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19th April 2010 - Terms & Conditions Latest, Ballot Arrangements, Marilyn Morris re-elected, Conference Postponed.

Term & Conditions – Latest News

Further to the update provided on March 31st, joint discussions between the Bank and the unions on the proposed new terms and conditions of employment have now recommenced.

A team from Accord and Unite met the Bank’s negotiating team in London on Thursday, April 15th. The unions are seeking positive progress on the issues that members highlighted in the ballot that took place earlier this year.

It has been agreed that further talks will take place on April 29th and May 10th so it will be some time yet before the new terms and conditions proposals, if they are improved by the Bank and approved by Accord members, could be introduced.

Following further talks with the Bank, the Union will hold special meetings of workplace representatives to discuss the emerging issues and the arrangements for the next members’ ballot.

The dates and venues of meetings will be confirmed when a new date for the Biennial Delegate Conference is available.


Ballot Arrangements

The response rate to the first ballot was not as high as it could have been.  Some in the Bank’s management claim that those who did not vote therefore supported the 2010 pay offer, the changes to the final salary pension arrangements and the proposed new terms and conditions of employment. Accord does not believe that this is the case. We therefore asked the independent ballot scrutineer, Electoral Reform Services,  to carry out telephone based research with a sample of members who had not voted to establish the reasons for not voting; to test their attitudes to the issues and to find out what we can do better next time to increase members’ participation in the ballot.

The headline results from the research were received on April 16th and are currently being analysed. However, an important finding is that only 22% of those surveyed said that they “Thought the new terms and conditions were acceptable and (they) therefore didn't need to vote”.

On the other hand, 44% said either that they didn’t have enough information to make an informed choice or that they didn’t think that the proposals applied to them. As the proposed new terms and conditions of employment impact on all HBOS staff (some to a greater extent than others), it seems clear that both the unions and the Bank have some work to do to make sure that employees understand the important changes that are being discussed. The Union will be taking this forward with the Bank in the next joint discussions.

Further information will be published when all of the research findings have been received and analysed.


Marilyn Morris re-elected as President of Accord

The ballot for the President and Principal Executive Council (PEC) members took place between March 22nd and April 12th.

The independent scrutineer, Popularis Ltd, has confirmed that Marilyn Morris has been elected as President for a second, two year term.

The election results and details of the elected PEC members who will guide the Union through to Conference 2012 are available at:
www.accord-myunion.org/union/elections.php

Any queries should be referred to info@AccordHQ.org


URGENT NEWS - BELFAST CONFERENCE POSTPONED

Due to the transportation problems caused by the Icelandic volcanoes, Accord’s Principal Executive Council has decided NOT TO PROCEED with the Biennial Delegate Conference in Belfast this week.

A new date for the Conference will be communicated as soon as possible.

Delegates and visitors will need to change their travel plans and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused by the circumstances which are obviously beyond our control.

Any queries should be referred to hilary.letch@AccordHQ.org

 

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