Dear Colleague,
Following Susan Law’s email yesterday outlining the probable impact of the in year cuts to funding and the emergency budget it is important to let you know what our position is.
Although we do not have any details as yet, UNISON recognises that the impact of the in year cuts will have a significant impact on jobs and service delivery. The need to make £1.2m savings in 8 months through accelerating the Transformation Programme may have devastating implications for Wokingham Borough Council and the local community if not managed sensitively. We are looking for any fundamental changes to be skilfully handled with a scalpel rather than a bludgeoning axe. This will obviously involve a meaningful exchange of views and a dialogue with UNISON and for us to be involved in the decision-making meetings. Transformation without staff engagement will not succeed.
We are keen to work closely in partnership with Susan Law and her team as we fully understand that the need for such changes is due to a national political agenda which is clearly attacking front line services. We realise that there will be times that we will have to agree to disagree, but for the record, UNISON is totally against any pay cut, compulsory redundancies and outsourcing to the private sector. We also believe that in-house service provision is the best means to ensure a vibrant and sustainable local economy and democratic accountability. It is well known for example, that for each £1 invested in public services through pay and procurement that an additional 64 pence is invested in the local economy. It is clear too that what is essential is to protect front line services and to protect the vulnerable. Again our position is that in-house service provision is the best means to achieve this objective as we in the public sector will not put profit above care.
Over the next two to three weeks, UNISON will be setting up a series of meetings so that we can listen to your views, concerns and put questions to Susan Law and her team. In the mean time I am happy to attend any meetings either on an individual basis or as a team. This can either be at your workplace, Shute End or an alternative venue.
We very much understanding that this is an extremely difficult and anxious time for all of us. We believe that it is only through engagement and where possible working together that we can prevent the emergency budget and local government grant cuts from causing lasting damage to the Council and the people we serve.
I can assure you that there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes. We are now engaged in discussions with all of the other Berkshire UNISON Branches as well as with the other trade unions, i.e., GMB, NUT and other teaching trade unions in Wokingham with regards to holding joint campaigns so that we can raise the profile of how essential public services are, and how without them this will inevitably have a devastating impact both on the local economy and community.
We in UNISON will keep you up to date with what we are doing on a weekly basis now.
Best Wishes,
Paul
P.S. For the record, with regards to the salary protection issue, I can assure you that no one in UNISON agreed to the changes to salary protection. UNISON was party to a discussion prior to the announced changes. However, we merely acknowledged that was the Council’s position at this information sharing meeting.
Paul Bee
UNISON Branch Secretary
UNISON Branch Health & Safety Officer
Tel: 0118 9746747/0118 9746964
email: paul.bee@wokingham.gov.uk