Welcome to UNISON’s website for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Branch. We are here to answer your questions and help you with any issues you may have in your workplace. We have over 4,000 members and our team are committed to getting you the best outcome possible. As a campaigning branch you will see us out in workplaces across the borough, supporting local events and organising to secure the rights of all our members in Rotherham.
(15/02/12) BULLETIN - LATEST PROPOSAL RE PAY AND JOBS
Following on from the Stewards Meeting on the 06th February 2012 and subsequent meeting with The Leader, Roger Stone, on the 07th February 2012 the branch would like to clarify the latest budget position. The branch requires all members to inform us of their views in relation to the latest PROPOSAL being put to the Trade unions as soon as possible. (Email: general@unison-rotherham.org.uk )
ANNUAL INCREMENTAL FREEZE 2012/2013
Continuation of the annual incremental freeze for a further year.
RMBC feel it is necessary in light of the continuing budget overspend this year and current gap in meeting the 20.4m gap next year to seek your agreement to a continuation of this freeze for a further year. RMBC stated whilst they felt that people would be disappointed not to receive an increment this was felt by RMBC to be a more acceptable offer in the respect that it was not money being deducted from peoples salaries. This further temporarily deferred incremental progression they state would help to bridge the funding gap by generating savings of around £700,000 - £800,000. (This would affect around 1500 employees who are not yet at the top of their current grade.)
Proposed implementation date - 1st April 2012.
PROS
Reduce further redundancies for the 2012/13 year. (This is the best position we can achieve through negotiation without balloting for Industrial action)
CONS
Further detrimental cuts to our pay and conditions of service
Further hardship for our members already struggling to manage due to job losses and current inflation costs in the current climate
If the proposals are not accepted RMBC have made it clear that in addition to the current HR1 notice of redundancies that we received informing us 200 posts will be made redundant will have to be amended to 250 posts to be made redundant, as they state the savings cannot be made elsewhere.
In other words by agreeing to the further incremental freeze RMBC state it will be saving around 40 – 50 jobs (based on average earnings)
Please report your views back to the branch office by no later than 17/02/12. Depending on the outcome of the consultation exercise we may have to take the decision to move to an official ballot process.
We would, therefore be grateful if you would complete and return the enclosed form and send it to the Branch Office at UNISON Lawrence House, Downs Road, Rotherham S60 2HD or via email at general@unison-rotherham.org.uk as soon as possible.
CHRISTMAS OPENING – TOWN CENTRE
It has been determined that the Town Centre Council Office at Riverside House will be open during Christmas 2012 and subsequent years. The 3 days previously fixed at Christmas to facilitate an office closure will be added to annual leave. It is anticipated that there would be a significantly reduced employee presence required in most service areas over this period. Employees wishing to book leave at Christmas will be able to do so through the normal approval process.
Are you satisfied with this?
In addition, for your information, the 1.15% pay reduction (3 days pay) taken last year (one year deal) is to be paid back as agreed from April 2012.
Here in Rotherham we have had six eager members in the Branch office training on UNISONs Organising Stewards course.
Kathy Bland, Vaughan Woolley, Dave Dugden, Simon Brockbank, Frank Markham and Jeannette Mallinder all work in different directorates in RMBC. They were all keen to get the proper training that would help them to be able to represent fellow members in the workplace and act as a voice for members to deal with any concerns at ‘shop floor’ level.
Each person had a different reason for wanting to get more involved. One had received support from UNISON and experienced such good service that they felt they wanted to give something back to the union. Others were concerned about changes in their workplace and wanted to be able to stand up to those changes knowing that the union behind them. But, what they all had in common was that they wanted to make a difference for other people.
Each Steward has committed to holding regular meetings with their members to keep them up to date with information from Branch office about issues that could affect them.
“Members feel that they do not know what UNISON is doing for them. I know from personal experience that the Convenors are constantly representing members. But the Branch isn’t great at letting the wider membership know what they’re doing. Hopefully regular workplace meetings will make members feel better informed.” Said Dave. Frank supported this, “I want the members to know who their Steward is so they can get the support they need, when they need it.”
Realising that they are part of a bigger family of trade union colleagues has given your new Stewards greater confidence in fulfilling their roles. They know that they are not alone and have the full support of their Convenor, the Branch and Regional Office. And UNISON Rotherham Branch are looking forward to all six new Stewards (and re-accredited Steward, Gary Millns) putting their ideas, enthusiasm and personal skills to great use and adding to the quality of the Branch.
Jeannette said “It was really nice to meet colleagues from other working areas in the authority and get to know them better. I feel that after this five-day course we have become friends.” Kathy agreed, “Hopefully we can encourage other members to get more involved and consider becoming a Steward for UNISON too.”
Mick Stowe and Ruth Askwith (Convenors) who dropped in on the training session welcomed the new Stewards. “Thank you very much for agreeing to take on this role and we hope that you find the role rewarding. We will do our utmost to ensure that you are supported while you find your feet as a newly Trained and Active Steward.”
UNISON is calling for the Government to refocus on local government services and finances, in light of a damning report* on council cuts by the Audit Commission and Local Government Association* (LGA).
The report shows that councils across England have already made 145,000 job cuts and the number is set to spiral. This will have a devastating impact on the lives of local government workers and communities relying on the vital services they provide.
UNISON Head of Local Government, Heather Wakefield, said:
“The Government must refocus on providing funding to make sure vital local services are maintained, rather than stripped bare. Councils have already made far more job cuts than they said would be necessary. This report shows that the worst is yet to come.
“UNISON members have been hit hard, as they struggle to pay bills in the face rising costs. Council workers are covering large numbers of deleted and frozen posts - on a two-year pay freeze, without the £250 compensation promised by Osborne for the lowest paid. Workers are doing more, for less, as resources drop, but demand rises. On top of this, they face cuts to pay and conditions, alongside plans to make them pay more into their pensions, work longer and receive less in retirement.
“Teaching assistants, youth workers and social care workers are among the groups facing the largest cuts - despite record youth unemployment and an ageing population. Low paid women are the biggest losers, as they make up 75% of council workers and 90% of the occupations worst hit.
“It is disgraceful to hear the Tory-led LGA boasting of having made 50% more savings than required by central government, even before the financial crash. The latest redundancies come on top of these huge, unnecessary cuts. These job cuts are not inevitable, there is an alternative and councils have a duty to their local communities to provide hope and employment to help people get through this financial crisis.
“The report paints of a picture of a bleak future, where skilled staff lose their jobs, or are left buckling under the pressure with vital services being stripped back. These council cuts are hard, fast and unnecessary and will devastate communities when what the country needs are policies that will help to kick start the economy.”
As a ward councillor I write to you to express my solidarity and support for your members in taking Industrial action on the 30th November in defence of your pensions.
I too will be striking on the day of action and will be addressing a rally in Barnsley to express my support and convey why your action is justified.
Good luck with your fight I am sure if we all stick together we can defeat this undemocratically elected coalition.
Yours in Solidarity
Councillor Brian Steele
Hoober Ward
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