The Core Time Agreement  
 

Another piece of Civil Service history - Paul Haughton, April 02

If you keep track of RESPECT activities you will know that a year ago we launched the RESPECT Support-Line, the first ever support line anywhere in the Civil Service managed entirely by a staff support network. A groundbreaking initiative that has more than justified its creation. 12 months on RESPECT and the Prison Service Management Board have done it again.

On Monday 25 March 2002 at 3.00pm the General Secretary and I presented to the Prison Service Management Board the ‘RESPECT 2002 - 2003 Business Plan’ and the ‘RESPECT Core Time Allowance’ submission document. At 3.30pm we left the boardroom having secured agreement for both documents.

Including RESPECT, there are now 22 minority ethnic staff support networks across the Civil Service. Prior to Monday 25 March, nine of these networks had made similar approaches to their Senior Management Boards. More than half of them obtained funding for the work of their network but RESPECT is the first to secure funding (£400,000 for this financial year) as well as a core time allowance agreement.

The Core Time Agreement
  • Full time National Chair
 } All located in the RESPECT Central Office
  • Full time General Secretary
 }
  • Full time Personal Secretary
 }
  • Full time Executive Officer
 }
  • 4 days per month minimum for Area Committee Chair
  • 4 days per month minimum for Area Secretaries
  • 3 days per month minimum for Area Committee Members

With 14 RESPECT Areas each with the potential of having an average of 10 Area Committee members, we are looking at 462 days per month. This is no small commitment by the Prison Service. This is a very serious commitment and tells us in no uncertain terms that RESPECT has the full support of its most senior managers.

Now the Officials of RESPECT must match that commitment in action.

If we do not make full use of what is available to us we will not only be letting down those that have taken the courageous step to agree to our request but worse we will be letting ourselves down. Who do I mean by ‘We’? I mean the whole membership of RESPECT.

What about the Officials and their responsibility?

Though RESPECT has been around for over 14 months it is still in its infancy. As well as fulfilling the aims of RESPECT we also have a developmental role. For many of the RESPECT Officials this is a new venture. They will need to develop new skills. They’ll have the chance to be exposed to new ideas and different ways of doing things. The chance to develop in ways that would not have been possible had they not volunteered for the role. They now have the opportunity to be a key part of something that they will one day be able to look back at with pride knowing that they played an important part in its early development. However this all takes time and by supporting your Area Officials you help to strengthen RESPECT as a whole. A ‘RESPECT Officials Roles & Duties’ booklet is available on request via your Area Committee.

If you are an Official of RESPECT don’t wait until next week to speak to your line manager, Detail Office, Governor or Head of Group about how you can work with them to ensure you are able to carry out your duties, do it today. If we are not utilising our given time then you can be sure it will be taken away.

RESPECT Officials – get busy. There is no time like the present and we have nothing to lose.

Members – get involved. I know you joined for a reason but those reasons will not be recognised without your input and involvement.
 
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