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Disability Day Care Services
On the 1st April UNISON and the GMB have met with Surrey County Council to discuss the Council Transformation Programme of the Proposals for Surrey County Council in-house Learning Disability Day Care Services. The purpose of the report is to update is in developing proposals for the modernisation of dayservices for people with learning disabilities. These are draft proposals prior to them being presented to the Executive on the 10th June. The consultation period, if approved, will commence on the 16 June 2008. The Select Committee will receive regular updates on the progress of the consultation and will report its findings to the Executive.
We were told at this meeting that there is nothing in the proposals that will lead to job cuts.
UNISON South East Young Members AGM
Calling young members - help shape your young members' forum!
UNISON South East Young Members Forum are having their AGM on Friday, 18th April at 2pm at the UNISON regional office in Guildford.
It is our opportunity, as young members, to shape what the Forum does in the next twelve months - campaigning, training, and recruitment. UNISON young members is entirely self-organising; we make the decisions.
Refreshments will be provided and the branch will cover your expenses.
Interested in coming? Then contact Chris on 020 8541 9091 or email unison@surreycc.gov.uk.
Surrey Pay Offer - You Decide!
Ballot forms will shortly be sent out to all SCU members employed by Surrey County Council on Surrey Pay to vote on the Council's pay offer. Further information can be found in the special edition of the branch newsletter "On The Case".
Download it here.
If you want further information, please contact us.
Branch Develpment Day
Surrey County Branch are meeting at the Runnymede Centre in Chertsey on the 9th April 9.30- 4.00pm. All Stewards and activists welcome to attend this day. Please contact the office if interested or complete your form if you have one.
We welcome any new faces and any new ideas as to how to improve our service to the membership, and how to campaign on behalf of the membership, so please join us if you are interested.
TUPE TRANSFERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
According to integration bulletins from SCC, formal integration of Surrey County Council's Adult Mental Health Service and Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust will take place by October '08.
This formalisation will be achieved through the use of the Health Act (1999)/ National Health Service Act (2006) Flexibilities under Section 75 partnership agreement (previously Section 31).
The County Council is defining the services it will commission from the Trust, delivering specific social care outcomes within agreed performance monitoring framework. A business case and supporting financial case is being presented for approval by the County Council's Executive and the Trust Board in Febuary. Staff transfers will be completed under the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations.
UNISON will meet prior to the proposals being progressed for final Council sign off. Progress update will be at the Directorate Joint Consultative Committee on the 28th February, and future consultation will be arranged as appropriate.
UNISON is a member lead Trade Union. Surrey County Branch will do it's upmost to protect members contracts. However, most effective representation comes from the members from individual workplaces who know their own circumstances better than anyone else. UNISON advice is that if you are going to be effected by this policy, then your workplace should both recruit new members and elect stewards so you can represent your interests. The Branch will assist with any relevant training.
Please do not wait until October to worry about the transfer!
Paul Couchman
Integration meetings have been organised for April 25th at South West Office Grosvenor House, Guildford, Room 67 , betwwen 9-1030pm, 11-1230pm, 130-300pm, 330-500pm and on April 28th Ramsay House, West Park Hospital, Conference Room, 2-330 and 4-530pm.
These are for all staff to attend. UNISON representation will also be present at these meetings and members are encouraged to attend and stay for 10 minutes after each meeting to raise any concerns you may have with your trade union rep.
Surrey pay claim 2008
Below is the current pay claim submitted by Surrey UNISON and GMB
Surrey UNISON Elections 2008
UNISON balloted all its members over the last few weeks and elected new officers for 2008:
Occupational Therapists, Collective Dispute
See further information under Adult Services
Approved Social Workers
See further information under Adult Services
National Demonstration to Celebrate the NHS
UNISON has called a national demonstration in London on Saturday November 3rd.
This will be a chance for health workers, local government workers and users of the health service to show this government that we are proud of our National Health Service. We are proud that it is publicly owned and is free at the point of use and we intend to make sure it stays that way.
Surrey County Branch of UNISON is committed to defending the NHS and to campaigning against privatisation, cuts and closures. We have been fully involved in all the local NHS campaigns - including Epsom, St. Peter's, Ashford and the Royal Surrey campaigns. Through 'NHS Together' - an alliance of trade unions and local campaigns, we helped organised and build for rallies in Epsom, Chertsey, Guildford and Woking.
We will be organising to get as many Surrey UNISON members and service users to the demonstration on the 3rd as possible. If you are interested in coming along with the Surrey County UNISON contingent please contact us using the contact details on this page.
Paul Couchman, Acting Branch Secretary