To All Members Employed in The Mungo Foundation
Dear Member
We are writing to update you on a number of matters and to offer some general advice to members that we think is important to set out in the hope it will help you avoid getting in to difficulties at work. UNISON is here to help you if you do have problems at work but we also want to be proactive in helping you avoid some if possible.
I am pleased to announce that the role of Convenor that I have been carrying out since last September has been extended for a further 3 months. I would like to remind you that I am based at Govanhill Street on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week. I do not have access to a land telephone number at Govanhill Street but I can be reached at the following mobile number and email: 07557561903 unisontmf@gmail.com . For my other two working days I am based at Springbank Street Project as a project worker.
GLASGOW HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES
The Mungo Foundation advised UNISON over a year ago there would be a massive restructure dictated by the implementation of ‘Personalisation’ by Glasgow City Council and the subsequent cuts to service users budgets that would arise from this. We are now dealing with the consequences of this.
New contracts of employment have been issued to staff as from 1 August 2011, this also being the date the new planners were implemented in Housing Support. Many members have had their hours cut and their location changed and for some (part time workers mainly) an increase in the amount of sleepovers they are now required to work due to the new structure. Part-time workers are also having to work more days often with split shifts but still doing the same amount of contracted hours or less, which adds more traveling time and increases transport costs as well as meaning spending considerably more time away from home for no extra payment. UNISON advised members in our last update that if you were not happy with your new contract not to sign it. It would appear that many, though not happy with their new hours, location and planners have signed their new contracts as they were anxious about their future security and concerned about their job. Some members have yet to sign their contracts and are still on their old contracts but agreeing to work with the new planners until such time as they have reached an amicable agreement with the organisation. This is likely to be once the planners introduced on the 1st August have been reviewed and where necessary adjusted. Some members have reported back that the new planners are working for them, this appears to be at locations where staff are working sleepovers and there is a staff presence 24 hours. At other locations where service users have what we can only describe as unsustainable budgets, service users’ support hours have been cut drastically and they are no longer in a position to pay for the support they need and deserve. Reports from members state that the planners do not allow for accompanying service users to appointments (this includes medical appointments), any incidents that arise whilst on shift, appropriate medication times, service users being delayed or staff being delayed or liaising with other agencies. This is also made more difficult by the number of staff vacancies, holidays, sick leave and the use of relief staff that are unfamiliar with the service users. Another contributing factor is the ever changing needs and support required by the service users.
We are writing to update you on a number of matters and to offer some general advice to members that we think is important to set out in the hope it will help you avoid getting in to difficulties at work. UNISON is here to help you if you do have problems at work but we also want to be proactive in helping you avoid some if possible.
I am pleased to announce that the role of Convenor that I have been carrying out since last September has been extended for a further 3 months. I would like to remind you that I am based at Govanhill Street on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week. I do not have access to a land telephone number at Govanhill Street but I can be reached at the following mobile number and email: 07557561903 unisontmf@gmail.com . For my other two working days I am based at Springbank Street Project as a project worker.
GLASGOW HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES
The Mungo Foundation advised UNISON over a year ago there would be a massive restructure dictated by the implementation of ‘Personalisation’ by Glasgow City Council and the subsequent cuts to service users budgets that would arise from this. We are now dealing with the consequences of this.
New contracts of employment have been issued to staff as from 1 August 2011, this also being the date the new planners were implemented in Housing Support. Many members have had their hours cut and their location changed and for some (part time workers mainly) an increase in the amount of sleepovers they are now required to work due to the new structure. Part-time workers are also having to work more days often with split shifts but still doing the same amount of contracted hours or less, which adds more traveling time and increases transport costs as well as meaning spending considerably more time away from home for no extra payment. UNISON advised members in our last update that if you were not happy with your new contract not to sign it. It would appear that many, though not happy with their new hours, location and planners have signed their new contracts as they were anxious about their future security and concerned about their job. Some members have yet to sign their contracts and are still on their old contracts but agreeing to work with the new planners until such time as they have reached an amicable agreement with the organisation. This is likely to be once the planners introduced on the 1st August have been reviewed and where necessary adjusted. Some members have reported back that the new planners are working for them, this appears to be at locations where staff are working sleepovers and there is a staff presence 24 hours. At other locations where service users have what we can only describe as unsustainable budgets, service users’ support hours have been cut drastically and they are no longer in a position to pay for the support they need and deserve. Reports from members state that the planners do not allow for accompanying service users to appointments (this includes medical appointments), any incidents that arise whilst on shift, appropriate medication times, service users being delayed or staff being delayed or liaising with other agencies. This is also made more difficult by the number of staff vacancies, holidays, sick leave and the use of relief staff that are unfamiliar with the service users. Another contributing factor is the ever changing needs and support required by the service users.
Given all of the above UNISON raised the whole situation with TMF management at a meeting of the Joint Negotiating and Consultative Committee on Wednesday 5th October. A detailed discussion took place where management candidly acknowledged they were aware there were many issues and that as it stood the service was not meeting its targets. They further acknowledged all this was having a detrimental impact on staff. At the meeting we received the following immediate assurances - that staff are able to claim for traveling time and travel expenses where they incur this due to one way pickups or drop offs. Furthermore a short life working group would be set up to look at all the issues in housing support; Mary Madden will represent UNISON on this.
If you wish to bring your views to the attention of the organisation I would suggest you do so in writing to your line manager and copy Mary Madden in. If you wish to raise issues in confidence then get in touch with me or Mary but we can only deal with individual issues in most cases if you have at least raised it with your manager.
WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE
We again remind staff that they are not obliged to work more than 48 hours over an average of 17 weeks. Staff have the right to opt out of the Working Time Regulations if they wish to work more than 48 hours, this should be done in writing and can be changed again if your circumstances change. For staff working sleepovers the hours spent on sleepover count as part of the 48 hours, e.g. if you are contracted to work 38 hours a week plus one sleepover, this can amount to 47 hours, you are not obliged to work any more hours than that a week; contact a TMF union steward if you require any further information regarding the Working Time Directive.
FOOD POLICY
UNISON at the JNCC again raised issues around the food policy, in particular in relation to sleepovers and the basic breakfast essentials being available and the treatment of staff supporting service users in the community at lunches etc. Again management acknowledged there were issues and it was agreed these would also be looked at in the short life working group that is being set up. UNISON is acutely aware we need to see concrete outcomes and procedures from this working group quickly and will be pushing for this.
MOBILE TELEPHONES
We are aware that TMF have issued questionnaires to staff in Housing Support asking for their views on mobile telephones. Staff are being asked if they would prefer a work mobile or to receive an allowance to cover the cost of work related telephone calls, our advice to members would be to request a work telephone.
TEAM MEETINGS
Members have been raising concerns about the lack of team meetings and supervision sessions and poor communication with managers, this has been mainly in the Housing Support projects, again we have raised this at the JNCC and will be monitoring the situation closely.
REQUESTS FOR ANNUAL LEAVE
We would like to remind members that they should put all their holiday requests in writing to their project manager as soon as they have dates in mind, for those who have access to e-mail you could also e-mail your manager with the dates. Staff should have possession of their (pink) holiday card stating their personal leave allocation and it is the responsibility of staff to ensure that the card is kept up to date and signed by your manager or senior were appropriate. Please ensure if you are carrying forward any leave from one year to the next that you have permission for this in writing. We would suggest that all members have a supply of Holiday Request Forms in their possession and pass your request to your manager or senior giving as much notice as possible.
FESTIVE ROTA's
We would advise members working in Housing Support to discuss festive rota's with their manager as early as possible as we are concerned that cover over the festive period will now become more complex due to the new planners. Please keep UNISON advised of any problems.
REQUESTS TO ATTEND A MEETING
All requests to attend personal meetings to discuss matters such as sickness absence, grievance and disciplinary should be in writing and should advise you that you have the right to be accompanied by UNISON. UNISON considers a meeting that is being conducted by two senior staff members or one senior staff member and a member from HR constitutes a ‘formal meeting’. If invitation is by telephone this should be backed up in writing before the meeting takes place. If you are unsure about your right to representation at any meeting contact a steward as soon as possible for advice. Also if you receive an invitation to attend a meeting and you wish representation please contact a steward immediately to allow the steward time to make the necessary arrangements, I am available at the moment Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, other stewards are working shifts and require notice to rearrange their shifts if they have to attend meetings.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
We would advise all staff to keep up to date with organisational policies and procedures and also local policies and procedures relating to your particular project. If you are faced with any situations or incidents or have any concerns out with the normal 9 to 5 hours it is important that you seek advice from On-call sooner rather than later. If an incident occurs while you are on shift please ensure that you complete an incident report and bring it to the attention of the appropriate person as soon as possible, it is important that you also record the completion of incident reports in the service users file and also at handover or on handover sheets if you are lone working. As incident reports can form part of the evidence at further investigations. For all lone workers please ensure that you are fully up to date with the Lone Working Policy and Health & Safety in the Workplace. If there are any aspects of the policies that you do not understand seek advice from your manager or senior, also if there is any training that you feel is important for you to carry out your duties raise this also with your manager or senior, preferably in writing.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR TMF STEWARDS BRANCH OFFICE
Patricia (Pat) Gunnion: 07988549443 patriciagunnion@ntlworld.com 4th Floor
Mary Madden: 07531 772832 marymadden_fol@hotmail.com Empire House
Stuart McVey: 07917 378116 stew_mcvey@hotmail.com 131 West Nile Street
Tel: 0141 331 4450
UNISON TMF Website (blog) http://unison-mungofoundation.blogspot.com – please watch this space regularly.
Whilst writing we would also like to make a few further points. You are the union, we your stewards and the Branch and the union beyond that are there because of you and are responsive to your views and needs. However we also need you to be active and engaged in the union especially at this time of unprecedented attacks on public spending and thus the funding for the work we do. UNISON is campaigning daily against the cuts and sticking up for the services we provide. As I write hundreds of thousands of our fellow members are being balloted on strike action to defend their pensions. They need our support as we need theirs to stand up for the services we all provide and for decent pay and conditions. So please do look at the UNISON websites from time to time at http://www.unison.org.uk/ and http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/ to see what is going on and to get involved.
I would also remind you that whilst UNISON’s number one job is to help you get a fair deal at work there are loads of other benefits to being a member, you can find out about these all at www.unison.org.uk/benefits/special.asp or if you don’t have access to the internet contact me or the branch to discuss these.
Please do keep in touch and let me know your thoughts and views. Lastly, I would like you to do one thing to make us bigger and stronger and thus better able to represent you in The Mungo Foundation, please ask a non-member colleague to join, they can do so by calling 0845 355 0845 or by visiting www.unison.org.uk/join .
Yours sincerely
Alice Lyness
UNISON Convenor
The Mungo Foundation
