Historic UK-wide strike to hit universities on Thu 31 Oct

Wed 30 October

Feelings are running high ahead of the first strike to hit universities involving all three higher education unions, UNISON, UCU and Unite. The UK wide strike is to go ahead tomorrow, Thursday 31 October, after university employers ignored calls to make a last minute improved offer to defuse tensions and avoid disruption to students.

UNISON members are upset and angry at the 1% pay offer which see their pay fall by nearly 15% over the past four years.  Over 4,000 staff are currently paid below the Living Wage while over half of vice-chancellors earn over £242,000 - 18 times more than the lowest paid.   1% of £13,486 is just £134.86 a year, £11.23 a month – not enough to cover the latest gas bill rises.  By contrast, even if Vice Chancellors stick to a 1% increase – which would be a big surprise – they would trouser an extra £2,420 a year.

The disruption will go much further than lectures as UNISON’s members carry out a wide variety of jobs such as supporting students on campus, in libraries, course administration, catering, cleaning and security. Many of the roles, particularly the catering and cleaning are paid at salaries below the Living Wage of £7.45p (London Living Wage £8.55p).

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, who will be joining members on the picket line tomorrow in London (details below) said:

“Taking strike action is never an easy decision, especially for those already struggling on low pay. With Christmas less than two months away losing a day’s pay is even harder, but it shows just how angry and upset our members feel at this miserly 1% offer.

“Even members earning above the Living Wage are finding their incomes squeezed to breaking point.  It is a disgrace that universities are sitting on cash surpluses worth £2bn, but they are not prepared to reward their staff, who are the backbone of our world class university system.

“We know that the total wage bill is falling while staff numbers have increased – that dynamic spells misery for many thousands of families.  It is time for university employers to think again about the value that they place on their workforce and come back with a better offer.”

Notes to Editors

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis and Jon Richards, UNISON Head of Education will join picket lines in London at approx 9.30am - University College London - Gower Street - London - WC1E 6BT and Westminster University 309 Regent St, Paddington, London W1B 2UW - at approx 10.20


·              Higher education has a greater gender pay gap than the rest of the public sector

·              More than half of higher education institutions are using zero hours contracts and the numbers are growing

·              In the last two years surpluses in the sector have been over £2bn.  Student fee income has more than offset cuts in government grants.


UK wide snapshot of action hotspots

Brighton - 12.00 Assemble Victoria Gardens (Grand Parade); 12.30 start march through Brighton to Church Street; 13.00 disperse for rally in Corn Exchange to finish no later than 14.30.

Bristol - 11:00am rally at Senate House; TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady will be visiting picket lines.


Cambridge  - 12 noon at Central St Mary's church (outside Senate House).


Exeter - joint trade union rally, 12:30pm, Phoenix Theatre <http://goo.gl/maps/JMBS4 <http://goo.gl/maps/JMBS4> > ; UCU speaker: Barry Lovejoy

Leeds - Thursday 31 October: assembling after picketing, 11.30, Parkinson Building steps, Leeds University.  Joint union march, to rally in Victoria Gardens or City Square, depending on availability. UCU speaker: Paul Bridge


Leicester - 1.30pm rally at Nelson Mandela Park.


Liverpool - rally information details to follow


London -: rally, 2pm Conway Hall, Red Lion Square <https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Conway+Hall,+25+Red+Lion+Square,+London,+UK&hl=en&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=18.461747,46.538086&oq=25+RED+LION&hnear=Conway+Hall,+25+Red+Lion+Square,+London,+Greater+London+WC1R+4RL,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A <https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Conway+Hall,+25+Red+Lion+Square,+London,+UK&amp;hl=en&amp;sll=53.800651,-4.064941&amp;sspn=18.461747,46.538086&amp;oq=25+RED+LION&amp;hnear=Conway+Hall,+25+Red+Lion+Square,+London,+Greater+London+WC1R+4RL,+United+Kingdom&a>  <https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Conway+Hall,+25+Red+Lion+Square,+London,+UK&hl=en&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=18.461747,46.538086&oq=25+RED+LION&hnear=Conway+Hall,+25+Red+Lion+Square,+London,+Greater+London+WC1R+4RL,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A <https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Conway+Hall,+25+Red+Lion+Square,+London,+UK&amp;hl=en&amp;sll=53.800651,-4.064941&amp;sspn=18.461747,46.538086&amp;oq=25+RED+LION&amp;hnear=Conway+Hall,+25+Red+Lion+Square,+London,+Greater+London+WC1R+4RL,+United+Kingdom&a> > > , near Holborn; UCU speaker Michael MacNeil; UCU speaker Michael MacNeil

Manchester - 12.30pm rally at Club Academy, University of Manchester Students Union, Oxford Road. The meeting is to be chaired by Lynn Collins (North West TUC Regional Secretary). On the platform will be Kevan Nelson (Unison), Dominique Lauterburg (UCU NEC), Unite the Union speaker (TBC) and NUS president Toni Pearce: download the Manchester rally publicity poster (.pdf) [99kb] <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf> <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf &lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf>  <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf &lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf> <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf &amp;lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf>   <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf &lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf> <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf &amp;lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf>  <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf &amp;lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf> <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf &amp;amp;lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/s/j/hestrike31oct13_manchesterrallyposter.pdf>    >
Newcastle - Assemble 12.30 for 1 pm Grey's Monument, Newcastle. UCU speaker: Liz Lawrence: download the Newcastle rally publicity poster (.pdf) [113kb] <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf> <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf &lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf>  <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf &lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf> <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf &amp;lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf>   <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf &lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf> <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf &amp;lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf>  <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf &amp;lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf> <http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf &amp;amp;lt;http://www.ucu.org.uk/media/pdf/j/i/hestrike31oct13_newcastlerallyposter.pdf>    >

Oxford - rally in the Council Chamber at Oxford Town Hall from 1-2pm; speakers from all three unions including Jon Richards, UNISON Head of Education.

Sheffield - rally at 12.00 at the St Matthews Hall in the centre of Sheffield: UCU speaker: Simon Renton


Southampton - rally at Guildhall Square in Southampton <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0 <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0> <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0 &lt;http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0>  <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0 &lt;http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0> <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0 &amp;lt;http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0>   <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0 &lt;http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0> <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0 &amp;lt;http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0>  <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0 &amp;lt;http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0> <http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0 &amp;amp;lt;http://goo.gl/maps/Q7ds0>    )>  between midday and 1.30pm.


SCOTLAND
Edinburgh  - Rally: 12 noon - 1pm, Bristo Square. Speakers: Mary Senior (UCU Scotland Official), Gordon Maloney (NUS Scotland President), Ann Henderson (Assistant Secretary STUC), Emma Phillips (Regional Officer, Unison) plus speakers from Unite.

Glasgow - Rally: 12 noon - 1pm, Adelaide's Baptist Church, Bath Street. Speakers: Dave Anderson (UCU Scotland President, Robert Foster (NUS Scotland Vice President), Dave Moxham (Deputy General Secretary STUC), Davena Rankin (Unison) plus a speaker from Unite.
St Andrews - Rally at Church Square, 12 noon


WALES
Aberystwyth - details tbc

Cardiff - rally outside the Main Building of Cardiff University at 11.30am on Thursday 31st October 2013. Speakers: Margaret Phelan, (UCU Wales official), John Toner (UNITE) and a speaker from Unison tbc 




====


News release from UNISON UK press office
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/historic-uk-wide-strike-to-hit-universtites

Hundreds of Glasgow charity care workers face uncertain future

Wed 30 October 2013

Hundreds of Glasgow’s charity care workers face having their terms and conditions savaged as a result of spending cuts by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.

Bosses at The Mungo Foundation have threatened staff with massive cuts to their holidays and sick pay, claiming they have been backed into a corner by funding cuts.

Staff were told today (Wednesday) they will lose eight days holiday a year, while sick pay will be cut by almost half. Staff will also see their pension contributions escalate. UNISON has condemned the move and says it is the first in a line of attacks to Glasgow’s voluntary organisations as a result of spending cuts.

Alice Lyness, a care worker and UNISON steward at The Mungo Foundation, said: “My colleagues and I work with some of the city’s most vulnerable people and we’re committed to providing the first-class service they deserve.

“These cuts are not only having a detrimental impact on jobs and the living standards of voluntary sector staff, but on the people we care for each and every day. This race to the bottom is the wrong approach when we are delivering services to the most vulnerable in our community.”

Deborah Dyer, UNISON’s Regional Organiser, said: “Many of these workers are low-paid and already struggling to make ends meet and are now are faced with paying the price of these damaging cuts.

“We need voluntary organisations to act in a responsible manner, but this must start at the top and it’s time for the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council to put an end to these cuts and to properly fund the care of the city’s most vulnerable people.”

ends

For more information contact: Deborah Dyer, UNISON’s regional organiser, on 07538 101 225
 
Notes to editors
1.    For more information on the impact of local government cuts please see UNISON’s Public Works blog at: http://publicworksscotland.blogspot.co.uk/

2.    You can find out more on UNISON Scotland’s website at: www.unison-scotland.org.uk

UNISON brands COSLA’s delay claims ‘utter nonsense’

Monday 28 October 2013

UNISON has dismissed COSLA’s delay claims as ‘utter nonsense’ and says the organisation’s decision to rip up its one year pay offer is a kick in the teeth for hardworking council staff.

Scotland’s largest public service union reacted angrily to COSLA’s plans to impose terms on workers for a two year period - completely outwith the bargaining framework - instead of honouring their agreement of one per cent for 2013/14.

Dougie Black, UNISON’s regional organiser, said:
“COSLA’s claims that UNISON is dragging its heels is utter nonsense.

“Our members were balloted and had accepted COSLA’s one year pay offer. It’s completely unacceptable for COSLA to renege on the deal and it’s a real kick in the teeth for Scotland’s council staff who work hard to deliver Scotland’s council services.

“Imposing a deal is no way to conduct bargaining and our members deserve more than these underhand tactics. COSLA needs to get back around the negotiating table and conduct their business in a fair, open and transparent manner and show our members the respect they deserve.”


More information on the local government pay agreement can be found on our website at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2013/index.html

Local Govt Pay - CoSLA claim is nonsense

The real fact is CoSLA imposed a new two year offer after a one year deal had been accepted by UNISON members in a ballot. CoSLA's criticism of UNISON "dragging its feet" is therefore nonsense.

See the update from 6 September below for an outline of what actually happened. A further update will be given by UNISON week beginning 28 October 2013.

Toxic cocktail of spending cuts and violence

Toxic cocktail of spending cuts and violence

A 'toxic cocktail' of spending cuts and violence against public service workers has resulted in another increase in violent incidents across Scottish councils and NHS Scotland.

33,689 incidents were reported to public service employers last year - almost 14,000 more than when the first survey was first conducted in 2006.

In probably the only employment group protected from cuts, police officers, the number of incidents fell by around one-third (by 3074 to 6187). However, council and NHS workers, who face big staffing reductions, have seen an increase in violent incidents. Incidents in councils have increased by 730 to 14,879. NHS incidents are up by 1744 to 12618.

UNISON's Scottish Organiser Dave Watson will present the union's annual survey of violent incidents to UNISON's health and safety conference at Stirling University on Friday 26 October. He said:

"The biggest increase in violent incidents is happening in those services that have suffered staffing cuts. Workers are stretched too thinly, dealing with the public who are coping with cuts in the services they rely on. This is a toxic cocktail that is putting hard pressed workers at greater risk of violent assault."

There has been some improvement in recording, particularly in the NHS, but some councils couldn’t even produce statistics. There are also indications that a number of public bodies are preparing for further problems when the full impact of welfare reform happens.

Scott Donohoe, chair of UNISON Scotland’s Health and Safety Committee, said:
"These numbers only cover recorded incidents – the tip of the iceberg of misery for many staff. While we are pleased that employers are improving their systems, others have obviously got some way to go. If they can’t produce decent statistics they cannot be tackling the problem”.

Convictions under the Emergency Workers Act have increased again last year by 32 to 355. Due to the limited scope of the Act few violent incidents result in criminal action. Sadly, efforts to address this were blocked by the Scottish Government when they opposed Hugh Henry MSP’s, Protection of Worker’s Bill. The UK Government has also undermined protection for workers with cuts to the Criminal Injury Compensation scheme.

ENDS

Note for editors:
The UNISON Scotland Survey of Violence at Work 2012 is online here:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/safety/ViolenceAtWorkSurveyOctober2013.pdf

The councils that couldn’t even collate the statistics are: Angus, Aberdeenshire, West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire.

There is very clear guidance for councils on how to address this issue in Managing Occupational Violence in the Workplace (2010). NHS Scotland has similar PIN guidelines.

For further information please contact:
Dave Watson, UNISON Scottish Organiser, on 07958 122 409

Come and ask @scotgov to double funding for cycling and walking #wanttoseedouble

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland would like your help in asking the Scottish Government to double the active travel budget.

Join a lobby in Edinburgh on Wed 30 October at 1pm at St Andrew's House. Come on foot, or bring your bike if you can.

Full details on the SCCS website where you can also email your MSPs. Please do come on 30 October, but make sure you email MSPs also, and particularly if you can't come.

Climate change is an urgent health and safety issue for the planet. More funds to support cycling and walking is a win win policy - good for our health and good for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Transport accounts for a quarter of Scotland’s climate change emissions. This needs to reduce urgently and decisively if Scotland is to play its fair part in tackling global climate change.

Join us at 1pm to send a clear message to the Scottish Government that a low carbon country needs a low carbon transport system...and We Want to See Double!

On Facebook? Let SCCS know you're coming along via: www.facebook.com/events/373113696152444

Pig abscesses to be minced into sausages and pies

The European Parliament has rejected their own Health Committee recommendation and voted to change the regulation on the inspection of pigs in slaughterhouses. The changes will mean abscesses are minced into food.

BEUC the European Consumers association, the European Animal Welfare organisation and the European Veterinarian Federation all oppose the Commission proposals.

This decision removes the requirement for independent meat inspectors to cut lymph nodes in the pig’s head and states that during routine inspection the pig carcase should not be touched. Making it impossible to inspect all of the pig meat, especially if the carcase is not cut into two halves before inspection. A trial carried out earlier this year showed that the changes led to a 50% increase in undetected dangerous contamination with pig faeces.

Most meat from pig’s heads is minced into meat products, sausages, pies etc. Last year in the UK 37,000 abscesses were found in pigs heads alone. The Commission changes will lead to most of this diseased meat not being detected during meat inspection and so minced into food.

UNISON members step up strike action over ‘savage cuts’ by Stirling Council

UNISON members within Stirling Council are set to step up industrial action after talks with the council’s Chief Executive presented a ‘re-hash’ of the original proposals for savage cuts.

UNISON Stirling Council branch believes that this package of cuts proposed by the council will damage the vital services which local people rely on - and further reduce wages which have already been devalued by 13% over the last three years as a result of a pay freeze.

David O'Connor, Regional Organiser for UNISON said: “We were asked to meet the Chief Executive with a view of considering how we resolve the ongoing dispute only to be presented with a re-hash of the original proposals for savage cuts. The trade unions tabled suggestions on how we could move forward only to have these suggestions ignored.

“With what can only be described as an unwillingness on the employer’s part to enter into meaningful talks to resolve this dispute we have been left with no alternative to step up our action.”

Edinburgh World Justice Festival will be launched by Denis Goldberg on Saturday 12 October

The Edinburgh World Justice Festival, supported by UNISON Scotland, will be launched by Denis Goldberg on Saturday 12 October.

The EWJF press release is copied below below for your information. Please also visit www.ewjf.org.uk

Edinburgh World  Justice Festivalc/o Jubilee Scotland, 41 George IV Bridge  Edinburgh, EH1 1EL   

Press Notice
5 October 2013
Denis Goldberg, colleague of Nelson Mandela, to open Edinburgh World Justice Festival
‘World Justice and Austerity’ on Saturday 12 October kicks of unique programme of 21 events
Edinburgh World Justice Festival Committee is delighted to announce that Denis Goldberg, a comrade of Nelson Mandela during the South African struggle against apartheid, is coming to Edinburgh to launch the seventh Edinburgh World Justice Festival.  The Festival presents a window on to the world justice movement through a two week series of talks, fims, concerts, workshops, a walking tours and many other events.

Meals for school children and hospital patients must be protected from looming cuts

The quality of meals for school children and hospital patients must be protected from further public spending cuts, UNISON said today.

The public services union warned that public service catering standards are under pressure as ‘austerity’ cuts bite, with more deep cuts on the way.

A survey of UNISON members working in catering found that 93% reported cuts to their service. Half said these were severe or major and they expect further major or severe cuts in the next couple of years.

Lilian Macer, Convener of UNISON Scotland, said: “There are many excellent examples of great work on making school meals and hospital food fresh, healthy and sustainable. That is good news for learning in school, for improving health generally and for climate change targets.

Enter the UNISON Scotland Communications Awards

Don’t be too modest! Not only is this competition a good opportunity to give you and your branch some well-deserved recognition for the excellent work you do, but it will also help us build a stronger union by sharing best practice, your innovative ideas and your enthusiasm.

Enter now! Click here for an Application Form in Word format, complete it and email it with any relevant attachments to unisonscotlandcomms@gmail.com
...or print out and send to:
UNISON Scotland, UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow, G2 6RX (Please mark envelope with Scottish Communications Awards 2013 in top right hand corner.)

Closing date: Friday 1 November 2013

Awards will be presented at Scottish Council on Saturday 7 December.
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/comms/competition/index.html

Reduce transport emissions, deliver climate justice - Email your MSPs

@scccoalition Scotland campaign.

UNISON Scotland is part of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition which is campaigning this autumn for the Scottish Government to double its active travel budget.

 

Please use this easy link on the SCCS website here to email your MSPs.

 

You can let them know that cycling and walking is a win win policy, because it is good for our health and good for the planet.

 

Scotland joins biggest ever Manchester rally

#NHS299 Scottish branches are among the tens of thousands marching through Manchester today to save our NHS. Police estimates at the moment put the marchers at 50,000 with more still arriving. Some reports say it is the biggest demo Manchester has seen in recent times.

At one stage the UNISON Scotland banner was proudly at the front until the poles broke again. Questions are being asked as to whether banner bearer extraordinaire Stephen Low knows his own strength!

UNISON Scotland convener Lilian Macer addressed demonstrators at the start of the march which included delegations from Glasgow Clyde and CVS, Clackmannashire, Highland, and Edinburgh.

Stirling strike photos

Photos from the latest selective actions, support from Mark Thomas and the all-out day on 26 August are now in Picasa at https://plus.google.com/photos/117247006402711752943/albums/5928317506827002673
See also a short video at http://youtu.be/LSFcUqIrwBI

 

UNISON members in Inverclyde enjoy success in term-time dispute

#JoinUNISON

 

Around 400 UNISON members based in Inverclyde Schools and Nurseries will receive compensation following an agreement between UNISON and Inverclyde Council to change their pay calculator.

At a meeting of the Council’s Policy & Resources committee yesterday, Councillors agreed to the introduction of a new term-time pay calculator from 1^st January next year.

This brings to an end a long-running dispute between UNISON and the Council on the issue of term-time pay. UNISON has said that they are satisfied with the decision reached by Councillors and look forward to their members receiving a just settlement.

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 Scotland and North West join for international seminar

Delegates from Scotland and the North West met in Glasgow yesterday for a an inspiring joint international seminar. They heard the optimism of young Cuban trade unionists, the ongoing struggle against the continuing human disaster of Bhopal, and the human cost of the sweatshops that make our clothes. But most of all they heard what to do about it.
    The attacks on us are international so the response has to be international. Exploitative companies are international. Repressive politics are international. The ‘big lie’ and austerity are international. As Walton Pantland from Union Solidarity International put it: ‘it’s a robbery not a recession’.

Mark Thomas backs Stirling strikers

Comedian and activist Mark Thomas joined Stirling UNISON pickets on Wednesday between gigs in Stirling and Aberdeen.  He was backing members in ICT on strike as part of the escalating action against cuts in pay and conditions. See also Stirling unions come together to defend services and standards.

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/

Stirling steps up action as ICT strike

UNISON members in Stirling Council's ICT Infrastructure team embarked on the first of five days of action today as the branch stepped up action against cuts in pay and conditions. This is the first phase of selective action that follows the one day all out strike action on Monday 26 August. See also Stirling unions come together to defend services and standards.

STIRLING COUNCIL UNIONS COME TOGETHER TO DEFEND SERVICES & STANDARDS

Unions at Stirling Council have pledged to work together to defend services and working conditions.

This follows meetings involving Unite, GMB, UNISON and UCATT.

UNISON and Unite members have already taken industrial action and there will be further selective Industrial action on Monday 16/09. Recent ballots by UCATT and GMB members returned strong mandates for industrial action

Lesley Russell Secretary for the Local Authority’s Joint Trade Unions said:

“ It’s clear that all sections of the Council workforce are angry at the attempt to impose pay cuts on staff who are trying to maintain services and already suffering the effects of a three year pay freeze
UNISON and Unite members have already taken action and unless the council returns to the negotiating table there will be further action coordinated with UCATT, Unite and the GMB. Although the teaching unions are not part of this dispute, they have expressed their full support for their union colleagues.”

“We urge the council to talk to us - our members would rather be at work delivering the services the people of Stirling rely on.”

“ This isn’t just an issue about Council Staff . While In the short term we are trying to defend ourselves and our families but it is foolish to imagine that steadily making the people delivering the services poorer won’t have an impact on the quality of the services delivered.”


For further information please contact:
Lesley Russell 07717544968
Emma Phillips 07538101221

UNISON welcomes publication of Procurement Bill

UNISON, Scotland's largest public sector union has welcomed the Procurement Bill being sent to parliament. UNISON has long campaigned for public procurement to be used more effectively to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of local communities.

UNISON Scottish Organiser Dave Watson said:

“UNISON welcomes assurances from the First Minister that the Bill includes new powers to tackle companies that do not comply with their legal obligations, including blacklisting and employment law. However, the Bill will need to go much further in tackling abuses such as tax dodging and poor employment standards such as the race to the bottom in care quality. Procurement should also be used to promote the Scottish Living Wage, fair trade and help achieve Scotland’s climate change targets.”


For further information please contact:
Dave Watson: d.watson@unison.co.uk Tel. 07958 122409


Notes for editors

UNISON Scotland’s submission to the consultation on the Procurement Bill can be viewed here:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/ProcurementReformBill_Response_Nov2012.pdf

UNISON comment on Scottish Government pay policy

Wed 11 Sep 2013

Mike Kirby, Scottish Secretary of UNISON the largest union in Scottish public services said:

"Mr Swinney says that he will address low pay in the public services, however he reproduces the 1% set by Westminster and has no powers of implementation or enforcement over large sectors  of the public services to ensure a weighting to low paid.

“Government is about  choice and John Swinney has chosen to maintain ‘the most generous system of business rates relief anywhere in the UK’ while the vast bulk of those working in our vital public services will see their wages lose value.

“Mr Swinney makes great play of supporting a Living Wage  - let’s hope he delivers on that pledge when he publishes his Bill on public sector procurement.”


ends

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.

Health and care integration delivered by people not robots

UNISON, Scotland's largest public sector union will today argue that if health and care integration is to succeed, it needs to focus more on the people who deliver care than simply structures.

Scottish Government plans for health and care integration are set out in the Public Bodies (Joint Working) Bill that is shortly to be considered by the Scottish Parliament. UNISON Scotland has argued that the Bill gives ministers massive powers to intervene in local democracy, but gives little consideration to staffing issues.

Speaking at the Holyrood health and care integration conference, UNISON Scottish Organiser, Dave Watson will say: "Health and care is delivered by people, not robots. The Bill and the prior consultation process only gives the staffing aspects of care integration a passing mention. Given the history of health and care integration, with its many initiatives, staff are entitled to be cynical about another shift of the managerial deckchairs without being sidelined.”

Dave Watson will argue that national and local workforce strategies are required, he will say: “International studies show that tackling people issues are the key to delivering integration. Addressing organisational culture, relationships, respecting professional identity, training and staff engagement have been shown time and time again to be what works. In Scotland, we persist in trying to reinvent the wheel while we muddle through these issues.”

UNISON has set out the key elements of a workforce strategy in its submissions on the Bill. They include practical issues such as staff transfer, pensions, workforce procedures, procurement, equality and a broader staff governance framework.

For further information please contact:
Dave Watson: d.watson@unison.co.uk Tel. 07958 122409

Notes for editors UNISON Scotland evidence to the Health Committee sets out these issues in more detail. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/PublicBodiesJointWorkingBill_evidencetoHealth+SportCttee_Aug2013.pdf Our concise briefing on the Bill at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/b037_BargainingBrief_IntegrationOfHealth+SocialCare_Jun2013.pdf
International evidence to support our argument in SPICE briefing http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/53102.aspx

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.

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.

IT workers at Stirling Council to strike next week in ongoing dispute

UNISON local government workers in Stirling will start selective strike action on Monday (16 Sept) as part of the branch’s ongoing industrial action against draconian cuts to pay and conditions.

UNISON has given notice to Stirling Council of selective action involving a group of IT workers. This will start on Monday for one week.

This is the first phase of selective action that follows the one day all out strike action on Monday 26 August.

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 .

UNISON Scotland gives evidence on Children's Bill

UNISON's John Stevenson gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Education and Culture Committee on Tuesday 3 September on the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill. The session discussed the general principles of the Bill.

John stressed that UNISON Scotland supported the idea of a named person and an integrated plan for every child in Scotland but queried whether the necessary resources would be available on the ground to deliver such a comprehensive service. Health, education and social work were already bogged down with reports, forms, assessments, etc. when more practical help would be needed. He raised the different interpretations of welfare (protection) v wellbeing, by different agencies and expressed concern that children's rights had been in some way downgraded, as rights of the parents were put first, more and more. He agreed with the committee that a children's rights impact assessment would be helpful.

He also raised UNISON's concerns re confidentiality of information and the child's right to privacy.

UNISON believed there would be additional resources needed for health staff, particularly health visitors who would be the named person for all children from birth to 5; and early years staff when the number of hours allocated to 3 and 4 year olds was increased to 600 hours per annum. The increase in social work services was at present unquantifiable, as it would depend on additional referrals arising from the new procedures.

He stressed the need to simplify the number of forms required for children, but not to oversimplify the information in a child's plan, so as to make the information meaningless, which was accepted by the Committee.

UNISON's evidence to the original consultation can be found here.

UNISON hits back at Stirling council claim of "voluntary" signup for pay cuts

Sunday 8 September 2013 

UNISON Stirling branch has hit back at a claim by the local authority that employees are voluntarily signing up for its draconian package of pay cuts and increases in working hours.

Striling Council chief executive Bob Jack told BBC Scotland that: "The number of staff who have voluntarily agreed to the changes is heading towards the halfway mark and we expect the numbers to increase rapidly now that Unison is calling on its members to sign up."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-24007009

UNISON branch secretary Lorraine Thomson said:

"For the record, there is nothing voluntary about having to sign up to keep your job. Our advice to our members is to sign up 'under duress' to avoid the risk of losing their jobs.

"The campaign will go on to fight these savage cuts to our pay and conditions and we will be announcing further action very soon."

UNISON urges members to lobby their MPs over new 'gagging law'

From May 2014, draconian new rules would prevent non-politicians from speaking up on the big issues of the day. UNISON is urging its members to read more about it and get in touch with their MPs through 38 Degrees website here

Read more on UNISON UK website

New FOI rights miss out most outsourced bodies - CFoIS

#FOI
UNISON Scotland today backed criticism of the Scottish Government that new increased Freedom of Information rights don't go nearly far enough.

The union backed the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS), which condemned a limited extension as "missing most outsourced bodies" that should be included.

Tomorrow (4 Sept), the Scottish Parliament Local Government & Regeneration Committee has on its agenda the Scottish Government's draft Order which brings local government leisure and cultural trusts under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

But the CFoIS wants MSPs to grill Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, when she comes before the Committee tomorrow, on when FOI will be extended to private prisons, PFI contractors, housing associations and other bodies providing public services.