Further Education Pay

Conference welcomes the first ever national agreement for FE staff in Scotland and that we are moving towards new national bargaining through the establishment of a new National Joint Negotiating Committee in Scotland. Employers and trade unions have also committed to negotiate a new single pay structure and new single set of conditions of service […]

Local Government Trading Companies

Conference we know that many councils have now established local trading companies. As you know these trade as separate companies to the council, but are wholly owned by them. Within local UNISON branches we are told that the reasons behind these companies being established normally falls into two categories: 1)Service delivery model, where they do […]

Stress and Overwork

Conference we remain concerned at the cuts and extreme pressures on local government workers and the real crisis in Councils across the UK, and support the need for more resources and investment by Scottish and UK Governments. The Westminster government’s slash and burn response to the economic crisis, and their austerity measures have resulted in […]

Members in Schools – Career Development

Conference, all staff in schools carry out increasingly diverse and responsible roles, yet many have very little opportunity for developing their careers. We know that if staffs are given the opportunity to progress in their career, it results in improved morale, performance and expertise thereby improving the performance of the school. It is vital that […]

Area Reviews

Conference notes with concern that in September 2015 the Government announced a review of post-16 education and training. Area based reviews have begun, effecting members in colleges across England. Conference believes that these reviews are likely to result in further cuts, job losses and site closures, in a sector where members have already faced severe […]

Single Status and Local Government Pay

Conference, we all know the plight of local government pay and the impact that in real terms we have seen a 20% pay cut in the last 10 years for our members. With minimum pay awards, many councils have added a local pay supplement to ensure that some of the lowest paid employees are paid […]

Impact of Low Pay on Black workers in Local Government

Equal pay cases relate to gender pay discrimination but unequal pay affects a significant number of employees in the other protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 including race. Recent research published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission ‘Is Britain Fairer’ shows significant hourly pay gaps between white men and Black men especially Pakistani, […]

National Housing Forum

This National Service Group Conference notes that the Government’s policies on housing are serving to intensify the acute housing shortage in all parts of the country as well as leading to housing costs which are unaffordable to huge numbers of people. This is leading to major housing and social problems with a particular impact on […]

Dress Codes in Local Government

Conference notes that many employers covered by our local government service group have dress codes for some groups of workers. Many of these date back to a time when there was little overlap between what was considered male and female clothing and have not been re-examined since. Conference acknowledges that dress codes and uniforms can […]

Negotiating Equality in Local Government in a Climate of Ever Harsher Cuts

Conference is concerned that hard won equality gains in local government are at risk as local government bears the brunt of the harshest public sector budget cuts to date. Conference notes that local government used to be an equality trail-blazer in terms and conditions for staff and also in the quality, accessibility and inclusivity of […]

Incapability Dismissals

Conference notes that some employers have introduced Incapability Procedures which are designed to make it easier to terminate contracts on the grounds of either ill-health or performance. Conference is concerned that these procedures are or will be used to remove workers from employment instead of making them redundant through cuts and therefore incurring the costs […]

The fight for fair sickness absence procedures and ‘Disability Leave’

Conference is concerned about the Treasury led consultation on the review of sickness absence in the public sector. This includes a review of current sickness management systems and sick pay. The review could lead to a weakening of rights and have a detrimental impact on disabled workers. The Conservatives have indicated their contempt for Employment […]

Facility Time

This Conference notes that motions on cuts to facility time have been debated and passed at Local Government Conference in 2013, 2014 and 2015. This Conference notes that the motion passed in 2013 called for the development of ‘…practical and immediate support measures for branches facing cuts to facility time’. This Conference notes that the […]

Term Time Contracts and Schools Workers

Conference believes that enforced term-time contracts penalise a predominantly female workforce and compound the problems of low pay in schools. Teachers are automatically put on full-year contracts, but many support staff working alongside them are forced to take term time only contracts. This can reduce the salaries of support staff by up to 20% and […]

Restructure of National Joint Council (NJC) Green Book Pay Spine

Conference notes that the introduction of the Chancellor’s Living Wage is likely to mean that over a third of the NJC Green Book pay spine will have to be deleted by 2020. Authorities will need to consider the impact of this in terms of cost and its affect on pay and grading structures. The consequences […]