Revised Increment Proposal

Discussions have been ongoing with the employer in light of our consultation paper and recommendation to reject.
The new proposal substitutes the saving from the national pay award being reduced from 1% to 0.65% being used in the basket of savings in place of the Non Standard Working Week element previously proposed.

The Branch Committee are meeting next Monday 6 September and they will take a decision on what action to take on the revised proposal.

We have been informed of the following:

The Scottish Employers have today withdrawn the offer made to SJC employees and now intend to impose the following;

2010/11 0.65%
2011/12 0%
2012/13 0%

The Joint Secretaries and Chair of the Trade Union Side met with the employers yesterday where we sought further discussions on reshaping and re distribution of the current offer. At no time did the employers indicate that they intended to withdraw the offer and impose a lesser one.

Your branch are very disappointed with Coslas stance on this. Unison had been willing to look at reshaping the deal that had been rejected and not necessarily looking for more money. It is very unfair that colleagues in England are to receive an improved offer and that Scotland, when not aware of the financial position is taking this stance. Unison leaders will meet on Friday 3 September to discuss what action will be taken regarding this imposition.

Consultation on Employer's Offer

Following the unanimous view from the Joint Trade Union Meeting on 24 August to reject the employer's offer, the Branch Committee are recommending that their members reject the offer.

You should have received a letter outlining why the Branch are recommending that the offer be rejected along with a consultative paper that has a return date of Friday 3 September. Please use your vote and return the form to give the Branch Committee a clear mandate from you, our members, on whether to accept or reject the offer.

Unison believe that you should reject the offer as:-

• 1.5% is significantly less than the amount of increment that was due to be paid on 1 April 2010;
• the reduction to non-standard working week allowance will have a severe impact on the take home pay of some groups of staff; some will see reductions in pay of up to £1000 a year; those at the top of the scale will also see a reduction in their pay; those in detriment will face a bigger reduction in salary when the pay protection ceases in 2012;
• the reduction in Agency staff could have serious workload issues for some departments where agency staff have been used instaed of permanent staff;
• the removal of First Aid, Fire Warden and Workplace Disturance Allowances will not only affect those due an increment;
• Acting up Allowances and Higher Grade Duties Payments, ceasing these payments may mean greater reluctance to carry out higher grade duties to ensure service provision is maintained during periods of long-term sickness etc; those currently receiving this payment will see a reduction in pay;
• the commitment to revert to the increment scale under EP&M on 1 April 2011 has been withdrawn; and
• the Council have refused to give assurances of no compulsory redundancies.

Complete the form enclosed with your letter and return it to the freepost address as soon as possible. We need to know what you want us to do.

What is your contract worth?

If you breach your contract, you will face disciplinary action.

Your employer has breached your contract, what measures will be taken against them?
What are you prepared to do?

This is just the beginning of a reduction in your terms and conditions which, if allowed to go unchecked will only escalate the downturn in services for the citizens of Aberdeen.

We must act now!

Your branch have been in talks with the employer, advised them on the Employment Tribunals lodged and notified them of huge savings that can be easily made.

We now need you to tell us what you want us to do next.

Joint Meeting Outcome

At the joint meeting of Trade Unions on 24 August, an overwhelming view from 100% of the attendees was to reject the latest offer from the Council.

In this regard, we are now in the process of issuing a consultation letter and ballot paper to all of our members asking you to vote. We strongly recommend that the offer be rejected. This will be issued shortly and will have a return date of Friday 3 September. Make your vote count - reject the offer!

Payment of Increments - Aberdeen City Council Proposals Joint Union Meeting Tuesday 24 August 2010

A joint meeting of all Unions has been arranged for Tuesday 24 August at 4.30pm at the Beach Ballroom to discuss the latest proposals brought forward by the Council to pay part of the increments due to Council employees.

Unison has sought further clarification and guarantees on the new proposals developed by the Council which we can present to you at the joint meeting.

A strong turn out is imperitive, so please encourage as many of your Union colleagues to come along to join the debate.