RCT HOMES UPDATE

 Everyone involved in housing I’m sure are well and truly up to date with the events that will shortly be introduced. It has been a long process that has involved significant council, staff, trade union, and tenant participation and much debate and many man-hours to get things right. Shortly RCT County Borough Council will be loosing all its housing stock, staff, and responsibility for provision of social housing, when it transfers all its responsibilities over to the newly formed RCT Homes

The GMB has been involved in every part of the process from the very beginning, even sending a delegation to Westminster in an attempt to get the government to put what was regarded as the 4^th option on the table. Unfortunately the 4^th option has not yet been adopted by Parliament and in  order for RCT housing to obtain the Welsh Assembly funding it requires to bring its housing stock up to modern standards we have had no choice but  assist the authority in this transfer.

Many employed in the housing division have long recognised this to be the best way forward to secure the long term protection of their jobs, though I’m sure there are many   apprehensions individuals will have in changing employer.  Indeed I think it fair to say it will be a sad day to the  authority when they have to give up such a large  section of its  responsibility.

GMB negotiators have remained firm to obtain the best possible transfer deal for our members and it is good to have a last minute assurance that RCT Job Evaluation recommendations will be implemented after TUPE.

Admitted body status into the  Local Government Pension Scheme has been granted and we would encourage all our members to stay in this scheme in the hope that it will give you more of a  secure retirement.

Significant change is in long term sickness entitlement, however this amicable agreement is hoped to have advantages for most and a discouraging impact to deter malingering.

‘RCT Homes’ refuse to recognise the long service award currently available in the authority so we are still in negotiations and  hopeful that RCT will do the honourable gesture of paying the award to all long serving employees with 20 years or more service upon the day of TUPE transfer. RCTCBC will grant its former housing employees a one year window where if anyone should secure a job back with the council there will be no break in continuity of service.

We are pleased to say that ‘RCT Homes’ have given recognised status to us as a union and that we have successfully negotiated facility time for our representatives and activists on par with the status quo we have with the council.