Issue - meetings

To consider the report which recommends general principles for the review of Trade Union facilities, duties, activities and time off arrangements across the Council.

Steve Davies, Head of Human Resources, introduced the report which put forward the principles of a review into Trade Union facilities, duties, activities, and time off arrangements. The review’s aim was reducing expenditure on current union time off provision. Members noted paragraph 7.8 of the report which detailed the key principles to be followed in the review. The Head of Human Resources offered to informally discuss with Trade Union representatives their concerns on the findings of the benchmarking survey into trade union membership and duties carried out by London Councils which was used to inform the report and recommendations.

Sean Fox, representing the Employee side, addressed the meeting and requested that the report be deferred and that the 6 months notice served upon and the Employee side secretary be lifted.  Mr Fox asked that due consideration be given to the present workloads of union officials. Demands for their services had increased significantly   and union officials were often undertaking unpaid work to keep up with the requirements of management and members. As the agenda, for this meeting, indicated there were a number or service function reviews which would require the response of union officials.

The committee sought an understanding of the responsibility for trade union official’s employment with the Council and how their employment would be affected if they were part of a restructure or service function review. The committee understood that union officials were firstly elected into their union roles and then seconded from their existing council employee role to undertake union duties. Therefore union official’s substantive posts were not protected if part of a review or restructure. Following release from their union duties, officials would be subject to the same HR process as other employees.

 Having heard the deputation of the employee side, the committee concluded that there be no change to principles of the review. Members recommended that there be a full and open consultation with the Employee side on the proposals contained in the report and a final report be submitted to the next committee meeting in January. Should discussions be ongoing, at this time a progress report would be considered by the committee.

RESOLVED

1. To approve the general principles, as set out in paragraph 7.8,  for reviewing the trade union facilities, duties, activities and time off arrangements across the Council .

2. That the committee receive , at their  next meeting on the 11^th January 2011, detailed proposals following consultation with trade unions on recommended changes to the Trade Union Facilities Duties, Activities,  and Time Off Arrangements.