A union branch involved in one of the country’s first arm’s-length housing management organisations is calling for the concept to be scrapped.
Unison’s Ashfield branch has tabled a motion to the union’s national conference next month, calling for a campaign against ALMOs.

It argues that they are “another form of privatisation”.

The concept is an alternative to stock transfer, under which housing management is placed in a separate, council-owned body.

A branch spokesperson said that, although the new organisations are a better option for staff than transfers, the safeguards offered do not go far enough.

“Ashfield Homes and the other ALMOs are said to be at arm’s length but it depends how long the arm is,” the spokesperson added.

Unison had wanted Ashfield council to second staff to Ashfield Homes, instead of fully transferring them, until details of new staff terms were finalised.

However, the council went ahead with staff transfers last month, as did nine other pioneer authorities.

Unison’s ruling committee said it wants the right to negotiate terms for ALMO staff independently of those employed fully by councils.

National organiser Colin Meech said: “We are happy with a baseline of national conditions, but with a level of autonomy to negotiate above those conditions.”

Source

Housing Today