Category: UNISON
UNISON has been made aware that head teachers at some schools have informed support staff that the employer’s proposals on the changes to terms and conditions have been agreed by the Unions and these changes will be implemented on 01 September 2014. In addition, support staff are being told that they must sign up to the variation in contract.
If you believe that you have been misinformed in this way, please contact the branch office.
For clarity, negotiations have not yet resumed with the collective trade unions and we are not scheduled to meet until after 01 April 2014. Nothing has been agreed by UNISON in respect to the proposed changes to terms and conditions. As you are aware no collective agreement was reached with the employer with regard to the variation to terms and conditions and thus has been imposed on those employees who work outside of schools who did not voluntarily sign up to the variation in contract.
In addition, no employee has to agree to voluntarily sign up to the varied new contract and UNISON’s advice has been consistent. Do not voluntarily sign to agree to the changes to your terms and conditions if you want to protect your legal rights.
UNISON will be organising the working group as soon as negotiations resume and we will keep all members informed of the progress.
Please share this information with your colleagues.
Dear Member
The all user email from Deputy Chief Executive Paul Robinson sent on Thursday 23 January stated the following:
“Unfortunately, it has been brought to our attention that UNISON have been sending out misleading information to our employees and causing some confusion. Therefore we have had to write to the UNISON Regional Office directly to express our concern about this approach”.
For the record UNISONs advice regarding the Dismissal Review meetings is as follows:
That you do not have to attend these meetings nor do you have to sign your new contracts.
There is a difference of opinion on the legal implications of voluntarily signing your contract and these discussions are ongoing with your employer.
Our advice remains as it always has been, do not sign the new contract at this time.
UNISON will endeavour to be at the dismissal events, however despite assurances to the contrary, due to Managers refusing to allow some of our Reps time off to attend and support members, UNISON may not be able to attend the full days event today (Friday 24 January 2014). If members are attending today then please see our advice above.
I personally will not be voluntarily signing to say that I agree that the employer can change my terms and conditions for less favourable ones, and I will wait for the employer to meet its legal obligation to individually consult with me as a result of the close of collective consultation and write and inform me of the intent to dismiss and re-engage on a new contract.
Nicole Berrisford
Branch Secretary
UNISON Derby City Branch