Stop Climate Chaos Mass Lobby of Scottish Parliament 25 Oct #gyat

21 Sept 2012

"Get Your Act Together"

That's the message that members of the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition will give to politicians at a mass lobby of the Scottish Parliament on Thurs 25 October.


Three years ago, thousands of SCCS supporters lobbied hard for strong legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland, and were delighted that MSPs unanimously passed the world leading Scottish Climate Change Act.

However, the Scottish Government has failed to meet its very first (and not particularly challenging) target to reduce emissions under the Act.

SCCS is encouraging people from all across Scotland who care about climate change to meet with their MSPs and call on them to "Get their Act together" and ensure the Scottish Government delivers on the Act.

Read more and book your place here


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UNISON: No guarantee of pay rise for tens of thousands of council workers

Date:                     20 Sept 2012

UNISON responded to the Scottish Government’s announcement on public sector pay in the budget today.

Mike Kirby, Scottish Secretary, said:

“Finance Secretary John Swinney today offered what he described as a ‘modest’ 1% pay increase for Scottish Government staff, some NHS staff and employees of quangos.

“Unless local government is funded to pay even this limited increase, there is no guarantee that the largest group of public sector workers, in local government, will receive an increase. That has been the case for the last couple of years.

“Even for those who will receive it, families face inflation and rising living costs meaning their income is, in effect, going down.

“At a time when Scottish councils are facing huge financial pressures, with severe cuts to services and jobs, a council tax freeze is bad news for everyone who relies on essential council services.

“This budget is supposedly aimed at stimulating the economy. But increased pay, particularly for low paid workers, helps the economy, especially at local level.

“Hard pressed local government workers deserve more from the Scottish Government.”


ends


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Hope Not Hate founding meeting 20 Sep Glasgow

The Hope Not Hate Greater Glasgow Group Founding Meeting will be held on 20 September 2012 at the STUC Woodlands Rd - see http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/antiracism/index.html  for details.

Integration of Adult Health & Social Care in Scotland - UNISON response

UNISON Scotland’s Submission to the Scottish Government on their Consultation on the Integration of Adult Health & Social Care in Scotland - September 2012

is online now at
www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/IntegrationofAdultHealthandSocialCare_response_Sep2012.pdf

See more of our responses to government and other consultations on our Responses page
www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response


UNISON Scotland Bargaining and Campaigns Team

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Procurement Reform Bill - UNISON Scotland Policy Briefing 27

UNISON Scotland Policy Briefing 27 - Procurement Reform Bill

The Scottish Government is consulting on its Procurement Reform Bill. UNISON's policy briefing is available online:

 www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/b027_PolicyBrief_ProcurementReformBillConsultation_Sep2012.pdf

Key points

• The SNP 2011 manifesto promised a Sustainable Procurement Bill but the new proposal is weak on sustainability, focusing more on ‘business-friendly’ processes.
• However, it is a good opportunity to strengthen ways in which procurement can encourage important economic, social and environmental benefits, longstanding trade union priorities.
   
• This should include extending the Living Wage to contractors.

See further UNISON Scotland Policy Briefings here:
www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings

UNISON Scotland Bargaining and Campaigns Team


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New jobs at UNISON Scotland

Regional Organiser x 3 – Scottish Region, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen: Closing date Wednesday 3 October 2012. Full details at http://www.unison.org.uk/jobs/jobsnews_view.asp?did=8075 

Thousands have lost right to information. Extend FOI

13 Sept 2012 

The Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee heard strong criticism yesterday about how rights to information on public expenditure have been lost.

Scottish Information Commissioner Rosemary Agnew and the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland told MSPs that the public's right to know must be safeguarded by extending FOI laws to cover all public services.

The Press Association reported: 

"Thousands of people have lost the right to information about how their money is being spent because of a decade of government "delaying tactics", campaigners have said.

Holyrood is considering "technical" amendments to the 10-year-old Freedom of Information Scotland Act (FOISA).

However, freedom of information (FoI) campaigners are incensed that the review will not include the plethora of former public services that now operate outside the law because they have been taken over by arms-length bodies.

There are now 130 arms-length external organisations (ALEOs) delivering public services that have no compulsion to reveal information. Some 15,000 former council tenants that once had the right to know how their money is being spent have been deprived through moving the housing stock out of council control to housing associations.

"That is just one area of public service," Information Commissioner Rosemary Agnew told Holyrood's Finance Committee. "I am disappointed that the opportunity hasn't been taken to have the discussion about how and to where we extend FOISA.""

See also the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland's news release.

UNISON Scotland's evidence to the Finance Committee.

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Acclaimed Spanish film Even the Rain to be shown in Lanarkshire - Sat 15 Sep

An acclaimed Spanish film is the focus of an event to promote discussion around social and economic justice in Lanarkshire.

 

Take One Action Film Festivals and UNISON South Lanarkshire Present EVEN THE RAIN, a free community screening at the Blantyre Miners Welfare Community Cinema on Saturday 15^th September at 6.45pm.

The event seeks to use the dramatic events depicted in the film to highlight themes relevant to Scotland today. Stephen Smellie of UNISON explained,

“The movie is, first of all, a great film and anyone who likes good films will have a great night out. We are pleased to be able to use the Community Cinema provided by the Miner’s Welfare whose purpose is to provide entertainment at a reasonable cost for local people.

However the film also provokes thought about issues such as who has the right to control a nation’s resources? Should water supply be controlled for profit? Can working people resist big companies, bankers and governments in order to take greater control over their lives?

Scotland’s public water supply is seen by some as an opportunity to make money for a few rather than as an essential resource for us all. The fight to keep our water in public hands is ongoing.” 

Nominated for 13 goyas (Spain's Oscars), Iciar Bollain’s dramatic rollercoaster penned by Take One Action patron Paul Laverty (Looking for Eric) stars Gael García Bernal as Sebastian, a filmmaker caught up in Bolivia's mass protests of spring 2000 against the government’s decision to privatise the national water company. As Sebastian vainly tries to tell the story of Columbus' colonisation of the new world, his cast and crew get drawn into a contemporary version of events, blurring the boundaries between past and present, fiction and reality. In fact, the cost of water in Bolivia had gone up by three hundred per cent. But although Bollain’s story is finally one of the triumph of the people, the privatisation of basic public services remains at the centre of a powerful debate about poverty and development across the globe.

There will be a post-film discussion with Stephen Smellie from UNISON Scotland, Mark Langdon, Chairman of GMAC (Glasgow Media Access Centre) and other guests.

In addition the acclaimed Edinburgh-based Valentina and Voces del Sur will be playing songs of exile, love and social change, inspired by tango and folk music traditions from Latin America.

Tickets are free and can be reserved by contacting South Lanarkshire UNISON at unison@southlanarkshire.gov.uk  or phone 01698454690.

END

For further information regarding the Blantyre event contact Stephen Smellie on 01698 454690 or 077 400 96864.

For more information regarding the Take One Action and Even The Rain contact Emma Pattinson on 0131 553 6335 or 0780 582 7888

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Unions in Scottish Power agree breakthrough 10% pay deal

12 Sept 2012

Unions in Scottish Power agree breakthrough 10% pay deal

Trade unions representing thousands of workers in the Energy Networks and Connections businesses of Scottish Power have agreed a breakthrough 10% pay rise over three years. The deal agreed by trade union members of UNISON, GMB, Unite and Prospect runs from 1 January 2012. It guarantees workers an above inflation increase in year one.

Gerry Crawley, Regional Organiser of the biggest energy union UNISON and one of the lead trade union negotiators in Scottish Power, said:

“Union members in Energy Networks and Connections now have guaranteed pay rises over three years. This pay deal is a major breakthrough in the private sector and in particular in utilities, as it represents an above inflation increase in year one. 

 “Our hard working members have recently had to endure an imposed pay freeze. They worked throughout that period without any rise and continued to deliver a professional service.

“Now they are getting a guaranteed pay rise for the next three years and that will be welcome news for them and their families in this time of economic austerity and rising prices.”

The 10% pay rise over three years has taken almost a year to negotiate with Scottish Power due to the complexities contained within the offer.

Mike Kirby, UNISON Scottish Secretary commented:

“This is excellent news for UNISON members in Scottish Power and for the members of the other three unions as well. An above inflation increase for union members in Scottish Power in year one demonstrates yet again the benefits of being in a trade union – it was experienced trade union negotiators who secured this 10% three year deal.

“The Westminster coalition government would rather see no pay rises - but UNISON and the other TUC affiliated  trade unions north and south of the border will continue to negotiate and fight for decent pay for all of their members.”

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. Trade union members of UNISON, GMB, Unite and Prospect collectively agreed today to accept what was on offer from Scottish Power management. This is a complex pay deal covering the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014. It covers a new job evaluation and pay and grading structure, and it ensures that there is a 4% pay rise in Year 1, a 3% pay rise in Year 2 and a 3% pay rise in Year 3. The pay deal covers Scottish Power trade union members in Scotland, England and Wales.

2. UNISON is the largest union in the electricity sector in Scotland. In this section of Scottish Power over 85% of employees are a members of a trade union.

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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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OECD education report card shows need for investment in Scotland’s early years professional team

Date: Tuesday  11 September 2012

UNISON has called for Scotland's early years professional team to be supported, after an international report found investment per pupil in early years education is lower than the OECD average.

Commenting on the finding in a newly-published OECD report 'Education at a Glance', Carol Ball, a child development officer and chair of UNISON’s Education Issues Group said:

"We all know the earliest years of a child’s life are crucial. Scotland's early years professional team of nursery nurses and child development officers have the qualifications, skills and experience to deliver the service our children deserve. They should not be viewed as a cheap alternative - as the EIS so often claim they are - but should be fully supported to provide our children with the best start in life.

"The level of investment in Scotland's whole early years professional team should match up to international standards - so that the excellent service our nursery nurses and child development officers provide can be offered more widely."

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. Early years staff across Scotland councils have a number of job titles including nursery nurse or child development officer. Their qualifications cover working with children from nought to eight years (unlike teachers). Many have embarked on the further qualification of a BA in childhood practice or the SVQ level four. They are more than qualified to undertake leading roles in early years’ centres and nurseries. Nursery nurses are the early years’ professionals. 

UNISON Scotland represent the vast majority of workers working with children in their early years: midwives; health visitors; community nurses; school nurses; nursery nurses, social workers and support staff in schools.

2. For more information on UNISON’s aims for early years’ education, please download a copy of our education manifesto at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/educationmanifesto.pdf

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Ed Balls' speech to TUC Congress - UNISON reaction

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Responding to Ed Balls' speech to the TUC in Brighton this morning, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:

“Ed Balls gave a business-like speech to Congress today, dealing with many of the issues that trade union members are concerned about, including jobs and the economy.

“It was heartening to hear that there is a vision developing amongst the shadow cabinet, particularly in some of the areas that we have been campaigning on, such as dealing with the banks, building affordable homes, getting young people back into work and investing for growth in schools, roads and transport.

“It was good, too,  to hear that he recognises that Labour won’t get elected just because the Tories are bad.  And that he recognises the need for a credible alternative, for policies that working people relate to and will want to vote for.

“We at UNISON don’t want a return to 80’s either.  That is exactly where the Tories want to take us. We want a decent future for our children, quality public services that take care of the sick and elderly and fair pay for the workers who deliver them.
“We would like to have heard more from Ed Balls that Labour has a clear  understanding of just how hard working people are really struggling.  If he really understood the massive impact of a three year pay freeze on families struggling to pay for food and fuel, or forced to turn to pay-day loans where interest can be a terrifying 4000% - he, too,  would be calling for an end to the pay freeze.

“Of course we need to get people back into work, but that cannot be done by cutting the pay and conditions of public service workers.”

ends


UNISON UK press release:
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2809


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Safety regulations save lives

Some nauseating media interviews this morning applauding the UK Government's plans to ditch swathes of safety regulations in pursuit of cutting so called 'red tape'. Lets be clear, this is not about business burdens, it is about cutting health and safety and workers rights in pursuit of profit.

As a European study of better regulation initiatives concluded, "Relatively few of the initiatives included an assessment of the intended benefits regarding environmental outcomes, or cost savings to business and regulatory bodies." Of course nobody supports unnecessarily complicated legislation. Where such problems exist they should be dealt with. However, complaints of red tape are rarely about the detail of specific legislation, instead they are a whinge about regulation in general. This is because some employers' organisations promote the myth of a 'red tape' crisis to try to dissuade governments from defining minimum standards for workers; consumer rights and safety; protection for the environment and safety. It's just a campaign for weaker laws.

The OECD has developed measures of the administrative burdens on business and whether regulation is more or less strict. The UK ranks lower than virtually any other OECD economy on all the indicators. UK government research also suggests that the methodology used for employer organisations surveys is flawed; in they are most likely to be answered by a group of small business employers who are over-pessimistic about regulation. For most businesses it simply isn't an issue.

Ask the citizens of Edinburgh suffering from an outbreak of legionnaires disease in the capital if they think cutting inspections of cooling towers is a good idea. Or the families  of workers at Stockline in Glasgow. Or for that matter the rest of us who are paying the price for light touch regulation of the bankers.

All the evidence shows that businesses succeed because they have a good product or service to sell, which is delivered in a well-organised way. Such employers care little for regulation. In contrast, deregulation favours 'cowboy' employers who want to race each other to the bottom of the hill.

Coalition has 'declared war on our people' Prentis tells TUC - UNISON UK release

Monday 10 September 2012

Today UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis told the TUC Congress that now was the ‘time for action’ to end the government’s damaging austerity measures.

He addressed Congress to make the case for– ‘A future that works’ – urging the TUC to renew its fight aginst the government’s unwelcome and failing austerity agenda, and promising coordinated action if they refuse.

He said that the 20 October Demonstration must be a ‘launch pad’ for an organised, united campaign against austerity.

Saying the coalition had ‘declared war on our people’ through the pay freeze, pushing workers closer and closer to economic oblivion while the rich remain untouched, he added that industrial action would be the inevitable response that if the government refuses to bring an end to austerity.

The full speech can be found below:

“At the start I want to pay tribute, like Brendan, to the fantastic athletes who made the Olympics so successful and the volunteers, but Congress I also want to pay tribute to the 80,000 women, men and children in the Olympic stadium who showed George Osborne exactly what they thought of him.

“The day George Osborne was rumbled and the crowd who spoke for all of us weren’t booing pantomime villains, but real life villains who are destroying Britain.

“Tory Britain; an economy in crisis; the longest recession for 50 years; 625 public service jobs gone every single day of this coalition – and more to come; the worst child poverty record of any government for a generation.

“A Britain where last week Save The Children, an international charity, launched an appeal to help UK families plunged into poverty by cuts and recession. Stories of kids going without hot meals, winter clothes, missing out on school trips. Working families struggling with rocketing prices, plummeting pay.

“An Oxfam report warning of inequality in Britain not seen since Victorian times – heart rending stories that shame this government and anyone who supports it.

“And in Britain – walk down any high street, open any newspaper, turn on the TV, legalised loan sharks offering pay-day loans, interest rates reaching 4000%. An industry that is now worth £2bn a year, and six in ten using money to pay their household bills or to buy essentials, trapping families in a downward spiral of debt and despair.

“Our people. Our kids.

“The cost of food going up again by another 10%, the cost of gas and electric rising even more. We know, Congress, that it takes just a £50 increase in monthly outgoings, and that would plunge one third of families into financial ruin.

“Britain is changing beyond recognition.

“Employment rights are under attack, sacking workers to be made easier than ever before.  Britain where ‘sit alone’ judges –not tribunals – decide unfair dismissal claims; where ‘zero hours’ contracts are all the norm.

“A world where bankers with no shame are now speculating on food prices as millions face starvation. 

“Britain where everything is up for sale: our NHS, our care services, our education services – essential services being privatised.

“£27bn of contracts are to be signed in the coming year alone – despite the scandals, despite the failures. A4E; Southern Cross; G4S; ATOL and its discredited benefits tests; and failed council contracts.

“And the Tories, the Tories, with no road to recovery, know their policies aren’t working, and are using austerity, the recession to destroy our public services, to destroy our welfare state. Without austerity, they couldn’t privatise our NHS, privatise policing, close libraries, attack the hard-won rights of working people.

“A coalition which has declared war on our people – our people facing a third year of pay freeze. Living standards slashed, while the rich and the powerful remain untouched.

“And congress this is the point: it is our job to lead the fight back. To protect our heritage. To defend that fairer society that those who went before us fought for. To fight for a future that works. To ensure that 20 October is the biggest anti-cuts demonstration in our history. A day that will give hope to our people, hope for a better, fairer society.

“And the 20 October has to be more – much more than just a march. It must be a launch pad for our campaign against austerity. After that day we must march on, united, coordinated.

“The Tory posh boys think our members are afraid – afraid of losing their jobs, afraid of asking for better pay. But it’s our job as leaders, as trade unionists, to raise them up, and to show our members what they are really worth.

“And as a TUC we must be out there campaigning, organising, building a movement, building alliances of all unions.

“We are never stronger than when we coordinate industrial action, when we speak with one voice. Yes, we will seek decent pay, fair pay. Yes, we will negotiate – that is what our membership expect us to do.

“But make no mistake, if employers refuse to negotiate; if the attacks continue – we will deliver the coordinated action which is called for in this composite.

“Now is the time for action."

ends


News release from UNISON UK
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2806


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A BBC survey has found significant cuts in council sports facilities across the UK

In Scotland where sports provision is a legal requirement 15 out of 26 councils (58%) had reduced services compared to 99 out of 276 (36%) English councils.

Lord Moynihan told the BBC he will call for legislation to force councils to set aside funding for leisure provision. He said: "When we see facilities being cut back then those who have been inspired by the Games don't get the opportunity to really engage in sport. We should be looking at changing the law to make provision of sport and recreation opportunity a statutory requirement. At the moment in England it's discretionary and once it's discretionary it's inevitable that councillors will be looking for discretionary cutbacks first."

The difficulty with this approach is that, as the Scottish figures show, just having a vague legal duty doesn't protect services from cuts. Local government in Scotland is facing the bulk of Scottish Government budget cuts and something has to give.

Perhaps Lord Moynihan, a former Tory MP, should focus his efforts on persuading the UK government to stop cutting public services. That is the best way of giving councils the resources to create a meaningful Olympic legacy.

Victims Compensation at Risk

Open media letter from trade unions and legal experts in Scotland on the UK government's plans to cut victim compensation

MPs will shortly vote on the future operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The victims of violent crime can currently apply for compensation as recompense for the injuries they have sustained.  The changes being proposed by the Coalition Government will radically overhaul the scheme and leave many victims of violent crime no longer eligible for compensation.

The changes are driven by the Government’s desire to cut £50 million from the Ministry of Justice’s budget and will affect 83% of the victims of violent crime.

Each year, almost 18,000 victims of crime sustain injuries within the first 5 ‘tariff bands’, qualifying for compensation between £1,000 and £2,000.  These injuries included such things as multiple broken ribs, burns and scarring causing minor facial disfigurement and partial deafness.  The Government plans to scrap bands 1-5 of the existing tariff scheme, leaving the victims of crime who sustain injuries of this type, no longer eligible for compensation.

In addition almost 13,000 victims of serious crime sustain more serious injuries such as a collapsed lung, significant facial scarring or fractured joints. Victims with this type of injury are currently eligible for compensation of up to £8,200.  The Government want these awards to be cut by up to 60%.

Finally, for around 1,000 victims of crime, their injuries mean that they will be off work for more than 28 weeks - these victims have sustained long term and permanent disabling injuries. Whilst they will continue to receive compensation for their injuries, their payments will be significantly reduced by an average of £10,000 each, because instead of receiving compensation for loss of actual earnings, loss of earnings will be calculated at a rate of £85 a week - the same level as Statutory Sick Pay.

We believe that these cuts to Criminal Injuries Compensation are draconian and unnecessary.  Whilst the Coalition Government insists the present scheme is not sustainable - their own impact assessment of the scheme shows a scheme which is stable with costs that have remained constant over the past four years.

All of the organisations listed below have experience of the scheme. We recognise its importance to the victims of crime in providing financial assistance, acknowledging the pain and suffering of the victim and helping to give the victim a sense of closure of a traumatic experience.

We hope your readers will join us in urging MPs to vote against these cuts and help support the victims of violent crime.

Yours faithfully

John Hannett, General Secretary, Usdaw

Paul Brown, Chief Executive, Legal Services Agency

Grahame Smith, General Secretary, STUC

Mike Kirby, Scottish Secretary, Unison

Pat Rafferty, Regional Secretary, Unite

Patrick McGuire, Thomspon Solicitors

Michael J Leahy OBE, General Secretary, Community

Water is a Human Right

UNISON Scotland supports the Water is a Human Right campaign.

The campaign is urging the European Commission to:

·guarantee water and sanitation services for all inhabitants;
· keep water services out of internal market rules; and
·increase efforts to achieve global access to water and sanitation for all.

This campaign has a particular relevance to Scotland as we are campaigning to keep our public service out of the hands of the privatisers.

The campaign seeks to reach out to all citizens in Europe. Ask your friends, family and colleagues to sign and promote this campaign further. Our demands will only be taken into consideration if we achieve over one million valid signatures. On the signing page of the website www.right2water.eu

This campaign is a means of getting a commitment to the human right to water and sanitation. It is a tool to change the mind-set in the European Commission from a market-based approach with the focus on competition to a rights-based approach with the focus on public service. It aims to achieve universal (global) access to water and sanitation and to safeguard the limited public water resources for future generations.

Water and sanitation are a human right!
Water is a public good, not a commodity!

Police numbers increased by taking officers off the street

UNISON, the union for Police Staffs, responded to claims today from the Scottish Government that it had “exceeded its commitment to put 1,000 extra officers in communities” by pointing out that police are being taken off the street to cover jobs previously done by police staff.

George McIrvine, Chair of UNISON Scotland’s Police Committee, said:

“It’s nonsense for Kenny MacAskill to claim that he has ‘1000 extra officers in communities’ when everyone involved in policing knows that the length and breadth of Scotland uniformed officers are being taken off the street to backfill police staff jobs – jobs they aren’t trained to do and at a greater cost than the staff they replace – and this will rise significantly if current plans go ahead.

“We need a balanced workforce where the skills of police staffs enable police officers to do the job the public wants them to do, where they want them to do it. That is fighting crime, out on the streets. Using Officers as expensive replacements for police staff might meet a political target - but not the needs of Scotland’s communities.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1.       As the Scottish Government has an arbitrary target to maintain police officer numbers at 17234, the focus of the savings are concentrated on police staffs. This has resulted in over 1000 police staff posts being lost already. As a consequence, police officers are taking on the work of police staffs.

2.       Other documents giving analysis of the police reform process and UNISON’s campaign for a balanced, modern police force – rather than cutting thousands of police staff jobs – are available on our website. For more information see UNISON’s police pages http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/police/index.html

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Council cultural trusts: UNISON warns of higher costs and loss of accountability

UNISON today warns MSPS examining local authority cultural trusts about higher costs and loss of accountability.

Regional Organiser Dougie Black is giving evidence to today's Scottish Parliament Education & Culture Committee.

As reported in today's Scotsman, UNISON has major concerns about the increasing use of trusts and arms length external organisations (ALEOs) to deliver local government services. Many cultural trusts run leisure, library and museums services.

Dougie told the Scotsman: "Our museums and galleries hold priceless artefacts owned by us all. UNISON is concerned that large sections of public service delivery are being shifted off to arms length bodies with very little research into the effectiveness of such change."

The key driver to setting up leisure trusts is to save money by obtaining charitable status to avoid paying VAT. But costs can rise and accountability is very weak.

Our evidence to the Committee is here.

Mark Bramah, of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), also submitted evidence about "important issues of governance, accountability and scrutiny", and stated that he was misquoted in the Scotsman report.

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More dross on regional pay

Responding to a report from the right wing lobby group Policy Exchange UNISON Scotland observed more  than a  few failings in the report

  

·         The extent of the public/private premium is exaggerated because they rarely compare like with like in terms of jobs.

·         Local pay systems are actually rare in the private sector as well, as the Income Data Services report shows. Even where  there is some local element  it tends to be just  ‘London & South East’ and the ‘Rest of UK’. There is little difference in earnings between the regions of the UK. Even prices are levelling out due to internet buying etc.

·         Local pay strategies are unpopular with employers because of the costs involved in duplication and the lack of paybill control. They require close management or they can become unwieldy and lack transparency. This again adds to costs.

·         Public sector, like private sector, may have national pay bargaining but actual wages already vary. For example, Scottish local government has common pay spine, but actual rates for the job vary.

·         The report repeats the assertion that public sector wages are ‘crowding out’ private sector – but,  as usual,  provide not a scrap of evidence to prove it.. It’s just a ideological assertion from dogmatic privatisers.  

·         It is regional pay that would cost jobs. A report, produced by the New Economics Foundation, found that removing that amount of money from local economies could see up to 110,000 jobs lost. Low consumer confidence is already stifling the Scottish economy, this would kill it dead. One of the reasons the Scottish Government, in their submission to the UK government, has rejected regional pay.

This is just regurgitated dross from right wing propagandists desperately trying to breathe life into a dead donkey. Even Northern English Tories have opposed this stuff.

The arguments against regional pay are strong and backed by hard evidence. On top of the costs to the economy as people spend less, it would also hit services, with pay cuts leading to shortages of key staff and increased staff turnover. Only a London based right-wing campaign group would think it helpful  to accentuate the north-south divide.

See also recent UNISON UK releases and report:

Regional pay 'ruse to drive down pay' - UNISON28 August
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2797

New UNISON research 'final nail in the coffin for regional pay' 23 August 2012
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2788

‘Crowding out: fact or fiction?’ A research report for UNISON from Incomes Data Services (IDS)
July 2012
http://bit.ly/ReJOHk

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Communities rise against fascists

Communities rise against fascists Racists were sent packing in Dundee and Walthamstow yesterday as communities joined together to drive hate off our streets.

New Police Authority chair should put force needs ahead of political targets says police staffs union

Friday 31 August 2012
UNISON - the union for police staffs - congratulated Vic Emery on his appointment as chair of the new Scottish Police Authority (SPA) but warned that he faces a near impossible challenge in maintaining the effectiveness of policing given current plans to cut back staffing in the new national force.

UNISON has concerns that the new national structure will decrease not just democratic accountability but may not be flexible enough to meet local needs. Of even greater concern are spending plans which will mean losing thousands of police staff jobs undermining the balanced workforce necessary for a modern police force.

George McIrvine, Chair of UNISON’s Police Staffs Committee commented:

“We wish Mr Emery well in his new role but he will have to grapple with the reality that hundreds of police officers are already being taken off the streets to backfill police staff jobs – jobs they aren’t trained to do and at a greater cost than the staff they replace – and this will rise significantly if current plans go ahead.

“We need a balanced workforce where the skills of police staffs enable police officers to do the job the public wants them to do, where they want them to do it – that is fighting crime, out on the streets. We hope Mr Emery will see his role as role as putting the effectiveness of Scotland’s police service ahead of artificial political targets devised by Ministers.”

ends

Notes to editors

1. As the Scottish Government has an arbitrary target to maintain police officer numbers at 17,234, the focus of the savings are concentrated on police staffs. This has resulted in over 1,000 police staff posts being lost already. As a consequence police officers are taking on the work of police staffs.

2. Other documents giving analysis of the Police reform process and UNISON’s campaign for a balanced, modern police force – rather than cutting thousands of police staff jobs – are available on UNISON’s police pages http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/police/index.html

CBI budget submission is recipe for misery

Tuesday 28 August 2012  

Business body suggestions fail to support economy, services... or most businesses


Reacting to the CBI Scotland budget submission public services union UNISON condemned the lobbying organisation for big business as being out of touch with reality and stuck in a Thatcherite timewarp.

There is a bit of a contradiction between the CBI call for spending on infrastructure to promote growth and their enthusiastic backing for UK government spending cuts - which have reduced capital spending in Scotland and across the UK. When asked how they will pay for it the CBI advocate cuts in public service wages and jobs.

A strategy of cutting demand won’t get the economy moving - and cutting jobs and wages will only reduce consumer confidence further.

As ever the default position of the CBI is more privatisation of public services – specifically Scottish Water. Scottish Water capital spend is £500m per year - much of it by construction companies – were Scottish water privatised the charge payer would face additional costs to provide profits and massively increased executive pay packages.

UNISON Scotland head of bargaining and campaigns Dave Watson said:
"With their year in year out insistence on cutbacks and privatisation you do wonder who exactly CBI Scotland is representing here. Their proposals won’t help public services, the wider economy or frankly many businesses. Retail and manufacturing business members desperately need consumer spending, instead CBI Scotland argues for or a narrow group of privatising companies, desperate to rip off the taxpayer.

"Needless to say while telling public servants to get poorer and pick up P45s the CBI has nothing to say about top directors pay - which in the midst of economic crisis went up by 50% last year."

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CBI Scotland stuck in a time warp

They say there is nothing more certain than death and taxes. Well there is, the annual CBI submission on the Scottish budget. Always predictable, always economic nonsense.

You are lured in with their call for capital spending. Yes, we can all agree with that, even if the very same CBI supported the UK government's spending cuts that have slashed capital spending in Scotland and across the UK. Then when asked how they would pay for it, sadly we get no Plan B, but instead they propose cutting current spending by wage restraint and public service job cuts.

Cabinet Secretary, John Swinney MSP politely explained on GMS this morning that you dont get the economy moving by further reducing demand. Cutting wages and jobs is guaranteed to further reduce consumer confidence. I will be less polite. You do wonder who exactly CBI Scotland is representing here. Their retail and manufacturing business members who desperately need consumer spending, or a narrow group of privatising companies, desperate to rip off the taxpayer.

And it is here that we move onto the CBI's other solution. Privatise everything including Scotland's water. The G4S Olympic scandal simply flows past CBI towers as if it never happened. Even Tory ministers wonder if privatisation is the right approach. According to the CBI there is no economic benefit to Scottish Water being in the public sector. Excuse me, £500m of capital expenditure per year has no effect on the Scottish economy? Do they talk to construction companies who do most of this work? If it was privatised the charge payer would end up paying for the profits and the fat cat wages. But of course I probably missed the call for wage restraint for CBI bosses, who award themselves ever greater bonuses, while everyone else suffers long term real wage cuts.

The CBI solutions defy even basic economics and are stuck in a time warp on privatisation.

JOBS at UNISON Scotland: New job opportunities working for UNISON Scotland

Area Fighting Fund Organiser (2 posts) and Local Fighting Fund Organisers (8 posts)

Area Fighting Fund Organiser (2 posts)Fixed Term Contract or Secondment up to 11 months - Scottish Region:
Closing date: 14 September 2012 by 4 pm. Full details at http://www.unison.org.uk/jobs/jobsnews_view.asp?did=8030

Local Fighting Fund Organisers (8 posts)
Fixed Term Contract or Secondment up to 11 months – Scottish Region:
Closing date: 14 September 2012 by 4 pm
Full details at http://www.unison.org.uk/jobs/jobsnews_view.asp?did=8029

The above vacancies are on the UNISON web site (www.unison.org.uk/jobs) and on S1jobs.com

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.”

Capital cities join to back public services during festival

‘A Tale of Two Barnets’ film comes to Edinburgh. Edinburgh and London UNISON members are bringing an acclaimed film to the city during the festival on 20 August to highlight the dangers of wholesale privatisation of council services.

Police and fire VAT update

UNISON Scotland did a follow up Freedom of Information request to the Scottish Government on the Issue of exempting the new centralised police and fire services from VAT. This was to get the latest exchanges between the Scottish Government and HM Treasury. 

The e.mails explain that, as we predicted, the Scottish Government tried to use the local funding of additional police officers as a basis for arguing the necessary local taxation element to bring the provisions in line with the purpose of s33. The Treasury minister in a letter dated 17 July sets out why. A bit of discretionary funding for services, that don't in any case attract VAT, doesn't meet the test. The key line in this letter says;

"We have been unable to persuade you to alter your reforms to introduce an element of local funding which is consistent with the guidance".

They are not the only ones! 

No great surprise but it does confirm our position that it is the Scottish Government's obsession with centralisation that is costing police and fire service over £30m. Money that could be better employed fighting crime and fire.

Falkirk Wheel Welfare Fun Day 9 September

Branches are urged to support the UNISON Welfare Family Fun Day and Sponsored Walk at the Falkirk Wheel on 9 September. Full details are on the website with forms for branches to sponsor events or stalls and sponsorship forms for walkers. See http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/welfare/index.html

Tory attack on union facility time is nothing more than mischief making, says UNISON

UNISON has hit back against Tory attacks on trade union facility time and says it amounts to nothing more than mischief making.

Their attack is also factually inaccurate, as union reps do not ‘work’ for unions as the Tories falsely claim. Facility time is time off from an individual’s job, granted by the employer, to enable a trade union rep to carry out their trade union role.

Trade union facility time is common practice in both the private and public sector, endorsed by law and statutory guidance and widely accepted by employers as a sensible way of facilitating engagement with workplace representatives.

Mike Kirby, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary, said:

“The Tories attack on trade union reps is nothing more than mischief making. Union reps are, in fact, a massive boost to our workplaces. We all know the value of trade union facility time; study after study has confirmed that trade union representatives save councils money through their everyday work around sickness absence, suspensions, training, reductions in tribunal claims and costly legal action. This adds up to a massive saving for the taxpayer.

“Given the huge scale of cuts hitting the public sector, the role of workplace reps in our public services is more important than ever before. Attacking union reps – who already give countless hours of extra work outside of their facility time – doesn’t make any sense and would only cost the taxpayer more money in the long run.”

ENDS

Notes

1. An independent report by NatCen Social Research for UNISON, published in June, shows facility time for trade union reps in the public sector saves the taxpayer money, cuts the number of strikes and disputes and improves workplace relations.

The report highlighted the following key benefits that facility time brings to public sector workplaces:

·         Creating a ready-made structure for consultation and negotiation, saving organisations money and giving workers reassurance that their views will be heard when decisions are made.

·         Allowing partnership working with trade unions to improve workplace relations, helping to create the reputation of an employer as ‘a good place to work’.

·         Earlier intervention in relation to complaints, grievances and disciplinaries, helping to stop issues escalating, which saves organisations and ultimately taxpayers’ money.

·         Better communication to manage change during restructuring and redundancy processes; thereby improving understanding of decisions, minimising negative impacts and reducing the number of working days lost through industrial action.

The full report is available here: http://bit.ly/MxgxrS

A two-page summary of the findings is available here: http://bit.ly/NDMCbu

UNISON response to FoI Amendment Bill online now

The UNISON Scotland  response to the Scottish Parliament Finance Committ's call for evidence on the Freedom of Information (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill is online now.

Overview
As a longstanding supporter of strong freedom of information legislation, UNISON Scotland is disappointed that the Scottish Government is making only minor changes via this Bill. It should use section 5 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) to extend FOISA to cover all public services.

The Scottish Government says that its aim is to “add strength and clarity to the existing legislation”. However, failing to ensure that freedom of information rights "follow the money" means the existing legislation is weaker and less clear than it should be for the growing number of public services delivered by private companies and other bodies not currently covered by FOISA.

The public should be able to access information about the public services they use and about public and political decisions that affect them, whatever type of body holds the information or provides the service. The use of section 5 to ensure this is long overdue.

We strongly support the call by the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland for the Scottish Parliament to amend the Bill to extend FOISA in this way.

As the Committee knows,  this (including a rolling programme of active review) was a key recommendation by Kevin Dunion, the first Scottish Information Commissioner, in a Special Report when he finished his final term of office earlier this year.

His successor Rosemary Agnew has also called on the  Scottish Government to act in her July 2012 response to the Finance Committee on its call for evidence.

We hope that the Finance Committee will agree that it is wrong for Ministers to proclaim their commitment to FOI and its Six Principles and to argue that this Bill tackles weaknesses, while failing to use section 5 to protect the public's FOI rights.


See the full response here:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/FOIAmendBill_Aug12.pdf



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