Victory
Thursday, 31 May 2007Victory for Surrey social workers
(23/05/07) A group of UNISON members is celebrating success after winning a dispute over workloads and unpaid overtime.
Overstretched social workers at Surrey County Council banded together and began working to rule last November when staff shortages reached acute levels.
At one stage fewer than 40 of them were covering a workload designed for 72 people.
Their action, and a threatened strike, has forced their employer to offer an improved deal.
The new deal includes a £1,000 goodwill payment to the staff involved in the dispute, together with all overtime worked since 1st January 2006 that hasn't already been taken as time off in lieu, and the introduction of overtime payments from January 2007.
Local UNISON convenor Paul Couchman welcomed the deal, which he said demonstrated the benefits of good organisation and recruiting.
The victory was achieved by "sticking together and being prepared to take action", he said, adding that other workers should "look at this result and ask themselves how they can improve their own terms and conditions through UNISON membership and activity