UNISON Hull City Branch Aggregate Annual General Meetings 2017.

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1 Town Hall Chambers 39 Alfred Gelder Street HULL HU1 2AG Tel: Fax: web site: hull.city-unison.org.uk HULL CITY BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING s TO BE HELD ON 14, 16, 21 and 23 MARCH 2017 AT THE CONFERENCE SUITE (Ground floor), 39 ALFRED GELDER STREET, HULL March 2017 Dear Colleague UNISON Hull City Branch Aggregate Annual General Meetings I am writing to you to publish the final agenda and that you are invited to attend one of the Aggregate Annual General Meetings of Hull City Branch of UNISON where the following meetings have been arranged: 1) Tuesday 14 March 2017 UNISON Recreation Centre from noon till 1.00 pm 2) Thursday 16 March 2017 UNISON Recreation Centre from 4.30 pm till 5.30 pm 3) Tuesday 21 March 2017 UNISON Recreation Centre from pm till 1.30 pm 4) Thursday 23 March 2017 UNISON Recreation Centre from to 1.30 pm A G E N D A Welcome by the Chair and introduction to the top table. 2. Apologies. 3. Minutes of the AAGM meetings held: i) Minutes of the 18/19/20 March 2014 (Attached) ii) AAGM held 18 &19 March 2015 (Meetings Inquorate) iii) AAGM held 10,15 & 16 March 2016 (Meetings Inquorate) 4. Matters arising from the minutes. 5. Election or Confirmation of Branch Officers as follows: a) Chairperson. i) Life-Long Learning Co-Ordinator. b) Vice Chairperson. j) Young Members Officer. c) Branch Secretary. k) Communications Officer. d) Deputy Branch Secretary. l) International Officer. e) Branch Treasurer. m) Equality Officer. f) Membership Officer. n) Health and Safety Officer. g) Education Co-Ordinator. o) Welfare Officer. h) Sports and Social Secretary. p) Auditors (2). a) Labour Link Officer and b) Retired Members Secretary will be elected by their relevant membership. 6. Election or Confirmation of Convenors (2 posts) 7. Ratification of Stewards/Health and Safety Representatives and Leaner Representatives. 8. Annual Report. 9. Financial Report. 10. Motions (see attached). 11. Branch Rules To consider proposed changes to the Branch Rules. 12. Branch Development Aims and Objectives 2017/18. Please make every effort to attend one of the above meetings, if you would like further information, including details of disabled access and provision for dependent care, please contact me at the Branch Office. Adrian Kennett, Branch Secretary.

2 BRANCH CHAIR ANDY STANKARD BRANCH VICE CHAIR IAIN BILLINGER BRANCH SECRETARY ADRIAN KENNETT BRANCH DEPUTY SECRETARY SARAH LITTLEWOOD BRANCH TREASURER DAVE HARDING BRANCH COMMUNICATIONS ADRIAN KENNETT BRANCH SPORTS AND SOCIAL SECRETARY ADRIAN KENNETT BRANCH EQUALITY OFFICER JANE MC COID BRANCH WELFARE OFFICER NIKKI OSBORNE BRANCH EDUCATION CO-ORDINATOR AMANDA EASTWOOD MEMBERSHIP OFFICER AMANDA EASTWOOD BRANCH INTERNATIONAL OFFICER DEAN KIRK BRANCH LIFELONG LEARNING CO-ORDINATOR VACANT BRANCH HEALTH AND SAFETY OFFICER (JOB SHARE) ANDY STANKARD/CRAIG BARLOW RETIRED MEMBERS OFFICER VACANT

3 ADRIAN KENNETT BRANCH SECRETARY REPORT 2016 Firstly can I thank all the Branch staff Marian, Kath and Jane for all their hard work over the last year in very challenging times. I would also like to welcome Rachel Hodson our new Regional organiser and also all of the branches Stewards who give up their time to support members and the branch. The challenging times the Branch has faced over the last 6 years continue as we are all aware, the continual cuts agenda of the Government has resulted in service being in a continual state of review to achieve savings. This has inevitably resulted in job losses as the council workforce has been cut by nearly two thirds this in turn has affected our membership as a way of counteracting this the Branch has been successful in accessing the new activity based budget funding which has allowed the branch to employ Jimmy Wharvell who is working with the Branch and the Region to increase membership, we have also purchased various materials to help in our recruitment efforts. Due to the changing shape of local government we have seen an increase in our non-local government membership the private and third sectors are an area we need to recruit stewards and activists. This is a very difficult task as the government continues to attack trade unions. The Branch continues to employ a case worker Clive Piper to support members in schools, the majority of which are now no longer under the control of the LEA, this has brought significant challenges to the Branch as the fragmentation has increased the case work due to a what seems like never ending restructures and staffing reductions. Sarah Littlewood and I were elected onto the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UNISON in 2015 for a two year period. We have again been nominated by the branch and the NEC elections start in April please use your vote in the democratic process to elect the National executive members. (see attached) I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those members who voted for us and we continue to raise at a Local, Regional and National level the concerns of members and the real need for Branches to have more support and resources in the rapidly fragmenting work force within Local Government. PAY Pay has plummeted in real terms by nearly 20% since 2009 Those at the bottom of the pay structure cleaners, catering assistants and school crossing patrol staff their salary would be worth 1,409 more in real terms if it had risen in line with inflation since 2010.

4 The disproportionate effect of the cuts on women mean that even in a sector where Single Status is meant to equalise and protect women s pay, the gender pay gap between men and women has now risen by 3% since There needs to be urgent action on pay and conditions to stop the rot in part-timers earnings. For the vast majority on NJC pay, last year s pay award represented the sixth consecutive pay cut since The pay of workers on scp 10 such as library assistants, the lowest grade teaching assistants, refuse workers - would be worth 2,462 more in real terms if it had risen in line with inflation since Social workers on scp 36 have lost 5,363 in real terms since This clearly shows the need for the living wage to be introduced and come as no surprise to UNISON as the gender pay gap is replicated across the country a recent report showed that Hull is one of the lowest wage rates in the country and the highest personal debt rate, so the need for the real living wage is paramount. As one of the largest Employers in the City if the Council introduce the real living wage and insists that any company it does business with must also pay its staff the real living wage this will have a huge beneficial impact on spending power in the city and send a clear message from the Authority that it will not support low paying employers at the expense of low paid workers the majority of whom are women working part time hours. The impact of the living wage has resulted in a compression of the grades and this is something the National Union and Employers will need to address to ensure pay parity through the spinal column points. The branch members who sit on regional and national forums continue to make the argument; we must have action on pay for all members. Branch activities and future campaigning Branch activists continue to support members, we are keen to attend workplace meetings and encourage members to contact the branch to arrange meetings. We are here to advocate and support members not just when things go wrong but to work pro-actively in raising concerns and coming up with solutions. Work-place stress is on the increase with an ever shrinking workforce and members cannot be expected to pick up work when people are made redundant. Please contact the branch with concerns and help to support you in the very difficult climate of cuts and restructures. The Branch continues to play active role in the city supporting groups and events which highlight the impacts of austerity on our communities.

5 We have a number of events set up for the city of culture to highlight the important role the trade unions have had in shaping our city. STEWARDS The Branch has over 50 Stewards during the year 2016 and I would like to thank them for all their hard work on behalf of UNISON members. The Branch remains active within UNISON both Nationally and Regionally throughout the year. Your Representatives at Region during 2016 were as follows: REGIONAL/NATIONAL REPRESENTATION UNISON National Executive Council Adrian Kennett and Sarah Littlewood UNISON National Joint Council (National): Adrian Kennett Regional Council: Adrian Kennett/Amanda Eastwood Regional Committee: Adrian Kennett. Regional Local Government Service Group Committee: Littlewood. Adrian Kennett, Sarah TRAINING FOR ACTIVISTS The Branch has continued to support the TUC training for Stewards and Health and Safety Representatives throughout the year and have several Stewards who have attended this training and further training will be provided to all new Stewards as soon as possible after the Annual General Meeting. MEMBERSHIP Due to the relentless attacks on Local Government the Branches membership has fluctuated over the last year we would encourage any of you who wish to become Stewards to get involved in the Branch and to encourage any non-members to join as collectively we bargain. COMMUNICATION The Branch has circulated numerous newsletters and pamphlets throughout the year. RECRUITMENT As indicated earlier the Branch has members in upwards of 60 different employers groups including the following not exhaustive list:

6 Hull City Council Academies Civica Hull Culture & Leisure Limited NPS KWL Kingston Communications Humberside Fire and Rescue Humber Bridge Board Hull and Goole Port Health Authority Colleges Pickering and Ferens Housing Association Charterhouse Hull Homeless and Rootless And many members scattered across the non-statutory sector, Charities and Volunteer groups. LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS TO MEMBERS. The Branch has continued to support members for Legal Assistant and Accident Benefits and has dealt with 425 case referrals and there was 51, paid out in settlements to members including a welfare payment of 1,000 due to the member s exceptional circumstances. The Branch has dealt with 2 deaths in service claims and their estates became eligible for death grants from the Branch and from National and were paid the appropriate amounts promptly. THE BRANCH COMMITTEE. This is the Executive body of the Branch of which all Stewards across the services within the Branch can meet to discuss issues and be party to the Branch wide issues this Committee meets on the last Friday of every month in the Conference Suite located on the ground floor at the Branch Office. ANNUAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE GROUP Both Conferences were held in Brighton in June of last year and the delegates that attended were Adrian Kennett and Sarah Littlewood (NEC delegates) Nikki Osborne, Traci Alderson and Dave Harding Local Government delegates. Craig Barlow and Sarah Adamson National delegates Reports have been made elsewhere in UNISON s Local and National publications on the outcomes of both Conferences. AFFILIATIONS. During the year the Branch has affiliated to the following organisations: Labour Research, Hull and District Trades Council, Cuba Solidarity Campaign and the International Brigade Memorial Trust. ADRIAN KENNETT BRANCH SECRETARY

7 2016/17 has been a challenging year for this Branch, yet again. As the main employer, Hull City Council has been under increased pressure, so our members and their representatives have been pressured in the workplace. This means that people have struggled to attend Branch meetings and a higher than normal number have been inquorate. It is right to point out though that this has not been the case in terms of representing individual members, where our Stewards and Senior Stewards have worked tirelessly. Representatives have prioritised members over formal business meetings in terms of taking time out of their busy days which is understandable and show how our elected full time Convenors and Stewards value this important work. It is also true that our Convenors, Senior Stewards and Delegates in negotiation and consultation meetings have been the backbone of Trade Unionism here, certainly in terms of National Joint Council members in the absence of the other NJC unions. My main concern is that the work needs to be shared out more fairly, which means more members stepping forward to train as Stewards and gain the valuable experience to assist members. This is a challenging role but the rewards for the individuals willing to undertake it are countless and I would urge anyone interested to get in touch and talk it over. Our members are the union and our Convenors and Stewards represent their interests. That could be you! Andy Stankard Branch Chair 2016 was another difficult year faced by the Branch in our commitment to support our members facing the continued onslaught of cuts from the Tories with their intent on dismantling Local Government. Whilst our Branch is a Local Government Branch we have lost some members from Local Government due to the cuts and outsourcing, we have managed to retain some members in the Branch with transfers to other employers; however we have still lost some members due to the continued cuts to local authorities and have seen a big loss of services and members in adult social care as well as other areas across the council. Overall the Branch is retaining a decent level of membership over all Employers for the climate and in fact due to the shrinking number of employees in Local Government our density has increased within HCC but we cannot be complacent and need to ensure we continue to recruit. Whilst recruitment is an ongoing activity for all of us we have to ensure we actively recruit as much as possible, we appreciate how difficult this can be with ever increasing workloads and little time.

8 We wish to thank the Stewards for their continued hard work and to ask that they let us know of any support they require, it is also really important that we have the support of the Stewards and to ensure our members are getting the support they need, could we also ask that not just our Stewards but all our members look around the areas of work they are and check that notice boards are in place, if they are they can be kept updated by both Stewards and Branch Officers for our members, if there are no notice boards, please inform the Branch so we can ensure they are made available in order that we can get them put up. Throughout the year the Branch team will meet with Stewards from other Employers to determine the best approach to those Employers and what support is required, sadly our members in the private sector are not immune to the cuts to local authorities as this also impacts on services contracted by local authorities to the private sector and we need to be aware and ready to support our Stewards and members in these areas, this is why the branch has employed a case worker for the year 2017 dedicated to the private and voluntary sector. The Convenors have continued to take steps, to improve pay and conditions, the Branch Secretary and the Convenors have always made a commitment to complete full consultative ballots with our members on any offers around pay and conditions and plan to continue to do so in order that any representation from the Branch is reflective of our membership views. Our branch has delegates at Regional and National level and regularly attends those meetings with reports either verbal or written given to committee meetings and published on the Branch web site again in order that the membership can be kept updated and feel able to provide feedback on issues affecting them. For the last 7 years we have had to fight not only to improve pay and conditions, retain services and jobs but also to hang on to what we have, the next few years doesn t look to be any easier, however, if we stand collectively, improve our membership and activity it gives us a fighting chance. UNISON Welfare is a charity There for You for members experiencing financial and emotional difficulties. There for You, provides a confidential advice and support service for members and their dependents and also provides information on the following items: There for You Winter Fuel Grants: With rising fuel costs and another cold winter looming, many members are worried about how they are going to pay this year s Winter fuel bills. Financial Assistance - If you are a member and you are experiencing financial difficulties, whatever the circumstances, There for You can offer you support. You may have financial problems for reasons including:

9 relationship breakdown; loss of income; suffering from a long illness; needing to buy equipment because of a disability; caring for someone with special needs or an illness. Grants and funding There is no guarantee that we can offer you financial help, but thousands of members and their families do benefit from our support every year. For example, in 2012, There for You gave more than 4,000 grants to members totalling nearly 750,000. For more information contact us on or thereforyou@unison.co.uk or contact your branch welfare officer. Wellbeing Breaks - Wellbeing breaks can provide welcome relief from stress and respite from difficult circumstances. We can help you towards the costs of a break, depending on your financial situation. For more information contact us on or thereforyou@unison.co.uk or contact your branch welfare officer General Advice There for You provides a confidential service for members over the phone or in person if you are experiencing personal difficulties. Debt line Support UNISON s Debt line service is available to all UNISON members to help them manage money and deal with debt. We offer free confidential advice to help you clear your debts. For more information contact us on or thereforyou@unison.co.uk or contact your branch welfare officer. Credit Unions - Simple savings, sensible loans Our There for You credit union service offers UNISON members access to low-interest loans and a range of savings products through our UK network of partner credit unions. Whether you re dissatisfied with current banking arrangements, are struggling with exorbitant interest rates charged by payday and other lenders or simply looking for an ethical alternative, credit unions may provide just the solution. UNISON has established a network of credit unions covering the UK where members and their families can both save and take out low-interest loans in many cases, through payroll deductions. We already know just how many members are using payday loans and other high-interest loan products often getting caught in a trap of spiralling debt. UNISON is promoting credit unions as financial and ethical co-operatives that will serve members in a safe and responsible way and promote financial wellbeing.

10 Profile During 2016 I was employed by UNISON as an Area Organiser with a remit for the private and voluntary sector. This included not only working on individual member cases, but also being involved in consultation and negotiation with Management, Health and Safety and equality and diversity along with recruitment and other duties. The Private and Voluntary Sector membership comes from a diverse range of employers, including Hull Culture and Leisure, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Colleges, Kingstown Works Limited, Norfolk Property Services, FCC (Waste Management) and a variety of employers in Childcare, Care Homes and Homecare and Cleaning Services. From January 2017 I have been employed by the Branch as a Case Worker, meaning that the majority of my remit is working with and supporting members with their individual workplace issues including, grievance, disciplinaries, redundancies, TUPE transfers etc was a difficult year for many members in the private and voluntary sectors, both individually and collectively, with redundancies, restructures, redeployments, a lack of support from some Managers, worries regarding when and where the next cuts are going to come, and what attacks are going to take place on Terms and Conditions. UNISON has been there to provide help, support and advice for members through all of these issues. We have participated in meetings on behalf of members to ensure that policies, procedures and processes are written fairly and that they are fairly implemented. When there have been questions and issues for management we have raised them and will continue to do this and we have tried to provide the service that each member has needed, and will continue to do this. Over the past two years NPS UNISON Stewards have been in negotiations with NPS regarding a change in terms and conditions. The aim of the employer was harmonising all employees onto one set of terms and conditions. To move away from a restrictive narrowband framework to a simple broadband grading structure which provides transparency and flexibility in relation to pay and progression, whilst enabling external benchmarking to be undertaken across all disciplines to ensure competitiveness with the commercial market place. The current Group pay structure consists of 22 grades inherited from the traditional public sector model known as a narrow band structure. In addition, there are employees on diverse non-standard NPS grades and grading structures inherited as part of their rights under TUPE transfer. Narrow band pay structures are rigid and do not drive performance or support the flexibility required by the business.

11 NPS were claiming the existing structure is not fit for purpose in a commercial organisation for the following reasons: There are no performance incentives, restricted career development, lack of cost control and lack of responsiveness to market conditions. NPS also wanted to add a staff reward package to run alongside it with flexible benefits which included for example Improved application of Flexible Working, more benefits relating to Health and Wellbeing Provision of an Employee Discount Scheme. Ability to exchange salary for additional annual leave and Rewarding performance and recognising a job well done. These proposals were met with suspicion from UNISON members and non-members alike. There were many meetings between UNISON and the employer and at times frustrating delays many of them should not have had to be necessary in the first place. The pay structure for example totally ignored the principles of the Equal Pay Act; changes in this aspect of the proposal UNISON believe caused the lengthiest delay. UNISON suggested NPS adopt the Hay system that is well established in the private sector but they choose to reinvent the wheel and as we've made clear, they still came up with a system that is still not ideal. Eventually NPS lost patience and wanted UNISON to ballot members as at the start of this process and on other occasions NPS said they would impose the Reward Package if they did not get an agreement with UNISON. The ballot took place and was an outstanding No vote was returned with 80% of members voting no to changing their terms and conditions. Because of this NPS assessed any alternative options other than dismissal and re-engagement being an option open to them however following a meeting with the employer about going forward from the ballot, the employer decided to offer the new terms and conditions on an entirely voluntary basis as their best and preferred option. UNISON negotiators are all rank and file UNISON members just like you. That is how UNISON works. We are a member led trade union who can only be effective if our members support us and if of course we represent a significant number of members. NPS UNISON members helped us retain the option of maintaining their current terms and conditions. Please encourage your colleagues to join UNISON and build our strength for the future. UNISON negotiate your cost of living pay increase and changes to policies and procedures so this is just not a one off. Brian Navier - NPS UNISON National Convenor - & Health and Safety Representative

12 Want to do something more? Help your colleagues and other members becoming a UNISON rep or workplace contact. Being a UNISON workplace rep gives you the opportunity to: make a positive difference to people s work lives learn new skills and meet new people help create a fairer society Get involved in UNISON Legal services for you and your Family UNISON looks after its members and their families outside of the workplace as well as in it. Legal Services for you at Work and your Family at Home Our legal support includes free help with most work problems that you may have. But our help does not stop when you leave work. We offer free initial legal advice on any matter not related to work, plus a range of other legal help for you and your family. To find out more go to unison.org.uk/legal 100% Compensation for an Accident or Injury If you are a UNISON member and are affected by an illness or accident that was caused by someone else s fault, the union will help you. Our team of legal experts will give you the advice and support you need and seek the compensation you deserve and it s free. You keep 100% of the compensation you are awarded, and you will not pay a penny for our legal team s help and support. UNISON family members are also covered for non-work related accident and injury compensation claims. UNISON s Free Wills Service UNISON offers a free standard wills service for members and their partners (for a mirror will). We also offer reduced rates for members complex wills and wills for other family members. There s something we don t always make clear, here at UNISON. We re always working on your rights at work and looking after you in the workplace, but what we don t often say as loudly, is that we care what happens to you after work too. Membership of UNISON doesn t just get you support at work when you need it most, it also gets you access to a range of exclusive deals and offers designed to make your life outside work that little bit easier.

13 UNISON Living isn t just about holidays though we also want to help you get good deals on everyday costs, and let s face it, with the fall-out from Brexit we could all do with making our money go further. For more information on UNISON Living and links to the providers websites visit benefits.unison.org.uk and for general enquiries on UNISON member benefits, services and UNISON Living contact UNISON Direct on or the Branch Office on or info@unisonhull.org.uk We care about your health, and we know that health is vital for a good work and personal life. We have exclusive deals for areas of health the NHS does not cover from opticians to dentists and more. UNISON Health Plan Vision Express UNISON Dental Plan UNISON Rewards UNISON Protect Family Protection Insurance Vauxhall Associate Partners Programme Breakdown cover from LV = Britannia Rescue Car Insurance provided by LV = Liverpool Victoria UNISON Drive Protect Family Protection Insurance Lighthouse Financial Advice Home, Travel and Pet Insurance UNISON Prepaid Plus Cash back Card UNISON Energy UNISON Debt line UNISON Credit Union Network UNISON Travel Club Croyde Bay Holiday Resort

14 UNISON HULL CITY BRANCH For news and information about Hull City Branch of UNISON Join our list for regular updates and the latest news. Follow us on Visit the Branch website CONTACT US UNISON BRANCH OFFICE Call UNISONdirect General Enquiries Jane Khan or Or freephone textphone Membership Kath Anderson or k.anderson@unisonhull.org.uk Lines are open: 6am-midnight Monday to Friday 9am-4pm Saturdays Other matters Marian Hunter (Administration Officer) or m.hunter@unisonhull.org.uk Branch Office Hours are: 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 9.00 am till 2.30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday outside of these hours please leave a message on the answerphone or if it is urgent please contact UNISON Direct. Outside of these times you can leave an answerphone message or fill in the online form and UNISONdirect will call you back.