On return from a trip to Glasgow for the Annual Meeting of UNISON's Scottish Council and the Annual Conference of the Scottish Local Government Service Group, I found waiting for me a letter from the Council confirming that despite all the arguments we have put forward, the Branch Secretary's UNISON time will be cut in half and I will spend the other half of my time at Lossiemouth High School.
At a time when the biggest change to working practices ever experienced in the Council will be taking place through Designing Better Services, it seems a little suspicious that my time available for taking part in what will be extensive consultation has been halved. I was seconded to the position of Regional Organiser with UNISON for 16 months and gained a vast knowledge of employment law and other aspects of the job. The reason given by the Council for my release to take on this role was that my increased experience would be of use on my return. Why then is that knowledge and experience not going to be utilised?
I believe in partnership working where possible, and was willing to examine the DBS exercise with a view to trying to make the outcome as palatable as possible for members. However, the failure of the Council to give any consideration to the arguments to retain the full-time arrangement make me somewhat sceptical.