Unison Orkney Local Services

Members will know the Pay Agreement included a re-opener clause which provided a “commitment to re-open negotiations with the Trade Unions in the event of another Local Government bargaining group’s total pay offer value being revised such that it becomes greater than the sum agreed between COSLA Employers and the SJC Trade Unions for the SJC workforce for the period of the agreement.”
Following the conclusion of the SNCT (Teachers) pay negotiations UNISON made the argument t...o COSLA that it was clear another Local Government bargaining group’s total pay offer value had exceeded that afforded to our members and that the re-opener clause had been met. COSLA were not able to demonstrate otherwise.
We were aware that COSLA leaders, in taking the decision to make the improved offer to Teachers, had already decided that “should the non-teaching unions request the re-opening of their pay settlement COSLA should approach the Scottish Government for additional funding to retain the principle of parity”.
We argued that COSLA should be bound by the re-opener and this decision of COSLA Leaders and make an approach to the Scottish Government.
We understand that they have now done so and we have also today, along with our trade union colleagues in the GMB and Unite, written to the First Minister (below) requesting a meeting to discuss pay parity and the wider issue of local government funding.
We will let you know when we receive a response and how those discussions progress.
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On Sunday 23rd June join Orkney Friends of Palestine and Amnesty International Orkney for lunch and help them raise funds to support healthcare for Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and the Shu'fat Refugee camp

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UNISON School Uniform Grant 2019. Apply by Friday 19th July

"UNISON, Orkney’s largest trade union is calling on Orkney Islands Council to address growing inequality between men and women’s pay......"

We are having some problems with our Branch phone so if you'd like to speak to us over the next couple of weeks please either speak to your local UNISON rep or email us at unisonlocalservice@gmail.com leave your number and we'll phone you back. Thanks

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The Orkney News covering our AGM and anti-bullying campaign launch

Ryan McLaughlin giving an excellent talk on being a young member tackling bullying in the NHS at our AGM yesterday

Update about news that Teachers may have been offered a revised pay offer which is better than our pay award. We will be discussing this at our AGM on Thursday.

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