Disability Action in the Borough of Barnet wrote a letter to all Barnet Councillors asking them think again about plans to delete the service
To read the letter click here
I have for some time been in discussions with HR regarding the implementation of a Dress Code for all Barnet Homes employees. The intention is for all employees, not just those meeting our residents, to adopt a code of dress to be enforced by managers.
There have been more than one draft and I have failed to agree on any of them for reasons such as culture, personal choice, cost – in the present climate and the fact that we are presently going through desperate times when there isn’t even job security and redundancies are imminent.
Although we would all agree on cleanliness and having regard to health and safety I do not see the benefit in prohibiting jeans, t shirts and some ‘military style clothing’ all of which in this day and age are not necessarily unprofessional.
I have now agreed with HR that managers will be discussing this policy with their staff at team meetings
UNISON Convenor for Barnet Homes
UNISON Women’s Self Organised Group
Come along to our next meeting on 25 February 2009, 1– 2 pm
In the UNISON office, Building 4, NLBP
Dates for future meetings are-
1 April 2009
19 May 2009
7 July 2009
10 September 2009
20 October 2009
2 December 2009
13 January 2010
24 February 2010
For more information contact Maggi Myland or Tracey Lowe on 020 8359 2088
Professor Dexter Whitifeld will be speaking about Phase Two of the Future Shape programme.
To view details click here
Today the branch received a copy of a letter from Barnet Mencap sent in support of the Welfare Rights Unit.
The Unit is down to be deleted in the current budget proposals
To read letter click here
On Friday 16 January you may have received an email from the Chief Executive asking staff to volunteer to become involved in shaping Barnet’s Future?
There are seven working groups
1. Future Shape – Barnet Strategy
2. Future Shape – Barnet Access
3. Future Shape – Barnet Assessment
4. Future Shape – Barnet Property
5. Future Shape – Barnet Support
6. Future Shape – Barnet Transact
7. Future Shape – The Vehicle
These groups relate to this model outlined in the 3 December Cabinet Committee paper
So what do the Trade Unions recommend?
We asked for staff/trade union forums in our first Briefing in September 2008.
So, yes we would want to staff to in their words “debate and help create the Barnet of tomorrow.”
On 17 December we were told the Council would no longer fund our consultant Dexter Whitfield. We wrote back on 18 December asking them to reconsider the decision to withdraw funding.
On 6 January 2009 we received an email saying they would be in touch in due course.
On Friday 16th January the Acting Chief Executive sent out an email to all staff about Future Shape.
To date we have heard nothing.
Considering the serious implications of Future Shape for Barnet Council staff and services the Joint Trade Unions have formally requested a special committee meeting with councillors.
Look out for further updates………
Pay
The Barnet UNISON workplace representatives have started off this year by attending the Joint Trade Union Council Meeting with the Senior Management Team. Once again, the main focus of this meeting was the financial state of the College in light of the FE Pay Award. Along with ATL and UCU, UNISON is continuing to push for the pay award and have stated that it is not right for college staff to always be paid their award late. The pressure is continuing to be put on for the staff to receive the pay award.
Staff Governor Elections
The position of Staff Support Staff Governor is coming up for election around the Easter period. Please, please, please ensure that you use your vote to elect a UNISON candidate. The current candidate is not a UNISON member and we need to ensure that we are represented at this level. We will keep you posted as to when the actual election date is and you will be seeing flyers in your Staff Rooms and around the College on notice boards etc. to remind you to vote in your favour!!
Training
On a slightly lighter note, there will be opportunities coming up in the near future for staff to train for and attain the E2 Level Qualification in Literacy and Mathematics. So, if you missed your chance last year and regret it, UNISON recommends that you try for it this year. It will give you a sense of achievement and is not in any way threatening to your current job prospects – it is encouraging that there is a way of improving your skills for free! Plus, this also means that Support Staff can accrue hours for their CPD Portfolio – this is an issue that we are ensuring the support staff is not being left out of. Your Union Learning Rep, Kirsty Watson will be updating you shortly when more information is available.
Finally, we are still trying to negotiate the Annual Leave/Religious Leave/Sickness Policies and are hoping to tie this up agreeably by the end of this month.
Should you have any ideas, comments or things that you would like help or advice on, please feel free to contact your Workplace Reps in confidence and as always, we will do our best to help you.
General Function Committee is a committee which looks at staffing issues.
We submitted a number of reports
To view our Adult Social services report click on the link
http://www.barnetunison.me.uk/sites/default/files/UNISONGMBGeneral_Functions%20response.pdf
Strangely this report was not discussed in the public part of the meeting so we do not know what councillors thought of our report.
The Welfare Rights report and our budget briefings which we had discussed at committee the previous meeting were not accepted onto the Agenda for this committee. This has never happened before!
Bizarrely, some of the councillors that sit on this committee had accepted the same report the previous evening!
We are seeking an urgent meeting with the Director of Corporate Governance as there maybe be implications for those facing redundancy. More details to follow…
The Joint Trade Unions presented the Welfare Rights budget report and a budget briefing to the committee.
The councillors voted to accept receipt of reports in order we could discuss the content.
Welfare Rights/Sheltered Housing
· How will the existing work of the Unit be covered if the unit is closed?
· What approaches have been made (or are going to be made) to the third sector to cover the work of the Unit?
· Has a disability impact assessment been carried out to determine affect of closing the Unit?
· Has any consultation with service users been undertaken?
· how will the views expressed be incorporated into the budget consultation process
Agency figures
We have asked for details of agency staff in order to ensure that there are opportunities for redeployment of staff vulnerable to redundancy.
Consultants spend
We have asked for consultancy spends across the directorates
Children’s Services
On the proposals affecting staff working in Children’s Services we were informed that talks on the restructures would be taking place with the trade unions. Reports on the outcomes of these consultations will follow.
