UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union, today called for education and training of councillors and local government officers after a survey found 40% did not know what the Best Value Code of Practice on Workforce Matters required councils to do.
The UNISON survey, conducted at this year’s Local Government Association Conference, found wide regional variations in knowledge of the Code’s requirements:
. 88.8% of North West local government officers said they knew compared with 66.9% of all local government officers and 33.3% of councillors and local government officers from London:
. 79.9% of North West councilors said they knew compared with 60% of all councillors and 37.5% of London councillors.
UNISON National Secretary for Local Government, Heather Wakefield, said:
“It is a bit disturbing that four months after the Government issued the Code, 40% of councilors and local government officers say they don’t know what it requires.
“UNISON wants to work with local authorities to help implement the Code and will work with the Employers Organisation to develop a training course. We are also asking local authorities to send us examples of good practice so they can be shared with other authorities.”
UNISON is this week publishing a guide on how to use the Code for UNISON stewards. The guide is being sent to Council Chief Executives and Leaders to encourage councillors and managers to work with their UNISON representatives to implement and monitor the Code properly.
The Code of Practice applies when Best Value authorities, including councils and police authorities, are contracting out services and transferring staff to a new employer. New starters have the right to “overall no less favourable” pay and conditions than transferred staff.
The survey also found:
. 64% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that the Code will help to ensure that contractors provide high quality services to councils;
. 89.7% of respondents strongly agreed that the duty of councils to consult staff and trade unions on Best Value will help improve council services.
. 76.4% of respondents said staff or trade unions were always or often involved in decision making.
ENDS
