Nov 10 – Unite Calls For “Meaningful Consultation” With The Ministry of Defence – Union Rejects Proposed Operating Model
Unite’s Regional Officer Gillian Birkett gave the following speech outside the Convent this afternoon during a peaceful demonstration organized by the union to protest against proposed MoD job cuts.
Thank you all for supporting our demonstration, especially those who are not directly impacted by the MOD Job Cuts and are standing here with us today.
Unite does not agree with the Operating Model. It is an attack on Locally Entered Civilians, its unjustified, unnecessary and nothing other than a money saving exercise.
The Ministry of Defence as a major official employer operating within our small but successful economy has a responsibility, in sustaining stable employment on the Rock.
The Ministry of Defence is using voluntary retirement schemes in Gibraltar to downsize their operation.
Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme is the polished concept of compulsory redundancies and seeks to eliminate posts from the local Gibraltar workforce. This will shrink the Gibraltar economy and limit the chances of our youth, our sons and daughters, to enter a job within the Ministry of Defence.
The Ministry of Defence suggests that their Voluntary Early Redundancy Scheme will only ‘trim’ the local civilian workforce by 14% but this is a distortion of the truth, given that the Ministry of Defence will be downsizing its operation by transferring many existing posts onto the Gibraltar public sector.
Unite has insistently been highlighting the fact that many positions currently occupied by UK Based Civilians could instead be carried out by the Locally Entered Civilians, therefore, making economic sense and contributing further to the Gibraltar economy.
This would at the same time, make a significant savings to the UK Treasury, by avoiding payments for housing, Furniture Movement Service, Baggage expenses, Medical and Dental Services, overseas allowances, etc, etc.
The response of the local command to our representations, is that many of the jobs carried out by UK Based Civilians in certain departments such as DIO, ISS, MET Office are unchallengeable, as they control their own budget, manpower structures and operational changes, and therefore, outside the remit to challenge by the local command. For Gibraltar Locally Entered Civilians this is a totally unacceptable situation.
Unite the Union calls on the Armed Forces Minister to investigate into this well-known factor, evidence of which we hold and to reconsider the final number of jobs to be lost in Gibraltar.
There are many good reasons, irrespective of the law, why employers, in this case the Ministry of Defence, should consult with Trade Unions and individuals themselves.
The purpose of consultation is to provide an early opportunity for all concerned to share the problems encountered, and explore the options and alternatives.
In Unite’s opinion, this can stimulate better cooperation between the Command, Managers, and the workforce at large and reduce uncertainty, avoid scaremongering and lead to better decision making.
Unite the Union as the leading Union, believes that this consultation process is the most incoherent encountered, having changes made to the actual document by the Command half way through the consultation and the shortest consultation period given by the Command, taking into account the magnitude of the new operating model.
We believe in frequent and honest communication, more meaningful consultation and giving the workforce a greater voice in the workplace this would have the greatest impact on improving trust.
The situation we are facing not only affects those employees who are made redundant, but also those who are left behind.
We believe that a positive consultation exercise can help minimise the negative impact for both, and this is certainly not the case today.
The consultation document is where the Ministry of Defence sets out what is proposed as a basis for discussion, the proposals do not have to be the command’s final and fixed thoughts.
The command must enter discussion in a frame of mind that is open to persuasion and not presented as a fait accompli.
Finally, Unite does not consider this consultation procedure to be genuine unless we enter into meaningful consultation.
Thank you All – Gracia a todos.
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