easyCouncil continues to attract attention

Barnet Council has full page article in Guardian

http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/easyCouncil3FEB.pdf

or you can go online and read comments

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/feb/03/mike-freer-easycouncil-interview

Before Total Place started to grab headlines Future Shape was already looking at efficiencies beyond the council’s budget & workforce. It looked at Local Strategic Partnerships (LSP’s) and whether they could be a tool to deliver greater efficiencies across public services whilst at the same time provide better services to residents. The CIPFA document ‘After the downturn’ http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/cipfasolace/download/After_the_Downturn.pdf

see page 8.13 which talks about Total Place as a potential option and in 8.6 poses the question

“Are new powers necessary to enable and or incentivise pooling of resources on a significantly more extensive scale in the public interest.”

The easyCouncil sound bite continues to capture media attention and had provoked a debate about the future of public services. But what does it mean for residents and staff?

“Do you think you should pay for their failure?”

  • Bankers bonuses are back
  • 20% Cut in Public Spending for the next thousand years!
  • 1 in 5 public sector workers could face redundancy

What could it mean to you?

If it is not your job it could be your partners, wife, husband, family, friends working in public services.

BUT it doesn’t stop there ……

losing jobs in public services has a knock on effect…………contractors delivering services for public sector will lose work and have to make cuts so more redundancies.

BUT it doesn’t stop there…..

Local businesses will lose business as unemployment soars in their community and people spend less……..

BUT it doesn’t stop there….

Escalating unemployment creates massive uptake in benefits…………..creates pressure on government, who will be taking less taxes and national insurance……less take up of occupational pensions……creating a massive dependency on future governments in pension credits……

BUT it doesn’t stop there ……………

As result of less income from business community, Councils will be forced to increase council tax…or cut more services?

BUT it doesn’t stop there……………..

No money, no jobs, poor prospects will see enormous rise in the number of people reaching mortgage arrears and forced to sell, leading to a demand for housing…….which will lead to an increase in Housing Benefit claims. Who pays for Housing Benefit?…ultimately it is the tax payer. Those lucky enough to work will be asked to pay more as pressure mounts on government to find funding to keep all these people unemployed!

DISCLAIMER

Financial Arrmageddon is based upon the opinions of financial ‘experts’ (and where were they before the global recession hit?) who are pushing the Armageddon scenario for Public Services. They claim the government must claw back £Billions from the Public Sector in order to clear the massive debt built up supporting the global collapse of the financial institutions!

If you want to read what the experts are saying click here http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/cipfasolace/download/After_the_Downturn.pdf

What do you think?

Farewell Welfare Rights

Last night I joined the Welfare Rights Unit for their farewell party. It was good to see some of the former staff who used to work at the Unit. Whilst it should have been a sombre occasion I could not help but be inspired by the professionalism and total commitment of all the staff to the residents they have been serving. I can’t remember in my time working with this team over almost 12 years at any time they have asked me about their own circumstances. Their message to me has been clear how can we keep this service for Barnet residents. It has been a humbling experience being their rep. I am sure all of Barnet UNISON members will be wishing them well. I believe a lot of social workers will be asking me for their mobile numbers as complicated benefit claims start to build up across the service!

I leave this picture for you.

Pat is was a wonderful idea and it tasted fantastic.

 

Mick Carter -remembering him

When we lose someone we try to remember them. Their face, their voice…….luckily we had a few pictures of my time working with Mick and a short video clip.

What is incredible about the video clip is that he is talking about Fremantle Care Workers campaign. All the things that made up the dispute were things that Mick cared passionately about.

I hope those of you who knew Mick will take some comfort from this short video.

Just click on this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCCBqX36AUE

 

Mick Carter – Farewell

I am sad to report that Mick Carter the former GMB Convenor in Barnet passed away on 6th January 2010.  I understand his funeral is on 22 January at 10.00 am in the Robin Hood Cemetery, Birmingham. 

I worked alongside Mick Carter for almost 5 years. It was an honour and privilege to have known him. Mick was a trade unionist in and out of work; he maintained an energy and commitment to fighting for the rights of his members right up until his retirement.

Mick also recognised the importance of education and learning and spent many years as a TUC teacher at Hounslow College. He brought that knowledge and experience to Barnet and used it to encourage members to take up learning opportunities at work.

Mick is also the reason we have such a strong Joint Trade Union working relationship as he saw the importance of unions working together.

It is always sad when you receive news about someone passing away and you try to remember the last time you spoke to that person.  I am glad we have a collection of photographs from out brief time working together. This one brings a smile to my face when I see it.

Mick always used to sign of his emails with “Be lucky!”

Well Mick, on behalf of Barnet UNISON branch I want to pass our condolences to his family and to add

 “we were lucky, we were lucky to have worked and laughed with you.”

Your passing is a loss not just to your family and friends but the Trade Union movement as a whole.

John Peck – Farewell

At the beginning of the week I along with a few UNISON colleagues attended the funeral of an ex UNISON rep & retired member John Peck.

I first met John when I was meeting UNISON members at Rosa Freedman day centre in 1998. He managed to jump ship before Fremantle took over the homes and went to work as a caretaker at Copthall School.

 

When John retired he became an active member of our retired members branch. John was a lovely bloke, he had been a rep and understood the need to be in a trade union.  Since his retirement John was a regular volunteer in the UNISON office helping out with branch, mailings most recently helping prepare the AGM notice this year.

On behalf of Barnet UNISON I want to pass on our condolences to his family and a big thank you for his contribution to the branch. He will be missed. 

Barnet UNISON Guide to Council Budget 2010/11

Barnet UNISON Guide to Council Budget 2010/11

On Monday 11th January the Joint Trade Unions are meeting with our Employers to discuss the Budget Proposals. Formal consultation starts on 18th January so this is just an early introduction to the proposals. We have a series of meetings with Directors to go through their proposals.

This year we are keen to try and encourage members to have a say about the budget proposals. Please take some time to look at the proposals and discuss with colleagues in your team.

Please forward your ideas to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk and we will raise them directly with our employers at the end of the consultation.

Adult Social Services – £3.127Million in savings…..

Do you have any suggestions which will deliver savings?

Do you see waste of resources at work?

Do you work in a service where there is an opportunity to maximise income?  

If posts are going in your team how will it affect the service and the staff?

Chief Executive and Strategy – £280,000 in savings

Do you have any suggestions which will deliver savings?

Do you see waste of resources at work?

Do you work in a service where there is an opportunity to maximise income?  

If posts are going in your team how will it affect the service and the staff?

Children’s Service – £2.656 million in savings

Do you have any suggestions which will deliver savings?

Do you see waste of resources at work?

Do you work in a service where there is an opportunity to maximise income?  

If posts are going in your team how will it affect the service and the staff?

Commercial Services – £269,000 in savings

Do you have any suggestions which will deliver savings?

Do you see waste of resources at work?

Do you work in a service where there is an opportunity to maximise income?  

If posts are going in your team how will it affect the service and the staff?

Corporate Governance & Finance – £4.102 million in savings

Do you have any suggestions which will deliver savings ?

Do you see waste of resources at work?

Do you work in a service where there is an opportunity to maximise income?  

If posts are going in your team how will it affect the service and the staff?

Environment & Operations – £2.024 million in savings

Do you have any suggestions which will deliver savings ?

Do you see waste of resources at work?

Do you work in a service where there is an opportunity to maximise income?  

If posts are going in your team how will it affect the service and the staff?

Planning, Housing & Regeneration –  £968,000 in savings

Do you have any suggestions which will deliver savings ?

Do you see waste of resources at work?

Do you work in a service where there is an opportunity to maximise income?  

If posts are going in your team how will it affect the service and the staff?

Advice to members

Are you at risk of redundancy?

Are posts being deleted in your team?

Are you confused about the process?

If you answer YES to any of the above please contact the Barnet UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

£40 Billion pay out!

£40 Billion pay out!

As our members hear their employer is not going to pay out any nationally agreed pay award this year, they see this!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/08/bonus-time-city-banks

Incredible….but perhaps not and it gets better

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/21/executive-pay-bonuses-goldmansachs

We the Public… must learn to ‘tolerate’ bankers bonuses according to Conservative peer Lord Griffiths.

Small comfort to those families where redundancy letters are dropping through the letter box!

Remember October last year a politician said “we’re all in this together”

We must tighten our belts, accept pay freezes whilst those in the city thumb their noses and award themselves bonuses….it just makes me…..

Freezy easyCouncil…..brrrrrrr

Barnet is freezing…..and it looks like there could be some disruption to services of the rest of the week.

Staff should keep an eye on the council web site http://www.barnet.gov.uk/highlights.htm

We are getting lots of calls about getting in to work. Staff should make sure they ring their line manager if they are experiencing problems.

Last September the council agreed in September 2009 an Emergency Civil Emergency Plan which you can download on the council web site here

http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/meetings/meetingdetail.asp?meetingid=5286

or here

 

Customer ‘don’t care Services????

Customer ‘don’t care’ Services

 

Aaaaaarghhhhh…….over the break I had the please of dealing with a private sector organisation as my phone line went dead before Christmas.  I am really, really sensitive about customer services now particularly as it is something Future Shape has identified as some thing that needs to be  improving.

We are being told we need to compare ourselves with the private sector as they set the new standards……I can’t speak for anyone else but I have not been impressed by customer services for some of the biggest providers in particular, the public utilities that used to be under public ownership but have now been sold off to large multi national companies based outside the UK.

I had to ring a 0845 number with my mobile, which concerned me and I had to make several calls all of which ended up in me hanging u p because I was going mad listening to the background music! 

I am sure this is familiar experience for many of you:

Press 1 for ……….

Press 2 for…………….

Press 3 for …………….

Press 4 for…………….

Thank you, in order to help us (?) help you please choose from the following

Press 1 for ……….

Press 2 for …………..

Press 3 for ………………………..

Thank you, we really want to help you, but first can you check you have done the following,

To help us (?) help you please choose from the following

Press 1 for …….

Press 2 for……

Press 3 for……

Or hold and a customer services operator will deal with you shortly……

Next you hear these dreaded words…

“We are experiencing high volume of calls and waiting times could be up to 30 minutes………in the meanwhile…….why not listen to some music while you wait….”

To listen to classical music Press1

To listen to jazz music Press 2

To listen to drum & bass music Press 3

To listen to easy listening music Press 4 

I eventually spoke to a real human being after choosing the option I was interested in purchasing their service (a potential new customer). 

Two visits from an engineer later I now have my phone back and a promise that I will not be paying for my phone for the next two months. I also took the opportunity to provide feedback on their customer services. I pointed out that all I want is a number to ring. I want someone to pick up the phone and sort my problems out. I added that I don’t want or like pushing option buttons and to be honest I have not met anyone who thinks this is good idea. My question is what customer feedback determined this is what we wanted? I have never been asked if I want this sort of customer service and that is for all services I pay for in the private sector. 

I ask this question knowing that this year will see the creation of a Customer Service Organisation see page 99 of the Future Shape Cabinet report

http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/reports/reportdetail.asp?ReportID=8580

I have been asked by council staff

“Which services or staff will be going into this Organisation?”

I don’t know. I am expecting a meeting to be arranged to discuss sometime soon, but I would guess it could mean all staff who deal directly with customers/residents/citizens for their service. This obviously has implications not just for those staff but also for the service they leave.  

Lots and lots of questions which I hope we will be able to work through this year……………….

For those of you interested in this issue here are few links

1. Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/07/steve-bundred-public-service

2. Video’s

http://www.thesystemsthinkingreview.co.uk/index.php?pg=18&backto=1&utwkstoryid=177

Do you need to outsource?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=558zb9ihT1E&feature=related

Downside of outsourcing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJa7ZMs7KSg&feature=related

 

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