Clarion UNISON newsletter on Staff Survey – Trade Union Recognition

Staff Survey – Trade Union Recognition  On Tuesday 10 January, the head of HR confirmed to the unions that Clarion and Latimer staff would all receive a survey, via email, on the subject of trade union recognition. All staff were sent a link to the survey today (11.01.17) via email. It allows staff to express a preference for a Staff Forum or a recognised trade union. If you opt for a union, a further selection opens up inviting preferences for Unison, Unite or another union. The three unions (GMB, UNISON and UNITE) have developed a positive working relationship within Clarion and Latimer. We are disappointed that your employer has chosen to try to divide us, by asking you to specify which union you would want recognised. We also feel that asking this question will put off people with limited knowledge of trade unions, as they will not know which union to pick and will not respond to the survey or select Staff Forum. The employer refused to allow us to put a statement out to all staff to accompany the survey. We had no input into the question being asked. They did not give unions access to former Affinity Sutton staff. They also turned down our offer of talks at ACAS, a neutral and independent mediation body.    Please vote in support of union recognition   We do not accept the validity of this survey and have real concerns about the way results will be reported. However we have decided that staff should still vote in the survey and demonstrate their support for trade union recognition. We are interested to see the results.   We are drawing up plans for a submission to ACAS, requesting a fair and transparent survey, with the support of both the unions and the employer. We would ask ACAS to help facilitate this.   We will continue to campaign for joint recognition of Trade Unions. We will be approaching all stakeholders, including 176 local authorities and over 400 MPs and Assembly Members, to ask them to encourage Clarion to take a reasonable approach to the issue of trade union recognition.

All Staff Benefit from Trade Union Recognition   Whether you are a member of a union or not, you will benefit from trade union recognition. During the recent reorganization “Fast Forward Circle”, the unions entered into dispute with the employer over the proposed changes to terms and conditions as part of the reorganisation. Circle originally proposed to set salaries through a market review every two years. However, after negotiating with the unions, Circle revised this to allow collective bargaining every year. Pension-matched employer contributions were also increased from 8%, as originally proposed, to 12% for those who have served for five years or more. Circle also abandoned plans to abolish ‘income protection’ – a benefit for those who are sick for more than six months, as a result of talks with the unions. Mark Rogers, chief executive of Circle Housing, said at the time “We are pleased to have come to an agreement with our recognised trade unions on a new set of terms and conditions… as a responsible employer we changed some of the areas that mattered most to our staff having listened to their feedback.”   Affinity Sutton and Trade Union Recognition  Broomleigh was a housing association that became part of Affinity Sutton and now Clarion. Some former Broomleigh staff will remember having trade union recognition for some years, until Affinity Sutton moved to derecognise the unions. During the period of trade union recognition, staff received far better pay increases than they have since union recognition was removed by Affinity Sutton. Ridgehill and Downlands also merged into Affinity Sutton and staff tell us they enjoyed much improved pay offers and terms and conditions, prior to losing trade union recognition.

Trade Union Recognition in other HAs It is normal for Housing Associations, with their ethos of cooperation, partnership and social value to work closely with Trade Unions. Clarion will be unusual if it breaks that link. Here for example are just some of the Housing Associations who have Trade Union Recognition Agreements with UNISON: L&Q, Hyde, Metropolitan, Amicus Horizon, Nong Hill Housing Trust, Family Mosaic, East Thames Housing Group, One Housing, Cross Keys Don’t be at a disadvantage, support trade union recognition for the joint unions.

Upcoming Workplace Meetings Here are dates and times of upcoming joint union meetings: 13.01.17 - Tower View, Kings Hill, Firefly meeting Room - 12.00 - 14.00 17.01.17 - Gee Business Centre - 12.00 - 14.00 - Cheshire Room 18.01.17 - Bishops Stortford - Innovation House 12.00 - 14.00 20.01.17 - Haywards Heath - Venue TBC - 12.00 - 14.00 We will be adding other dates and doing targeted emails to relevant members with updates. Please keep looking out for these.

Your rights to advice and representation UNISON wants to make clear to all its members that if there is a period of time where we do not have recognition with Clarion Housing Group, or Latimer, your individual rights to advice and representation are not affected. You will still be able to receive advice and representation from UNISON Stewards and staff as before. Recognition relates to collective bargaining and some other issues, but we thought it was important to make this clear at this stage. If you have any questions, please get in touch: Email: l.baldock@unison.co.uk                Phone: 07432 735 157 Email: b.wakefield@unison.co.uk            Phone: 0781 712 0556 If you have questions about the proposed merger, or the current Circle reorganisation, please contact John Gray on John.Gray@circle.org.uk

Facebook, Twitter and Website  Please like and follow to receive updates "Like" us on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/clarionunison "Follow" us on twitter here: https://twitter.com/unisonclarion Or visit the website here: http://bwakefield1.wixsite.com/unisonclarion Please encourage colleagues to do the same.

"Members fight back against derecognition threat"

"Union members at a new housing group – one of the largest in Europe – could be asked whether they are prepared to take industrial action over derecognition threats.

The new Clarion and Latimer Housing Group was formed this week from the merger of Circle Housing and Affinity Sutton and is threatening to withdraw recognition from UNISON, Unite and the GMB.

Clarion and Latimer is responsible for 130,000 homes across 176 local authority areas and has 4,000 staff.

Latest available figures for the two housing associations who merged to form it show a combined turnover of £826m, a pre-tax surplus of £233m and an estimated £20bn in assets.

Members of all three unions lobbied the new group’s launch party on Tuesday (6 December), urging guests to ask the new group’s management to engage with the unions.

UNISON NEC member and Circle convenor John Gray said that “unions have had a long and productive relationship with management at Circle and we have been given no reason why this should now come to an end.”

But he pointed out that plans to end recognition would mean “that we lose our ability to negotiate over pay, terms and conditions, and the restructures which will inevitably follow a merger.”

UNISON organiser and Clarion joint union secretary Barney Wakefield said all three unions would use their political influence with local authorities to build support for the campaign against derecognition.

“There are so many housing associations who value trade unions and respect workers’ rights,” he said. “We will be calling on councils to withdraw co-operation from Clarion on new projects until union recognition is secured.”

The campaign was backed by UNISON’s community service group executive this week, representing some 60,000 members working for housing associations and charities".

hat tip https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2016/12/members-fight-back-against-derecognition-threat/

Unions threaten HA strike over restructure

See "Inside Housing" website. "Unions are threatening one of the largest industrial actions in the housing association sector’s history over Circle’s plans to restructure ahead of the rent cut.

Unison, Unite and GMB are close to declaring an industrial dispute over the 50,000-home landlord’s proposals to centralise services, cut jobs, remove subsidiary boards and change terms and conditions of employment.

Circle is aiming to cut its operating costs by 17% a year to enable it to cope with the social housing rent cut, which it estimates will reduce income by £50m a year. The first phase of this will see 60 compulsory redundancies.

The changes begin to kick-in from 1 April, and the unions on Thursday requested an urgent meeting with chief executive Mark Rogers to discuss a ‘counter-offer’ they have made to Circle. Mr Rogers has agreed to meet the unions.

Circle is changing 12 terms and conditions, including alterations to hours, the way salaries are calculated, pensions, leave and redundancy policy. Circle has since modified a number of its proposed policies, extending protection against the changes in areas such as annual leave, pay and pensions. However, unions remain opposed in a number of areas.

The unions are also calling for the restructure to be put on hold until after Circle has completed its merger with Affinity Sutton. They fear that otherwise staff could be affected by a second restructure as the merger takes place. Circle says the restructure is a completely seperate process.

John Gray, secretary of the Greater London Housing Association branch of Unison, said: “We don’t want to have a war over this, but we want to speak to the chief executive as soon as possible and try and sort something out.” The unions were angered by a letter from Mr Rogers last Thursday saying there has been “no firm viable counter proposal from the unions” as the unions’ proposals would cost more.

Robert Melcioiu, GMB convenor for Circle, said he believes around 40% of Circle’s 2,300-workforce are members of the unions.

Mark Rogers, chief executive of Circle Housing, said: “We – alongside the sector as a whole – are implementing a number of changes in order to protect the long-term financial viability of the organisation and continue our social purpose, to invest more in our homes and communities.  We understand that change is difficult for staff, and are committed to supporting them through this period.”

THE DISPUTE EXPLAINED
Circle had already expressed a desire to find efficiencies through a plan called ‘Fast Forward Circle’. However, the 1% rent cut, announced last July, has prompted the organisation to outline an ambitious plan to reduce operate costs by 17% and centralise services. The union argues that the plan will impact on terms and conditions and lead to a poorer service for tenants. It says the plan should be delayed until after the organisation’s merger with Affinity Sutton.