BASW - The College of Social Work has clarified some of the issues surrounding its proposed trade union arm, The Social Workers Union, after CareSpace users raised a number of questions about how the project would work as part of a long-running thread on the two-college issue.
BASW - The College of Social Work provided the following information after Community Care put CareSpace users' questions to the organisation:
Next steps - The launch of the union is subject to a ballot of BASW - The College of Social Work members. "The College of Social Work is driven by its members and members will decide if we are to pursue this by voting at our AGM on 26 May."
Eligibility - "Any person who is or seeks to be a qualified social worker in the UK is eligible to be a member of the union."
Advice and representation (A &R) service, which supports members experiencing difficulties such as disputes with employers - This will remain within BASW - The College of Social Work and will remain available to members, even those who decline to join the Social Workers Union. The union arm will also have a similar service.
Timing of announcement - The resolution for BASW's AGM states that where an individual is a member of both BASW Council and the union's executive committee, particularly during the first year, "it is not envisaged that this would be likely to present an actual conflict of interest". JoSoPhine queried the timing of this document, published the day before a statement was released by both colleges stating they were moving towards the establishment of a single college of social work. BASW - The College of Social Work said: "This allows for simply a practical measure to enable the elected Council of BASW - The College of Social Work to establish the trade union ahead of elections to the union governing body at the AGM in May 2012."
Leadership - "There isn't a vacancy for a first leader at the moment as the creation of the union depends on the votes of social workers at the May AGM and then the trade union certification process. If this union does progress, it would make most sense for BASW - The College of Social Work Council to be the first leaders and thereafter the leaders are elected by members."
Further details are contained in a statement on the association's website.
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