HitchhikersTrade Union Guide to Future Shape Consolidation Phase

(Subject to the report being approved at Cabinet on 6^th July) 

Hopefully staff should already had chance to read the Future Shape report . One of the key things to note is what is termed ‘Consolidation’ process. A number of services have been clustered together to form Bundles. The Timescale for Wave One is 2009-2011 followed by Wave Two. 

Another work stream concerns group of services identified as Support Services (including HR,ICT,Legal, Finance, Audit, Procurement) 

Members will be aware that the Trade Unions have had ongoing issues about employment issues for any staff being transferred to another organisation. In the Report a ‘people’s stream’ group will be created which will give the Trade Unions an opportunity to discuss our concerns. We will be providing a more detailed briefing to members.

In the interim please read the following guidance

What you can do

1. Please try and attend one of the Chief Executive road shows which start this month.

2. Please read all UNISON Bulletins on Future Shape

3. Make sure you read the Council All Staff email bulletins in relation to Future Shape.  

4. Ask for Future Shape to included on the Agenda of your team meetings

5. If you have a query on staffing issues address it first with your line manager.

6. Read Barnet Council Press release http://www.barnet.gov.uk/press_releases.htm?id=1996

7. If you find the Future Shape Cabinet heavy going read the ‘Plain English’ version (copies on Council intranet).

8. Any questions on the report you can contact UNISON office at contactus@barnetunison,org.uk or telephone 02083592088

9. Come along to the Lobby on 6 July

It is always good to listen & learn from other UNISON reps. I always come away from Conference having learnt something. It was good to meet up with UNISON NEC rep John McDermott from Leeds. I first met John at Conference several years ago. John is a fantastic, hard working committed rep, someone I would be proud to work with and someone any UNISON member would want fighting in their corner. John was always supportive to the Fremantle Care Workers Campaign; John recently got the most votes in the for the male seat NEC elections in his region.

Keep up the good work John.

Ad Hoc & Scrutiny – Icelandic Banks investigation -Monday 22 June 2009 http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/meetings/meetingdetail.asp?meetingID=5611

The committee are to receive an interim update on the investigation. In the backdrop of the latest farce with MP expenses being blacked out lets hope promises of transparency and openness are continued here in Barnet.

Audit Committee – Monday 29 June

One for the anoraks……I think we need to pay closer attention to these reports…I am very interested in the Meals at Home Audit. This service was privatised over a year ago and has not been performing well. Unfortunately the Trade Unions were not consulted until it was too late. When we found out we tried to convince the Council to look again. We were concerned that the business case had not been robust & contract monitoring not in place. http://committeepapers.barnet.gov.uk/democracy/meetings/meetingdetail.asp?meetingID=4554

 

 

 

As I have reported before we are heading for difficult times it is good to know we have some excellent UNISON reps in London Region. Sean Fox, Branch Secretary Haringey, Phil O’Reilly Brent Branch Secretary, Dave Eggmore Camden Branch Secretary, Jon Rogers & Nick Venedi Lambeth Joint Branch Secretaries, Glenn Kelly, Bromley Branch Secretary, Onay Kasab Greenwich Branch Secretary, Brian Debus, Matthew Waterfall Hackney Branch Secretary, Noreen Morris Branch Secretary Hammersmith & Fulham, Sue Clark, Sonya Howard Kensington & Chelsea UNISON rep, Marshajane Thompson & Garry Chick-Mackay Havering Branch Secretary, Phoebe, Mandy, Phil, George from Camden, Andrew in Islington, Gary, Lynne & Steve from Harrow, Sue Plain & Chris Cooper from Southwark to name but a few.

 

But it was the Croydon branch that I want to give a BIG mention. Just over two months ago Malcolm Campbell their Branch Secretary and my good friend passed away. Malcolm was a fantastic branch secretary,the branch are still missing him badly, as all of his friends are. Malcolm would have been proud of the Croydon’s delegation which went to conference. They kept up his tradition of speaking up for members and challenging the bureaucracy that sometimes seems out of synch with the delegates at conference.

 

Many of the above have supported our branch and some will no doubt be visiting us at our Future Shape Lobby on 6 JULY