The formal negotiations will start on the 1st September and will follow the same format as the previous phases (see the attached timeline at the bottom of this page).
As yet there are no firm proposals but managers have been given weekly key actions by HR which include reviewing team structures, identifying potential numbers of staff who are likely to be vulnerable, likely number of redundancies, new structures & roles and planning for pre consultation discussions with staff and UNISON.
After the 1st of September
HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON?
1. Speak to your line manager
For queries about the actual content of the proposals and arrangements for putting them into effect you should in the first instance contact your line manager and not Unison. If your line manager cannot answer your question, he/she should contact Graham White on the HR hotline x3221 and get the answer for you. Managers have been instructed to do this so there is no need to accept "I don't know" as an answer.
Your line manager should:
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Keep you informed - this obligation extends to staff on maternity leave, sickness etc.
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Make you aware of the Voluntary Redundancy Policy and the Flexible Retirement Policy
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Keep checking the FAQs on the Wire and share these with you.
2. Attend HR Briefings
Attending an HR Briefing is by far the best way of finding out about how the proposals effect you and it will give you the opportunity to pose questions to senior HR advisors.
3. Attend the Unison Steering Group
This will take place place weekly in the Unison office at City Hall and its purpose is to inform the negotiating team about members' concerns and discuss what the team will raise with the Council. The group needs as many members as possible to attend so that the team get a balanced view. If you want to attend, please contact x2389 or email unisona@westminster.gov.uk.
4. Attend Unison Meetings
It is important that members attend all of our shop and mass meetings, so that our negotiators are made aware of your concerns and you have a voice in the negotiations.
WHAT IS UNISON DOING?
We will start the 90 day consultation period on the 1st September. We will then receive details of the proposed organisational structure specific to each department and how each staff member fits into those structures. We are currently representing 10 Street Management members who have appealed against their redundancy and our Assistant Branch Secretary for Contractors is leading on the Enterprise redundancy cases. UNISON activists are also representing members who have raised grievances against the failure to honour the "Step Up" performance reviews and we are still negotiating on the removal of Sabbatical Leave. The Office also has 40 active cases representing members with workplace problems.
MISINFORMATION
Both Unison and the Council wish to avoid misinformation and rumours.
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The proposed job losses are part of the previous Transformation Phases. The "Fundamental Review" is a separate process and we will commence negotiations on this later on in the year
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Letters of vulnerability - if you receive one this does not mean that you will be made redundant. They are not targeted at individuals. If, for example, if there are 8 jobs in proposed the new structure available for 10 staff, all 10 will receive a letter of vulnerability
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No-one is exempt from the process. Mike More has previously made it clear that Transition was not a one-off event but a journey over a number of years
WHAT CAN I DO?
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Let Unison have your comments throughout the process and do not assume that "someone else" has alerted us to an issue - we may be able to get things changed
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Attend the steering group and mass meetings - our Branch Officers do not have detailed personal knowledge of every team and they need you to tell them what they should be aware of and what effect the proposals will have in your team
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Support other Unison members whose jobs are threatened even if yours is not
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Become a Unison steward - there are several teams and workplaces which do not have them (see the attached nomination form below - print it, complete it & post it back to the Branch Office, the address is on the form)
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Ask non members to join UNISON and actively recruit in your workplace. Our members are "the Union" and we need a strong membership in order to negotiate effectively.
