Wednesday 24 October 2018

No more cuts to public services summit - Clydebank


Clydebank TUC and West Dunbartonshire Joint Trade Unions are holding a local summit in Clydebank on Saturday.

The event is called "No More Cuts to Public Services" and has some great speakers lined up.

It is supported by UNISON, Unite, the EIS and GMB, and takes place from 11am to 2pm at Clydebank Town Hall on 27 October.

Monday 22 October 2018

Busting The Myths Around #EqualPayGlasgow Strikes


Here are all the facts you need about the #EqualPayGlasgow strikes, from our blog published on @ScottishTUC site.

March & Rally 23 Oct 11.30 Glasgow Green to George Sq
@Unison_Glasgow @GMBGlasgowCC


MYTH:  The Unions agreed to the Glasgow pay system but are now suing against their own agreement.
FACT:  UNISON’s local branch and equality team vetoed the Workforce Pay and Benefits  Review (WPBR). The tribunal decision records that the unions walked out on the job evaluation process, took a grievance and formally complained to the council  leader. The council admitted in the litigation that the jobs were graded by managers and consultants alone. In no sense is WPBR a union scheme.

“Nothing agreed, nothing offered, nothing proposed.

We demand real negotiations.”

The council approved WPBR on 16th October 2006. The committee report reflects the fact there was no agreement. Instead the report recommends imposing WPBR and contemplates doing so by mass dismissals. Under a Labour majority,  the report was approved. Workers got three chances to accept WPBR over the winter of 2006/07. Then it was imposed.
All this is “on the record”. In 12 years of argument over WPBR, including 14 disputes, 10 strikes and over 12,000 legal claims, no council official has ever said this was a union approved scheme. Anyone saying that now is making mischief.

MYTH: If the unions had employed their industrial muscle on this long before now we wouldn’t be in this position.
FACT:  No current Scottish pay system has faced more disputes and legal conflict than
WPBR. There have been 14 separate WPBR disputes in 11 years and 10 strikes.

“Start looking at settlement proposals so negotiations can finally start.

All we have had for nine months are talks about talks.”

Nearly 6,000 workers have been balloted in WPBR disputes and 3,500 have taken strike action. In parallel with the strikes there are 12,500 legal claims, many of which date back to 2008. Are the council honestly saying we could or should have been MORE aggressive?
Militancy is not the issue. None of this conflict would have been necessary if the council had not suppressed the findings of the statutory investigation by the Equality & Human Rights Commission in 2010.
In 2010 the EHRC conducted a statutory investigation of WPBR and told the council it was discriminatory. That report was suppressed. In 2018 Councillor Aitken correctly ordered the release of the secret report. Although that instruction has not been met in full we know enough from the material released to say that discrimination should have ended long before now.
What was needed to resolve this dispute in 2010 was not greater union militancy or legal wizardry, but simply the regular transparency of a council meeting. The officials were able to block and suppress the EHRC until 2018 because councillors never met to discuss equal pay issues between 2006 and 2018. Councillor Aitken exposed the fact that all Glasgow councillors failed, and failed badly. That is something we agree on. The big questions are simple – who knew what about the EHRC, when did they know, and what did they do? How did they silence a statutory agency that held expert evidence of discrimination at the council?

MYTH: The reasons for the strike do not justify strike action.
FACT: The reason for the strike is clear – the claimants have lost faith in the willingness of senior officials to deliver Councillors Aitken’s instructions. In December 2017, the parties agreed to adopt a joint timetable with clear stages or milestones. The workers were already low on confidence in March 2018 when they told Anne Robinson’s BBC documentary that they were going to the union to demand a strike.

“The women know the reason for the dispute because it was the women who called the strike.”

In May, a consultative ballot extracted a council commitment to adequate funding, a new joint timetable with milestones and a deadline of Christmas. In August the council missed their milestones, tore up the timetable and told the unions there would be no money until April 2019. We don’t know if the officials had councillor approval for the actions that triggered the strike vote. We shared that information openly with the members, as a trade union should, and the reaction was as clear as it was predictable. The call for strike action was overwhelming. This is a member led campaign and the members are angry. Very angry.

MYTH: The women don’t know why they are striking because the union misinformed them.
FACT: The council get irritated when we advise them how to address equality issues but it has to be said that publicly patronising powerful women who have high value legal claims is a high risk strategy. The members meet at least once a month to plan and execute their campaign. The members went to the Court of Session and there were over 30 claimants at the recent tribunal hearing. They know how the scheme was designed, they know about the EHRC cover up, they know the detail of the 42 point settlement plan and they know the council tore it up. They have battled through 14 disputes over 11 years and they know this is the conclusion of a long slow battle. The women know the reason for the dispute because it was the women who called the strike. It’s that simple.

MYTH: The unions know that council officers are carrying out the instructions of the council leader.
FACT: Cllr Aitken told the officials to end the EHRC cover-up and produce the report in full. In fact she told them three times. But we are still waiting for the truth behind the cover up. Councillor Aitken asked for a time table with milestones and dispute resolution. The officials missed the milestones, tore up the timetable and refused to go to mediation before 2019. Was that what the officials were instructed to do? We genuinely don’t think so.

MYTH: Any delay in making payments is due to the strike, not the actions of the council
FACT: The claimants’ representatives have been available to talk, without condition, since December 2017. It was the council who left the talks in response to the strike notice. The strike does not delay settlement. What delays settlement is the council’s attitude to the strike – their decision to walk away shows a lack of respect for low paid women. Every dispute is settled by discussion. The only way forward is to talk.

MYTH: The union’s escalated the campaign when the SNP defeated labour in 2017
FACT: With 6000 workers in 14 disputes, 10 strikes and 8,000 legal claims the campaign was very assertive against the Labour administration. What escalated the scale and significance of the campaign even further was the Court of Session decision in August 2017. Labour presided over the WPBR years and the SNP administration has set a course towards equality. Accepting the Court of Session ruling and removing WPBR were strong decisions that have received credit from the workforce and their representatives. But the unions are clear – we are in dispute with the employer, not the elected members. Party politics is irrelevant.

MYTH: The union’s are covering their backs for their discrimination over the last 12 years
FACT: This briefing sets out our actions. We vetoed WPBR before it was adopted. We commissioned the leading UK expert to analyse its impact after it was imposed and went straight to mass litigation. Every member received advice and we encouraged them to join the campaign. Although we lost the tribunal and the first appeal we kept fighting. In parallel with the litigation we organised Cordia workers against the discrimination within the ALEO policy and Cordia’s daily practices. We closed Cordia down and took the workers home to equality within the council. Working with Action4Equality we had to change the law of equal pay to bring equality to Glasgow. UNISON organised the mass participation of low paid women and removed the discrimination of tribunal fees to restore access to justice for all – in Glasgow and across the UK. We succeeded where the EHRC failed. This is not “union back-covering”. This is pay equality & pay justice.

Tuesday 11 September 2018

New Video: Stephen Smellie on #GreenUNISON Day 13 Sept



Deputy Convener, Stephen Smellie talks in this short video about the importance of #GreenUNISON Day branch action on #climatechange & green workplaces, saying that we can all pull together to help stop global warming.
Every day there's more news about the urgent need for action at all levels - local, national and international - to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with this warning from the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighting the reality of the dangers of runaway climate change.
UNISON is working with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and the Just Transition Partnership to lobby MSPs to strengthen the new Climate Change Bill. You can email your MSPs here or join the lobby on Wed 19 Sept by booking a place here.
Many thanks to branches who have already sent in their completed short audits and survey forms. If you've not yet, please do so and share any activities you have for Green UNISON Day on social media so others can help spread the word.

Stephen tells us in the video about his Green Workplace Pledge. Check the #GreenUNISON hashtag for examples of other pledges. You can make your own and share on Facebook and Twitter, with a selfie or a branch photo.
Green Workplace Pledge forms and other info here www.unison-scotland.org/green-unison-day-thurs-13-sept/  


Reminder: Next meeting of the Green Network, open to all members, is at 12.45pm, earlier than originally advertised, on Saturday 15 Sept in the UNISON Scotland office at 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX, following the International Committee meeting.

Thursday 9 August 2018

Update for Green UNISON Day 13 September



Plans are stepping up for UNISON Scotland's day of workplace action on climate change.


We've just sent branches a guide and ideas for activities to involve members and we look forward to hearing about plans as they develop.


Branches have been asked to complete an audit of their own practices on things like recycling and use of plastic and a survey on what their employers do on things like green travel to work. Also, to elect/appoint a Green Environment Rep.


Members can make Green Workplace Pledges about what they will do on Green UNISON Day on Thursday 13 September. E.g. Cycle to Work or email MSPs to improve the new Climate Bill or do plastic free Friday.


More information will be posted here and on the UNISON Scotland Green Network Facebook page soon. Watch these spaces!

Thursday 5 July 2018

Our Green UNISON Day - Thurs 13 Sept



Some 'green' dates for your diaries this autumn, from UNISON Scotland's Green Network!
 
We are planning for a day of green workplace action that we hope branches will take part in on Thursday 13 September.
 
The idea is for branches across Scotland to join in some co-ordinated action for helping cut emissions at work.

A range of possible activities includes green audits, energy efficiency work, campaigning against single use plastics and for fair trade purchases, cycle friendly employer status and more.

A short guide and some ideas for promoting Green UNISON Day on social media will be circulated to branches soon. It’s suggested that these green workplace activities could also take place throughout the week running up to the 13 September, for those branches who would like to do more.

 We hope this will appeal to lots of members. All members are welcome to join our informal Green Network mailing list and come to meetings. Check out our Facebook page for occasional updates/info.

The next Green Network meeting will be from 1.30pm-3.30pm on Saturday 15 September in the UNISON Scotland office at 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX, following the International Committee meeting.


 Then on Wednesday 19 September, please join the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland mass lobby at the Scottish Parliament, calling for a strong new Climate Act.



Info on the SCCS website here. Please also support the E-Action to MSPs.

 
If you are interested in being on the Green Network email list, please email Fiona Montgomery asking to join. f.montgomery@unison.co.uk











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Tuesday 5 June 2018

World Environment Day - Ideas for action





Today is #WorldEnvironmentDay The theme is to #BeatPlasticPollution and there are lots of ideas online about how to do that, globally and locally.


Check out the United Nations Environment Programme on today's theme - and look closer to home in Scotland through the work of some of the many members of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.






UNISON is an active member of SCCS, whose AGM is in Glasgow today. We campaign with them and with the Just Transition Partnership for green workplaces, to have public services leading by example on tackling climate change and for a Just Transition to a low carbon economy.


If you're in or able to get to Aberdeen or Dundee this weekend, there are climate workshops and films organised by SCCS and Take One Action. Aberdeen info for 9 June here and info about Dundee on 10 June here. Details of both and similar events in Glasgow, Inverness and Irvine later in June are here.


Please also take a few minutes to support two important E-Actions on the disappointing new Climate Bill and urging the Scottish Government to Bring on the Food Bill.


SCCS is asking supporters to push for a strong Scottish Climate Change Act.


And the Scottish Food Coalition campaign is asking First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to bring on the consultation on the Good Food Nation Bill. We want a food system based on the principles of social and environmental justice.


Any UNISON Scotland members interested in our Green Network can check out our Facebook page and ask to join the mailing list by emailing f.montgomery@unison.co.uk




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Saturday 28 April 2018

Auschwitz study tour: day 4

Today (Saturday) the delegation visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest death camp created by the NAZI Third Reich.

It was a very emotional experience for the delegates who visited
the various blocks used for housing those held in the camp, including those used for women and children.

We also stood at the selection ramp, visited all 4 crematoria, soviet prisoners graves and other open graves, the Canada area (where the belongings of those arriving were sorted) and the Sauna Building (used for shaving the heads of those arriving, tattooing and disinfecting).

We held a memorial to Jane Haining, the only Scottish woman known to have been killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Jane's niece Deirdre led the family tribute outside Block 9 where Jane was held before her death. Jane wrote a letter two days prior to her death to a friend which read: "Even here on the way to heaven are mountains" referring to her beloved (Dunscore & Budapest).


We also marked International Workers Memorial Day with a candle-lit ceremony at Crematoria 4 led by branch health and safety officer Lorna Glover. Crematoria 4 was blown up by the Sonderkemando with gun powder smuggled in by four women who were subsequently caught and hanged in front of the camp later.









Friday 27 April 2018

Auschwitz study tour: day 3

The delegation visited Auschwitz 1 (death camp) today (Friday) where we witnessed the recorded atrocities committed by the Nazi Third Reich. It was an emotional experience for those attending. We visited various blocks representing the various nations and categories of people selected for extermination. The group also visited crematoria one and the gas chamber before laying a wreath and individual flowers at the death wall commemorating those exterminated there for resistance, helping prisoners and other selfless acts.

Tomorrow (Saturday) we will mark international workers memorial day and commemorate Jane Haining with her niece Deirdre McDowell.











Auschwitz study tour: day 2


UNISON delegation are taking part in an Auschwitz study tour to raise awareness of the atrocities of the Holocaust and also to honour Jane Haining – the only Scottish woman known to have died in the concentration camp.


The tour – which will be undertaken by UNISON representatives from across Scotland – is part of the union’s ongoing work to educate members, and the wider community to ensure these events are never forgotten.


The delegation had a full day visiting important areas of significance in Krakow.

They started with a visit to one of the synagogues/Jewish cemeteries destroyed by Nazis and restored.

Then onto the ghetto square where the first deportations took place lasting two years followed by the pharmacy.


After visiting Schindlers Factory they walked through the remains of Plaszow Concentration Camp before a candle lit vigil the the monument for all people affected at the hands of fascism.

Today we leave you with some photographs which need no further explanation:



Thursday 26 April 2018

UNISON Auschwitz study tour


UNISON activists are embarking on a study tour to Auschwitz to raise awareness of the atrocities of the Holocaust and also to honour Jane Haining – the only Scottish woman known to have died in the concentration camp.

The tour – which will be undertaken by UNISON representatives from across Scotland – is part of the union’s ongoing work to educate members, and the wider community to ensure these events are never forgotten.

Mark Ferguson, branch secretary of UNISON Renfrewshire and a member of UNISON’s international committee, said:  "Today we begin learning about the atrocities of the holocaust visiting Schindlers Factory, Ghetto, Synagogue, Pharmacy, the square where many were gathered prior to being taken to the death camps and a candle vigil at Plaizstow Camp Memorial.

"Our guide Magda explained the very varied complicated political situation and governance of both Poland and Krakow. Krakow's architecture and arts were largely unaffected during the Nazis 3rd Reich occupation as the mainly gothic style of the city was admired by them. Other cities like Warsaw were completed destroyed."

The delegation visited market square, St Mary's Basilica, University and Wawel Castle (The Castle on the Hill).

The study group includes Jane Haining’s niece, Dierdre McDowall. During the study tour, a memorial service will be held in Birkenau, where Dierdre and her husband will take part in a wreath laying ceremony. The study tour also includes Lorraine Cameron, Renfrewshire Provost.

Those on the tour recently visited the community of Dunscore (near Dumfries, Scotland) and the newly opened heritage centre which commemorates Jane Haining and the community of Dunscore.

Mark Ferguson, branch secretary of UNISON Renfrewshire and a member of UNISON’s international committee, said: “Observing first-hand the atrocities that took place instils a responsibility on us all to ensure future generations do not repeat these murderous acts.

“We’re honoured to have representatives of Jane Haining’s family joining us and helping us to commemorate her selfless bravery. We must never forget that the Holocaust was a state programme designed to destroy particular groups and we must remember all those affected.

“This educational tour is part of UNISON’s ongoing work to educate activists and the wider community and to raise awareness of the disastrous consequences that can result from dehumanising a particular group and infringing their rights.”

Dierdre McDowell said: “I am full of awe at the prospect of visiting Auschwitz and seeing Block 9 where Jane Haining was held before her death.

“To be able to visit with a group who have connections with her work at Coats of Paisley and, who are helping keep her memory alive is amazing for us, her family.”

Renfrewshire Provost Lorraine Cameron – who is also going on the tour said: “Jane Haining worked in Paisley for over 10 years prior to her humanitarian work in Budapest. We know she was a valued employee and a valued member of the Paisley community, and it’s great to see her being remembered and celebrated.

“I am looking forward to meeting Jane’s niece, and hearing more about her and her work in the mission. It is very important that we remember, and talk about, the atrocities that took place during the Holocaust – and other world conflicts – so we can continue to engage and educate our young people and avoid horrors like this in the future.”

Jane Haining was born in Dunscore in 1897 and, after leaving Dumfries Academy, she worked for ten years at the JP Coats thread factory in Paisley. She went on to become a Church of Scotland missionary at the Scottish Mission School in Budapest during the 1930s and 1940s. When war broke out, despite advice from church officials, she repeatedly refused to return home saying the children needed her in the “days of darkness”. She was arrested by two Gestapo officers in 1944 and later died at the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp.


Monday 23 April 2018

Local Government Pay – All you need to know.


UNISON (and other unions) submitted our pay claim in January for 2018-19.

WHAT WE ASKED FOR:

The claim was for a flat rate increase of £1500 or 6.5% - whichever was the greater ( based on a 37 hr week and applied after the Scottish Local Government t Living Wage rate has been updated), with a similar percentage increase in allowances.
We are also looking for a commitment to make up for the loss of earnings after years of below inflation rises over the next five years.
(The full details of the claim are here)

It took COSLA over two months to respond.

WHAT THEY ARE OFFERING

COSLA responded to the offer on 26th March proposing;
3% for everyone earning up to £36 500
(They propose raising Scottish Government Living Wage from £8.51per hour - £8.77 per hour. That will provide 3% for those getting that rate.)
2% for everyone earning £36 501- 80, 000
£1600 for those on £80k+
They propose increasing allowances by 3% (except First Aid which will be dealt with separately)

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?

We 'noted' this offer. We also noted that while COSLA said this was a final offer they were writing to the Scottish government saying that if the government want to provide one lot of workers (there are four bargaining groups, ourselves, craft workers, teachers and Chief Officers) with a better settlement than anyone else. Then the government better come up with the cash to pay for it, COSLA for their part want to give everyone the same increase. (Something we’ve argued for years.)

So we decided we would write to the Scottish government too... asking them to give COSLA enough cash to give everyone a decent raise at the same rate. (The letter is here)...

WHAT NOW?

The joint unions have another meeting with COSLA on the 4th May. We’ll find out then if the Scottish Government are going to front up any more money to councils – but we’ll keep arguing for our claim.
Stay tuned.

Saturday 21 April 2018

Should having Liberal Democrats running the council mean workers suffer?

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have always been strong supporters of local government. That's why it is very disappointing that they have teamed up with the Tories in East Dunbartonshire to attack the wages, terms and conditions, and work life balance of council staff.




Doubly disappointing when they refused to even discuss the issues until threatened with a legal challenge. The Scottish Liberal Democrats can do much better than this.




Our leaflet and web site explains why this is bad for council staff and the services they deliver.