UNISON Scotland e-briefing on Autumn Statement - Osborne forced to abandon savage tax credit cuts

25 Nov 2015

UNISON Scotland e-briefing on Autum Attement online now...
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/e-briefing_UKAutumnStatement_Nov2015.pdf

"The UK highlights include the abandonment of the savage Tax Credit cuts, following the government’s defeat in the House of Lords. Higher tax receipts and lower borrowing costs helped meet this cost. However, from 2018 claimants will switch to the new Universal Credit and we will need to ensure this isn’t used as a means of reinstating the Tax Credit cut. "

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"The impact of today’s announcement on Scotland is an average real terms cut in the Scottish budget of 1.3% per year. A detail entirely missing from the Scotland Office press release! In addition, public bodies will have to find the cost of the increase in employers National Insurance contributions that the Chancellor announced last year. Plus increasing demands on services and other costs."

More briefings at UNISON Scotland website
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/

Procurement Reform Bill - UNISON Scotland Policy Briefing 27

UNISON Scotland Policy Briefing 27 - Procurement Reform Bill

The Scottish Government is consulting on its Procurement Reform Bill. UNISON's policy briefing is available online:

 www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/b027_PolicyBrief_ProcurementReformBillConsultation_Sep2012.pdf

Key points

• The SNP 2011 manifesto promised a Sustainable Procurement Bill but the new proposal is weak on sustainability, focusing more on ‘business-friendly’ processes.
• However, it is a good opportunity to strengthen ways in which procurement can encourage important economic, social and environmental benefits, longstanding trade union priorities.
   
• This should include extending the Living Wage to contractors.

See further UNISON Scotland Policy Briefings here:
www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings

UNISON Scotland Bargaining and Campaigns Team


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Pensions negotiations updates

No decisions till UNISON service groups meet 10 January: STUC unions to meet in January. See website links for latest briefings:

19 Dec: Health pensions - UNISON response http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2556

19 Dec: Local Govt briefing (England and Wales) No change before 2014 http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/LGPS_PoP_Campaign8.pdf

Dec 2011: Scottish pensions Bulletin No 28 - December 2011 http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/pensions/scotpensionsbulletin28_dec11.pdf