BEC Report

Our Branch Executive Committee met yesterday.

We discussed a number of issues where we are in a period of phoney war (we are expecting attacks but we don't know exactly when or what the full extent will be).

These included TPIP, staffing and welfare cuts.

We are taking a lead to campaign and form an alliance of public sector unions to fight the cuts.

Check on this site for details of events, meetings, etc.

We were concerned about attendance management. Sickness absence is high so management are making efforts to reduce it. Our job is to make sure that staff are supported (not punished), that policies are followed correctly and that members are not forced back to work where they are too ill to do so.

We are also opposed to the letters given to staff who have nothad a day off sick in the past year. We feel that they are counterproductive, divisive, belittle the commitment of staff who have had time off and potentially are discriminatory under the Disability Discrimination Act.