At its July meeting, the General Council considered the Scottish Executive’s discussion document “Transforming Public Services: The next Phase of Reform” and its consultation paper on “A National Strategy for Shared Services”. It also considered the implications for the wider public service reform agenda of the UK Government’s proposals for welfare reform and the Scottish Executive’s approach to employability.
To help the General Council consider its approach to the Executive’s discussion document a meeting of public sector affiliates a meeting was held on Monday 14 August, 2006, and was attended by representatives of seven public service unions: Amicus; EIS; NASUWT; PCS; UCATT; UCU; and Unison.
The following were the key issues discussed at the meeting and the main action points to arise.
The need to give urgent consideration to the issue of union engagement, both strategic and operational, with the Scottish Executive and public service employers on shared service issues was identified.
It was agreed that there was an urgent need for Scottish Executive guidance on fair employment practice, in the context of public service reform, to be issued to public service employers, and a clear role for the STUC to take this matter forward with the Executive.
The need to ensure appropriate and effective mechanisms to enforce any guidance on fair employment practice was considered essential if the guidance was to be meaningful.
It was acknowledged that Glasgow City Council is at the forefront in addressing the public service reform agenda in relation to shared services, and through the UK Government’s Cities Strategy approach to welfare reform. It was agreed to seek a meeting with the Leader of the Council.
Concern was expressed about the increasing role of the third sector in the provision of public services.
There was a need to consider how unions can engage with public service employers at a strategic level over the public service reform agenda. It was agreed that this should be considered in the context of a review of the membership and remit of the Scottish Public Services Forum. It was noted that the General Council had an outstanding commitment to meet COSLA and that this should be pursued as a matter of urgency.
It was agreed to consult affiliates about the future remit and composition of the Scottish Public Services Forum and to seek information from the TUC about the operation of the Public Services Forum in England.
It was agreed that there was a need to engage all political parties in dialogue on public service reform in the context of the 2007 Scottish elections.
It was agreed that the General Council should provide guidance to affiliates to assist them in considering their response to locally developed shared service or Efficient Government initiatives. This guidance should be based on the set of principles adopted at the 2005 Congress.
It was agreed that there was a need to give greater attention to implications of the next spending round for public service pay. It was agreed that pay should be a standing item on the agenda of future meetings of the public service unions.
It was agreed that the events/conferences on public service reform being considered by the General Council would be helpful in raising awareness about the Executive’s public service reform agenda and the union response.
It was noted that a meeting with Scottish Executive officials would take place on 10 October, 2006 to progress a number of issues identified above, and arising from the Scottish Public Services Forum meeting on 31 July, 2006.
It was also noted that the next meeting of the next Scottish Public Services Forum would be held on 28 November, 2006. It was agreed that the next meeting of public service unions should take place beforehand.