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We would like this section
of the UNISON NORPOL website to become our "Agony Aunt" page. We would
like our members, or even non-members, to ask us questions. Then, if that
question is suitable for publishing, we will then publish your question
and the answer on this page so that it can help others.
| Q. |
If I have a problem/issue but am not a member of unison then join will I still get help/advise on the issue that I had
pre-membership?
Anonymous |
|
A. |
UNISON can only represent its members. In order to qualify for that support you need to have been
a member a minimum of 4 weeks prior to any incident occurring. |
|
Q.
Part.1 |
I
notice in Nene Beat the force is boasting about a new course just for
Women; to help them with their promotion prospects. Is there a similar
course for Men? Does the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 allow an employer
to deny a member of staff training on the grounds of their gender? If
not, what is UNISON (a union committed to gender equality) doing about
this?
Anonymous |
Q.
Part.2 |
In UNISON
Women outnumber Men by more than two to one. In other organisations where
Women are a minority, Women's profile is raised in order to attract more
Women. In UNISON (that claims to believe in gender equality) there is no
effort to raise the profile of Men. UNISON publications are covered in
pictures of Women (of all colours) and a few Men from ethnic minorities.
Why is UNISON actively discriminating against white Men?
Anonymous |
A.
To Both Parts |
UNISON does not in any
way discriminate against its male members. UNISON membership by gender
is split 67% to 33% female to male both nationally and within the
local Branch. UNISON is committed to a fair proportionate
representation across all its many strands including gender. UNISON
struggles badly to achieve that proportionality by gender in almost
every sphere of its activities in favour of male members.
At every level throughout the Union women has low representation. In
this Branch we have two full time officers, both male. We have less
than 50% of our executive are female and our representation to
Regional committees have empty seats because we cannot get women to
fill them. At Regional level our full time organisers are
predominately male and Nationally the Union has a general secretary
who is male and a deputy general secretary who is also male.
On the Police officer side we have a 3 to 1 split in favour of males
which was the reason the Force formed the Women's Forum. The under
representation project was founded because of the lack of female
officers (and ethnic officers) in the higher ranks.
Generally the Union represents its members equally regardless of
gender and we totally oppose any attempts to create a pay gap between
male and female individuals who perform the same task.
Therefore I totally reject the accusation that UNISON discriminates
against male members and indeed would claim that male members have a
greater voice within the Union than is justified by the male
percentage of membership. |
| Q. |
I have
heard that because of regionalisation, we are all going to loose our jobs.
A friend of mine who works in Derbyshire tells me that there is a working
group that has UNISON on it. What are you doing to keep our jobs?
Anonymous |
|
A. |
There is a regional
collaboration team on which all 5 Branches of Unison have a seat. The
purpose of this group is to see if there are any ways in which all
five forces can work better together.
Northamptonshire Police Branch have a veto on any proposal that comes
from that group and any change can only be put in place with the
approval of all five branches.
This Branch has had a strict policy on this from day one which has
gone to the Group, our Regional colleagues, our Chief Constable and
the Chair of the Northamptonshire Police Authority.
That policy is that this Branch will not agree to any change which
comes out of the collaboration project which is in any way a determent
to the terms and conditions of the members of this Branch.
Other Branches are not so forthright in putting their case as we are
and thus the members of Derbyshire may not feel as secure as our
members should with the impact of this Group.
the Branch cannot guarantee that your job is forever safe but the
decisions on any changes to the workforce of Northamptonshire Police
will be made by Northamptonshire Police alone. |
| Q. |
I have
been warned to be careful when I access Force Systems and not check
the details of any person known to me such as a partner, relative,
friend or even acquaintance. However, I now need to check someone who
falls into one of these categories as part of my job. What should I
do?
Anonymous |
|
A. |
You are quite right to
be concerned. Even as you submitted your question we were hearing
about yet another individual who was about to be confronted regarding
accessing details of an acquaintance. It appears that this person will
have little or no defence and will no doubt receive a Police caution,
end up with a Criminal Record and be sacked - joining the ever
increasing list, and they are not a Member.
In your case what you must do is inform your Line Manager, for them to
decide the best course of action to take in the circumstances. If you
are told to go ahead with the check make sure you record it somewhere
safe and include the time & date and who authorised you to do it. |
| Q. |
I have
just joined UNISON and have a problem. Who can help me?
Anonymous |
|
A. |
Your nearest UNISON rep,
list can be found here.
Alternatively, you can ring into the office on 8313 and a rep will be
allocated to you. |
| Q. |
UNISON
members in local government in England, Northern Ireland and Wales have
voted to take strike action on 16 and 17 July over the employers'
"insulting pay offer".
They have been offered a pay rise of just 2.45%. Take inflation into
account and it's a pay CUT.
600,000 local government workers - care assistants, refuse collectors,
cleaners, teaching assistants, social workers - the people who keep our
public services going - are taking action because employers are asking
them to take a pay cut.
Will Police Staff who are Unison members be asked to participate in any
industrial action?
Anonymous |
|
A. |
By law we are forbidden to
take direct supportive action in solidarity with our colleagues in Local
Government.
This does not preclude us from offering moral and financial support as
needed however. |
| Q. |
I've just
joined Northamptonshire Police and want to continue my Unison membership.
What do I need to do this?
Jane |
|
A. |
You need to download a
Member Transfer Form
from here or from the ForceNet, complete this and put your old
membership number on the top of the form if you know it. Then simply
return it to the UNISON NORPOL office. The Member Transfer Form shows
UNISON continuation of membership. |
| Q. |
Where has
the branch office moved to?
Anonymous |
|
A. |
UNISON
Northants Police Force Headquarters
Wootton Hall
Northampton
NN4 0JQ |
| Q. |
What's the cut off age
to be a young member?
Anonymous |
|
A. |
You have to be under 27. |
| Q. |
Can I
approach any Unison Steward for help/advice or does it have to be my
local area representative?
Anonymous |
|
A. |
Yes, you can approach
any UNISON steward. They will be more than willing to help you
themselves, or in some circumstances, they may refer you to a more
suitable steward. |
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