A large proportion of activity this year has been dealing with members’ problems in the workplace including the effects caused by workplace stress and the resulting high level of medium to long-term sick leave.  Discussions have been ongoing regarding the restructuring of Council services.  Most services have now completed their management restructuring with the exception of Marine Services where a considerable amount of work remains to be done.

Throughout the year Unison, together with the GMB and Unite have engaged in regular monthly meetings with the Chief Executive and other representatives from Corporate Services.  These discussions have ranged from the developments regarding Partnership working, an example of which is Orkney Health and Care which will come into being next month, having existed as a shadow organisation for the past year.

Other talks have been around the various staff surveys which you will have been aware of during the last year.  The first survey, in June, had a 43% return and had a great many positive and encouraging findings but nevertheless  identified one particular cause for concern, to such an extent that a second and third survey, both concentrating on bullying, harassment and discrimination were carried out by the Council.  The results of these surveys have been analysed and their findings, together with suggestions for the way forward are expected shortly.

In Community Social Services, the Joint Liaison Committee has been reinstated and holds regular meetings between management and the trade unions.

During the year the Branch has been represented by delegates to Scottish Council, National Conference, National Womens’ Conference, Scottish Social Work Conference, Scottish Education Issues Group, as well as regular meetings with colleagues in the Inverness and Aberdeen.  Pat Law continues to sit on the Scottish Women’s Committee of Scottish Council and recently made her inaugural speech at the Women’s STUC Conference in Perth in November on the subject of women’s pensions.

Training has been provided for new stewards and health & safety representatives.  Ten of the executive committee attended a weekend’s event  known as Branch Organisation and Development which was very ably led by Sarah Duncan and Betty Lyon from the Unison office in Aberdeen.

The last few months have been dominated by the concerns, both local and national, about the future funding of local government and other public services.

Sarah will be addressing the meeting in more detail about the situation but the recent Branch Organisation and Development weekend included much needed training with a view to being able to meet the challenges which may ultimately face us over the coming three years and beyond.  For example, emphasis was placed on dealing with issues surrounding potential redundancies, TUPE and the need for increasing our membership density.  We also devoted some time during the weekend to planning a campaign, which will tie in with the national one around “Stop the Cuts: Maintain Services in Orkney”, the principal aims of which will be:

• Services for Orkney from Orkney - encouraging joint local provision of public services when this benefits the community and staff

• Attracting, developing and retaining skilled staff in Orkney to provide high quality public services

• Providing opportunities for younger people to have rewarding careers and futures in Orkney

• Promoting best employment practice, including full staff consultation and involvement

• Using Orkney-based labour and local suppliers whenever possible

One of the activities planned is to have a presence at this year’s County Show so if any member has good ideas about how to run this or wishes to volunteer their services on the day we would be most grateful.  Any other campaign ideas will be welcome.

All in all that weekend at the end of January, whilst hard work and challenging, was inspirational for those who attended and we would like to thank all those, including Sarah and Betty who gave up their weekend in order to devote the time to this very important training.

Our thanks go to Stewart Bain and Lynda Birss, both of whom have left the executive this year.  We thank them both for their continued interest and hope very much to welcome them back to the fold at some future date. Sarah Duncan, our Regional Officer has, as usual, been a tremendous support to us throughout the year and we are very grateful to her for her efforts on our behalf.  Finally our thanks go to colleagues on the executive committee for their continued participation and support.

Karen Kent, Secretary

Alison Fraser, Convener

15 March 2010