Update 11th June 2012
Members accept 1%
Cornerstone members have voted in a consultative ballot to accept a 1% pay increase.
Update 11th June 2012
1% on the table - Vote now
The branch is consulting with Cornerstone members on a "final
offer" from Management of a 1% pay rise, and has issued a
consultative ballot paper to all members in Cornerstone, with
a closing date of 18th June.
Please vote now and have your say
On 24 May 2012, following consultation with members on the claim
lodged by UNISON and the 1% offer announced by Cornerstone's Chief
Executive in her April Update, UNISON Stewards and Branch Representatives
met Cornerstone management to discuss pay.
Norman Smith, Convenor said, "At the meeting with Cornerstone
management, following extensive discussions, the company made
it clear that their final offer was 1% together with a commitment
to pay point one of the Support Assistant grade at the Scottish
Living Wage level (currently £7.20) and their recent increase
in mileage to 45p.
"Management have expressed their disappointment that they
could do no more but within the current economic climate they
felt they had few options available to them."
He added, "UNISON has reserved its position on the offer
until we get a view from members and we have assured the company
that we will conduct this part of the pay consultation as soon
as possible."
Tony Brennan, Steward said, "Despite UNISON's concern that
staff have now gone a number of years without a pay award, the
fact that an offer has been made is in itself welcome albeit that
it falls well short of our pay claim.
"It is also clear that this represents the company's final
offer and the best we can achieve by negotiation alone. To progress
our original claim would need to be backed up by industrial action
and that is why this consultation offers members the option of
accepting the offer or taking part in some form of industrial
action up to and including strike action."
The branch has made it clear to members that if they choose to
reject the offer, it will be necessary to formally ballot members.
In this event stewards and branch officers would draw up a series
of options in consultation with union officials and put these
to members in a postal ballot.
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Update 2 May 2012
Cornerstone rejects UNISON's pay
claim and offers 1%
In the recent consultation with members about the current pay
claim, the majority of respondents (63%) were in favour of keeping
to the UNISON submitted pay claim of £600 flat rate and
a 5% increase on additional payments such as sleepovers and on-call.
However at the recent negotiating meeting, Cornerstone rejected
UNISON's claim and advised stewards that the maximum pay award
on offer is 1%. The Branch will now be consulting with members
as to whether they wish to accept this offer or not.
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Update May 2012
Cornerstone Stewards urge members to give their views on the 2012
pay claim
UNISON stewards in Cornerstone have sent out a consultation letter
to all members across the country asking for feedback on the offer
of a 1% pay rise put forward by Cornerstone's chief executive
in her April 2012 update.UNISON has already put forward a pay
claim asking for £600 across the board and a 5% increase on additional
payments such as sleepovers and on-call.
Click
here to see the letter.
Tony Brennan, Steward said, "A 1% pay raise will not come
close to £600 for any member in the lower or middle scales of
the pay structure. Our members, for all intent and purposes have
not had a pay rise for at least 3 years whilst at the same time
have seen their costs of living rise dramatically."
"We are fully aware of the difficulties facing voluntary
care providers with the cuts in council budgets across the country,
but we also appreciate the financial difficulties members are
facing and hope Cornerstone will be able to reconsider their position
and respond with a better offer.
He urged members to respond to the consultation "So far
we have had a good response but the more comments and feedback
we get from members the better informed we are on the general
feeling of this offer."
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The options
Stewards will meet again with management on 24th May. They have
asked for members views on the following options:
1. Accept the 1% pay award
2. £600 across the board, plus 5% on additional payments (Current
pay claim) - which costs more than is currently on offer
3. £200 across the board (this equates roughly with what is
on offer but is evenly spread across the organization, giving
those on the lowest pay a "better" percentage increase.
4. £200 across the board, plus a percentage on additional
payments (to be further discussed by the stewards). Again costs
more than is currently on offer.
5. £400 across the board, plus a percentage on additional
payments. Costs more than is currently on offer.
6. £400 across the board. Costs more than is currently on
offer.
7. Other - please specify what you wish below
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The offer
The chief executive, in her April update said, "A 1% pay award
has been built into the budgets this year and alongside our commitment
to pay point one of our Support Assistant grade at the Scottish
Living Wage level and our recent increase in mileage to 45p, we
hope those decisions demonstrate in some small way our commitment
to our employees. Both I and the Board wish we could do more but
within the current economic climate we have few options available
to us. Cornerstone continues to benchmark our terms and conditions
of employment with other comparable organisations and we are proud
of the fact that we continue to pay higher salaries to our Support
Assistants and Support Workers than the vast majority of our competitors.
Any pay award is subject to negotiation with UNISON but we hope
to be able to communicate a final decision to you after the August
Board meeting."
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