Wednesday, 24 August 2011
BCC CHANGES TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS
You should by now have had sight of the BCC Changing Times Special sent out to employees regarding changes to Terms and Conditions, if not look on the BCC intranet.
UNISON has arranged a meeting on Thursday 8th September 2011,
between 12.30 and 1.30 pm in the Aylesbury Ex-Servicemen's Club, Walton Street, Aylesbury, to seek your views on these changes.
Please make every effort to attend
BUCKS COUNTY BRANCH UNISON
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
PROTECT OUR PENSIONS CAMPAIGN
PROTECT OUR PENSIONS CAMPAIGN
The country is facing radical change due to the incoming Coalition Government, and proposals following the review of the Pensions scheme by Government adviser Lord Hutton. These proposals, if not challenged threaten to shake up the system of state pension for up to 750,000 public sector workers, directly reducing pension benefits and increasing the age at which people may retire.
The proposals of Lord Hutton, that directly impact on UNISON members:
v To raise the current retirement age
v To alter the way in which pensions are calculated
v Increase individual pension contributions
In response to this radical proposal UNISON have acted quickly and all branches have met to discuss the way forward. The Buckinghamshire branch arranged a general meeting for all local members in the Ex-Serviceman’s club on Walton Street in Aylesbury on the 29th May 2011. The meeting was held to launch and support the national UNISON ‘Protect Our Pensions Campaign’, and discuss the issues for Buckinghamshire members in more detail. If you were unable to attend this very informative meeting, there are a number of Facts Sheets available free of charge from the Branch Office. These include: Ten Key Facts and Myths Exposed, which explain what the review findings are, and investigations into the truth behind the statements within the documentation.
At the meeting, members were informed that UNISON as a national Union are reviewing all of the Government information, which states that long term cuts have to be made in order to make the pension system sustainable in the future.
The Protect Our Pensions Campaign was devised to inform all members of the latest information and encourage support to challenge the findings and proposal of the Hutton Review. Extra personnel will be required to ensure that each UNISON branch and their members are fully up to date with the latest information; these active volunteers will be our Pension Champions and Pensions Contacts.
Thank you to Martin Cross for volunteering to be our first Pension Champions, and to Steve Belfrage and Keith Stokes for becoming our first Pension Contacts. Without the support of our members it would not be possible to take such an active part in this vital campaign to protect our pensions.
“It is time for everyone to get involved, just remember no one person can do everything, but every one of us can do something!” Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON
Contacts:
Martin Cross 01296 382646
macross@buckscc.go.uk
Steve Belfrage 01296 388606
sbelfrage@buckscc.gov.uk
Keith Stokes 01296 383063
kstokes@buckscc.gov.uk
The country is facing radical change due to the incoming Coalition Government, and proposals following the review of the Pensions scheme by Government adviser Lord Hutton. These proposals, if not challenged threaten to shake up the system of state pension for up to 750,000 public sector workers, directly reducing pension benefits and increasing the age at which people may retire.
The proposals of Lord Hutton, that directly impact on UNISON members:
v To raise the current retirement age
v To alter the way in which pensions are calculated
v Increase individual pension contributions
In response to this radical proposal UNISON have acted quickly and all branches have met to discuss the way forward. The Buckinghamshire branch arranged a general meeting for all local members in the Ex-Serviceman’s club on Walton Street in Aylesbury on the 29th May 2011. The meeting was held to launch and support the national UNISON ‘Protect Our Pensions Campaign’, and discuss the issues for Buckinghamshire members in more detail. If you were unable to attend this very informative meeting, there are a number of Facts Sheets available free of charge from the Branch Office. These include: Ten Key Facts and Myths Exposed, which explain what the review findings are, and investigations into the truth behind the statements within the documentation.
At the meeting, members were informed that UNISON as a national Union are reviewing all of the Government information, which states that long term cuts have to be made in order to make the pension system sustainable in the future.
The Protect Our Pensions Campaign was devised to inform all members of the latest information and encourage support to challenge the findings and proposal of the Hutton Review. Extra personnel will be required to ensure that each UNISON branch and their members are fully up to date with the latest information; these active volunteers will be our Pension Champions and Pensions Contacts.
Thank you to Martin Cross for volunteering to be our first Pension Champions, and to Steve Belfrage and Keith Stokes for becoming our first Pension Contacts. Without the support of our members it would not be possible to take such an active part in this vital campaign to protect our pensions.
“It is time for everyone to get involved, just remember no one person can do everything, but every one of us can do something!” Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON
Contacts:
Martin Cross 01296 382646
macross@buckscc.go.uk
Steve Belfrage 01296 388606
sbelfrage@buckscc.gov.uk
Keith Stokes 01296 383063
kstokes@buckscc.gov.uk
Monday, 16 May 2011
Pensions Meeting
Bucks County branch of UNISON has arranged a Pensions meeting
which is taking place at the Aylesbury Ex Services Club, Walton Street, Aylesbury
between 12.30 - 1.30 pm on Monday 23rd May 2011.
All UNISON members are welcome to come along
to the presentation which will be given by Ruth Smith, Regional Organiser from Reading.
UNISON Bucks County Branch
01296 382026
which is taking place at the Aylesbury Ex Services Club, Walton Street, Aylesbury
between 12.30 - 1.30 pm on Monday 23rd May 2011.
All UNISON members are welcome to come along
to the presentation which will be given by Ruth Smith, Regional Organiser from Reading.
UNISON Bucks County Branch
01296 382026
Monday, 11 April 2011
Is 'Delivering Successful Performance' quite what it seems?
You may have seen information from HR coming round about their new performance management system - Delivering Successful Performance. Indeed staff have been invited to sign up for employee briefings on this new system, and management training is already underway. So, what are they not telling you about Delivering Successful Performance? Bucks County Council are required under their own agreement with us to negotiate with us in relation to the principles underpinning any performance management scheme. Negotiations were underway for many months during 2010. There are two things you need to know about those negotiations: 1) When the scheme was first put to us it included a link to performance related pay. This would have been a major change to your terms and conditions of employment, meaning your pay could be adjusted up or down according to how well your manager rated your performance. We argued against this, and were successful in having it removed from the scheme; 2) We have not agreed to this scheme. On the basis that it could easily be used as a way to bring in performance related pay in at a later date, we have continued to oppose it. We do not believe it will deliver successful performance any better than the old appraisal scheme, if it were implemented properly and fairly by well trained managers. Our work around this issue has not stopped. We will continue to oppose any form of performance related pay which could be used to cut staff pay. We will continue to challenge the fact that this has been introduced without our agreement. We will continue to work to ensure that the scheme is properly reviewed and withdrawn if it is not working. If you go to the briefings, let us know your views so that we can feed them into our discussions with HR on this. Were we right to oppose performance related pay that could have led to your pay being cut? UNISON Is your Trades Union and will always argue for your best interests. Spread the word - everyone needs to be in a Trades Union these days, especially in Bucks County Council UNISON BUCKS COUNTY BRANCH
Monday, 24 January 2011
Property Services meeting Mon 31st Jan
UNISON have arranged a meeting for all Property Services members on Monday 31st January 2011 in Comt Boardroom, New County Offices, Aylesbury, between 1 pm – 2 pm.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Branch AGM
The Branch AGM will take place on
Thursday 27th January 2011
Mezzanine Room 1, New County Offices.
Meeting starts at 1 pm with buffet from 12.30 onwards.
Please confirm with the Branch Office if you will require refreshments.
01296 382026
Thursday 27th January 2011
Mezzanine Room 1, New County Offices.
Meeting starts at 1 pm with buffet from 12.30 onwards.
Please confirm with the Branch Office if you will require refreshments.
01296 382026
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
THE BUCKS COUNTY UNISON PAY CLAIM FOR 2011/12
THE BUCKS COUNTY UNISON PAY CLAIM FOR 2011/12
UNISON is submitting the following claim for a pay increase for our members in 2011/12.
1. An increase of at least £250 on all salaries and spinal column points from the bottom of Range 5 to the top of Range 12.
2. An increase of at least £400 on all salaries and spinal column points from the bottom of Range 1A to the top of Range 4. UNISON believes that the Government’s proposal of £250 for those earning up to £21,000 is not a realistic increase for those living and working in Buckinghamshire.
3. A reduction in the standard working week to 35 hours without loss of pay.
4. An increase in the basic annual leave entitlement to 25 days per year for those who currently fall below this figure.
BACKGROUND TO THE CLAIM
Buckinghamshire County Council staff are vital in supporting the local community currently under stress. Buckinghamshire County Council should seek to preserve jobs, whilst recognising the work that employees have done to bring about widespread improvement through a modest pay rise.
The modest pay increase is affordable and in line with the Chancellor’s statement to the House of Commons on 22nd June 2010. “A two year pay freeze will be introduced from 2011/12 to Public Sector workforces, except for those earning £21,000 or less, who will receive an increase of at least £250 a year.”
The growing number of redundancies across Buckinghamshire County Council places greater strain on our members and has a direct negative impact on the local community and services.
A fair and modest settlement is affordable. The un-affordability argument generally put forward does not reflect the increased level of Buckinghamshire County Council reserves in recent years.
There is still widespread use and high expenditure on agency workers and consultants which does not make good sense in terms of good employment practice, service delivery and cost.
The recent economic situation, with inflation levels (RPI 4.6%, CPI 3.1%) has markedly increased the cost of living for local government workers and left many in debt.
Ongoing recruitment and retention difficulties could be largely overcome by a fair settlement this year, and in future years, which would also help to improve Buckinghamshire County Council’s current reputation in the employment market.
Over recent years, our members have experienced pay cuts in real terms. UNISON believes this has contributed to falling staff morale amongst employees, and a feeling of being undervalued at a time of heavy work pressure and job insecurity.
The latest Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development ‘Employee Outlook’ Survey found that public sector workers are the ones most likely to report that they are working under excessive pressure. The truth is that Buckinghamshire County Council employees provide vital services to our local community. Each redundancy or loss of staff is a direct cut in those services and local economies which elected Members have a responsibility for.
Our members are being expected to shoulder an unfair share of the current public expenditure cuts, whilst being forced to undergo unprecedented and often unnecessary levels of change within Buckinghamshire County Council. Buckinghamshire County Council will find the process of change far easier to undertake if our members believe they are being treated with a level of dignity and respect.
On ‘Dragons Den’ a certain gentlemen recently said, ‘If you have a problem don’t employ consultants, ask the people on the shop floor. They’ll give you the answers’. In this respect a closer dialogue with elected Members and Senior Management of Buckinghamshire County Council would be welcomed by UNISON regarding job stability, redeployment and avoidance of compulsory redundancy along with a desire to see a fair approach on all employment and staff issues
UNISON is submitting the following claim for a pay increase for our members in 2011/12.
1. An increase of at least £250 on all salaries and spinal column points from the bottom of Range 5 to the top of Range 12.
2. An increase of at least £400 on all salaries and spinal column points from the bottom of Range 1A to the top of Range 4. UNISON believes that the Government’s proposal of £250 for those earning up to £21,000 is not a realistic increase for those living and working in Buckinghamshire.
3. A reduction in the standard working week to 35 hours without loss of pay.
4. An increase in the basic annual leave entitlement to 25 days per year for those who currently fall below this figure.
BACKGROUND TO THE CLAIM
Buckinghamshire County Council staff are vital in supporting the local community currently under stress. Buckinghamshire County Council should seek to preserve jobs, whilst recognising the work that employees have done to bring about widespread improvement through a modest pay rise.
The modest pay increase is affordable and in line with the Chancellor’s statement to the House of Commons on 22nd June 2010. “A two year pay freeze will be introduced from 2011/12 to Public Sector workforces, except for those earning £21,000 or less, who will receive an increase of at least £250 a year.”
The growing number of redundancies across Buckinghamshire County Council places greater strain on our members and has a direct negative impact on the local community and services.
A fair and modest settlement is affordable. The un-affordability argument generally put forward does not reflect the increased level of Buckinghamshire County Council reserves in recent years.
There is still widespread use and high expenditure on agency workers and consultants which does not make good sense in terms of good employment practice, service delivery and cost.
The recent economic situation, with inflation levels (RPI 4.6%, CPI 3.1%) has markedly increased the cost of living for local government workers and left many in debt.
Ongoing recruitment and retention difficulties could be largely overcome by a fair settlement this year, and in future years, which would also help to improve Buckinghamshire County Council’s current reputation in the employment market.
Over recent years, our members have experienced pay cuts in real terms. UNISON believes this has contributed to falling staff morale amongst employees, and a feeling of being undervalued at a time of heavy work pressure and job insecurity.
The latest Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development ‘Employee Outlook’ Survey found that public sector workers are the ones most likely to report that they are working under excessive pressure. The truth is that Buckinghamshire County Council employees provide vital services to our local community. Each redundancy or loss of staff is a direct cut in those services and local economies which elected Members have a responsibility for.
Our members are being expected to shoulder an unfair share of the current public expenditure cuts, whilst being forced to undergo unprecedented and often unnecessary levels of change within Buckinghamshire County Council. Buckinghamshire County Council will find the process of change far easier to undertake if our members believe they are being treated with a level of dignity and respect.
On ‘Dragons Den’ a certain gentlemen recently said, ‘If you have a problem don’t employ consultants, ask the people on the shop floor. They’ll give you the answers’. In this respect a closer dialogue with elected Members and Senior Management of Buckinghamshire County Council would be welcomed by UNISON regarding job stability, redeployment and avoidance of compulsory redundancy along with a desire to see a fair approach on all employment and staff issues
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