Interested in a fairer food system? Bring your NGO 07/03 #PLENTY #ScotFoodCoalition

There's a new coalition in Scotland working for a just transition to a new food system.

UNISON is hosting a workshop on Monday, 7 March, at which the Scottish Food Coalition will launch a new report, 'PLENTY'. A few places remain for interested NGOs and networks across all sectors.

PLENTY: Food, Farming and Health in a New Scotland describes a food system that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, and delivers high levels of wellbeing. It sets out the vision, makes the case for change, and some steps for getting there. 

The Scottish FoodCoalition has come together in recognition that the problems in our current food system are interconnected and cannot be changed by focusing on a single issue.

Some free bus places for Paris climate demo for members nominated by their branch

UNISON Scotland has a small number of free bus places for the Paris climate rally on 12 December. Please spread the word to interested members.

The Paris event follows key marches in Scotland on Saturday 28 November - the Climate March in Edinburgh, for Climate, Justice and Jobs, and the STUC's annual St Andrew's Day march against racism, with its theme this year of Refugees Welcome Here.

Members  wanting to secure one of the bus places paid for by UNISON Scotland should ask their branch to nominate them and send details to apply to Fiona Montgomery f.montgomery@unison.co.uk (with Paris Bus in the subject line) as soon as possible. Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The international demonstration takes place at the end of the United Nations climate talks where it is hoped that world leaders will agree a strong deal to reduce emissions. Civil society organisations want to show strong public support for action sufficient to prevent dangerous runaway climate change.

Details of the bus itinerary, incl basic accommodation and some meals, are on the Friends of the Earth Scotland website. It leaves Edinburgh at 5.30pm on Thurs 10 Dec, returning, via Glasgow, in the early hours of Monday 14 Dec.

UNISON Scotland's Green Network is meeting on Saturday 14 November at the UNISON office in Glasgow to talk about the Paris talks, building support for Scotland's Climate March on Sat 28 Nov, Green Workplace action and a Just Transition to a low carbon economy. All interested members welcome.

Stephen Smellie, depute convener of UNISON Scotland, and Dave Watson, head of bargaining and campaigns, will be speaking at the event, which is from 2pm - 4pm at 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX.

There was good news on Just Transition today, with the announcement from the International Trade Union Confederation that the UN's International Labour Organisation has formally adopted the trade union criteria for the principle of 'Just Transtion'.

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said: "The challenge for governments is to settle a deal in Paris that will avoid catastrophic climate change, destroying lives and livelihoods across the planet.

"The plans set out by the ILO will help increase ambition on the ground, with employers and unions negotiating and planning for the future...

"This historic and unanimous agreement between governments, unions and employers on the need to work out industrial transformation without leaving anyone behind is a reason for optimism.

"The same governments that showed ambition at the ILO need to follow this through at the Paris summit."

The ILO guidelines for a Just Transition towards environmentally sound economies and societies for all can be found here.

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Let's work together to make new QEU hospital a success, says UNISON general secretary

Date: Thursday 13 August 2015

Photo opportunity: Time: 12 noon
Date: Thursday 13 August 
Place: UNISON shop, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, 1345 Govan Road G51 4TF

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis is to visit the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital today (Thursday). 

Dave and UNISON's national head of health Christina McAnea will be given a tour of the brand new hospital by senior NHS managers, when they will meet patients and staff and spend time listening to UNISON members about their early experiences of working in the new buildings.

Dave will also officially open the new UNISON shop which is located in the main thoroughfare of the new hospital building.

UNISON general secretary (UK) Dave Prentis said: “UNISON is the biggest union in the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and we recruiting many new members every week. It’s important that I hear direct from them about both good and bad issues they face when providing day to day patient care.

"The new UNISON shop will be great asset. It will be a place where UNISON members can join up, get advice and support, and report problems. It's impossible to build a hospital as big and complex as this and for it not to have a few teething problems.

"Our members see things that hospital managers who are running a big hospital can sometimes miss. And they will have good ideas about how we can improve patient care. If everyone works together, this fantastic new hospital could meet its vision of providing world-leading patient care for many years to come.”

Notes to editors:

Dave Prentis will visit the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on Thursday 13 August 2015
He will be available for photos at the UNISON hospital shop at 12 noon on Thursday  

Hospital website is here http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/patients-and-visitors/main-hospital-sites/queen-elizabeth-university-hospital-campus/the-queen-elizabeth-university-hospital-glasgow/

Leafletting SECC Glasgow tonight 7 July in support of UNISON member Robert O'Donnell #standwithrab

Tuesday 7 July 2015

Support UNISON Glasgow branch members campaigning for reinstatement of Robert O'Donnell.

Details for SECC leafleting at Neil Diamond concert are:
Meet 6.00pm, Tuesday 7th July at SECC end of covered walkway. 

Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1596989393908281/

Twitter

#standwithrab

About Robert

Trade Union representative sacked by Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre

UNISON representative, Robert O’Donnell, has been sacked by the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. UNISON is supporting Robert in his appeal against dismissal. UNISON believe that Robert, a gardener and UNISON representative, was unfairly sacked by the SECC Management on 25 May. He was dismissed following an alleged unwitnessed incident with his supervisor.

UNISON is totally convinced that this was a trumped up charge and that the dismissal relates to Robert’s role as a trade union activist. Over recent years the SECC, which is 91% owned by Glasgow City Council, has refused to recognise trade unions for collective bargaining purposes and has been hostile to trade union recruitment activities.

NHS union to discuss pay bargaining

Date: Thursday 11 June 2015

Over 60 stewards and union staff from NHS union UNISON meet in Ayr today (Thurs) to plan the union's future strategy on pay in NHS Scotland.

Speaking at the annual policy event Tam Waterson Chairperson of the Scottish Health Committee said:  “UNISON believes in the NHS and UK bargaining on pay and conditions, however our members across the UK have experienced different pay deals, determined simply by which nation they live in, the time is now right for Scottish unions to negotiate with our government on pay."

Pay for NHS workers is determined by an independent pay review body (PRB). In recent years only the Scottish Government has honoured the recommendations, however the union remains critical over the level of pay awards which amount to a real terms cut in NHS workers' wages.

Tam Waterson said:
"UNISON has welcomed the Scottish Government's commitment to the PRB and we recognise that this is better than our members received in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Pension funds to build houses

Falkirk Local Government Pension Scheme Fund has awarded fund manager Hearthstone Investments £30 million to invest in social and affordable housing in Scotland.
Over 300 affordable homes are expected to be delivered with the Scottish Government providing an initial investment of over £6 million towards 126 social homes in Falkirk and Clackmannanshire. Hearthstone predicts its ‘Housing Fund for Scotland’ fund will achieve £150 million total investment from a number of pension funds, delivering over 1,000 affordable and private rented homes.

Take One Action - get to GFT for UNISON sponsored film Salt of the Earth!

SALT OF THE EARTH (USA 1954) - GFT Thu 2 October at 6pm
Screening and audience discussion - with Cath Cunningham - Fife miners' strike women's support activist

The Take One Action Film Festival is on now and has some fantastic films. UNISON Scotland has sponsored four of the screenings - our last one is on Thursday 2 October at Glasgow Film Theatre

Banned for a decade in the US, SALT OF THE EARTH is a pioneering agitprop drama tracing the story a mine-workers’ strike against so-called “austerity measures".

When a debilitating accident befalls a New Mexican zinc miner as a result of safety cutbacks, Mexican and US miners alike decide to withdraw their labour. But it is only when the workers’ wives get involved – bringing a moving and lyrical definition to solidarity – that the balance of power painfully starts to shift.

Featuring mainly real-life miners and their families, Salt of the Earth remains a fresh and rousing call for on-going non-violent resistance in the face of consumer and corporate exploitation.

 

More info here: http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/international/takeoneaction.html

or at the Take One Action website http://www.takeoneaction.org.uk/

UNISON Scotland supports #EarthHour 2014 #BeBrilliant

UNISON Scotland is once again supporting WWF's Earth Hour, which this year takes place on Saturday 29 March 2014 at 8.30pm.

Earth Hour 2014 asks us all to #BeBrilliant for the planet. Taking part can be as simple as 'just' switching off the lights for an hour but in doing so you're part of the world's biggest celebration to highlight the need for action on climate change.

And of course everyone can take part - both at home and often at work. Many public bodies in Scotland are already involved and if your employer isn't you could ask them to sign up.

For lots more information from WWF about why we're all doing this, about taking part, and to sign up, click here.

This toolkit was developed for UNISON branches and has a range of good ideas for Earth Hour activities.

Unions, churches and charities urge Scot Gov to deliver on free school meals

UNISON today joined the STUC, churches and charities in urging the Scottish Government to deliver on its free school meals policy.

The call follows Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's announcement last week of free school meals for children in P1-P3 in England from September 2014.

UNISON Scotland has long campaigned for universal free school meals and is disappointed that the Scottish Government has not delivered on its commitment to provide a free healthy lunch to all pupils in P1-P3.

At a time when child poverty is predicted to increase significantly, food bank use is soaring and family budgets are hit by falling incomes and rising food and energy bills, free school meals are more important than ever.

UNISON supporting Take One Action! Film Festival

UNISON is once again supporting the Take One Action! Film Festival which runs from 27th September until 12th October.

Take One Action – Scotland’s global change film festival - spotlights stories that connect us across the planet: from the Occupy movement to climate change, women’s global empowerment, fracking, international development and more.

The full festival programme can be found at: www.takeoneaction.org.uk/events/festival/ .

Although the festival is focused on Edinburgh and Glasgow, we are bringing screenings to Dundee and Inverness and in the spring of next year a selection of films from the festival will tour Scotland. Please circulate this information to your contacts.

Going to @PrideGlasgow? Come and see us on the UNISON Scotland stall

#JoinUNISON

UNISON Scotland is proud to be at Pride Glasgow tomorrow, Saturday 10 August.

Come and see us on the stall and find out how we stand up for you at work.

We are also longstanding supporters of Glasgay! so see you there too. It's the 20th Anniversary 9 Oct - 9 Nov.

Find out more at www.unison-scotland.org.uk/lgbt

UNISON members' Blackpool trip - union support in good times as well as bad

#JoinUNISON

Members from UNISON Scotland's branch at the State Hospital, Carstairs, have just enjoyed a day trip to Blackpool.

Lots of members' children took part in the fun day out which they said was roller coaster fantastic.

A branch spokesperson said: "The weather was unbelievably good, with bright sunshine all day.

"Our branch gave each child a £20 gift to help with the cost and I think all the children had a great time.

"But the main thing about our day out is the fact that our union is not just about the bad times, dealing with problems at work, grievances and so on.

"It's about being united as a group of people who just want what is right, fair and equal for one another.

"This is a great union, not just in the bad times, but in the fun times too."

The branch gave a vote of thanks to Tom, who made all the arrangements.

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.

Scots councils urged to ditch ‘care on the cheap’ 15 minute home visits

UNISON Scotland today hit out at Scottish councils over commissioning 15 minute home care visits to elderly and vulnerable people.

A Freedom of Information request shows that 28 Scottish councils commission such short visits.

UNISON wants the UK and Scottish governments to ban 15 minute care slots and is urging councils to sign up to the union’s Ethical  Home Care Charter.

Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said: “Austerity cuts are piling pressure onto an overstretched system but it is entirely wrong that in a supposedly civilised society councils are commissioning 15 minute home care appointments.

“Any member of the public can understand that 15 minutes is not enough to provide even the most basic care, let alone to very frail clients. People with dementia also find the rush of such short visits particularly distressing.

STV & BBC reports on union opposition to new employment tribunal fees

#JoinUNISON
STV News at Six reported last night on union opposition to the introduction of employment tribunal fees.

Bernard Ponsonby's report  included interviews with UNISON Scotland Legal Officer Suzanne Craig and Jim McCourt of Inverclyde Advice & Employment Rights Centre.

Suzanne explained how the punitive fees will put people off taking claims to employment tribunals.

Watch the clip on STV Player (9mins 50s into the programme).

And the BBC reported on UNISON winning the right to challenge the fees. The judicial review will take place in October.

UNISON members won't have to pay, as we said here.

UNISON Personal Assistants Project launched in South Lanarkshire

#JoinUNISON
Union project offers personal assistants (PAs) and support workers training and employment rights advice

The public services union UNISON's new PAs project has launched in South Lanarkshire.

It offers networking, advice and support to personal assistants (PAs) and Support Workers who work for disabled and elderly clients.

PAs are being invited to a series of meetings in July and August around South Lanarkshire to find out more.

Local Government Pay Ballot Helpline Number

#YestoFairPay

 

PAY BALLOT HELPLINE NUMBER  -   UNISON Direct 0845 355 0845.

The UNISON Direct number above can deal with enquiries regarding members who have not received/need replacement ballot papers.

This number will be available between 10 July and 12 noon on 7 August. No ballot papers will be sent out after this period. We have been advised that it will take up to 3 working days for replacement/other ballot papers to reach members.

(Details of the Yes to Fair Pay campaign are online at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2013/index.html )

Inflation up – Scotland’s local government workers deserve fair pay

#YestoFairPay

 

UNISON Scotland said today that inflation rising to 2.9% is grim news for hard pressed workers struggling to make ends meet.

The public services union is currently balloting members in local government on strike action to win an improvement on COSLA’s pay offer of just 1%.

Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said:

“Sustained high inflation, coupled with a prolonged pay freeze, then squeeze for millions of public sector workers across the UK, has hit families hard.

“Parents are cutting back on food, clothes, even on things for their children – they are being priced out of basic living. Meanwhile, it is still boom time for British bankers who are dominating the EU bankers’ rich list.

Scottish implications of UK Spending Review

The UK Spending Review confirms a real terms cut in the Scottish Government’s budget of £333m between 2014/15 and 2015/16. The capital budget will have been cut by 26% in real terms since 2010.

 

The ‘new’ money claim by the Secretary of State, is actually largely borrowing powers that have to be repaid from a reducing revenue budget. Instead of the promised growth, £3.2bn is being taken from the Scottish economy.

Specific proposals directly impacting on public service workers include:

UNISON women's equal pay success making the news - and winning support

#JoinUNISON www.joinunison.org #equalpay

A strong editorial in today's Herald newspaper criticised Dumfries & Galloway council's "grudging statement" on UNISON's equal pay victory.

It said the council's apparent stance is exactly what led to the Equal Pay Act in the first place, following the 1968 case of the Ford women machinists.

The similarities with the Ford women in Dumfries led to a situation where "a nursery assistant could look out of the window at a groundsman mowing the grass and know he was entitled to extra benefits and pay while she was not. That could not be fair."

The editorial concludes that it would be entirely wrong for Scottish councils to "perpetuate inequalities that should have been erased from the workplace 40 years ago."

Here's a few more links to coverage of UNISON's historic Supreme Court equal pay victory.