Monday, June 20, 2011

UNISON trade union recognition in Civil Service?

I suppose that many people will be surprised that the largest public sector trade union in the country is not recognised by the Government. There are around 2000 UNISON members who work for the “Core” Civil
Service and probably another 10,000 who work for related outside bodies.  Yet there is no formal recognition agreement with UNISON. This is not to say that the traditional Civil Service unions, the PCS,
Prospect and FDA are not doing an excellent job for their members.  It only seems fair that UNISON should take their place alongside the other unions.

Especially now that the Civil Service is doing away with devolved bargaining and negotiations and having a national framework instead.

Without recognition this could mean that UNISON members have changes to their terms and conditions without their union even being consulted.  This cannot be right.  Even worse, if the government does
go ahead and bring in universal credit.  One consequence of this could be another 10,000 UNISON members who are currently housing benefit officers in local councils may well find themselves under Civil
Services terms (again).

In the run up to the Tolpuddle Festival next month this is a good time to remind the Civil Service managers that everyone is entitled to collective bargaining.  Never mind universal credits this is a universal and fundamental human right.

10 comments:

Meaty Mike said...

Quite right too! Especially when some parts of the civil service treat their staff so badly - http://www.unison.org.uk/conference2011/news_view.asp?did=6933

John Gray said...

Hi Meaty Mike

Agreed. This is always more likely to happen if there is no recognition agreement.

Dan Filson said...

I'm puzzled - why are there Unison members in the Civil Service? Or why did civil servants join Unison?

Union recognition by an employer is not a function of the size of the union's overall membership but whether the union represents a significant proportion of the workforce. With there still being several hundred thousand staff in the civil service, give me a good reason why Unison should be recognised.

John Gray said...

Hi Dan

Over the years there has been transfers out of local government and health into the Civil Service (and out of Civil service)

I think 12-22000 members is quite significant. If Housing benefit does go over then UNISON will have more members than FDA (18,000).

Corporal Trenet said...

There are hundreds of Unison Members working as civil servants in Wales. This happened when the Welsh Government merged a number of quangos into central government. They were promised recognition by Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan but Unison HQ never got it in writing so they've been left in limbo ever since.

Corporal Trenet said...

There are hundreds of Unison Members working as civil servants in Wales. This happened when the Welsh Government merged a number of quangos into central government. They were promised recognition by Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan but Unison HQ never got it in writing so they've been left in limbo ever since.

John Gray said...

UNISON is starting to get recognition in Civil Service Corporal.

Corporal Trenet said...

What is Civil Service Corporal, John?

Corporal Trenet said...

Ah ha ... just realised you were referring to me (fooled by the missing comma) ... but what evidence do you have to suport the "starting to get recognition", John?

John Gray said...

I'm sure I that I read somewhere that it had been agreed to recognise UNISON in parts of CS but I can't find any reference. Will keep eye out.