MORAY  MATTERS

The Newsletter for UNISON members in MORAY

APRIL 2005

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

	2005 AGM Report
	Photo Piece - Branch Officers
	�Big Cat� Diary
	Branch Officer Profile - Gerry Harkins
	Single Status & Your Pay
	Message from the General Secretary
	Competition Corner

MORAY BRANCH�S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT

This year�s Annual General Meeting took place on Tuesday 1 March 2005 in the Function Suite of the Laichmoray Hotel in Elgin and was extremely well attended. 

Our Vice Chair, John Muir, opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.

Reports were given by our Joint Branch Secretaries, Eric Foley and Irene Sinclair.  Eric pointed out that membership of Moray UNISON had risen by 4% over the past year.  Communications with members was now better than it had ever been with all new members receiving a copy of the Branch Members Guide when they joined up.  This publication, created by the branch Communications Officer Linda Magill, gave members the information they would need about the branch, about being a steward/contact, and details of who to contact.  Eric talked about the ongoing work being done by the branch in connection with Single Status.  He remarked that being on the Steering Group was �not a pleasant experience�.   UNISON and the Council were deep into negotiations on Single Status issues, some of which were completely unacceptable to the Union.  Eric also talked about the Moray College Sub-branch having had a difficult year with restructuring and redundancies.  They had negotiated a good deal over equal pay issues.  Eric finished by saying that the past year had been an extremely busy one for the branch and for both himself and Irene Sinclair. 

Irene then gave her Joint Branch Secretaries report.  She informed the meeting that she had attended several of the Working Groups in Education meetings.  She felt that the profile of the Union was raised by taking part in these.  The bullying and harassment case in the Libraries had taken a lot of time and effort.  Many members suspected there had been an attempt at a cover-up operation but management had not been able to �sweep it under the carpet�.  Irene talked about her attendance at the UNISON Annual Conference in June 2004, which she had found extremely interesting and rewarding to attend.

Our Branch Treasurer, Maggie Calder, unfortunately could not attend the meeting, and a report received from her was read out by the Vice Chair, John Muir.  Honoraria was discussed and then voted on.

The election of branch officers was then brought before the meeting.  You�ll see a photo piece on our Branch Officers on the next page.

This year�s Guest Speaker was Emma Phillips, the Regional Officer for the Moray Branch, who started her speech by talking about how the Government�s proposed changes to pensions would affect workers in Scotland.  The pensions campaign was starting later here than in England and Wales.  She pointed out that the Union was being given no choice and there had been no effective consultation process.  Public Sector jobs are becoming harder and more stressful and she felt that workers did not need this issue to add to that stress.  UNISON feels the pension situation is disgraceful and would prefer negotiation rather than strike action but were prepared to ask members to strike if necessary as this issue would see a major effect on their pension and conditions.  She pointed out that March 23 had been identified as a possible day of action and she encouraged everyone to VOTE YES! in the Ballot.  Emma then went on to talk about Single Status, which she said in theory was a good thing � people should get paid for what they do.  There are some terms and conditions in job contracts still in existence that are illegal.  The Council has to change this.  However there are major problems because this exercise has no funding from Government.  She said that the Branch should be commended for all the hard work done by the Joint Branch Secretaries in negotiating with the Council.  She said that Moray Council, not intentionally, was further ahead on the single status issue than other councils.

She urged all members to get involved with the Union and support their Branch.

John Muir thanked Emma for speaking to the meeting.  He referred back to the pension piece and urged members to take the opportunity to have one-to-one discussions with the pension adviser when the next surgery was held.

The meeting was then asked for any questions.  Single Status was obviously a concern to the audience as quite a few expressed concerns about the issue.  A proposal was made for employees not to have to vote blind on any Single Status Job Overview agreement.  A vote was taken on this and it was agreed on and minuted.  If the Council were to send out individual letters to all members this would be acceptable.  Ballot would be on the whole package though. 

Questions were also raised on Joint Futures.  Employees uncertain about where they will stand in relation to this endeavour being undertaken by both Moray Council and Grampian Health Board.

John Barrett, Retired Members Officer, asked for a vote of thanks for the top table and for all the Branch members.

�BIG CAT� DIARY

Hi there! There has been a Big Cat coup at my place and the Retired Members� Officer has supinely abdicated responsibility to me for another issue.  The RM�s had another of their convivial �meetings� at the end of January.  Nearly 25% of the members turned up for a leisurely lunch and some (slightly smug) gossip about Moray Council.  But there was no doggy bag for me!  (Incidentally, I find that term vaguely offensive � not quite PC � �Politically Cat�.)  The absence of left-overs meant a black mark for my bloke � and a tooth mark on his ankle to remind him to save something for me next time.  He took the hint and there was a fine pussy bag of quiche and chicken following the AGM.  I had not expected that.  I thought the meeting would be packed out (and the buffet picked clean) by the masses who attended to hear about Single Status � and to learn whether they were among the 20% who are expected to have their salaries slashed.  I�m glad that my bloke is out of it.  But I do feel solidarity with the one-in-five of working members� cats, who are contemplating a dismal future of Asda and Tesco own-brand food instead of Katkins and Felix, when Single Status kicks in.  Some may even be forced to go out and work for their keep � mousing for a living and not just for fun.

The RM Officer has been like the cat who got the cream this week.  (Though actually cream upsets my small and sensitive furry tum.)  My bloke has been grinning like a Cheshire cat at the notice that has at last been taken (by the Northern Scot and the P & J) of the Library bullies.  Hooray for UNISON!  It is time someone stood up to them.  Bullying is something I know all about.  I get interminable lectures on the subject from my bloke: every time the garden is full of torn-out cat fur; every time I chase that nice ginger tom into his own kitchen; every time I bring a bunny rabbit home for tea; every time I ambush the fat Scottie-dog in his own back yard.  It�s so unfair!  After all it�s my job to be a bully.  I�m a cat!  And scragging other creatures is what I do!  And I am good at it.  But it�s just business.  There is no malice in it � only hearty feline instinct.  Meanwhile the spiteful cattiness of certain Moray Council managers and their minions gives honest up-front cats like me a bad name.  So Hooray again for UNISON and the courageous members who have decided that it is time to stop acting like mice!

BEING ACTIVE IN UNISON - YOUR BRANCH OFFICER PROFILES

Many workers wonder why some of their colleagues are active in UNISON.  They ask why these people take time away from their workplaces, not only in the working week but also in the evenings and weekends, to give of their time to UNISON.  We thought we would ask some of our Branch Officers to tell us why.

The series continues this month with Gerry Harkins, Service Conditions Officer

Where is it you work and what is your job title?

I�m Manager of a Child Care Team in the Community Services Department.

 How long have you worked for the Moray Council?

Since re-organisation.  Previously with Grampian Region since 1985.

How long have you been in a Trade Union?

23 years!

Why in a few words do you believe in Trade Unions?

Without them employees would be at the mercy of the employer.  Unions have been responsible for assisting in the development of significant employment legislation that protect staff and will continue to do so in the future.

Are there negative points in being in a Union?

Not that I can think of.

Many fellow workers think you�re daft doing what you do?

No I enjoy it very much.  Can be time consuming but can also be very rewarding.

Why did you get involved in the Service Conditions role?

The challenge.  Also I believe that it is important to ensure that the Council adheres to employment policies agreed with the Trade Unions and addresses issues when they don�t.

What is your greatest achievement so far?

Have had a number of successes over the years in my trade union activity, which keeps me going.

What are your fears for the future?

Too afraid to think about that!

How would you best describe your Branch?

Could do with more activists.  We are however a hardworking dedicated branch and I believe that overall we do provide members with a positive service.

 Thank you, Gerry

SINGLE STATUS & YOUR PAY

Single Status is the review of pay and grading for all staff in Moray Council.  Single Status is supposed to provide a pay scheme that is fairer then current pay.  Many jobs in the council are undervalued and underpaid when compared to other jobs.  The jobs that are undervalued are often traditional women's jobs.  UNISON believes that people should be paid fairly and that there should be no discrimination in pay.  We are therefore in active negotiations with the Council to introduce Single Status.

Some general questions members might want answers to:

• What is Single Status?

• Why is the Council doing this?

• Will the same pay apply for the same job in all councils in Scotland?

• Why did unions agree to this if some members are going to lose out?

• Will a change of government mean a change for Single Status?

• Why are chief officials not involved?

• Why should I stay a member of a union which has �shafted us�?

• What is happening in other councils?

• How safe is my job (now and in the future)?

• Why is Moray the first council to do this

• Will there be union help for non-union members?

Some questions members might have before grading information distributed:

• How will it affect me?

• How will bonus pay be affected?

• Will there be changes to the working week?

• Will overtime remain?

• Will flexi-time be continued under Single Status?

• When will people receive their new pay and conditions?

• Will my annual leave entitlement change?

• Will there be a ballot of members?

• Will I receive a new contract and job description?

• Will it affect travelling expenses?

 Some questions members might have after grading information distributed:

• How do I appeal if I�m not happy with the outcome of job evaluation?

• How will UNISON help if I want to appeal my grading?

• Why has my pay dropped?

• How will my drop in salary affect my pension?