STRATEGIC SERVICE PARTNERSHIPS

Conference notes the continuing trend of local authorities to sign up with a private company to provide a Strategic Service Partnership. This can occur even when an authority is functioning well and for no other reason than an attempt to bring ‘new’ jobs to an area. The Local Government White Paper and Local Government Bill […]

WORKERS ON ATYPICAL CONTRACTS

Conference notes the extensive use of atypical contracts in local government, and that young workers are over represented amongst those on atypical contracts, including term time working and agency working. Conference reaffirms the concerns expressed by Local Government Conference 2004 about the position of Term Time workers. Term Time workers also lose out through low […]

MATERNITY AND CARERS RIGHTS

Conference welcomes the new rights for parents and carers to be introduced in the Work and Families Act, which will come into force in April 2007 It notes that parents and carers struggling to achieve work life balance will now be able to take advantage of the following improvements: 1.Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance and […]

SCHOOL STAFF NATIONAL FRAMEWORK

Following on from previous Local Government Conference decisions, this conference welcomes the movement towards establishing a national framework for school support staff in England. Conference notes that over one third of schools in England are already self governing, with staff directly employed by the school, and that this figure is likely to increase. Given this […]

EQUALITY DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Conference welcomes the equality duties on race, disability and gender which require local authorities to promote equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination for service users and staff, rather than wait for individuals to complain. Existing practices and any changes to employment or service delivery must be assessed to examine their impact – giving branches a […]

Equality of Opportunity – The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000

Conference we all know of the importance of the good work that has been achieved through various Black Members Group (BMG) across all regions. Without the input of such groups to challenge work place inequality and racism many employers would have never taken the issue of race discrimination seriously. However due to the recent duties […]

Equality Duties and Performance Indicators

Conference applauds the fact that the equality duties on race, disability and gender require local authorities to promote equality of opportunity and eliminate discrimination for service users and staff, rather than wait for individuals to complain. Existing practices and any changes to employment or service delivery must be assessed to examine their impact on equality […]

Training Support Staff in the Learning and Skills Sector

Delivering world class skills has become a national priority. It is predicted that the percentage of the working population needing recognised qualifications will rise dramatically by 2020. Colleges are being forced to focus on delivering employability for young people and Train to Gain and Learner Accounts are part of the Government’s strategy for workforce development. […]

Equality and Sexual Orientation: The Leadership Challenge for Further Education

Conference welcomes the positive initiative by the Centre for Excellence and Leadership (CEL) and its report on Equality and Sexual Orientation. It aims to support managers, staff, students and trade unions to effectively develop positive policies on sexual orientation. UNISON worked with CEL and other key stakeholders on this initiative. The findings revealed an alarming […]

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME

Conference notes the current position in respect of the “New Look” Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and in respect of protection for those adversely affected by the withdrawal of the “Rule of 85”. This conference condemns the fact that the union’s position on the 85 year rule moved from full protection to securing transitional protection […]

FUTURE PAY CLAIMS

Conference welcomes the fact that at the end of the former three year pay deal and to prepare a pay claim for 2007 the National Local Government Service Group Executive consulted members with a view to submit a claim that had the widespread support of members. Conference also notes that the 2007 pay claim was […]

Local Government White Paper – Prosperous Communities

This Conference notes the publication of the recent Government White Paper – Prosperous Communities. This Conference notes that for prosperous communities to exist, it requires there to be people in well paid jobs including the public sector. This conference further notes that the movement away from the provision of services by well funded public sector […]

Continuous Service

This Conference is dismayed by the lack of success in negotiating a change in rules regarding continuous service. A motion was unanimously passed three years ago and yet still people who leave and come back to Local Government have to start building up service time to count for extra annual leave from scratch. We urge […]

Two Tier Workforce and the Community and Voluntary Sector

Conference notes and supports the important historical role the community and voluntary sector has provided in shaping public services – not as an alternative for directly-employed public sector workers, but as an innovator, working with local authorities and campaigning for new ideas and ways of working. Conference also notes the Code of Practice on Workforce […]

Short Term Funding in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Conference notes the increase in provision of public services by the community and voluntary sector in recent years, and the government’s determination to increase the scope and speed of transfers to the sector. The Treasury’s Third Sector Review Interim Report and the Cabinet Office’s Third Sector Action Plan (both December 2006) set out a range […]