Martin Harper’s blog carries a rapid account of the AGM but it has attracted more comments than usual.
In Martin’s answers to comments he confirms that the RSPB is moving towards there being 200-300 fewer staff in three years’ time than now. This was not a figure that was revealed to the membership at the AGM on Saturday despite there being a question that provided the opportunity for the senior management of the organisation to be open on this subject.
And there is a bit of a rant by Songbird Survival Director Keith Cowieson there too.
I understand from RSPB staff that those who are opting for voluntary redundancy have been asked to sign confidentiality agreements and are beginning to call themselves, as a group, ‘The Unmentionables’ as their fate seems to be being swept under the carpet. Several have thanked me for mentioning The Unmentionables.
Staff were expecting a more open description of what is happening (to them!) and they would have welcomed some sort of explanation for what is happening at the AGM. Staff were surprised that the official line seemed to be ‘Times are hard but we’re getting on OK really’.
I have never understood why RSPB staff have never joined a union! NT and NTS did and it made a big difference.
I’d suggest they form a branch of Prospect, the trade union for technical and managerial staff.
Are the redundancies falling across all departments equally or more heavily in some areas than others?
Jonathan – because the aim is to allow voluntary redundancies to make the running (running out of the building), and it seems as though there is a block on replacing those who exit for a while, it is difficult to discern any strategic component at the moment. I wonder whether the lack of mention of advocacy at the AGM might possibly be because some of the policy areas are hard hit?
I’m told that RSPB staff are increasingly demoralised and disiliusioned. Finding voluntary redundancies on this scale would have been unthinkable a few years ago – not now.
Paul – I’m told that too.