Pay deal accepted by local government workers

(15/7/04) UNISON members have voted by a margin of two to one to accept a three-year pay offer for local government staff worth 8.9%. More than 140,000 members took part in the consultation exercise. The offer has also been accepted by members of the other trade unions.

At Slough Branch there were 122 returned ballot papers, 108 for accepting the pay offer, 14 rejected.

The national employers have been notified of the NJC trade union side's acceptance of the pay offer and they have sent official notification to local authorities so that the new salaries can be paid as quickly as possible.

Agreement has now been reached on rates of pay applicable from 1 April 2004 to 1 April 2005.

Investigations and Disciplinaries concerning email and internet use at SBC

Tony House is concerned about the number of investigations into staff who have not followed SBC policies on email and internet, including personal use, which has led to a massive increase in case load. In Outlook, see Public folders, All public folders, IT security policies, Email and internet use. The most relevant parts are:-

Personal use of E-Mail and Internet facilities are not permitted unless specifically agreed with and authorised by your line manager who should record in writing the site(s) and address(es) agreed.  Do not assume that your E-Mails and internet use are private, as the Council will be monitoring usage.

Misuse of the email facilities may result in disciplinary action including termination of employment.   Examples include:

• Sending offensive, discriminatory, abusive or libelous messages
• Intentional impersonation and/or misrepresentation
• Modifying a message and forwarding it without highlighting the changes or deleting the original author’s name
• Fabricating a message and/or sender of a message
• Bypassing user security systems in a malicious manner (e.g. creating bogus accounts)
• Forwarding Council sensitive information or personal data to external sources
• Originating or participating in E-Mail chain letters
• Knowingly burdening the E-Mail system with non-business critical data.

• Intentionally accessing or downloading any material from any Web site containing sexual, discriminatory, offensive or illegal material.
• Accessing external employment opportunities during work hours or responding to such.
• Accessing Web sites for personal use during normal work periods or at any time using Council equipment.
• Use of Internet “Chat lines”.

Legal Briefing: Grievances and Disciplinaries

The law on grievance and disciplinary procedures is changing later this year, when employers will be obliged to have written procedures in these areas and communicate them to employees.

The changes come into force on 1 October and arise mainly from the Employment Act 2002, but also from the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004.

Employers must have written disciplinary procedures, but they can continue to use those already in place as long as they comply with the new provisions.

A failure to follow the appropriate disciplinary procedure in a dismissal case will result in a dismissal being automatically unfair.
 

Retired Members 13 May

A good number of the branch committee joined the retired members for their annual dinner at the Aurora Garden Hotel, Windsor
 

Here Gordon, Janet and Tony investigate the carp. One step back please...

Jas and Bettine listen to Ted Collins' speech. The Mayor responded.

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