
pay and status for the work of these staff.
"These
staff are essential to the education of our children, and this has
been clearly shown through research such as 'Valuable Assets', a
report by the Equal Opportunities Commission on classroom assistants.
Yet they are still seen as second class citizens in schools," said
Inez Teece, Assistant Secretary.
She also told the AGM that UNISON has set up an Education Issues
Group at Scottish level to take forward the concerns of our members
in education.
Click here to see motion
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Branch calls for affordable homes
The Branch is to affiliate to Shelter and support its campaign for
30,000 affordable rented homes to be built.
Steve Gray, Planning & Environmental Services told the AGM that
the relationship between house prices and earnings has broken down,
as the supply of affordable housing has become limited over the
last 20 years, with the number of council homes sold exceeding the
number of new affordable homes being built on an annual basis.
In Aberdeenshire at the end of 2007 homeless applications were
1,636, up from 1,467 in 2006. There are about 7,000 people on the
Aberdeenshire Council Housing Waiting List.
"The lack of affordable housing is going to impact more upon UNISON
members as some members struggle to find a home of their own and
others face requests to help to fund their children's first home
by re-mortgaging their own home," said Steve. "Shelter Scotland
has campaigned to raise awareness of the developing crisis in affordable
housing and to look for solutions to it," Steve added calling
on the AGM to support the motion.
Click here to see motion
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Branch action leads to significant improvements
for asylum seeker children
The
AGM pledged its continuing support to the campaign which started
in 2006 to challenge the inhumane treatment of asylum seeker children
and to support UNISON members who work with these children to practice
ethically and put their interests first.
Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair, spoke of the significant achievements
since the Branch first raised its concerns.
"UNISON has influenced a huge change in the political culture in
Scotland and many more protections have now been put in place for
these children. UNISON members in Scotland have welcomed the guide
we issued and guidance is now being produced for members across
the U.K. The campaigning work has brought great credit on the Branch
and the union in Scotland," she said.
Click here to see motion
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Call to End Child Poverty
The Branch will urge UNISON Scotland to join with the campaign
to end child poverty in Scotland to press for a clear strategy to
improve educational outcomes for children living in poverty and
to support our members to advocate for improved services for these
children.
"Our members in community learning, education and social work are
key to supporting these children to achieve their potential, but
they are an easy target for cuts. If the Government is serious about
reducing child poverty, this needs to change," said Kate Ramsden,
Housing & Social Work, calling for proper investment in these services.
Supporting the motion, Gordon Thomson, Planning & Environmental
Services told the AGM that 30 years ago before the Thatcher Government
only one in ten children lived in poverty. "At its worst it was
one in three children, but one in four is still a national disgrace
and action is needed to address the inequalities which lead to this."
Click here to see motion
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More stewards please!
Once again there were no elections for officers' or stewards'
posts and the business of the branch was quickly dealt with. There
was the annual plea for more stewards and workplace contacts to
come forward. The branch is busy but members can take on as much
or as little as they feel they can manage in these posts and there
will be lots of support and training available to those interested.
Click here for a list of stewards
and branch officers.
Ian
McDonald, Branch Treasurer reported that once again, branch finances
are healthy and the AGM approved the accounts and the honoraria
paid to key branch officers for their services to the branch.
The AGM recorded a vote of thanks to all the branch activists,
branch officers and full-time staff who have worked so hard over
the past year.
Prize draw
In
a new development the meal for two was won by, Jean Mongomery, Cornerstone,
pictured here receiving her prize from Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair.
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