In 2019 we recruited 973 new members in our branches, this represents a 9% increase in the 2018 figure of 896, this is significant success and one that all members and reps should be proud of.
Members, reps and staff in the Scotland Office have also been working very hard at retaining members in Prospect and as a result 2019 saw a big fall in the number of members who left us, in 2019 we saw 728 members leave the Union for a number of reasons, this is a fall of 14% in the 848 members that left us in 2018. Whilst very few of those who left us left because they were dissatisfied they still need to be replaced, so any reduction is welcomed.
Overall therefore we recruited 245 members more than left Prospect and that really is fantastic news, a percentage increase of 3%.
"it's a tribute to the hard work and commitment of our reps, members and my colleagues in the Scotland office that we've been able to make it a fabulous 7 years in a row of increased membership across the branches supported from Edinburgh" said Prospect's National Secretary for Scotland Richard Hardy "everybody involved should be rightly proud and also proud of the work that we do supporting members and taking our message out into workplaces across the UK".
In addition to helping and assisting members in their workplaces, Prospect Scotland also campaigns and lobbies in Scotland and the UK to ensure our members concerns and views are heard, we undertook a wide range of meetings and engagements in pursuit of this aim including.
One meeting with Nicola Sturgeon the First Minister of Scotland at which we raised the issue of the need to restore public sector pay in real terms.
Two meetings with Derek Mackay, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Fair Work also in respect of Public Sector Pay.
One meeting with John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister at which we raised issues relating to redundancies at the James Hutton Institute and the future of funding for Scottish Science.
One Meeting with Humza Yousaf, Minister for Justice in respect of pay in the Scottish Prison Service.
One meeting with Michael Matheson, Minister for Transport, in respect of our dispute over Air Traffic Controllers pay at Highlands and islands Airport Ltd.
One meeting with Rhoda Grant, Labour Spokesperson on Finance and Fair Work, in relation to closure of Air Traffic Control Towers by HIAL (this meeting was also attended by John Finnie MSP (Green) and Edward Mountain (Cons).
Two meetings with the Scottish Parliament SNP Trade Union Group to discuss HIAL and public sector pay.
Two meetings of the Scottish Parliament Labour Group to discuss public sector pay and HIAL.
Two meetings with Lesley Laird the then Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland to raise issues around industrial capacity and shipbuilding strategy in Scotland.
In addition Prospect has campaigned on the need for a Just Transition as Scotland moves to decarbonise, through the work of Richard Hardy, National Secretary Scotland , who is a member of the Scottish Governments Just Transition Commission, and by hosting one, and chairing another fringe meeting on Just Transition at the SNP's autumn conference in Aberdeen.
We undertook Industrial Action ballots in both HIAL and Scottish Power, with the HIAL ballot being followed by a successful industrial action campaign and improved pay award for our members. Negotiations with Scottish Power were ongoing at the end of 2018.
Lastly the Scotland Office hosted a meeting between the General Secretary and several branch reps and members to discuss Prospect's response to the climate crisis.
"2019 was a year of significant challenges for a number of our branches and many of our members" concluded Richard Hardy "but everyone has worked very hard at keeping our members issues and concerns in the public eye, and to highlight the amazing jobs our members do across the UK, and I want to thank all the reps and members on behalf of my team in Edinburgh, we genuinely couldn't do this without you, and who knows 2020 could be the year we break the 1000 new recruits barrier"