Let’s give disabled young people the chance they deserve

#STUC16 Disabled young people are massively under-represented in apprenticeships and Congress delegates backed a wide-ranging campaign to address the difficulties they face, to support their educational attainment and to make sure more can access apprenticeships.

Supporting the motion UNISON’s Morag Houston told delegates that times are hard for all our young people – but they are doubly hard for disabled young people.

Poorer students are being failed

#STUC15. Too many students in Scotland drop out of full time education due to inadequate financial support.

Speaking on behalf of a motion from the Annual STUC Youth Conference, UNISON Scotland's Ryan Boyle said that ‘students from poorer backgrounds are being failed’

Ryan supported the STUC Youth Conference motion calling for significant investment in further education support, increased grants for the poorest higher education students, a fairer deal for post graduate students, and a fair and co-ordinated funding system incorporating Student Awards Agency Scotland, Education Maintenance Allowance and hardship funds, to ensure students from poor backgrounds are not denied access to education and qualifications.

End exploitation of young vulnerable workers

#stuc15 The STUC will press the Scottish Government to set up and fund an STUC administered vulnerable workers’ project as part of a wide ranging strategy to end the exploitation of young vulnerable workers in the fast food and related sectors.

Delegates condemned discriminatory practices which adversely affect all low paid, unorganised workers, but which particularly impact on young workers. The STUC will explore new ways of reaching and supporting young workers and will lobby the Scottish Government to ensure it plays its part.

UNISON welcomes call for early careers advice for Scotland’s young people

Tue 3 June 2014

UNISON response to Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce Final Report

UNISON, the union representing careers advisers, has welcomed the Wood Commission’s call for earlier careers advice for Scotland’s young people.

The union has long-campaigned for careers advice to be provided to school students long before S4. It also has to be delivered by qualified careers advisers who can provide the face-to-face support that is vital for pupils.

Derek Cheyne, Branch Secretary of UNISON’s Skills Development Scotland branch, said:

“This report highlights what we as careers professionals have been saying for a long time. Young people need to be provided with the best possible information and advice from the outset, with continued support throughout their high school years.

“Young people face the worst jobs crisis in recent times and we must do all we can to enable them to reach their full potential and move into rewarding careers.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. You can view the full report – Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce – athttp://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00451746.pdf 
   
2. UNISON has been critical of over-reliance on the role of My World of Work web-based service as opposed to crucial face-to-face support. Although a website can provide information to those who can access it, it cannot provide the kind of support and guidance that most people require. Young people in particular need to be supported to have a realistic view of their competencies and aspirations to ensure they make the right choice and this requires face-to-face interactions with fully-qualified careers professionals.

Young workers vanishing from the public sector, says UNISON

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Young people are the biggest losers of public service job cuts as figures reveal the number of young workers has fallen by a quarter.

Workforce data published by Audit Scotland shows there are 1,545 people aged under 20-years-old working in Scotland’s public services, down 25 per cent since 2009.

The cuts have led to an ageing workforce. In 2013, the average age was 44 years and four months, compared with 43 years and nine months in 2009. With nearly 40 per cent retiring in the next 10-15 years – although the reality is many will leave sooner – there is a very real concern of serious skills shortages across the public sector.

Careers website ‘no substitute for face-to-face guidance’ - UNISON

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Presentation of new research: What’s the evidence? Comparing the impact of career websites and other career support’ 
Tuesday 18 June - Scottish Parliament

Members of UNISON’s Scottish careers branch today (Tuesday 18 June) told MSPs that websites like My World of Work – which all Scottish school pupils are now expected to rely on for careers advice - are “no substitute for face-to-face guidance”. UNISON is calling for Skills Development Scotland to raise the profile of the face-to-face service provided by careers advisers.

Independent research into the effect of careers websites commissioned from the University of Edinburgh has found that My World of Work – known as MyWoW – was valued by pupils and teachers, but that it has “limited impact on pupils’ careers management skills”. In fact, the researchers say, “it is clear from the focus groups and open-ended survey comments that pupils, irrespective of their level of family support or attainment, would like face-to-face contact with careers advisers as well as access to websites.” 

Derek Cheyne, secretary of UNISON’s Skills Development Scotland branch said:
“This research shows that while careers websites are of value, they are no substitute for expert face-to-face guidance. Young people face the worst jobs crisis in recent times and they need the best possible support to help them move from school to rewarding careers.”

The chief executive of SDS, Damien Yeates, recently told the Times Educational Supplement Scotland that ‘any student who really feels they would like face-to-face advice should get it’. However, the Edinburgh research states: “It is evident, too, that pupils need to be more fully informed about the role of a careers adviser and about access arrangements.”

James Corry, chair of the union’s Non-Departmental Public Bodies sector committee, said:
“This research confirms what we as professionals in the careers service already know – that face-to-face sessions are vital for pupils. It is clear that SDS needs to raise the profile of the face-to-face service provided by our advisers – and that the promotion of face-to-face advice needs to be properly resourced.”

The research was presented to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament at an information and discussion meeting today Tuesday 18 June, hosted by Neil Findlay, Deputy Convener of the Education and Culture Committee.

ENDS

 

Notes to editors:

1. UNISON is Scotland’s largest public services trade union representing 160,000 members working in the public sector in Scotland – including staff providing key careers services in Skills Development Scotland.

2. ‘What’s the evidence? Comparing the impact of career websites and other career support’ by Cathy Howieson and Sheila Semple, Centre for Educational Sociology, University of Edinburgh, will be published on Tuesday 18 June as CES Briefing Number 63, 2013

From the Briefing introduction:
“UK governments expect career websites to fulfil a central role in career information, advice and guidance. In Scotland, Skills Development Scotland's input in schools is now based on the expectation that all pupils will use its website My World of Work (MyWoW) and many may not need individual contact with a careers adviser. Career websites have the potential to make a valuable contribution but currently little is know about their effectiveness and impact. This Briefing outlines the findings from a study that examined the comparative impact of career websites such as MyWoW.”

Findings from the study include:

• Pupils and teachers valued MyWoW but as part of provision that includes face-to-face support, including from a careers adviser, for the majority of pupils.
• Compared with other sources of career support, MyWoW had a limited impact on pupils’ careers management skills as did the PlanitPlus website.
• Clinic sessions with a career adviser, discussion with teachers and use of the school careers library each had a substantial impact on pupils’ career management skills.

3. A Briefing from the study was presented to an information and discussion meeting in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 18 June at 1pm.

4. The study was funded by UNISON and builds on earlier research commissioned by SDS. The full research report is available from 15 July 2013 athttp://www.ces.ed.ac.uk/UNISON/FinalREport.pdf

The briefing is available on UNISON Scotland’s website from Tuesday 18 June
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/ndpb/sds/
CareersWebsites_CESBriefing63_June2013.pdf

Queen's speech - UNISON reaction

Wed 8 May 2013

QUEEN’S SPEECH – UNISON REACTION

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:

“There is little comfort in this programme for the young, the unemployed, the working poor, the sick, the vulnerable or the millions who have seen their living standards fall drastically since this coalition government came to power.

“It’s a typical Tory tactic to distract attention from the real problems we face by fostering a ‘blame immigrants’ culture, instead of tackling the huge divide between the rich and the poor.

“This government should face facts and accept that its policies are not working for the majority of people. What we need is a programme that will boost growth and create jobs not one that boosts insecurity and fear and creates division.”



More UNISON UK news here:
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/



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Massive human, social and economic costs: STUC on Scottish unemployment

Wed 14 Nov 2012

Commenting on the publication today of the latest official labour market statistics for Scotland, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:

“Today’s figures bring yet more miserable news for Scotland. The small rise in unemployment is perhaps not as worrying as the very significant fall in employment.

“It is a particular concern that so many women in particular seem to be leaving the labour force altogether as the prospect of finding decent work becomes ever more remote. Rapidly increasing very long-term unemployment, particularly amongst young people, will saddle Scotland with massive human, social and economic costs for the foreseeable future.

“It is to be expected that the UK figures will be seized on by the Chancellor as evidence of the success of the coalition’s economic strategy. However, any fair assessment must surely conclude that a stagnant economy increasingly characterised by low wage, insecure, part-time, temporary and self-employment represents pretty poor validation of the austerity agenda.

“Therefore it is essential that the autumn statement must include substantial new measures to embed recovery and grow good jobs. However it is probably best not to hold our breaths in anticipation”.

ENDS

STUC news release:
http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/983/stuc-on-labour-market-statistics


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Scotland’s young people call for ‘One Fair Wage’

The Scottish Youth Parliament has today launched a new national campaign, 'One Fair Wage' calling on
 politicians, businesses, councils and charities to pledge their support for the Scottish Living Wage.

The campaign has already received support from The Scottish Government, the Scottish Labour Party, UNISON Scotland and Save the Children. 

The year-long campaign will focus on a grass-roots approach by Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) directly engaging with their local councils and businesses to convince them everyone in Scotland deserves a fair living wage.

Full details here


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Unemployment stats – UNISON Scotland response

Commenting on the latest unemployment figures released by the Office of National Statistics today (Wednesday, August 15), Mike Kirby, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary, said:

“This small fall in unemployment is welcome, but we have little to celebrate. Youth unemployment continues to rise and there’s no disguising the fact that young people face a bleak jobs future. These figures also hide underemployment in Scotland through the use of self-employment, part-time and zero-hours contracts.

 “The UK Government must not condemn an entire generation of young people to the dole queue and must instead focus on rebuilding our economy and safeguarding the future. The government must ditch its failed austerity policies and promote growth through investment in jobs and services, with targeted help for young people.”

Scotland’s MSPs must defend careers service, says UNISON

Friday 6 July 2012

 

UNISON is calling for an urgent meeting with local MSPs to defend the future of Scotland’s career service.

The move follows a series of cuts to careers services in the south side of Glasgow which the union says will have a detrimental impact on young unemployed people.

Last month, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) closed its Cathcart Road centre and moved to a smaller shared facility within Newlands Job Centre. The services on offer have also been cut and young people will no longer have on-site access to SDS’s online service which, in addition to offering careers guidance, allows young people to search for job vacancies.

To add insult to injury, SDS also cut the hours of its Castlemilk centre from one day a week to just half a day.

Gerry Crawley, UNISON’s Regional Organiser, said: “With youth unemployment at unprecedented levels, there is a clear need to ensure crucial face-to-face guidance is easily accessible to young people.

“Some young people now face two bus journeys just to get to the new centre, not to mention a further journey to a local library to access the online careers service. This raises concerns over accessibility and the increased financial burden on young people to access careers advice.

“We need to make getting on the career ladder as easy as possible for young people, and putting barriers in their way is not the way forward. We’re calling on MSPs to defend Scotland’s careers service and not to condemn a whole generation of young people to life on the dole queue.”

ENDS

Note to editors

The Skills Development Office in Cathcart Road offered careers advice to 150 young people in the month of May alone

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Tories Kettled at Troon

Over 1,000 STUC demonstrators against youth unemployment kettled Tory delegates attending their Scottish Conference in Troon as they tried to leave for lunch today, as Mike Kirby, UNISON Scotland Secretary and STUC President, condemned this week's budget as "tax cuts for the rich few while a whole generation is consigned to mass unemployment because of crazy austerity economics".

Budget: Tax cuts for rich and mass unemployment for youth is totally unacceptable - UNISON

Wed 21 March 2012

UNISON Scotland has condemned today's budget as "tax cuts for the rich few while a whole generation is consigned to mass unemployment because of crazy austerity economics".

Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said that cutting the 50p tax rate was completely unacceptable while unemployment soars across the UK - and Scottish youth unemployment hits record levels.

Scotland's largest union, which represents 160,000 workers across public services, called instead for an alternative budget for jobs, confidence and growth.

Mike Kirby said:
"It is completely unacceptable for the government to cut tax for the rich few in society while a whole generation is consigned to mass unemployment because of crazy austerity economics. 

"Freezing the miminum wage for young people is unfair and will do nothing to address poverty or joblessness.

"Over 100,000 young Scots are now jobless - that's the highest figure for a generation. And that's why the STUC has called for a demonstration at the Tory party's Scottish conference in Troon on Saturday 24 March.

"Youth unemployment in Scotland is higher than the UK average and it is increasing more rapidly. Government should be creating jobs and investing in the infrastructure and services our economy and our people - especially our young people - for a better future. We need a halt to the failed austerity policies that are damaging vital public services.”

UNISON has published an alternative budget which shows that the cuts are not necessary.

The union is arguing for a number of popular options to help kick-start the economy, instead of tax cuts for the rich and spending cuts for the rest. Between £35bn and £70bn could be raised each year by tackling tax evasion by individuals, companies and other organisations - such as the £6bn HMRC let Vodafone off paying.

Mike Kirby said:
"There is plenty of money available to fund decent public services, it is just in the wrong hands. We need to get our people – especially our young people – back to work."


ends


Note to editors:
1. UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union representing over 160,000 members working in the public sector in Scotland.

2. UNISON’s alternative UK budget is available on the UNISON UK website here: http://www.unison.org.uk/news/budget2012.asp


3. The STUC has called a March and Rally against Youth Unemployment on Saturday 24 March in Troon venue for the Scottish Tory Conference.
Assemble 12 noon South Beach Esplanade (Victoria Drive)
March off: 12.30 pm
Rally 1.00 pm South Beach Esplanade (Titchfield Rd)

More details on the STUC There is a better way site
http://www.thereisabetterway.org/events/59/tory-conference-troon/


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March and Rally against youth unemployment outside Tory Conference in Troon Sat 24 March

No to workfare - Yes to jobs
 
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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Careers staff job cuts unacceptable in face of youth unemployment crisis – UNISON

Mon 27 February 2012

UNISON Scotland has called for direct Scottish Government intervention to stop over 100 jobs being cut at careers agency Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in the face of a mounting youth unemployment crisis. 

The union has reacted with shock and anger to the announcement of over 100 redundancies in the frontline Skills Development Scotland workforce. At a time when unemployment in Scotland stands at 231,000 and youth unemployment is standing at 88,000 amongst 18-24 year olds, Skills Development  Scotland, whose staff provide vital face to face careers advice and guidance, has taken the decision to further reduce its workforce.

UNISON Regional Organiser Gerry Crawley said:
“For the second time in only 12 months Skills Development Scotland have announced large scale redundancies. In March 2011, one in eleven of the workforce were made redundant. Now, in March 2012, one in ten of the remaining workforce are going to be made redundant. At a time of unprecedented youth unemployment in Scotland, there is more need for direct face to face careers advice than ever before. UNISON Scotland is deeply concerned at the level of cuts taking place at Skills Development Scotland and the direction of travel that the organisation is taking in ‘modernising’ its workforce.”

At the start of February 2012 the new Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance unveiled the Scottish Government’s youth unemployment strategy. As part of the launch Ms Constance referred directly to Skills Development Scotland as one of the agencies that would assist in getting young people back to work. The Minister stated then that all partners across the public and private sectors need to be “on the same page, pointing in the right direction ensuring we are all standing shoulder to shoulder to provide a national response to what is undoubtedly a national challenge in terms of rising unemployment.”

Just a few weeks later SDS, one of the key agencies which the Government expects to tackle youth unemployment, is itself to be decimated.

Gerry Crawley said:
“UNISON Scotland agrees that there is a national challenge in terms of rising unemployment and rising youth unemployment. How can the Careers Service and Skills Development Scotland deliver the required face to face intervention with these job cuts happening again? Not once, but twice in one year the frontline services have been cut. It is unacceptable. The Scottish Government needs to invest and restore the staffing levels in Skills Development Scotland. The right hand and the left hand need to work in tandem to get Scotland’s youth back into work.”

“How can the Careers Service and Skills Development Scotland continue to improve the service when their own job losses over the past year have seen a reduction of over 200 frontline staff? The Scottish Government needs to intervene and stop this happening at Skills Development Scotland as it’s a public service that is desperately needed at this time,” Gerry Crawley added.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union representing over 160,000 members working in the public services, and organises staff in Skills Development Scotland.

2. UNISON’s response in December 2011 to the publication of the Scottish Government’s request for written submissions on ‘Putting Learners at the Centre: Delivering our Ambitions for Post-16 Education’  included the following statement: “Careers officers need to be fully involved in the development of new post-16 support. They are the key professionals trained to ensure that people are able to make the right choices throughout their working lives. The careers service has seen a 50% increase in adults accessing their services during this recession.” 

The full UNISON Scotland submission to ‘Putting Learners at the Centre: Delivering our ambitions for post-16 education’ can be found at the UNISON Scotland website here:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/
Response%20to%20Putting%20learners%20at
%20the%20centre%20post%2016%20educati%85.pdf

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UNISON: Skills Development Scotland staff have no faith in new strategy

Monday 29 August 2011

Skills Development Scotland union UNISON has revealed that the agency's staff have no faith in its new Careers Information and Guidance (CIAG) strategy.

Just days before the ministerial launch of a key part of the CIAG, a comprehensive survey by UNISON of the staff who will be responsible for its implementation shows that they do not believe it can deliver.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will be launching the new web-enabled service – My World of Work (MyWOW) - on 31 August. This is central to the CIAG strategy and will mean a major shift away from school and community based face to face guidance.

UNISON surveyed members in SDS about the proposed new strategy. A total of 410 responses were received, just under 50% of the membership.

Almost all respondents had huge reservations about a strategy that will be overly reliant on web-based services which UNISON members feel cannot offer high quality advice and guidance. There is a view that the strategy is predominantly driven forward due to financial constraints but dressed up as modernising the service.

And UNISON members in SDS overwhelmingly (94%) believe that the new MyWoW system will fail to offer clients high quality advice and guidance.

UNISON Regional Organiser Gerry Crawley said:

"The Scottish Government should listen to the real experts in this field – UNISON members. It’s a pity the Minister can’t take time to meet with us about improving this strategy. We want to ensure the best possible careers guidance for Scotland’s young people. It seems like the Scottish Government want to fob them off with a cheap ‘point and click’ option".

ENDS


For further information contact  
Gerry Crawley, UNISON Regional Organiser, 07958 121 805


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‘Care before cost’ says UNISON as it urges the Scottish Government to save St Philip’s

UNISON Scotland will today make an urgent plea to the Scottish Government to put care before cost and to reconsider its decision to close St Philip’s secure unit.

UNISON urges Scottish government to save St Philip’s secure unit from closure

Thu 23 June 2011

UNISON, Scotland’s biggest union in the community and voluntary sectors, has urged Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill to urge a rethink about the closure of a secure unit for vulnerable boys in North Lanarkshire.

Union organisers along with representatives from the board and management team of St Philip’s met Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill yesterday (Wednesday) to discuss the implications of the secure unit not being awarded a contract to provide secure provision.

The decision will force the closure of the unit unless the government reconsiders its decision.

St Philip’s received notice on Friday (June 17) that it had not been awarded a contract to provide secure provision, meaning it will no longer be able to receive referrals from the courts and Children’s Panel.

St Philip’s provides secure, residential and education facilities for young men. While all three types of care are provided at the St Philip’s campus, the withdrawal of funding for the secure unit has left St Philip’s facing a cross-campus closure and 259 staff facing the axe.

Simon MacFarlane, regional organiser for UNISON, said: "UNISON has met with the Justice Minister, however, he seems unwilling to reconsider the review of the secure estate. He was also unable to offer any hope of temporary employment for the dedicated staff who work at St Philip’s who, at the very least, want to be able to aide the transition of these vulnerable young people to a new facility.

"Our members include low-paid female workers through to staff in the senior management team – none of who will find gaining alternative employment easy in the current climate. If the minister is unwilling to review the closure of St Philip’s then he must look at providing enhanced redundancy payments, which would offer a small cushion while members look for alternative work.

"We appreciate the efforts of Labour’s Siobhan McMahon, central Scotland list MSP, who has raised concerns over the impact of the site’s closure on these vulnerable young men, our members and the wider community. We hope the Government will listen to our concerns before it’s too late."

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. St Philip’s, in Plains, is one of three units run by voluntary organisation the Cora Foundation. The unit currently supports 18 young men who reside within the secure unit and many others who attend the residential and educational facilities on St Philip’s campus.

2. For further information contact Simon Macfarlane, regional organiser, on 07703 194 132, Janet Stewart, area organiser, on 07958 121 120, or Trisha Hamilton, communications officer, on 0141 342 2877 / 07939 478 461.

Our young people have a right to a future

Slamming cuts in benefits, education allowances and employment opportunities, UNISON NEC Policy Chair Jane Carolan told the STUC, “there has never been a worse time in this country to be young.