Response From The Labour Group

Thank you for your recent e-mail, this response is the Labour Group position on the matters you have raised. 1 Our record is our key argument. We have worked closely with the Trade Unions and in particular UNISON throughout the last 5 years to try and protect our staff and services threatened by the SNP and the Lib Dems. We believe in public services and we believe that good public services are key to the viability of this city. 2 Again our record is to rebut all attempts at privatisation. This culminated in our pressure on the SNP paying off and producing a decisive rejection of the wholesale-proposed privatisation of core services. Remember Labour took a position right at the start of the process and said no. The SNP on the other hand said yes initially then changed their minds after huge amounts of money had been spent on outside accountants and thereby wasted. 3 We will be integrating the current plans for wholly owned internal company to ensure quality is preserved. We will work with the Trade Unions and in particular UNISON to take forward proposals in partnership and possibly incorporating co-operative aspects. In childcare and fostering in particular we might in close consultation with the Unions examine co-operative solutions. 4 We can assure the workforce that any changes in this field will be politically led centred on strong convenor ship. Labour Councillors will not be rubber-stamping anything. 5 Our commitment is to guarantee our own staff the living wage and we will seek to apply this to contracts wherever this is legally possible 6 We have fought hard for PSA’s against the SNP and Lib Dems who cut them. In alliance with educational religious and parent representatives we succeeded in forcing an inquiry into the educational impact of these cuts. The SNP and lib Dems voted against our motion. 7 We have always recognised the crucial importance of non-uniformed staff to the provision of criminal justice services. This was shown by the prolonged struggle over provision of forensic services in Aberdeen. We will continue to be pro-active in protecting staff. 8 We will work to oppose and bring down this reactionary UK Government and get back Labour Government. We would call on all Trade Unions and all Trade Unionists to support us in our endeavours. We will work with COSLA to do whatever can be done in mitigation of current measures. We will support all legitimate protests. 9 The reactionary SNP councillors supported by the Lib Dems tried to deny Aberdeen City Council staff their legitimate salary increments. Labour opposed this and fought to ensure all staff received their entitlements under contract. Only our joint working with Trade Unions overcame this. In administration we would be a strong voice in COSLA working closely with unions 10. Yes we believe that green should be an important part of our agenda Willie Young Secretary Labour Group Aberdeen City Council

Response from Jim Farquharson

Hi Karen, Difficult questions, but my answers must be brief. Bearing in mind that I had a thirty year career in HR in the Oil Industry, my answers will certainly be a bit different from those of your members. In that time, i was always known as firm but fair. I always try to achieve a win/win solution and am disappointed with much of the warring that seems to be part of Public Sector bargaining.Short answers are as follows. 1) Cut back on wasted expenditure and vanity projects. Try to achieve win/win solutions to problems. That means both side understanding the issues and coming to a compromise. 2) I have largely been opposed to privatisation as the saving in costs are often replaced by contractor profits. 3) Good question... It is my personal belief that the Equal Pay settlement that was imposed on the Unions has created more problems than we originally had. Bad legislation has been enacted for good reasons but without any understanding of the possible outcome. 4) Outwith my remit. 5) They should be paid a fair wage. The definition of Living Wage depends on too many different criteria. That is where mistakes have been made in the past. 6) I am totally opposed to the dual policy of "inclusion" and swingeing cuts in PSA's and classroom assistants. 7) I am totally opposed to the amalgamation of Scotland's Police Forces and the resulting loss of Police Officers on our streets. 8) Not part of my remit. 9) These are hard times and should be shared by all alike. 10) it is not a matter that I personally am particularly interested in, and so I would leave that to others. Sorry that is my lot. Regards, Jim Farquharson

A letter to council candidates

With the local elections now just 11days away the branch has written to as many council candidates as we could get contact email contact information for, we have not included candidates who represent the National Front and when we reciee a response we will post the comments here. Dear Council candidate Our Members wish to make informed choices at the local council elections next week. With this in mind I am sending these questions to as many candidates as possible. We realise this a busy time but the Aberdeen City Branch of Unison would appreciate your answers to the following questions. We with your permission will publish responses on our blog. In order that our members have all the information they require. 1. How will you protect public services? 2. Will you oppose any proposals for privatisation of key council services? 3. With budgets going down, how will you protect standards in social care? 4. How can you ensure that the amount of personalisation or self-directed payments are at a level for elderly or disabled people to purchase an adequate amount of care? 5. Should everyone delivering public services - council staff and those working for contractors - be paid the Living Wage? 6. Will you recognise the contribution made to our children’s education by classroom assistants by supporting them in opposing cutbacks? 7. Will you oppose the 3,000 planned job losses among police staffs? 8. What will you do to lessen the impact of the UK Government’s Welfare Reforms which will see many families losing entitlement to a range of benefits including council tax benefit, housing benefit and working tax credits? 9. Do you think it’s fair that council staff should have their pay frozen while inflation is high and the rich are getting richer? 10. Will you support the council negotiating a Green Workplace agreement with trade unions to help meet climate change targets? thanks in advance karen Karen Davidson Secretary Unison Aberdeen City

Comment from Cllr Jim Kiddie

Many thanks for your kind remarks. I can assure you that I spoke with considerable passion on this subject and am delighted with the outcome.

Councillor Jim Kiddie (in response to email below)

Councillors,

I am writing on behalf of the Aberdeen City Unison Branch to thank you for your support yesterday in voting to end the ADM project.

We are incredibly grateful and look forward to now working to further improve the Corporate Governance Service.

On a separate note, can I, on behalf of the Branch, take this opportunity to say that it has been a pleasure working with you all over the past few years, through a period that has been challenging at best! We look forward to continuing and developing this relationship after the election.

We wish you all the very best for 3 May.

Comment from Cllr Marie Boulton

Please pass on my support and gratitude to all your members for the great work they do and I have complete faith that they will ensure we move forward successfully together.

Best wishes
Marie Boulton

End to Privitisation Plans at ACC

Aberdeen City Unison Branch would like to thank all those involved in the fight against the privatisation of sections of the Corporate Governance Service, and the Labour and SNP Councillors (and Councillor Marie Boulton) who voted to end the ill fated project yesterday.

End of Privatisation Plans for Corporate Governance Service

Councillors have today taken a decision to end plans to privatise sections of the Corporate Governance Service (referred to as the Alternative Delivery Model or ADM).

Councillors instructed Stewart Carruth, who is the Director for the Corporate Governance Service, to consult with the relevant Trades Unions and the wider workforce seeking their views on the future direction of the service and report to this committee with options for how future years' savings can be achieved in the absence of the ADM Project.

A huge thank you to all involved in the fight against this privatisation project - a great success for staff!