The overwhelming focus during the first part of last year was the implementation of the Single Status Agreement in May following on from the protracted negotiations of the previous year. In tandem with that was work with a considerable number of members in advising and representing them during their job evaluation appeal processes. This work is gradually coming to an end.
The next major piece of work involving negotiations is of course the Council-wide restructuring. The first part of this, the appointment of Assistant Directors across the services of the Council has been completed and will take effect from April 1
st. We are now about to embark on further consultations with the Managing Change Team around possible changes below the level of Assistant Director. We will be calling workplace meetings where relevant as soon as we have any proposals to pass on for discussion. We also require the members’ feedback prior to these meetings if members are concerned about any rumours etc. they may have heard in their areas.
As usual we are appealing for members from all workplaces to come forward to help us, perhaps by being a steward but even just as a recognised contact in that workplace. We desperately need these people to keep us informed of your concerns and other happenings which could be relevant to our negotiations with management.
During the year the Branch has been represented by delegates to Scottish Council, National Conference, National Womens’ Conference, Scottish Social Work Conference, National Home Carers Delegate Meeting as well as regular meetings with colleagues in the North East Network in Inverness and Aberdeen. Pat Law now sits on the Scottish Women’s Committee of Scottish Council.
WE are very grateful to Lynda Birss, assisted by Stewart Bain, for establishing our long-wished for website (
www.unisonorkney.org.uk) which will be of great assistance in improving communications with you, our members and raising awareness of the work that is done on your behalf. We also hope that you will assist by giving us feedback through the site and take part in any surveys we may put there. For example, please look out for our forthcoming survey on Flexible Working.
Also look out for the launch of our important UNISON campaign “Keep Jobs in Orkney; sustain our community”. In this time of recession and with continuing threats to public services it is vital that we should fight against the undermining of locally provided services in favour of centralisation on the Mainland, much favoured by the Scottish Executive. We will be working as equal partners in this enterprise with the Health Branch and we hope to secure substantial funds from the Unison’s Scottish Finance and Development Fund to provide support and other materials to further the campaign. The main aims of the campaign will be:
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Services for Orkney from Orkney - encouraging joint local provision of public services when this benefits the community and staff
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Attracting, developing and retaining skilled staff in Orkney to provide high quality public services
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Providing opportunities for younger people to have rewarding careers and futures in Orkney
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Promoting best employment practice, including full staff consultation and involvement
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Using Orkney-based labour and local suppliers whenever possible
Our thanks go to Maria Cuthbertson and Christine Davies, both of whom have left the executive this year. Thanks also to all those members who supported the strike action and to those who joined us and colleagues in other unions on the picket lines back in August/September. 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 all colleagues on the executive committee who worked particularly hard on a regular basis in processing job evaluation appeals.
