Further Education support staff set to reject pay offer and join lecturing staff across Scotland in possible industrial action

Further Education support staff took a step closer today (5 November 2015) to industrial action across all Scottish Colleges (except Orkney and Shetland). UNISON Further Education members are being balloted on a 2015 pay rise, which was due on 1 April 2015.

Chris Greenshields

UNISON Scotland, the main union for the Sector, is recommending rejection of the employers 1% final offer. UNISON, in common with the lecturers’ union EIS/ FELA, is angry at the lengthy delay in the whole pay negotiating progress and the conduct of the employers’ side in this first ever round of Scottish wide negotiations.

The final pay offer of a 1% consolidated pay award, with £300 flat rate for those earning under £21,000 replaces the previous risible offer of 1% unconsolidated pay award – the unconsolidated offer being a first in the Scottish public sector.

The offer falls well short of UNISON’s claim of £1000 for all which is fair, equitable and would have started to address the deep seated and longstanding pay variances across the 26 colleges. The final offer squeezes middle earners (between £21k and 30k) who will receive between £210 and £299 per annum extra.

Commenting, Chris Greenshields, UNISON Chairperson for Further Education said:

LG Pay Scotland - Members vote to accept

The Scottish Local Government pay ballot closed yesterday and the results were as follows: Members voted 70.8% to accept and 29.2% to reject the revised pay offer. The LG committee meets tomorrow 5 November. A further update will be circulated thereafter.

Council pay action plans

#councilfairpay Following the ballot vote for action, UNISON Scottish local government leaders have sought authority from the union's industrial action committee for a programme of industrial action over the coming months to include a day of action followed by a programme of geographical/selective action. Branch consultation on action will kick off next week.

UNISON lead negotiator Dougie Black said: "Members are angry about the way they have been treated. Their pay being eroded whilst they take the brunt of the cuts. We urge employers to come back to the negotiating table."

Check back here for updates. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2014/index.html

Vote Yes for Fair Pay - Leaflets and posters now online

Resources for the Scottish local government workers' pay campaign are now online at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2014/

The Scottish Employers have imposed a pay award of 1% on our members from 1 April 2014.

Further they have refused to negotiate on UNISON’s claim for this period which was:

• An additional £1 per hour for all staff conditioned by the Scottish Joint Council
• Consolidation of the Living Wage
• Deletion of spinal column points below the level of the Living Wage

Glasgow Life staff ballot on strike action after Commonwealth talks break down

Glasgow Life must stop treating staff as a second class workforce, says UNISON, as it calls for a fair deal for those working during the Commonwealth Games.

In contrast to other organisations, Glasgow Life has offered no enhancements for working overtime and has altered some workers shifts without agreement. UNISON believes that Glasgow Life workers who work overtime should be afforded the same deal as other council workers.

Remember to Vote!

UNISON and GMB members in England and Wales have voted to take strike action over pay. UNISON members in Scotland have till Monday 7 July to return their ballot papers on consulting on whether to move our pay campaign forward with industrial action. Remember to vote.

For more details see http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2014/index.html

Consultative Ballot on Local Gov Pay launched

UNISON Scotland Local Government leaders have announced a consultative ballot of members in local government on pay. Make sure you get your ballot paper: Click here to update your address details
   The ballot will run from 9 June - 7 July. It will be a postal ballot to members home addresses and UNISON's Local Government Committee is urging members to support a full industrial action ballot. Click here for updates
    The Scottish Employers have rejected UNISON’s 2014 Pay Claim for £1 per hour and consolidation of the living wage. It is their view that pay has been settled until April 2015. This is because, after UNISON members accepted a 1% rise in 2013 in good faith, the employers imposed 1% for 2013 and 2014.

UNISON welcomes agreement with Police Scotland which addresses key concerns

UNISON Scotland has agreed to cancel the consultative ballot of police staff on whether to take further industrial action up to and including strike action. The trade union say the outcome of discussions with Police Scotland and the agreement made at the Joint Negotiating Consultative Committee today (17 April 2014) have been welcomed by UNISON members, as they address key concerns previously raised by UNISON.

It has been agreed that police staff:

· will receive better supernummery protection and guarantees around job relocation and job security
· will receive 1 year protection of allowances as well as basic pay
· who have their leave restricted because of the Commonwealth Games will receive an additional one day’s annual leave

UNISON Scotland ballot for potential strike action as industrial relations break down with Police Scotland

Friday 21 March 2014

UNISON Scotland are writing to police staff today (21 March 2014) to tell them that trust between Police Scotland and the all staff trade unions have broken down. And that they will be urging members to vote for industrial action when they ballot them later this month.

UNISON Scotland have 3 issues of concern:

The ongoing closures of 4 contact command and control centres which take 999 calls from the public. The first of these proposed closures is Dumfries Force Control and Service Centre which is scheduled to happen by the end of May 2014 with the loss of 34 jobs.

From the 1 April 2014 Police staff are having their redundancy terms reduced

And over 1,700 police staff across the country are having their annual leave restricted due to the Commonwealth Games this summer.

UNISON have been trying to discuss these important issues with Police Scotland for over a year.

George McIrvine, secretary of UNISON police staff scotland branch said:

“Our members across Scotland are telling us loud and clear that enough is enough. Staff are stressed, over worked and under pressure. We will ballot them to gauge their strength of feeling on potential strike action. The employer have given us no choice. They are not providing the unions with answers to reasonable questions which we have consistently raised for many months now.”

Gerry Crawley, UNISON regional officer said

‘Police staff are a hard working, loyal, and experienced. They take pride in keeping communities safe. But this whole episode has made them worried, frightened and angry. The uncertainty of what’s next is demoralising. The Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland need to realise that UNISON members are not prepared to take the brunt of these brutal cuts any longer

‘Scottish Police Authority and the Police Scotland are simply not listening to us. Over 300 jobs are at risk in contact command and control centres. Over 1700 staff are having their lead restricted this has left unions no choice but to consult our members on potential strike action”

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors:

The closure of contact command and control centres which take 999 calls from the public are on going. The proposed closure of Dumfries Force Control and Service Centre is scheduled to happen by the end of May with the loss of 34 jobs. Staff are being told their will be no compulsory redundancies, however the only redeployment options being offered to staff are limited to the central belt over 100 miles away. The future closures of the Stirling, Glenrothes and Aberdeen Centres are being addressed in a manner that causes undue worry and stress for UNISON members with the loss of job security and relocation

As well as these restructures and more in the pipeline that will affect many UNISON members, the Voluntary Redundancy/Early Retirement policy due to come into force on 1 April 2014 contains a new Supernumerary Policy which limits UNISON members to a maximum period of 4 weeks (not the 12 weeks that the policy claims) before losing the entitlement to £10,000 for Voluntary Redundancy or losing the entitlement to 4 Compensatory Added Years for Early Retirement. The Unions argued for a guaranteed job offer but the employer refused this. This new policy will leave our members in a virtual compulsory redundancy situation. This is unacceptable

Finally, over 1,700 Police Staff across the country are having their annual leave restricted due to the Commonwealth Games this summer. UNISON and the other Unions submitted a financial claim for compensation for those colleagues who will have their leave restricted. This claim was submitted last year. The employer has still to address this issue formally with the Trade Unions. The Commonwealth Games are only four months away and our members deserve clarity and an answer to our claim.

Higher Education Pay Ballot Starts 18 September

UNISON members in higher education are being balloted for strike action over pay. UNISON’s higher education service group executive is urging members to vote for strike action in the autumn, seeking a significant improvement on the 1% pay offer. More details on the UK UNISON site at http://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/education-services/key-issues/higher-education-pay-ballot-2013/home/

Dispute over pay at Citizens Advice Direct goes to ACAS

#JoinUNISON

UNISON is tomorrow (Wednesday) taking a dispute over pay cuts of up to 6% at the Citizens Advice telephone service to ACAS.

The Scottish telephone and web based advice service Citizens Advice Direct (CAD) wants to withdraw its current contribution based pay scheme under which staff who achieve targets can earn a pay rise of up to 6% annually.

In a consultative ballot, 100% of UNISON members rejected the latest changes to staff terms and conditions. They are angry that eligible staff would lose out significantly this year and in the future.

Deborah Dyer, Regional Organiser, said in advance of tomorrow’s talks at ACAS in Glasgow: “Our members have worked very hard but are being told they won’t be paid the rise they are due, which would be added to their salary for future years too.

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.

UNISON calls on councillors to back Fair Pay as strike ballot opens

Tue 2 July 2013

Local government union UNISON today (Tuesday) emailed Scotland’s councillors asking them to support Fair Pay for council workers.

UNISON is balloting members in local government on strike action to win an improvement on COSLA’s pay offer of 1%. The ballot opens tomorrow (Wednesday 3 July) and runs till 13 August.

Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said: “We have asked every councillor in Scotland whether they think it is fair that their employees have been offered a miserly 1%, when the value of staff pay has fallen by more than 10% in the last three years.”

The email to councillors points out that there is money available to improve the offer. Indeed the Labour group in COSLA had proposed an offer of 2.5%. Although this was not carried, it shows they believe the money can be found.

Mike Kirby added: “The employers’ offer is the first in three years and in that period housing costs, domestic fuel and travel to work costs have risen considerably. Our members work hard delivering quality public services day in and day out. We believe they deserve fair pay and a commitment to annual rises in the Living Wage. That is why we are balloting on strike action to win a better pay offer than the miserly 1% which was offered and rejected.”

“We believe a better pay offer is affordable - and it would in fact benefit local economies in a big way as council workers spend more than half their wages locally.”

Fair Pay Day of Action for local government workers

#YestoFairPay #AusterityUncovered

Unions today (Tuesday) launched a Fair Pay Day supporting Scottish local government workers as they prepare to vote on strike action.

Trade unionists on the STUC Austerity Uncovered tour asked why council workers are being offered a ‘measly’ 1% pay rise when ‘fat cats’* on the Sunday Times Rich List saw their wealth soar by £116 billion in the last three years.

UNISON branches across Scotland are holding workplace events and lobbying councillors today as they campaign for a Yes vote in the strike ballot, which opens next week.

And in Dundee the Austerity Uncovered anti-cuts ‘battle bus’ continues its tour of local communities hit hard by the UK Coalition Government attacks on jobs, pay and benefits that are hitting the most vulnerable so hard.

Strike ballot over plans to axe 155 community care jobs and slash salaries

UNISON members employed by Cornerstone Community Care in the West of Scotland are being balloted on industrial action following proposals to cut 155 support workers jobs.

Cornerstone has said that those who are unsuccessful in securing their own jobs will be demoted to a support assistant role and see their salaries slashed by £2,000 - £3,000.

Support workers employed by Cornerstone Community Care provide quality care services to vulnerable adults in our communities.

Mark Clifford, UNISON Regional Organiser, said: “These are draconian and unnecessary cuts. Our members, many of whom have given years of loyal and dedicated service, are outraged at the proposed job losses and a whopping £2,000 - £3,000 slashing of salaries for those who are demoted.”

Fair Pay Day of Action around Scotland - and in Dundee for #AusterityUncovered

#YestoFairPay Please help publicise UNISON Scotland's next Fair Pay Day of Action on Tuesday 25 June. Branches are campaigning across Scotland for Fair Pay for local government workers and Yes to Strike Action for Fair Pay.

Also on 25 June, Our Fair Pay Day Family Fun and Rally in Dundee is part of the STUC's Austerity Uncovered There is a Better Way tour from 21-29 June.

#YestoFairPay day of action today - new pay analysis shows importance to economy

11 June 2013

Today UNISON local government branches across Scotland are organising workplace events and action campaigning for Fair Pay. (Resources and info here)

Dave Watson, UNISON's Head of Bargaining and Campaigns, has blogged on today's new TUC research showing billions lost to the economy because of the falling value of pay.

".....Council workers are the lowest paid group of public service staff. We know that low paid workers will spend much of their fair pay and Living Wage in their own communities – building the local economy. A study by APSE on the Economic Footprint of Local Services estimates that local government employees re-spend 52.5p of every pound in their pay locally. A similar study in Stoke put the figure at 63p.

Media coverage of UNISON council staff strike ballot #YestoFair Pay

#JoinUNISON 5 June 2013

Some of the media coverage of UNISON's news release announcing a Scotland wide strike ballot of council staff...

BBC:  "Unison to hold strike ballot over Cosla pay offer

"Local government workers across Scotland are to be balloted on possible strike action, after public services union Unison rejected a 1% pay offer by councils.

"The union said it would ballot 75,000 members working for Scotland's 32 local authorities.

"Unison described the pay offer as "miserly", following a two-year pay freeze...."

STV:  "Unions to ballot 95,000 local government workers on autumn strike

"Local government workers across Scotland are to be balloted on strike action following the rejection of a 1% pay offer.

"Unions will ballot 95,000 members working for Scotland’s 32 local authorities. Those balloted include cooks, cleaners, classroom assistants, housing staff, library workers, cleansing and environmental protection staff, technicians and trading standards workers, early years workers and social work staff.

"Members whose conditions are linked to local government pay and conditions are also to be balloted.

"Chair of Unison’s local government committee Stephanie Herd said: “Members are angry about a miserly 1% offer, following two years of a pay freeze.

“Council staff work hard delivering quality public services. They are overstretched after more than 34,500 local government jobs have gone. They are underpaid, and they see the wealthiest people in this country getting ever richer.

“Our members deserve fair pay and we believe they will vote yes for strike action to put pressure on the employers to improve the offer.

"Around 20,000 members of the Unite union who work in local government are also to be balloted..."


Evening Times:  "Council staff in pay row strike ballot

"Council staff are being asked to go on strike in an attempt to improve a 1% pay offer

"Public services union Unison will ballot 75,000 members in Scotland's 32 local authorities.

"Stephanie Herd, who leads the union's local government committee, said members are angry at receiving the "miserly" offer after two years of a pay freeze.

""Over this period the value of their pay has gone down by nearly 13%, while the cost of food and heating has soared," she said...."

Radio Forth:  "Scots council staff to be balloted on strike action..."

The Sun: "Council workers are to vote on strike action in a pay battle...."

Union announces Scotland wide strike ballot of council staff - #YestoFairPay

4 June 2013

Local government workers across Scotland are being balloted on strike action, after rejecting a 1% pay offer.

UNISON, the public services union, will ballot 75,000 members working for Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

Stephanie Herd, Chair of UNISON’s Local Government Committee, said: “Members are angry about a miserly 1% offer, following two years of a pay freeze.

“The year before that they only received 0.65%. Over this period the value of their pay has gone down by nearly 13%, while the cost of food and heating has soared.

“Council staff work hard delivering quality public services. They are overstretched after more than 34,500 local government jobs have gone. They are underpaid, and they see the wealthiest people in this country getting ever richer.

“Our members deserve fair pay and we believe they will vote yes for strike action to put pressure on the employers to improve the offer.”

UNISON is calling for a fair pay rise and for COSLA to commit to an annual increase in the Scottish Local Government Living Wage of £7.50 per hour. The current offer from employers includes the Living Wage, which the unions have campaigned for, but no annual uplift.

Dougie Black, UNISON lead negotiator in local government, said: “We tried to get the employers back round the table for talks after members voted to reject the offer, but the employers refused.

“It is clear that our members do not believe 1% is fair. They also lost out because they did not receive the £250 increase for the lowest paid NHS and civil service staff in the last two years, which was supposed to soften the blow of a pay freeze.”


ENDS




Notes to editors:
1. UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union representing 160,000 members working in the public sector in Scotland, including staff at all 32 local authorities.

2. The union’s local government membership includes cooks, cleaners, classroom assistants, housing staff, library workers, cleansing and environmental protection staff, technicians and trading standards workers and early years workers and social work staff .

3. Members whose conditions are linked to local government pay and conditions are also being balloted.

4. The ballot will run from 3 July to 13 August, with a proposal, if members vote yes, of a minimum of three days of strike action over a seven week period in the autumn. Two of these would be national one day strikes and there would be a rolling programme of one day strikes around the country. Selective action is also being considered.

5. In the run up to the ballot opening, UNISON branches will hold two Fair Pay Days of Action in council workplaces around the country. These will be on June 11 and 25.

6. The June 25 Fair Pay Day will also form part of the STUC’s Austerity Uncovered -There is A Better Way nine days of action across Scotland, focusing on the effects of cuts to services and benefits.

7. Unite is also balloting members in local government.

More information on our Fair Pay for Local Government 2013 campaign page: www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2013 

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