Page 45 - Raco 2017

GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT
45
Biennial Delegate Conference 2017
The Council is chaired by an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Defence and meets every two months unless otherwise agreed by both sides. The scope of matters that can be discussed at Council is laid down in the C&A Scheme and includes all items within the defined scope of representation (per DFR S6). The agenda for Council meetings includes items proposed by each side, with the majority being put forward by the Association. These are agreed by the National Executive prior to each meeting of Council and consist of claims and other matters that RACO wishes to pursue.
In accordance with the term of the Scheme any item within the scope of representation (per DFR S6) can be raised at Conciliation Council. If, after negotiation and discussion, agreement is reached on a particular item at Council it is recorded in a “Report Recording Agreement” (Agreed Report), which is signed by both sides. If there is a failure to reach agreement and both sides consider that further discussion at Council would be pointless a “Report Recording Disagreement” may be signed. This takes the issue off the agenda of Council.
The constraints of the Haddington Road Agreement and now the Lansdowne Road Agreement mean that the Association is currently severely limited in the claims for improvements in members’ conditions that it can bring to the Conciliation Council. In particular, the prohibition on processing cost increasing claims (except for new activities) limits the scope for improving members’ terms and conditions.
Of contrast to this situation however is how other unions affiliated to ICTU have secured additional benefits, on top of National Pay Agreements, for their members. The wide range of Government approved “side deals” during the lifetime of the current LRA and proposed future Extension to the LRA, see significant successful claims by unions in this context. It is for such tangible reasons that our Members note with great frustration where they see the disadvantage of our Representative Status in securing equivalence with other Public Servants.
3.2.1 REPORTS RECORDING AGREEMENT SINCE BDC 2015
The following reported were concluded and agreed since the last General Secretary’s Report;
• CCR 486 - Cadet Competition 2016, Induction Terms and Conditions
• CCR 488 - Payment of Per Diem & Holiday Leave Allowance CST (UNFIL) • CCR 489 - Posting of Comdt Line into Comdt Medical Appointment
• CCR 490 - T7Cs governing the appointment of Trainees (Doctors) in Military
Medicine
• CCR 491 - Discrete Promotion Competition (Capt to Comdt) Air Traffic Services • CCR 497 - Extension of Service - Member of DFSM
• CCR 503 - Claim for the Payment of Armed Peace Support Allowance - Operation
Pontus
• CCR 504 - Claim for the Payment of ARW Allowance - Officers on SOFQ
Module 2-5
• CCR 506 - Direct Entry Naval Service
• CCR 495 - Claim for full payment of the initial Uniform Allowance upon service
transfers
3.2.2 REPORTS RECORDING DISAGREEMENT SINCE BDC 2015
The following reports were concluded and disagreed since the last General Secretary’s Report;
• CCR 477 - Claim for retrospective application of Special Service Officer’s promotion
• CCR 478 - Breach of Promotion Agreements 295 & 447
• CCR 496 - Members of the 9th Potential Officers Courses Career Advancement
• CCR 505 - Breach of Secondment Terms & Conditions of Service - RACO
Professional Staff
3.2.3 AGENDA ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT PROGRESSED SINCE BDC 2015
The following items contained with the Council Agenda have not progressed since BDC 2015;
• Review - Legal Service appointments and Rate 2 pay
• Review - CCR 272 (Financial Support Packages)
• Claim - For reduction in accommodation charges in line with the recent
reductions in pay