News and campaigns
Job evaluation appeals service update:
The first phase of the Job evaluation appeals service has been completed and if you have lodged a job evaluation appeal you will have received letters advising of the admissibility of your appeal advancing to the "hearing stage" of the process.
It has been estimated that of the 299 appeals so far considered, over 68% of these appeals have been admitted to the hearing stage.
It is important to note that all members who have received a date and time for their hearing and wish UNISON assistance/representation from a trained UNISON steward should get in touch with the branch immediately to ensure they are fully assisted in the hearing process! Contact numbers and email addresses are included on our "Contact Us" page within this site.
Those members who are part of the 2nd phase of the appeals service and have only just received their job evaluations should also confirm this branch their intent to appeal by returning their Trades Union representation request forms which are on the back of their UNISON newsletter for March 09.
Job Evaluation Appeals Process - Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q I have received word that my appeal is admissible and want to speak to the steward who will help me with my appeal submission?
A Well done! Please wait until East Lothian Council writes to you with a specific date and time and then further contact with your steward will be appropriate.
Q I did not contact UNISON in the first instance but would now like to have representation at the appeal and help in preparing this. What should I do?
A Contact the branch office immediately (01620-822699, e-mail unisonoffice@eastlothianunison.org and we will do our best to allocate a steward to help you
Q How much notice will I be given of the appeal date and what if I cannot attend?
A Roughly speaking, 2 weeks' notice of the date is given. If you are on sick leave or pre-booked annual leave then a postponement can be requested. Otherwise, the appeal takes priority above your normal workload.
Q What should I do in the meantime?
A Read over your submission, think about your evidence - no new evidence can be submitted at this point, especially if refers to additional duties undertaken after October 2008 as this is not admissible. Additional duties undertaken between June and October 2008 may be considered if they have caused a radical difference to your post.
If you made mention in your appeal of oral and anecdotal evidence then be clear about why it is relevant. If it is a group appeal, identify who will accompany the lead appellant and steward to the appeal hearing.
Q Some of the factors I appealed on have been ruled inadmissible and I don't know why or would like more information on why they aren't allowed. What can I do?
A Contact the Single Status helpline: odrteam@eastlothian.gov.uk and ask them for more details.
Single Status Telephone Helpline: 01620 820180 / 820181 / 820126 or internally on Extensions 8180 / 8181 / 8126 from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Q What more am I expected to say at the appeal when I have written everything in my submission?
A The appeals panel want to hear a more in-depth explanation as to why you think the factor levels are wrong and how you can justify to the level you have appealed for. You will have some time to make a presentation on your behalf. This can take the form of reading a written statement, or your trade union representative can do this for you. If you wish, you can just make an oral statement on the day. The appeals panel will then ask you questions on the particular factors which are the subject of the appeal. Your trade union rep cannot speak on your behalf at this point.
Q When will I hear the panel's decision on my appeal?
A The decisions on all appeals will be given at the end of the process, so you may have to wait some time.
Q What happens if my appeal is allowed?
A Your Job Evaluation will be returned to the Job Evaluation Team for re-assessment on the particular factors which have been successful at appeal.
Q Is there any further recourse if my appeal is unsuccessful?
A Although there is no further right of appeal, there is the right to request a re-evaluation of your post, for example if the post has had increased tasks, responsibilities added to the job after June 2008.
East Lothian UNISON training courses:
We are currently running a program of training courses for members and activists. To this end we are developing a number of stewards who will be trained as UNISON Learning Reps to identify the training needs of members.
Get in touch:
If you have an email address and you would like to be added to our growing email distribution list, please email unisonoffice@eastlothianunison.org with your details. Email is faster, cheaper and more environmentally beneficial than sending letters.
It would also be useful to know what workplace/department you are in.
What we’d like to know:
- Email address
- Phone number
- The workplace/department you are in
- The issues facing you in your workplace/department
Email your details to unisonoffice@eastlothianunison.org
East Lothian Council UNISON
Block A Brewery Park
Haddington
East Lothian
EH41 3HA
Telephone: 01620 822699
UNISONdirect: 0845 355 0845
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East Lothian Council Branch
Date: Thu 27 August 2009
UNISON Scotland slams privatising panic
UNISON, Scotland’s leading public sector trade union, today slammed a proposal for privatisation of huge swathes of public services - including health and education - "from the people who brought you the economic collapse".
UNISON Scottish Organiser Dave Watson said that a speech proposing "major reform" of Scottish public services with "health and education opened up to competition from the private sector" by the Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Ron Hewitt was an attempt to create a panic reponse to current economic problems.
Dave Watson said:
"It is pretty incredible that leading representatives of big private business interests should be demanding more control over our public services. This comes from the people who brought you the economic collapse.
"We see this idea from the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce as yet another attempt by private interests to create a panic reponse to current economic problems - which have in fact been brought on by the private sector itself, with the big banks being the main culprits.
"In the frantic calls for still more privatisation I am reminded of a gambler who imagines that one last throw of the dice will solve everything.
"In reality, it is the public sector which has stood up to the economic crisis. We need to see more support for our public services from government, and not less. That is what the public wants too."
An Ipsos Mori poll conducted for UNISON in August showed that support for public service remains strong. In particular it showed that increased private involvement in running public services such as the NHS attracts little support. The poll found that over three quarters of the British public (78%) believe "health services should be run by the Government and public organisations, rather than by private companies".
ends
For Further Information Please Contact:
Dave Watson(Scottish Organiser) 07958 122 409(m)
Malcolm Burns (Information Development Officer) 0141 342 2811
Date: Thu 8 Oct 2009
UNISON calls for action to reduce violent assaults on staff at work
UNISON Scotland today called for decisive action from public sector employers and the Scottish Parliament to reduce violent assaults on members in the course of their work.
A UNISON report on ‘Violent Assaults on Public Service Staff in Scotland’, which will be presented to the union’s annual Health and Safety conference in Stirling tomorrow, has found that more than 25,000 assaults on staff were recorded for the year 2008/09.
The figures were obtained through Freedom of Information requests from employers of UNISON members. Although the total is down on the previous year, UNISON is concerned that the overall number of assaults on staff remains stubbornly high, and completely unacceptable.
In particular, the total for local government has increased, although in health and other sectors, some reductions have been recorded.
Dave Watson, UNISON Scottish Organiser said: “A reduction in the headline figure on violence against staff is welcome – but any act of violence on a member of staff going about their business of providing vital public services is completely unacceptable. To have over 25,000 in a year is shocking. And we are concerned at the continuing increased level of attacks on local government workers.
“It is clear that where rigorous monitoring and active preventative measures are in place, this has resulted in improvements for the health and safety of our members. But some employers are clearly failing to monitor violent assaults effectively, and as a result are failing to do enough to protect their staff.”
The Centre for Healthy Working Lives has established a Task Group to develop best practice guidelines for reporting of assault statistics for local government. The group, including representatives from CoSLA, some individual local authorities, STUC and UNISON Scotland, expects to report soon.
UNISON’s local government branches and safety representatives will then seek negotiations in each authority on how the proposals are to be implemented.
UNISON Scotland is also campaigning for further legislation to protect public service workers from violent assault. Dave Watson said: “We campaigned successfully for extensions to the provisions of the Emergency Workers Act 2006, which resulted in community health and mental health nurses being included. But more needs to be done. We want a broadening of the scope of the law to include other public facing staff, such as social workers, housing staff and traffic wardens.
“UNISON Scotland will be working with Hugh Henry MSP, whose proposed Proposed Workers (Aggravated Offences)(Scotland) Bill was published in June. The Bill aims to build on the Emergency Workers Act but to widen it to more public sector workers and to include private sector workers who provide a service to the public, such as shop workers.“
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The UNISON Scotland report ‘Violent Assaults on Public Service Staff in Scotland’ is based on a Freedom of Information survey of 27 local authorities and 10 health boards in Scotland, and other public sector areas in which UNISON organises, including police, universities and colleges, NDPBs. The total number of assaults recorded over the year was 25,046, a drop of 7,221 over the previous year’s total of 32,267. If the figures for health and local government are taken into account, then assaults have decreased by 2,560 from 26,814 to 23,164 over the year.
The largest single decrease is however, in Strathclyde Police where their numbers of assaults have fallen from 4,547 to 921, the majority of these to police officers. The report will be presented at UNISON Scotland’s annual Health and Safety Conference in Stirling tomorrow, Friday 9 October 2009.
2. Proposed Workers (Aggravated Offences) (Scotland) Bill In June, 2009, Hugh Henry, MSP published a Public Consultation on his proposed Private Members Bill, Workers (Aggravated Offences) (Scotland) Bill http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/MembersBills/documents/20090713 FinalConsultationdocument revised.pdf to which UNISON made a response at the end of September 2009 http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/WorkersAggravatedOffencesScotlandBillOc.pdf
See also UNISONScotand's Violent Assaults on Public Service Staff in Scotland Follow up Survey 2009 (pdf)
For further information please contact: Dave Watson, Scottish Organiser 07958 122 409 (m) Diane Anderson, Information Development Officer, 0141 342 2842
Index
Violence to Employee's
This Years Local Government Pay Claim April 2010.
S.J.C have submitted the following 2010 pay claim:
- 1 year Deal
- 3% or £600
- £7 minimum wage in line with living wage campaign with settlement to be weighted towards lower paid.