Photos of lobby: 23/2/06

UNISON members lobbied Notts County Council today in defence of jobs and services that face cuts under the proposed budget.


A cold and wet lunchtime crowd were warmed by impassioned speeches from representatives of UNISON, GMB, NUT and the FBU.


Star speaker of the day was an angry Grace Perry (Senior Social Services Steward) who spoke from the heart, attacking the cuts and their impact on her, her colleagues, and the vulnerable people they serve.


Throughout the lobby, the message to County Councillors was clear...

A VALENTINE’S MESSAGE TO COUNTY COUNCILLORS

Nottinghamshire UNISON is to ballot its members employed by the County Council about industrial action over threatened cuts in jobs, services and redundancy pay. The biggest union in the County Council officially gave the Council notice of an industrial action ballot today (14 th Feb).

UNISON members met at County Hall to hear Branch Officers set out the timetable for the ballot and to sign Valentine Cards to County Councillors . The message on the cards is “Don’t break my heart by voting to cut jobs and services on 23rd Feb”. This is the day on which the County Council meets to set a budget that could lead to hundreds of job cuts and cuts to services vital to the public of Nottinghamshire.

They also signed a 6ft high valentine's card that was then delivered to the office of Cllr Kirkham, Leader of the County Council.

UNISON Branch Secretary, Jill Turner, explained that “UNISON recognises that the Council are facing budgetary pressures arising from a number of issues. However we are fundamentally opposed to the current budget proposals and will be lobbying the Council meeting at 1pm on 23rd Feb”

UNISON wants the County Councillors to think before they vote on 23rd Feb. Jill Turner set out the union’s proposals:

=> That urgent work is undertaken to identify funds to delay the implementation of the current proposals

=> That each proposal is properly assessed for its impact on service users, the wider public, Council staff and the level of additional costs they will create.

=> That work is undertaken to identify alternative reductions which will minimise the impact on services and jobs.

=> That the Council works urgently with unions to honour its contractual obligations with those staff at risk with regard to redundancy compensation

=> That we work together to lobby government for a fair and reasonable settlement
In their response to the public consultation over the budget cuts, UNISON has argued that the Council has not taken sufficient time to study the impact of these reductions on service users. Nor has it thought through the impact of cuts on the proposed restructuring of the County Council. “We are hugely concerned at the lack of joined up thinking around the budget cuts and restructuring. This could lead to a member of staff displaced by the budget cuts being redeployed and then at risk again from the restructuring” explained Ms Turner.

Budget Cuts & Redundancy Pay Cuts: Members' meetings

With Redundancy Pay under threat at a time when the Council is looking to cut jobs and services and UNISON planning to ballot for industrial action, a further round of meetings for members has been arranged around the County:

Tuesday 28th February 2006: Mansfield Library @ 7 pm

Wednesday 1st March 2006: County Hall @ 12.30 pm and Worksop Library @ 7.15 pm

Thursday 2nd March 2006: Newark Library @ 7.15 pm

Come along to the meeting nearest to you and find out the latest news

UNISON Response to the Budget proposals

Introduction
UNISON recognises that the Council are facing budgetary pressures arising from a number of issues. However we are fundamentally opposed to the current budget proposals for the following reasons:

Impact on service Users
We do not believe that the Council have taken sufficient time to study the impact of these reductions on service users. What will be the impact of reductions in bus services, will our citizens be able to get to work? Or will we be causing additional isolation to those within communities without their own transport? It should be noted that reductions in bus services disproportionately affect the elderly. In fact it is elderly citizens who seem to be taking the brunt of the cuts. It is the elderly who will be most affected by the reduction in the hot meals service. We can no longer be sure that our service users are receiving the nutrition they need. They will also lose that daily contact.

It is somewhat ironic that, at a time when we are demanding freshly cooked meals in schools, we are happy to impose frozen food on older people.

The proposals around home care are also going to affect older people but especially those who rely on the service to maintain their independence. They maintain this by knowing they can rely on the services they need. It seems highly unlikely that they will be able to rely on private agencies to the same degree. We are concerned these new Community Care Assistants will not be trained, because many private agencies require workers to pay for their own training. How will service users be able to guarantee, in the way we do, that the person in their home is fit to hold such responsibility?

We are also deeply concerned at the impact of the proposals on Regeneration services. At a time when many of our communities are still reeling from the loss of the coal and textile industries, it cannot be the time to reduce our ability to attract and keep new businesses and to ensure that local people have the skills to find work.

Impact on the Council
UNISON is deeply concerned that these proposals will have on the Council, within this we must include the proposals around the restructuring as the majority of the preferences on the structure are driven by budgetary restrictions.

How will the Council absorb the £3.6 million cuts in resources, the £2 million in support services and £1 million in management reductions? The risk of creating huge workloads for those staff who remain is significant. It should also be stated that we are hugely concerned at the lack of joined up thinking around the budget cuts and restructuring. This could lead to a member of staff displaced by the budget cuts being redeployed and then at risk again from the restructuring.

We are also unsure whether the additional costs associated with the current proposals have been taken into account. For example, the privatisation of home care will need a significant increase in contract commissioning, management and compliance work. There will be an increase in work for social workers to ensure that service users are receiving the services they need. Have these additional costs been assessed? How we will ensure that those who use to receive a daily visit via the meals on wheels service will get that essential daily contact? How will this be funded?

Council priorities
We cannot accept that the Council needs a call centre more than our citizens needs a hot meal or support in their home. We believe that the Council need to urgently rethink their priorities.

UNISON further believe that it is possible to fund the majority of the budget reductions without affecting our services or jobs.

Alternatives
As stated above there are alternatives to the current proposals. The lack of any alternatives in the budget proposals is a very serious issue on two fronts. Firstly how can Councillors make an informed decision, a decision which will fundamentally change the very nature of the Council, if they have no other options before them. It is a blatant disregard of democratic accountability and control. Secondly, if there are no alternatives, how do we know if the proposals are best for the Authority and the people we serve?

UNISON had hoped to be able to table some alternatives at this stage. Unfortunately the information we have requested to allow us to do so has yet to be presented. However we do know that the Council is involved in over 300 partnerships. Unfortunately we do not know how much these cost us and whether they provide value for money. It seems likely that a proper review of these arrangements would free up considerable funds.

UNISON will present alternative proposals as soon as we are able. It does seem unfortunate that the Council must rely on its unions to undertake work of such a important nature which is fundamental to the democratic control of our Authority.

Redundancy Compensation
The issue around the proposals for redundancy pay are also inextricably linked to the current budget situation. The final offer from management is a huge reduction in benefit to staff. In light of the reductions in staffing it cannot be fair nor reasonable to impose these reductions on staff who are to lose their employment. UNISON are asking that we find a way to ensure that those staff at risk now receive redundancy pay in line with their contractual rights. We do not believe that our Councillors would want to do anything less.

Equality of Pain
In such times as these our best defence is to work together. It is disappointing to see no proposals which affect elected members directly. UNISON hopes that in line with the restructuring that there will be a commensurate reduction in the number of cabinet posts. We also hope that councillors will look at what they can offer to show solidarity with staff and service users.

Conclusions
In light of the above we put forward the following proposals:

>> That urgent work is undertaken to identify funds to delay the implementation of the current proposals.

>> That each proposal is properly assessed for its impact on service users, the wider public, Council staff and the level of additional costs they will create.

>> That work is undertaken to identify alternative reductions which will minimise the impact on services and jobs.

>> That the Council works urgently with unions to honour its contractual obligations with those staff at risk with regard to redundancy compensation.

>> That we work together to lobby government for a fair and reasonable settlement

Lobby against the cuts

Nottinghamshire UNISON is calling on members of the Branch and of the public to lobby County Councillors in advance of the Council meeting on 23rd Feb that will set the budget.

Details can be found on the Branch website. Click on the header of this posting or click here for:

>> model letters to send to your County Councillor and MP
>> model text message to send to your County Councillor
>> e-mail, fax and mobile details of County Councillors
>> e-mail and fax details of Nottinghamshire MPs

Redundancy pay cuts: members vote for action

The deadline for the indicative ballot about action to oppose the cuts to redundancy pay was noon today. The result was overwhelmingly in favour of action to oppose:

90% voted for action
6% voted against
4% spoilt

The result was formally announced at the members' meeting in County Hall this lunchtime. The Branch has written to the Council to inform them that we are in dispute and representatives of the Branch are meeting Senior Regional Officials of the union on Monday to discuss a formal industrial action ballot.

Redundancy pay cut press release (20/1/06)

The following press release was sent to local media on 20th January

---

Council workers have condemned the County Council’s decision to cut the levels of redundancy pay at a time when hundreds of them are facing redundancy from budget cuts.

UNISON, the biggest union in the County Council, is calling for the Council to rethink their plans.

“Our members are angry the Council is planning to cut jobs and the amount of compensation that they would get for losing their job” said Branch Secretary Jill Turner.

“We have held consultation meetings around the County and we are hearing the same message again and again, it is unfair to try to cut redundancy pay at a time when the council is looking to cut about 500 jobs” she added.

UNISON members at the County Council were being informally balloted about the threat to cut the levels of redundancy pay after negotiations had broken down when, just before Xmas, the Council announced cuts of £21 millions that would mean the loss of “hundreds of jobs” and gave the unions only 3 weeks to respond.

“Our members are returning the ballot papers in large numbers and are overwhelmingly voting in favour of action. Once the indicative ballot closes at noon on 27th January, we will be meeting with our members that lunchtime to announce the result and to launch campaign for a formal ballot for industrial action” said Ms Turner

“If the Council will not return to the negotiating table about the cuts to redundancy pay, and think again about setting a budget that means cutting hundreds of jobs, we will have no option but to ballot our members for industrial action.”

UNISON is calling a lobby of the Cabinet meeting on 8th February that will discuss the budget cuts and the Full Council meeting on 23rd February that sets the budget.

“We want the Council to join us in calling for a proper funding settlement from Whitehall and to look at all projects that have not yet started to see how many of them are vital to service delivery to the public of Notts” added Ms Turner

---

To see Nottingham Evening Post coverage on 21st Jan click here

Cabinet votes to consult on cuts

When the Cabinet met this morning, it was addressed by Jill Turner on behalf of UNISON. Here's what she told them:

---

"It is difficult to put all we want to say into words, and it is obviously tempting to take this opportunity with you to go through the report line by line, but we want to keep our message to you short and to the point.

"This is not a consultation, it is a fait accompli!

"We have been given just three weeks to comment on proposals which are huge in their impact.

"How can we meaningfully participate without any information, information, for example on the true costs of the Bassetlaw PFI scheme and the new contact centre.

"And how can the public meaningfully participate when they are not told the whole truth, the on-line consultation describes the changes to homecare as 'changing the way some home care services are provided.'

"This is a shocking misrepresentation of what is proposed, in reality the Council will run down its home care service and effectively transfer the majority of care to the private sector. The savings will be generated from paying these new privately employed staff less than the Council considers fair or reasonable for the work. In an added twist by running down our service as opposed to transferring it means that the Council bypasses any responsibility for protecting the conditions and pay of workers in this service. This is at best morally bankrupt.

"Another example of understatement can be found in this very report at section 8.4.6 this is the section dealing with the impact in Regeneration and states that 'staff redundancies are probably unavoidable' - really

"How can the public or staff make contributions when we do not have access to the information we need and are entitled to?

"There is no doubt we are in a very difficult situation but surely this is the time to raise our game and work together to find the savings we need to protect our valuable services. If you agree this consultation document as it stands you will force conflict with those you need to work with.

"Now is the time to work together, delay this consultation in favour of a meaningful exercise where staff, service users and public can comment on real choices, choices such as the real needs around new accommodation. An exercise where we can ensure that decisions still to be implemented are realistic in light of our financial position.

"We realise this will take more time and therefore have a cost implication. Cabinet could easily reverse it decision on the new office at Ashfield and go for a cheaper option thus releasing the necessary funds.

"Why look for conflict when a better position could be created by working together.

"Like yourselves we fight for what we believe in – we do not believe that the paper presented today represents the only options – so if needed we will fight to secure a better outcome for our service users, our citizens and staff.

"We are asking for the opportunity to have a meaningful consultation where we can explore all the options available, we are asking to have a real choice."

---

Despite this call to think again, the Cabinet voted to go out for consultation on the basis of the report (to read the report click here).

Therefore, Branch officers are meeting tomorrow morning to agree the strategy for dealing with the proposed budget cuts.

---

To see press reaction in the Nottingham Evening Post on 20th Jan click here

Restructuring of County Council Report

The County Council meeting on 19th January will consider a report on the future structure of the County Council. To read it click here.

The report proposes moving to 4 departments with centralisation of management of IT, Finance and HR (aka Personnel). The headlines of which functions are proposed to go into which department are set out in Appendix 1 that starts on page 11 of the 23 page document.

The report is in pdf format and you will need an Acrobat reader to see it. If you need an Acrobat reader, click here

Members' Meeting: 27th January

At the members’ meeting on 10th January, there was a call for another meeting to be held in the Council Chamber with one of the Joint Branch Secretaries present. The originally proposed date of 17th January is not feasible as the Council Chamber is not available and the Branch Secretary who has led the negotiations about the redundancy pay has a meeting in London with LGIU about influencing budget setting.

The earliest date at which both the Council Chamber and Branch Secretary are available is 27th January. The meeting is booked for 12.15 pm to 1.15 pm. 27th January is also the deadline for the indicative ballot and we expect to be able to report on an overwhelming vote in favour of action and discuss what happens next.

The meeting on 10th January also asked that a press release be sent out. This is being prepared and will be sent to local media on Friday 20th January after ALL 4 members meetings have taken place. The key messages will be:
>> Members’ anger at the “double whammy” of budget cuts that mean redundancies coming at the same time the Council is threatening to cut levels of redundancy pay.
>> Result of indicative ballot due on 27th January
>> Call for the Council to come back to the negotiating table to sort out redundancy pay

NCC Budget cuts: County Council Report

The Cabinet meeting on 18th Jan 2006 will consider the Medium Term Financial Strategy report. This the report that sets out the proposed cuts to our jobs and the public's services. To see the report click here

It is in pdf format and you will need an Acrobat reader to see it. If you need an Acrobat reader, click here

NCC Budget Cuts 2006-2008

Some of you may have seen the 2 reports about potential budget cuts in the Nottingham Evening Post on 30th December 2005: County Hall Jobs to be axed and Hundreds of jobs to go. The Branch has asked all Convenors to meet with their departments to discuss the possible impacts of the cuts. We will keep you informed of developments. For reports from Convenors, click on "comments" below.

Smoking Ban at County Council?

The County Council is proposing a ban on smoking at work.

We sought the views of our members via this weblog and a consultation slip in the November/December edition of Notts UNISON News with the deadline for responses of 16th December. Thanks to those who filled in the slips. The result is

81% in favour of a ban, 19% against a ban

This 4:1 margin gives the Branch Officers a clear mandate for negotiations about a smoking ban.

You can download Notts UNISON news in pdf format by visiting the NUN online page of the branch website

Welcome

This is the weblog for Nottinghamshire County Branch of UNISON.

We place items here to seek members' comments. If you wish to comment, please ensure that you include your name and workplace. This is to ensure that the blog is not abused by spammers and non-members of the branch.