Private and Voluntary Sector News
updated 3rd Oct 2011Notts County Unison represent a large number of members in the Private and Voluntary Sector, particularly those employed by:-
Mencap (City and County workplaces),
Portland College
Wycar Leys (Bulwell and Bilsthorpe).
We can provide advice on a wide range of Employment Law and other workplace issues and represent members in Disciplinary and Grievance Hearings.
We are very aware that the massive financial cuts by the Conservative Government and the Conservative County Council are having a serious effect on funding in both private and voluntary sector organisations. There is a big danger of a “race to the bottom” over pay and working conditions and we are dealing with a steady stream of enquiries about attacks on members’ Contracts and Conditions of Service. Good employers are increasingly being forced out by bad ones and bad ones by the worst.
More than ever, workers in this sector need expert and friendly advice and assistance.
TUPE
The TUPE transfer of staff from Dovecote Trust to Leicester Housing Association is progressing well, with a few outstanding issues still to be resolved. UNISON’s recognition agreement with Dovecote Trust will be protected under the transfer agreement.
The TUPE transfer of staff from NORSACA Whitegates College to Portland College has reached a favourable outcome with all members of staff retaining their employment. A temporary secondment arrangement is in place until October in order to give Portland time to achieve admitted body status and protect pension rights.
Terms and Conditions
There have been several recent instances of employers attempting to implement less favourable terms and conditions by asking staff to sign new contracts. If this happens at your workplace, you should sign nothing and contact the Branch Office immediately. You have a right to full consultation on contractual changes, and UNISON will guide you through this process while ensuring your employers adhere to their legal obligations.
Recruitment
As a result of some sterling recruitment work by our local reps, membership has increased at Wycar Leys, Bilsthorpe, to the extent that we have been able to enter into talks aimed at securing a recognition agreement. Talks are progressing well and we hope to be able to report a successful conclusion very soon.
Leave Entitlement
Tens of thousands of workers are being denied their full leave entitlement, according to a new report from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). In the past 3 years, the CAB says, it has dealt with 87,725 cases of employees who have not been allowed to take the statutory amount of leave.
Most cases, the CAB says in its Give Us A Break! report, involved workers in non-unionised workplaces such as care homes, hairdressers, bars, restaurants, hotels and shops. Worst affected, the CAB says, were women – many of them part-timers – who were either unaware of their leave entitlement or were too scared to ask their employer for it in case they got sacked.
The report showed that although employer ignorance of employee rights was partly to blame for the non-compliance, much of it appeared to be deliberate with employers trotting out a variety of excuses to avoid meeting their legal obligations to offer their workers leave.
The CAB has urged the Government to create a Fair Employment Agency, to consolidate existing enforcement, which in turn would help bring down the number of employment tribunal claims and go some way towards preventing exploitation and abuse. CAB chief executive Gillian Guy said that although most employers try to meet their legal obligations “there are still far too many rogue employers and employment agencies prepared to flout the law and profit from exploitation”.
The new National Minimum Wage rates, effective from October 2011 are as follows:
£6.08 - the main rate for workers aged 21 and over
£4.98 - the 18-20 rate
£3.68 - the 16-17 rate for workers above school leaving age but under 18
£2.60 - the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship
If you are of compulsory school age you are not entitled to the NMW. Some of your other employment rights are also different.