- Conference
- 2025 Local Government Service Group Conference
- Date
- 20 February 2025
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
The English Devolution White Paper, released in December 2024, proposes the reorganisation of local authorities, which could see the removal of all district and borough councils in favour of unitary authorities.
Six areas: Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex & Brighton and Hampshire & Solent have been included in the Devolution Priority Programme.
The whole process of reorganisation could take several years but this will be a period of uncertainty for many of our members across the region.
Naturally, the priority for UNISON should be for our members to be treated fairly throughout the process and that jobs are protected wherever possible during this transition period.
These reorganisations are likely to take significant time for our reps to support members and be fully engaged in negotiations on shared terms and conditions, TUPE transfers and any resulting redundancies.
We call upon the Local Government SGE to work with branches in districts, boroughs, county and unitary authorities to:
1) Develop negotiation guidelines on unitarisation for all affected branches;
2) Provide a programme of training for branch representatives on negotiating around terms and conditions, TUPE transfers and the redundancy process;
3) Help to bring together working groups from affected councils so that UNISON can be at the heart of changes and ahead of the process rather than hostages to decisions made outside our control;
4)Work with other relevant unions in local government to ensure changes benefit all union members.
