Union Mail – July 2012

Interim Viewpoint Survey

The interim ViewPoint survey is being carried out over the next two weeks (2nd-13th July) and we’d
encourage all NGSU members to complete the survey. This is your chance to give feedback to Nationwide management and the Nationwide Board – so, as it says in the recent Internal Announcement, please take this opportunity to make your voice heard.

We’ve always resisted writing to members about ViewPoint because some people will accuse us of trying to influence the results. We are only interested in seeing this survey as an accurate reflection of the views that exist within the Society.

All we ask members to do is to complete the survey honestly. As Nationwide’s management want to boost employee satisfaction, it’s crucial that they have an accurate picture with which to work – so please – say it as it is.

David Hopkins Awards

We’d like to remind members about the opportunity to apply for a David Hopkins Award, as featured in the recent edition of Rapport Magazine. The Awards are funded by the David Hopkins Trust which was founded in memory of David, a former Nationwide employee and NGSU member.

All NGSU members can apply for an award to help fund activity that supports their individual development in respect of work they do in their local community. The aim of the awards is to support individual development, not to simply make donations to charitable causes.

Awards of up to £500 will be allocated by the Trustees, together with members of the Union’s National Executive Committee. The Trustees may offer awards in full or grant partial awards. The available Funds are limited and offers of awards will be made to those nominations that most closely match the aims for personal development to aid working with others while seeking to distribute the monies as widely as possible. The closing date for nominations is 31 August 2012.

If you’d like to apply for an award please complete the form in Rapport Issue 73 (sent to members in June) or send an e-mail telling us how you’d use the award to ngsu@ngsu.org.uk. Further information and full terms and conditions can be found in Rapport.

Branch Working Arrangements

Guidance about how Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) should be operated within the branch network was published on 12 June 2012. Further guidance has now been issued (3 July 2012) on how ‘excess’ TOIL balances can be taken or be claimed as an overtime payment. We’d urge all members to read both of these messages and to ensure that they are being treated fairly in respect of their contractual rights. These can be found on the BNCC or the NGSU website (see branch overtime link on the home page).

If you are in doubt about your contractual entitlement to overtime or believe you have been treated unfairly please contact us for further advice on 01295 710767.

As members may have seen from various communications, including the Joint Statement about the Pay Review 2012, we are in talks with Nationwide about the working arrangements in the branch network. These are complex discussions because the impact of any changes will vary depending on the individual’s contract of employment and working arrangements. Although we have agreed a number of issues to talk about, these discussions are still in the early stages and no changes to terms and conditions have been agreed.

We believe it is desirable to find a long term solution to the current issues surrounding working arrangements and accept that developing an operating model that is responsive to customer needs is important to the sustainability of the Branch Network. However, branch staff remain key to the success of the Network and therefore we must be satisfied that any changes are fair before we are prepared to reach agreement. We also believe that ‘working arrangements’ are about more than working patterns. A future branch network must be built on a culture where the rights of employees are respected and fairness is at the heart of actions and not the fear culture that still persists in some areas – so there is plenty to talk about.

Tim Poil
General Secretary

Win a Holiday!

To help celebrate NGSU’s 40th Anniversary, we’re offering members the chance to win a holiday worth £1,000!

See your Rapport magazine for details of how to enter or come and enter at one of our Roadshows
between 10.30am and 2.30pm at these venues:

Pegasus House – 9th July – The Restaurant
Nationwide House – 10th July – The Rear Atrium
Bournemouth Admin Centre – 11th July – The Restaurant
Northampton Admin Centre – 12th July – 1st Floor Atrium

Competition run in conjunction with Whitesands Travel

Terms & conditions apply

Closing date 27 July 2012

July Draw Winners

First Prize: £10,631
101186 : Andrew Jones of Environment Services

Second Prize: £5,000
120774 : Tom Price of Complaints (Electra House)

Third Prize: £2,000
078746 : Martyn Seaman of Daventry

Fourth Prizes: £500
085517 : Gillian Mead of Pension Fund Members
095793 : Stephen Cox of IT Governance
104352 : Annette Alliston of Wealdstone