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About the Personal Assistants Project
Lynne Rankin reports on her role in The Personal Assistants
(PA) Project which aims to organise and recruit to UNISON
this relatively
new but growing
group
of workers.
22 May 2013
Personal Assistants or PAs, are employed
by people receiving a direct payment and work in a variety
of support/care roles doing different hours of work depending
on their employers needs. Some may have already been UNISON
members through previous employment with a local authority
or voluntary sector employer but some will be new and might
not be aware they have the same rights as any other employee
including the right to join trade union and be represented
at work. Indeed, before recruiting PA’s to join UNISON
I need to find them first!
Nationally, there is also a similar UNISON project running
in conjunction in Yorkshire & Humberside and we speak
regularly to share good practise and discuss what works
well. UNISON Learning and Organising Services are also
looking at a “learning offer” for PA’s
and this could provide training and development opportunities
for this group of workers dependent on need or discounts
to Open University courses.
If successful and we get PA’s to join up - this
will mean a very different role for UNISON in terms of
representation
of members that could be establishing a mediation route
in the event of any problems at work.
Progress so far
The response from employers’ organisations
such as Scottish Personal Assistants Network (SPAEN) and
Self Directed
Support Scotland (SDSS) has been really positive, as has
interactions with various local authorities as they recognise
that whilst there is support for employers there is none
for the PA’s and welcome working with UNISON to provide
this.
Previous joint work saw the production of a pamphlet
for PA’s entitled “Your rights at work” and
this has been updated for 2013. The geographical spread
of the project was initially to be 8 branches around Greater
Glasgow but I was delighted to play a part on the SDSS
Roadshows taking place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth & Aberdeen
and to take the lead in a workshop on PA rights at work.
I have also been out to a few branches to explain what
the project is about and to get ideas where to meet PA’s
in their areas and have met with employers support organisations
in those areas. I managed to get four contacts from the
Glasgow who are interested in taking part in a PA network
for support.
What’s next?
The next step is to try and set up
small local meetings for PA’s to meet and speak with
other PA’s,
and encourage them to join UNISON. Articles will be going
in to the local papers promoting meetings in the area and
I will be writing to managers responsible for Self Directed
Support in local authorities’ asking them to promote
and advertise these to their staff and clients.
Once a
network is established, will look at what communication
method is most appropriate to keep in touch whether this
is using social networking, or maybe a dedicated section
on the website. At the moment, it is envisaged PA’s
will join branches according to the area they work in – but
this may be a discussion for another day!
If you have any
ideas about how we can reach Personal Assistants in your
area or want more information on the project – please
contact me at L.Rankin@unison.co.uk or phone 07903 853022.
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@ PAunisonscot or 
PA Unison Scotland