Aberdeenshire UNISON branch statement on council's Equalities Outcomes 2017-21

Below is the statement which the branch has sent to all Aberdeenshire councillors as well as to the HR Equalities Team within the council.

Kathleen Kennedy speaking on equalities

Aberdeenshire Branch welcomes the council’s new Equalities Outcomes for 2017-21 with their specific focus upon disability, posted last week on Arcadia.

The branch commends the council’s Disability Confident accreditation under the Department of Work and Pensions' Disability Confident Scheme. This accreditation recognises the council’s commitment to ensure that people with disabilities and long-term health conditions feel engaged, supported and presented with opportunities to fulfil their potential within the workplace.
 
The branch is committed to doing everything we can to support the council in making this a reality. We are also proud that our Equalities Officer, Kathleen Kennedy is a member of the UNISON Scottish disabled members’ self-organised group and has also been active on the national disabled members’ committee and is on the standing orders committee for their conference this year.

This reflects very positively on the branch and also on Aberdeenshire Council, as Kathleen can bring her knowledge and experience gained on these groups back to the council. We will be looking for the council’s support for this work.

Sleeping in and the minimum wage

Recent legal judgements mean that an employer who requires workers to do a sleep in at their workplace must include that time in calculations for the national minimum wage.

This means that members, and potential members, who sleep in and are low paid, may be entitled to a pay rise and possible back pay.

Inez Kirk

This issue will particularly affect low-paid members in the private or community and voluntary sector who do regular sleep-ins.

But probably not those working for Aberdeenshire council because they are paid above the minimum wage.

Here Inez Kirk, Branch Secretary explains the issue:

“The law states that all workers over the age of 25 should be paid the national living wage as set by Westminster. This rate is £7.50 per hour. This means that for every hour worked this rate should be paid.

“However, this does not mean that each hour during a sleep in should be paid £7.50.

“What it does mean is that the total number of hours worked and the total pay received for those hours should meet the living wage rate.

“So, for example, if you start work at 3pm and work until 11 then sleep in for 8 hours then work from 7 until 3, your total working hours are 24.

“If you then take the total amount of pay received and divide it by 24 and it comes to above £7.50 then your pay meets the level of the national living wage. If it is below £7.50 then the law has been broken and this has to be sorted and back pay given.

“So if you were on £9.77 per hour for the above shift you would be paid 16x£9.77 = £156.32  Plus sleep in £35.41 =  £191.73

“Then divide that by the total number of hours classed as working £191.73/24 = £7.99

“This shows that pay rate is within legislation.

Time to Care - if you work in care are you getting the Scottish Living Wage?

#TimetoCare From 1 October 2016 social care workers should be be paid £8.25 per hour.

Help UNISON enforce the Living Wage and Fair Work. Click here to fill in our Living Wage survey right now!

Are you being paid the Scottish Living Wage?
This is most likely to apply to you if you work for the Community, Voluntary or Private sector.

New Social Care Rights from 1 October as demanded by Scottish Government are:

• The Scottish Living Wage of £8.25
• Fair working conditions
• An effective voice for staff when negotiating with your employer
• Secure working arrangements
• Opportunities to advance your career in social care

All this should be embedded in the revised funding of the organisation you work for.

If you work in social care and are not being paid the Scottish Living Wage – or if your terms and conditions have been altered as a result of receiving the Living Wage – then you need to let us know.

This applies to anyone aged 18 and over.

Click here to tell us about it right now using our fast survey.

And check out our TimeTo Care campaign right here

#TimetoCare

Branch calls on members to ask their MP to oppose the Trade Union Bill - an attempt to silence workers' voices

Aberdeenshire UNISON is calling on all our members to take action now to defend hard won trade union rights as part of a campaign to oppose the Trade Union Bill. Please wrote to your MPs and sign the petition by using the links below. It has never been more important to speak up before our voice is silenced.

https://secure.goingtowork.org.uk/page/speakout/will-your-mp-protect-the-right-to-strike-

And to take action by signing the petition against the bill.

UNISON is working with the other trade unions  to protect members' rights by opposing the Trade Union Bill, which represents one of the most aggressive anti-trade union laws ever proposed in a Western democracy and restricts rights protected by international law in England, Scotland and Wales.

Lock ruling on holiday pay - Branch urges members to get in touch if they think they have a claim

The Branch has written out individually to all our members urging them to get in touch with the Grampian Resource Centre on 01224 620624, if you think that you might be entitled to a claim under the new ruling.

Inez Teece, Branch Secretary said, "If you work on commission, work overtime, get a bonus, shift premium or any other payment, and this has not been paid during your holidays then you may have a claim.

Branch to meet council on terms and conditions after apology for bypassing unions

The council has apologised for bypassing the unions when announcing the outcome of the consultation on Terms and Conditions and UNISON has agreed to meet with them to go over our detailed response and to discuss the feedback from the Council’s consultation.

Inez Teece, Branch Secretary said, "We have now written to all our members to update them on Terms and Conditions after the council issued emails and placed articles on ARCADIA before the Joint Trade Unions had a chance to discuss the consultation exercise.

"We did not know those mailings were happening.  This is not normal practice and I raised the Branch's concerns formally with Aberdeenshire Council.

Branch condemnation as council bypasses unions on terms and conditions announcement

The Branch has condemned Aberdeenshire Council's decision to publicise the outcome of the consultation on terms and conditions BEFORE meeting with the trade unions to discuss the Trade Union and staff responses.

Inez Teece, Branch Secretary said, "UNISON Aberdeenshire consulted our members and we sent a detailed response, we believe other trade unions did likewise.

"Aberdeenshire Council also asked all staff to fill in their consultation response, yet have not shared the outcome of that consultation with us.

"Consultation must be meaningful and it’s normal practice for the Council and the unions to share information and to discuss outcomes, yet this has not happened.  UNISON believes the trade unions have simply been ignored.

Members vote to accept new terms and conditions but branch calls for more talks to protect low paid

Aberdeenshire UNISON members have accepted the new terms and conditions package proposed by the council, with two thirds of those who responded in the ballot voting to accept.

However, responses to UNISON’s consultation has shown a clear division between members who work 9-5, who stand to gain most from the proposals, and those who work unsocial hours and shift work, who stand to lose anything from £200 to £3000 a year. These are amongst the lowest paid in the workforce and many, such as homecarers, provide care services to the most vulnerable in our communities.

Inez Teece

Inez Teece, Branch Secretary said, “We were able to negotiate a pay increase of £750 in total for our lowest paid workers, as well as the living wage which is already in place, and £250 for everyone else. Whilst many members were happy with this and will see a rise in their take home pay, others will see this eroded and more by the loss of unsocial hours payments, shift allowances and the mileage lump sum.

“We are particularly concerned, as a union, about the impact on our lowest paid, mainly women workers and at the bitter divide that this is creating between those who work 24/7 and 9 to 5 staff.

Branch ballots members on terms and conditions

The Branch has issued ballot papers to members on the council's revised terms and conditions package.

Members are asked to make sure that they complete and return their ballot paper by Friday 1st November 2013.

The Branch will also respond formally to the council based on what members have told us individually and at the meetings.

UNISON Scotland to ballot members on new Local Government Pension Scheme with recommendation to accept

Ballot papers will be sent out to members who are conditioned to the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme on 16 October with a closing date of 10am on 7 November 2013.
Any member who does not receive a ballot paper should contact UNISON Direct on 0845 355 0845.

UNISON is recommending that members vote to Accept the current proposals.

There will also be an explanatory leaflet that outlines the proposals. A copy of this leaflet is on the UNISON Scotland website along with the draft Heads of Agreement and other materials.

Go to the Branch or UNISON Scotland website for more information.

Branch to hold members' meetings on "improved" terms and conditions proposals

UNISON is holding meetings for members in the week beginning 7th October on Aberdeenshire Council's new package of terms and conditions which will be arriving through the post from now.

Meetings
We will be having meetings as detailed below to answer questions and to seek your views. Please make every effort to come along.

• 8th October 12.30 – 1.30 Banff Court House                      
• 9th October 12.45 – 1.45 Fraserburgh Community and Sports Centre (new pool)   Meeting Room 3            
• 9th October 12.30 – 1.30 Conservatory, Carlton House, Stonehaven                            
• 10th October 12.30 – 1.30 Ury Room, Gordon House, Inverurie                                    
• 11th October 12.30 – 1.30 Marr Room, Annex, Woodhill House, Aberdeen