Union Mail – August 2014: Service Planner/Rep Vacancies

Withdrawal of the Branch Service Planner

The Branch Service Planner is to be withdrawn from 1st September 2014 and will be replaced with a range of support tools, along with a suite of management information that can be used to make appropriate local resourcing decisions.  The new range of tools will be launched during the week commencing 18th August 2014.

The Service Planner was introduced in October 2012 as part of the new Branch Network Working Arrangements.  The Planner was intended to support the creation of working patterns and rosters across the six day week and to help record additional hours worked for determining TOIL or overtime entitlements.

As such, it was an important tool to help ensure that the Working Arrangements were implemented fairly and in accordance the underpinning Agreement.  However, feedback to both the Society and the Union has revealed that the Planner does not properly reflect the extent of activity in branches (e.g. telephone calls and complex transactions) and therefore is not an effective tool.  The new arrangements have been determined in consultation with Union Reps and we hope they will provide better tools to help support resourcing decisions.

The principles underpinning branch working arrangements have not changed.  Further work is underway to develop a better TOIL tool to help branch employees record additional hours worked and ensure they get all this time back or an appropriate overtime payment.

The Union continues to monitor resourcing levels in branches and has expressed concern about an increasing trend of branches planning to open with just two members of staff.  Although there will be occasions when circumstances dictate that only two staff member are available, these should be exceptional circumstances and not the norm.  If you are concerned about resourcing in your branch please talk to your local Union Rep for further discussion at the Area EIC meetings or contact us directly on 01295 710767.

Tim Poil
General Secretary

NGSU News in Brief

Employee Involvement Committee

The EIC is the body that oversees the formal relationship between Nationwide and NGSU.  The Committee met in June and discussed a number of topics including business updates, the Pay Settlement, and the distribution of annual performance management ratings.  Actions agreed at the EIC include a review of the Performance Management Appeals process and the Harassment & Bullying Policy.

Joint Consultation and Negotiation Committee

The JCNC is the formal interaction between NGSU and HR.  The Committee meets monthly in Swindon and discusses issues that impact directly on employees.  This is the forum at which the Union advances many of the issues raised at National Conference.  Topics currently under discussion include travel insurance arrangements, car allowances, long service awards, the impact of new security arrangements at Admin Centres, and a review of the Social Media Policy.

Location Allowances

As announced in the Pay 2014 Joint Statement, negotiations regarding a review of the current Location Allowances are taking place.  These discussions are nearing completion and we hope to be in a position to report the final outcome to members in September.

Health & Safety Committee

The Committee meets quarterly to consider operational issues impacting on employees’ safety and wellbeing and to review the Society’s strategy to meet appropriate H&S legislation.   The Committee has approved a new approach to H&S training and a new e-learning package will replace the requirement to complete a Personal Responsibility Statement – full details of this will be issued during H&S Month in October.

Admin Centre Regional Council meetings

We are holding Regional Council meetings in Northampton on 12th August and in Bournemouth on 21st August.  If you have any issues you’d like to raise at the meeting please contact your local Union Rep.

Free Tickets to see the new British film ‘PRIDE’ – starring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West.

PRIDE, set in the summer of 1984, tells the story of a group of gay and lesbian activists who decide to raise money for families of striking miners.  But there is a problem.  The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support.  But the activists are not deterred.  They decide to ignore the Union and go direct to the miners.  They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person.  And so begins the extraordinary story of two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.

NGSU members can apply for two free tickets to pre-launch screenings across the Country in late August and early September.  Watch out for more details of how to apply for tickets soon!

National Executive Committee – National Regional Officer Positions

We are seeking nominations for two National Regional Officer (NRO) positions on the National Executive Committee (NEC).  These Officers will represent Union members from a number of Areas in the Branch Network.  The positions are:

NRO North 1:
Representing – North & East Scotland
West Scotland & Borders
North East England
Northern Ireland
Nationwide International

NRO South 1:
Representing – Herts & Essex
North East London
Greater London
Central London
Home Counties

The Role of the NEC

The NEC is responsible for the overall running of the Union and implementation of policy as directed by National Conference.   As a member of the NEC you’ll attend bi-monthly meetings at the Union’s office in Middleton Cheney to represent the views of members in the Branch Network.  You’ll also attend the Union’s Regional Councils and the Employment Involvement Committee (EIC) meetings.  Nationwide supports the work of the National Executive Committee by providing up to 11 paid days off to attend Union and EIC meetings, the biennial National Conference (2015) and to support local members.

Nomination Process

Members who would like to be elected to the NEC must be nominated by two NGSU members who work in the Area covered by the role.   Nomination forms must be received at the Union’s Office by 5pm on Friday 29th August 2014.  Both positions are for the remaining period of the 2014-2015 term of office.

Please call Kerry Wagg, Rep Support Officer, for more information and a nomination form on 01295 710767.

Tim Poil
General Secretary

District Rep Vacancies in Retail North

We have a number of Union Rep vacancies in most of the Areas in the North Region of the Branch Network.  Our Branch Reps play an increasingly important part of the national and local consultation process with senior management in the Branch Network as part of the Employee Involvement Committee (EIC) structure.  It is therefore vital that we have a full compliment of Reps from the North to ensure that the views of members from the Region are fully represented.

If you would like to find out more about being a Union Rep and if there is a vacancy in your Area, please call Kerry Wagg, Rep Support Officer, on 01295 710767.

Tim Poil
General Secretary

NGSU Forum

The Forum on our website is currently closed for essential maintenance – we apologise for any inconvenience during this time.  We hope to re-launch the service in September.  Details will be published in next month’s Union Mail.

August Draw Winners

First Prize : £11,344

087852 : Mary O’Donnell of Londonderry branch

Second Prize : £5,000

090926 : Angela Towler of Bromley branch

Third Prize : £2,000

080582 : Dawn Ewan of Associate Members

Fourth Prizes : £500

104376 : Carole Hawketts of Pensioner Members

110136 : Angela Field of St Albans branch

091870 : Andrew Marsden of Customer Services & Operations (Swindon)

Didn’t win this time?  Why not increase your chances?
Email the number of chances you would like to ngsu@ngsu.org.uk and we will do the rest.