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UNISON. Scotland's biggest and liveliest trade union, representing members delivering public and related services.
Showing posts with label Demonstration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Demonstration. Show all posts
Saturday, 26 July 2014
Thousands in Edinburgh demand peace for Gaza
Thursday, 30 January 2014
UNISON demonstrates against more police cuts
Thu 30 Jan 2014
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) will officially confirm the closure of Police Force Control Centres in a ‘restructuring’ across Scotland today (Thursday 30 January 2014).
SPA are to close down 5 control centres over 18-24 months. Dumfries and Galloway in April 2014 will be first to go, with a loss of 34 jobs; then Stirling in December 2014; Glenrothes in March 2015; Pitt Street Glasgow in March 2015; Aberdeen in December 2015.
300 jobs are at risk.
Gerry Crawley, UNISON regional officer said:
"We will keep hammering the point that these closures are not about making our communities safe.
"We will keep hammering the point that these closures are not about making our communities safe.
"They are budget driven cuts. Scottish Government is cutting £139 million from police budgets between now and 2017 and £1 billion over 12 years.
"This decision to close control centres puts 300 police staff jobs at risk. These are hard working and loyal staff that bring crucial skills to keeping communities safe and they have huge amount of local knowledge which will all be lost.
"This is just part of the longer term problem. Scottish Government are hiding behind their line that they will keep police numbers. This means police staff will bear the brunt of these cuts even where this may not be the best way forward.
"Cutting jobs does not mean cutting the workload. The tasks still need to be done. More police officers will be back in the police stations rather than on the beat. It is the most expensive option."
George McIrvine UNISON police staff Scotland branch secretary said:
"If these cuts go through, the public need to understand that when they phone 101 they could be speaking to a central control centre hundreds of miles from where they are. This is on the back of the decision to shut or reducing the hours of about 60 of the 214 local police counters. There already is a lot of anger in local communities.
"If these cuts go through, the public need to understand that when they phone 101 they could be speaking to a central control centre hundreds of miles from where they are. This is on the back of the decision to shut or reducing the hours of about 60 of the 214 local police counters. There already is a lot of anger in local communities.
"We will be holding a small demonstration at the board meeting today.
"Police staff will be coming to Glasgow from as far afield as Dumfries and Galloway and Aberdeen to show how angry they are that local people feel less safe and many police families will be in hardship."
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. Police Board Scotland will make the official decision today to close down 5 control centres over 18-24 months - Dumfries and Galloway in April 2014; Stirling in December 2014; Glenrothes in March 2015; Pitt Street Glasgow in March 2015; Aberdeen in December 2015
2. UNISON Scotland police staff will listen to the debate in the public gallery and they will be holding a small demonstration outside Trades Hall, 85 Glassford Street, Glasgow, G1 1UH. UNISON members will be available for interview.
3. Police Scotland have 10 Police Control Centres in Inverness, Stirling, Dundee, Aberdeen, Glenrothers, Edinburgh, Govan, Motherwell, Glasgow Pitt Street, Dumfries and Galloway.
4. Five centres that will remain open are Dundee, Edinburgh, Motherwell, Inverness and Govan Glasgow.
5. Police control and command centres deal with 999 calls and 101 calls, some like Inverness deal with major incidents.
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Dundee Together against Racism & Fascism - Saturday 14 Sept
Message from Dundee City UNISON:
Join us in celebrating our wonderfully diverse city and all its occupants at Dundee Together against Racism & Fascism 2013, Saturday 14th September 2013, from 11am in our City Square.
Join us in celebrating our wonderfully diverse city and all its occupants at Dundee Together against Racism & Fascism 2013, Saturday 14th September 2013, from 11am in our City Square.
Dundee Together against Racism & Fascism brings together faith groups,
Trades Unions, political parties and other community
organisations, in a peaceful and inclusive celebration of the diversity of
Dundee on Saturday 14th September 2013 in our City Square. Bringing local
families and members of the community together to enjoy music, food,
dance, art and discussion from a wide variety of cultural influences
prevalent in contemporary Dundee.
Bin the Bedroom Tax and ScrapTrident Demos at Lib Dem Conference in Glasgow
#BedroomTax #ScrapTrident
Two important rallies are taking place in Glasgow on Saturday 14 Sept to protest to Liberal Democrats, in the city for their annual conference.
The STUC-supported rally against the bedroom tax has had arrangements changed after the Bin the Bedroom Tax Coalition were denied permission for the planned march from Glasgow Green.
The main event will now be a rally and lobby, with banners and placards, outside the conference at the SECC at 1pm on Saturday. Full details of this will be on the STUC website asap.
There will also be a brief rally at Glasgow Green at 11.30am on Saturday, for those who turn up there, as well as a range of other activities, including lobbying in the protest area at the SECC on Sunday and Monday during the conference week.
CND and Scottish CND are holding a rally on Saturday at the SECC from 11.30 - 12.30pm. Assemble outside the Clyde Auditorium from 11.15am.
Full details about their Time to Scrap Trident Rally are here.
The latest information about the range of Bin the Bedroom Tax Coalition protests will be updated asap on their website and on the STUC website .
Two important rallies are taking place in Glasgow on Saturday 14 Sept to protest to Liberal Democrats, in the city for their annual conference.
The STUC-supported rally against the bedroom tax has had arrangements changed after the Bin the Bedroom Tax Coalition were denied permission for the planned march from Glasgow Green.
The main event will now be a rally and lobby, with banners and placards, outside the conference at the SECC at 1pm on Saturday. Full details of this will be on the STUC website asap.
There will also be a brief rally at Glasgow Green at 11.30am on Saturday, for those who turn up there, as well as a range of other activities, including lobbying in the protest area at the SECC on Sunday and Monday during the conference week.
CND and Scottish CND are holding a rally on Saturday at the SECC from 11.30 - 12.30pm. Assemble outside the Clyde Auditorium from 11.15am.
Full details about their Time to Scrap Trident Rally are here.
The latest information about the range of Bin the Bedroom Tax Coalition protests will be updated asap on their website and on the STUC website .
Thursday, 1 August 2013
UNISON Scotland – why we’re answering the call for our NHS
#NHS999
The Tories are attacking our NHS too ...
David Cameron and George Osborne might not run NHS Scotland, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t attacking it. We must fight to save it.
Devolution means they can’t run down and privatise our NHS directly, the way they are doing in England. But what they can do is starve it of resources. They are cutting back on the money provided to the Scottish Government and this puts the health budget under pressure.
David Cameron and George Osborne might not run NHS Scotland, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t attacking it. We must fight to save it.
Devolution means they can’t run down and privatise our NHS directly, the way they are doing in England. But what they can do is starve it of resources. They are cutting back on the money provided to the Scottish Government and this puts the health budget under pressure.
Thursday, 27 June 2013
UNISON Fife supports anti-blacklisting motion to council
Thu 27 June 2013
UNISON Fife supporting a sister trade union, Unite, at a demonstration outside of Fife House this morning. The demonstration was part of a national campaign to ensure that companies involved in operating a ‘blacklisting’ system are excluded, where legally possible, from our preferred list of suppliers, a campaign that UNISON Fife fully supports.Fife Council is embarking on a number of projects which will see new schools, new affordable housing and new care homes being built here in Fife. The practise of ‘blacklisting’ is archaic and draconian and has no place in modern day society. It ruins reputations, leaves individuals unable to secure employment and sees families become destitute. A motion to Fife Council’s Executive Committee on June 27th calls on the Council to support Trade Unions in a bid to eradicate such a unethical practise.
Thursday, 20 June 2013
Pensions row protest outside Glasgow University court
More than 200 Glasgow University support
staff held a vigorous and noisy
protest outside a meeting of the University Court yesterday.
They were demonstrating in protest at
proposals to close their pension scheme. Members of UNISON and UNITE are angry
that the University proposes to offer a much worse pension scheme to the lowest paid
admin, security and cleaning staff, while the professors continue to enjoy all
their benefits.
Friday, 15 March 2013
#sldconf STUC - Lib Dems claim to be fairer than Tories, so end Bedroom Tax
15 March 2013
Saturday 16 March 11.30am – 1.00pm West Park Conference Centre, Dundee
Amidst protests across the UK, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) will lobby Scottish Liberal Democrats for a change of policy on the Bedroom Tax.
STUC General Secretary Grahame Smith said:
“I have today written an open letter to Scottish Liberal Democrats calling for action to reverse the Bedroom Tax.
The concessions announced this week go nowhere near far enough to mitigate this impending crisis.
The Liberal Democrats consistently claim to have a much greater of social justice and fairness than the Conservatives. It is time for them to show it.”
ENDS
Open Letter to Scottish Liberal Democrats
We are four days away from the fourth Coalition Government budget and by common consent the Liberal Democrats face a crisis, a drop in popular support matched only by the equal woes of the Conservative Party.
In Scotland for generations, the Liberal Democrats have held a particular place in the political landscape, electing a relatively large number of MPs to Westminster and sharing in Government for more than half of the years of existence of the Scottish Parliament, the creation of which your party played a proud role in. To the extent that a progressive consensus has existed in Scotland, the Liberal Democrats have been seen by electors as one, amongst a number of parties representing that tradition.
That position is now at enormous risk.
As the economic policies of the Chancellor unwind with no growth and the general failure of austerity economics, changes in welfare policy are hitting some of the most vulnerable in Scottish society.
The proposed cap on benefits is a cruel measure which will punish the less well-off whilst further reducing demand in the economy where it is needed most.
Meanwhile disabled people around the country are desperately worried about the impact of various reforms on their way of life and TUC figures published earlier this week show that despite changes to tax thresholds an increasing number of children are expected to fall below the Minimum Income Standard.
STUC is lobbying your conference on Saturday 16th March to highlight the enormous injustice of the Bedroom Tax. This measure - affecting those in and out of work and disproportionately impacting the lives of disabled people – is understood by most Scots to be wrong. The Oxfam Humankind index shows that no factor is more important in people’s welfare and happiness than their home and environment. We believe and trust that the Scottish people will not stand by while this injustice is delivered on their fellow citizens and that the very least that they will expect is that the Scottish Liberal Democrats will join them.
It is not too late to insist that the Bedroom Tax and other welfare reforms are reversed.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Pictures from UNISON Glasgow Rally to defend learning disability services
Jan 23 2013
Pictures of UNISON Glasgow Rally to defend learning disability services and adult day care centres
on UNISON Scotland Picasa gallery
https://picasaweb.google.com/117247006402711752943/GlasgowPersonalisationRally23Jan2013#
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Pictures of UNISON Glasgow Rally to defend learning disability services and adult day care centres
on UNISON Scotland Picasa gallery
 |
| From Glasgow Personalisation Rally 23 Jan 2013 |
https://picasaweb.google.com/117247006402711752943/GlasgowPersonalisationRally23Jan2013#
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Thursday, 6 December 2012
Rally at North Lanarkshire Council: Videos - & STV report: 'Grim reapers' in protest at £73m cuts
6 Dec 2012
Great speeches today at the rally in Motherwell against £73m worth of cuts being proposed by North Lanarkshire Council.
You can watch speeches here by UNISON's North Lanarkshire Branch Secretary John Mooney, UNISON's Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby, Marie Quigley, Chair of North Lanarkshire UNISON, and John Milligan, Secretary of North Lanarkshire Trades Council.
Three 'grim reapers' were also in attendance and local community campaign groups also supported the demonstration. STV reported today:
'Grim reapers' in protest at £73m cuts by North Lanarkshire Council
More than 100 protesters have gathered in North Lanarkshire to protest at planned council cuts.
Trade union members from Unison and Unite were joined by other supporters outside North Lanarkshire
Council’s headquarters in Motherwell to show their anger at planned cuts of at least £73m.
Some members of Unison dressed as the grim reaper to highlight their cause.
Protesters gathered at lunch time and heard a number of speeches from union officials, including one from Mike Kirby, the Scottish Secretary of Unison.
After the protest, he said: “I think, in such appalling weather, this was an illustration of the determination of trade union members in North Lanarkshire Council, and supporters from the local community who understand what a devastating impact of these cuts could make.
“Hopefully, we can work with you (the council) but if you move towards compulsory redundancy then we will look at balloting for industrial action.
“This determination we have seen today has been reflected at communities across Scotland. As the councils focus on budgets for next year, people are saying we have had enough.”
One of the groups who offered support to the union was the Save Abronhill High School group, who are fighting to save the Cumbernauld school made famous by the movie Gregory’s Girl.
The proposed closure of the school, with pupils joining those at Cumbernauld High ahead of a new school being built, is one cut being considered by councillors in an effort to save more than £1m a year.
Read the full STV report here
.
Great speeches today at the rally in Motherwell against £73m worth of cuts being proposed by North Lanarkshire Council.
You can watch speeches here by UNISON's North Lanarkshire Branch Secretary John Mooney, UNISON's Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby, Marie Quigley, Chair of North Lanarkshire UNISON, and John Milligan, Secretary of North Lanarkshire Trades Council.
Three 'grim reapers' were also in attendance and local community campaign groups also supported the demonstration. STV reported today:
'Grim reapers' in protest at £73m cuts by North Lanarkshire Council
More than 100 protesters have gathered in North Lanarkshire to protest at planned council cuts.
Trade union members from Unison and Unite were joined by other supporters outside North Lanarkshire
Council’s headquarters in Motherwell to show their anger at planned cuts of at least £73m.
Some members of Unison dressed as the grim reaper to highlight their cause.
Protesters gathered at lunch time and heard a number of speeches from union officials, including one from Mike Kirby, the Scottish Secretary of Unison.
After the protest, he said: “I think, in such appalling weather, this was an illustration of the determination of trade union members in North Lanarkshire Council, and supporters from the local community who understand what a devastating impact of these cuts could make.
“Hopefully, we can work with you (the council) but if you move towards compulsory redundancy then we will look at balloting for industrial action.
“This determination we have seen today has been reflected at communities across Scotland. As the councils focus on budgets for next year, people are saying we have had enough.”
One of the groups who offered support to the union was the Save Abronhill High School group, who are fighting to save the Cumbernauld school made famous by the movie Gregory’s Girl.
The proposed closure of the school, with pupils joining those at Cumbernauld High ahead of a new school being built, is one cut being considered by councillors in an effort to save more than £1m a year.
Read the full STV report here
.
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Raise your banners for A Future That Works in George Square 20 October
@ScottishTUC #SCOct20 http://bit.ly/O2HIqv
The labour movement will return triumphantly to George Square on October 20
Following protracted negotiations and helpful interventions from elected councillors we are now able to say with confidence that George Square will not be considered a no-go zone for peaceful protest in the future.
Assemble at 11.00am to hear a range of speeches before marching to Glasgow Green with your banners waving! The rally at Glasgow Green will feature speeches, music (original compositions on the theme of social justice from Scottish Schools) and projected scenes from the London march and rally.
From STUC Oct 20 page website http://www.stuc.org.uk/20-oct
The labour movement will return triumphantly to George Square on October 20
Following protracted negotiations and helpful interventions from elected councillors we are now able to say with confidence that George Square will not be considered a no-go zone for peaceful protest in the future.
Assemble at 11.00am to hear a range of speeches before marching to Glasgow Green with your banners waving! The rally at Glasgow Green will feature speeches, music (original compositions on the theme of social justice from Scottish Schools) and projected scenes from the London march and rally.
From STUC Oct 20 page website http://www.stuc.org.uk/20-oct
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Supporting NHS workers in England
Monday, 12 March 2012
March and Rally against youth unemployment outside Tory Conference in Troon Sat 24 March
March and Rally against youth unemployment outside Tory Conference in Troon
Sat 24 March 2012
Assemble 12 noon
South Beach Esplanade
(Victoria Drive)
March off: 12.30 pm
Rally 1.00 pm
South Beach Esplanade
(Titchfield Rd)
Click here to download flyer (pdf)
More info on STUC's There is a Better Way site
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Wednesday, 22 February 2012
UNISON urges councillors to end compulsory redundancy threat to police staff in Strathclyde
Wed 22 February 2012
UNISON Police Staff have called on elected members on Strathclyde Police Authority to remove the threat of compulsory redundancy when they meet in Glasgow City Chambers tomorrow morning (Thursday 23 February 2012). The union is concerned that a proposed decision by SPA to end a voluntary severance scheme on 31 December this year could pave the way for compulsory redundancies. The new Scottish police force is due to come into being in April 2013 – which leaves three months in which job cuts could be forced on police staff.
Stevie Diamond, Chair of UNISON Strathclyde Police and Fire branch said:
“We are calling on the democratically elected councillors on the Police Authority to support us in having the voluntary scheme extended to 31 March 2013 – and end this imminent threat of compulsory redundancy.
“Police Staff in Strathclyde have lived under a veil of uncertainty for the past 2 years. There is much more uncertainty to come.
“We have borne the majority of cuts on existing police budgets. We know that more job losses are in the pipeline as the Police Service of Scotland takes shape. The prospect of our voluntary severance scheme ending three months before the new force is due to come into being does nothing to decrease the anxiety felt by all Police Staff members of the Force who face an increasingly unclear future.
“We already face losing posts, attacks on terms and conditions through harmonisation and disruption.”
By proposing that VSS2 – the current voluntary severance scheme – will finish on 31 December 2012, Strathclyde Police has opened to question whether compulsory redundancy could be utilised to reduce Police Staff numbers prior to the formation of the new Scottish force. Unions have discussed the extension of VSS2 with Strathclyde Police. The expectation was that the scheme would be extended to 31 March 2013, the eve of the transfer of staff to the Police Service of Scotland.
UNISON is calling on Strathclyde Police Authority councillors to extend the voluntary scheme and so ensure that there will be no compulsory redundancies of Police Staff in Strathclyde before the transfer to the new force.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union representing over 162,000 members working in the public sector in Scotland, and represents police staffs in Scotland.
2. UNISON Scotland Evidence to Scottish Parliament Committees on the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill published in Feb 2012
Evidence to Local Government Committee:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/ Police&FireReform_LocalGovtCtte_Feb2012.pdf
Evidence to Justice Committee:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/ Police&FireReform_JusticeCtte_Feb2012.pdf
Evidence to Finance Committee:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/ Police&FireReform_FinanceCtte_Feb2012.pdf
3. UNISON Scotland’s document ‘Future of Policing in Scotland - Response to Scottish Government consultation’ published in May 2011:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/Response_%20FutureofPolicinginScotland_May2011.pdf
4. UNISON Scotland commissioned Stewart Research to examine the benefits of police staff – the report ‘Civilianisation of Police in Scotland’ was published in May 2009:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/police/CivilianisationofPoliceFinalReport.pdf
.
UNISON Police Staff have called on elected members on Strathclyde Police Authority to remove the threat of compulsory redundancy when they meet in Glasgow City Chambers tomorrow morning (Thursday 23 February 2012). The union is concerned that a proposed decision by SPA to end a voluntary severance scheme on 31 December this year could pave the way for compulsory redundancies. The new Scottish police force is due to come into being in April 2013 – which leaves three months in which job cuts could be forced on police staff.
Stevie Diamond, Chair of UNISON Strathclyde Police and Fire branch said:
“We are calling on the democratically elected councillors on the Police Authority to support us in having the voluntary scheme extended to 31 March 2013 – and end this imminent threat of compulsory redundancy.
“Police Staff in Strathclyde have lived under a veil of uncertainty for the past 2 years. There is much more uncertainty to come.
“We have borne the majority of cuts on existing police budgets. We know that more job losses are in the pipeline as the Police Service of Scotland takes shape. The prospect of our voluntary severance scheme ending three months before the new force is due to come into being does nothing to decrease the anxiety felt by all Police Staff members of the Force who face an increasingly unclear future.
“We already face losing posts, attacks on terms and conditions through harmonisation and disruption.”
By proposing that VSS2 – the current voluntary severance scheme – will finish on 31 December 2012, Strathclyde Police has opened to question whether compulsory redundancy could be utilised to reduce Police Staff numbers prior to the formation of the new Scottish force. Unions have discussed the extension of VSS2 with Strathclyde Police. The expectation was that the scheme would be extended to 31 March 2013, the eve of the transfer of staff to the Police Service of Scotland.
UNISON is calling on Strathclyde Police Authority councillors to extend the voluntary scheme and so ensure that there will be no compulsory redundancies of Police Staff in Strathclyde before the transfer to the new force.
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union representing over 162,000 members working in the public sector in Scotland, and represents police staffs in Scotland.
2. UNISON Scotland Evidence to Scottish Parliament Committees on the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill published in Feb 2012
Evidence to Local Government Committee:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/ Police&FireReform_LocalGovtCtte_Feb2012.pdf
Evidence to Justice Committee:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/ Police&FireReform_JusticeCtte_Feb2012.pdf
Evidence to Finance Committee:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/ Police&FireReform_FinanceCtte_Feb2012.pdf
3. UNISON Scotland’s document ‘Future of Policing in Scotland - Response to Scottish Government consultation’ published in May 2011:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/Response_%20FutureofPolicinginScotland_May2011.pdf
4. UNISON Scotland commissioned Stewart Research to examine the benefits of police staff – the report ‘Civilianisation of Police in Scotland’ was published in May 2009:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/police/CivilianisationofPoliceFinalReport.pdf
.
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Teamster offer support
Teamsters and members of the national nurses union are today showing solidarity with our members with a demonstration outside the Briish Consulate in Washington today
Monday, 3 October 2011
People First Oct 1st demo - UNISON Scotland pictures and video online
We've posted some pics of Saturday's amazing demo - amazingly wet and amazingly well-supported despite that - on our Picasa album here: People First demo 1 Oct 2011 - Glasgow
This is UNISON President Eleanor Smith (holding No Cuts placard) along with Scottish Convener Lilian Macer (sporting UNISON bib) in front of the UNISON Scotland banner on the march from Glasgow Green to Kelvingrove Park.
Check out our report of the day and some more pics on the UNISON Scotland website here:
www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/1oct.html
Plus check out our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/user/UNISONScotland for Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Branch's video of the day - including the speeches by our Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby and socialist veteran Tony Benn at the rally in Kelvingrove Park.
Also the STUC has excellent footage of Tony Benn's speech here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVG8bb2LoBg
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Check out our report of the day and some more pics on the UNISON Scotland website here:
www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/1oct.html
Plus check out our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/user/UNISONScotland for Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Branch's video of the day - including the speeches by our Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby and socialist veteran Tony Benn at the rally in Kelvingrove Park.
Also the STUC has excellent footage of Tony Benn's speech here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVG8bb2LoBg
.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Quarriers staff in action - never mind the weather as long as we're together
Here's a quick selection of pictures from Quarriers strike and demo today Tuesday 6 September 2011. A brilliant lunchtime turnout in a rainy George Square, Glasgow - and some effective early picketing. More pics here: https://picasaweb.google.com/unisonscotland/QuarriersStrike060911
BBC Scotland report: UNISON members strike over planned pay cuts .
Check out the Picasa gallery for more: https://picasaweb.google.com/unisonscotland/QuarriersStrike060911
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BBC Scotland report: UNISON members strike over planned pay cuts .
Check out the Picasa gallery for more: https://picasaweb.google.com/unisonscotland/QuarriersStrike060911
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Monday, 5 September 2011
Social care staff facing pay cuts of up to 23 per cent prepare to strike, says UNISON
5 September 2011
Hundreds of social care staff who are facing pay cuts of up to 23 per cent will go on strike tomorrow (Tuesday), says UNISON.
Staff at Quarriers – one of Scotland’s largest social care charities – are striking in opposition of a package of cuts that will see some staff taking huge reductions in wages as well as higher pension contributions, reduced sick pay and cuts to their terms and conditions.
Quarriers staff carry out some of the most difficult work with some of the most challenging and vulnerable members of our communities. More than three quarters of UNISON members voted in favour of strike action last month and will down tools tomorrow for 24 hours as part of their campaign to protect pay and conditions. Members will be picketing workplaces across Scotland as well as holding a demonstration and rally in George Square, Glasgow.
Further talks between UNISON and Quarriers took place today (Monday) after the charity – who initially refused to take their proposals to the conciliation service ACAS despite repeated requests from UNISON – decided late last week to enter into talks. However, this broke down when Quarriers was unprepared to begin a process of constructive negotiation.
Simon MacFarlane, regional organiser for UNISON, said: “We’re very disappointed that these talks have failed. UNISON was prepared to engage meaningfully in these last-minute talks but, sadly, Quarriers did not see the benefit of doing so.
“Our members don’t want to take strike action but with talks failing and Quarriers looking to impose pay cuts of up to 23 per cent, we’ve been left with no other option. Some of our members are facing cuts of around £400 a month which is not only unfair, but completely unaffordable and will have a devastating impact on these workers.
“UNISON was prepared to enter into constructive talks to discuss a way forward and we remain committed to doing so."
Stephen Brown, branch secretary of UNISON Quarriers, said: “Taking strike action isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly and we want to be back at work doing what we do best – providing vital services to some of the most vulnerable people in society.
“The cost of utilities, food and transport are all going up and yet Quarriers expect our staff to take a pay cut of up to 23 per cent in some cases. Our members are rightly worried that they’ll no longer be able to afford to keep a roof over their head or be able to feed their families.
“These brutal cuts are unheard of throughout the rest of the country and Quarriers staff shouldn’t be singled out. Politicians of all parties and at all levels should be looking closely at this situation and asking themselves if this is how they expect Scottish charities to behave. By decimating workers’ terms and conditions, it’s only a matter of time before they decimate the vital services our members provide.”
Public actions in support of Quarriers strike on Tuesday 6 September 2011
Rally and demonstration - Simon Macfarlane, regional organiser, and Stephen Brown, UNISON Quarriers branch secretary, will be available for interview.
• GLASGOW, GEORGE SQUARE: 12 noon – 1pm.
Pickets - Members will be picketing at the locations below:
• GLASGOW, JAMES SHIELDS, 100 POLLOKSHAWS ROAD: 8am–10am.
• GLASGOW, STOPOVER, 200 POLLOKSHAWS ROAD: 8am–10am.
• ARDROSSAN, SEAFIELD SCHOOL, 86 EGLINTON ROAD: 8am–10am.
• SALTCOATS, GREEN STREET: 8am–10am.
• BRIDGE OF WEIR, QUARRIERS VILLAGE: 8am–10am.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. UNISON members in Quarriers will strike from Tuesday, September 6, at 8am until Wednesday, September 7, at 7.59am.
2. The result of the postal ballot on strike action was 76 per cent in favour of strike action with 24 per cent against.
3. Quarriers has warned its staff not to speak to the media about the attacks on their wages and conditions, however, full details of the proposed cuts, including impact statements by members, can be found online at www.quarriersunison.org.uk/15941_69001.4039.html.
For further information contact:
Contact Stephen Brown, branch secretary, on 07584 503 858, or Simon Macfarlane, regional organiser, on 07703 194 132, or Trisha Hamilton, communications officer, on 07939 478 461.
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Hundreds of social care staff who are facing pay cuts of up to 23 per cent will go on strike tomorrow (Tuesday), says UNISON.
Staff at Quarriers – one of Scotland’s largest social care charities – are striking in opposition of a package of cuts that will see some staff taking huge reductions in wages as well as higher pension contributions, reduced sick pay and cuts to their terms and conditions.
Quarriers staff carry out some of the most difficult work with some of the most challenging and vulnerable members of our communities. More than three quarters of UNISON members voted in favour of strike action last month and will down tools tomorrow for 24 hours as part of their campaign to protect pay and conditions. Members will be picketing workplaces across Scotland as well as holding a demonstration and rally in George Square, Glasgow.
Further talks between UNISON and Quarriers took place today (Monday) after the charity – who initially refused to take their proposals to the conciliation service ACAS despite repeated requests from UNISON – decided late last week to enter into talks. However, this broke down when Quarriers was unprepared to begin a process of constructive negotiation.
Simon MacFarlane, regional organiser for UNISON, said: “We’re very disappointed that these talks have failed. UNISON was prepared to engage meaningfully in these last-minute talks but, sadly, Quarriers did not see the benefit of doing so.
“Our members don’t want to take strike action but with talks failing and Quarriers looking to impose pay cuts of up to 23 per cent, we’ve been left with no other option. Some of our members are facing cuts of around £400 a month which is not only unfair, but completely unaffordable and will have a devastating impact on these workers.
“UNISON was prepared to enter into constructive talks to discuss a way forward and we remain committed to doing so."
Stephen Brown, branch secretary of UNISON Quarriers, said: “Taking strike action isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly and we want to be back at work doing what we do best – providing vital services to some of the most vulnerable people in society.
“The cost of utilities, food and transport are all going up and yet Quarriers expect our staff to take a pay cut of up to 23 per cent in some cases. Our members are rightly worried that they’ll no longer be able to afford to keep a roof over their head or be able to feed their families.
“These brutal cuts are unheard of throughout the rest of the country and Quarriers staff shouldn’t be singled out. Politicians of all parties and at all levels should be looking closely at this situation and asking themselves if this is how they expect Scottish charities to behave. By decimating workers’ terms and conditions, it’s only a matter of time before they decimate the vital services our members provide.”
Public actions in support of Quarriers strike on Tuesday 6 September 2011
Rally and demonstration - Simon Macfarlane, regional organiser, and Stephen Brown, UNISON Quarriers branch secretary, will be available for interview.
• GLASGOW, GEORGE SQUARE: 12 noon – 1pm.
Pickets - Members will be picketing at the locations below:
• GLASGOW, JAMES SHIELDS, 100 POLLOKSHAWS ROAD: 8am–10am.
• GLASGOW, STOPOVER, 200 POLLOKSHAWS ROAD: 8am–10am.
• ARDROSSAN, SEAFIELD SCHOOL, 86 EGLINTON ROAD: 8am–10am.
• SALTCOATS, GREEN STREET: 8am–10am.
• BRIDGE OF WEIR, QUARRIERS VILLAGE: 8am–10am.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. UNISON members in Quarriers will strike from Tuesday, September 6, at 8am until Wednesday, September 7, at 7.59am.
2. The result of the postal ballot on strike action was 76 per cent in favour of strike action with 24 per cent against.
3. Quarriers has warned its staff not to speak to the media about the attacks on their wages and conditions, however, full details of the proposed cuts, including impact statements by members, can be found online at www.quarriersunison.org.uk/15941_69001.4039.html.
For further information contact:
Contact Stephen Brown, branch secretary, on 07584 503 858, or Simon Macfarlane, regional organiser, on 07703 194 132, or Trisha Hamilton, communications officer, on 07939 478 461.
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Monday, 25 April 2011
28 April: LOBBY TO DEFEND SERVICES TO DISABLED PEOPLE IN GLASGOW
12.30 pm Thursday 28th April George Square.
Last summer Glasgow City Council started a process called ‘personalisation’ and ‘self-directed support’ across services provided by Social Work. We support the principles of personalisation, which are about providing people with more independence, control and dignity. However, this is not what is happening in Glasgow. Right from the word go, the council was explicit in its ‘working assumption’ that at least 20% savings would be made.
Last summer Glasgow City Council started a process called ‘personalisation’ and ‘self-directed support’ across services provided by Social Work. We support the principles of personalisation, which are about providing people with more independence, control and dignity. However, this is not what is happening in Glasgow. Right from the word go, the council was explicit in its ‘working assumption’ that at least 20% savings would be made.
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