Large scale investment is needed to reverse Scotland’s housing crisis, warns UNISON

Wednesday 8 October 2014

A survey of Scotland’s housing staff has exposed the reality of frontline staff trying to cope with the huge scale of Scotland’s housing crisis.

Our report – Open the door: housing staff on the homes we have and the homes we need – looks at the real experiences of members involved in all aspects of providing housing services: housing officers, housing assistants and lettings officers.

The majority of those surveyed (68 per cent) said funding for their service had gone down, negatively impacting on the quality of service they can provide. Three quarters of respondents said changes in welfare and benefit legislation has contributed to the problem. At its bluntest, welfare changes have made life more difficult for tenants and this in turn has created problems for housing staff.

Some of the comments included:

• “I work with homeless people. The pressure is increasing relentlessly. Demand is increasing as resources dwindle.”

• “[Benefit changes] have impacted massively and it will only get worse. Rent arrears have risen and you cannot take what people don’t have.”

• “Due to bedroom tax and direct payments of housing benefit to tenants we are seeing an increase in rent arrears and homeless rising due to more evictions.”

• “How is it possible for them to provide for the future of their housing with less staff and more homelessness. It’s not possible.”

More than half of respondents (55 per cent) said they regularly work over their contracted hours while 58 per cent said staff numbers are in decline, meaning they don’t have as much time to spend with clients. Like other workers in public services, housing staff have been experiencing years of zero or minimal pay. Almost 70 per cent of workers said their standard of living had dropped in the previous three or four years, with many struggling to make ends meet.

Mark Ferguson, chair of UNISON’s Housing Issues Group, said: “This survey shows the shocking truth of Scotland’s housing crisis. It goes beyond the raw statistics and shows the reality facing frontline staff who are struggling to maintain a quality of service against a background of declining resources and increased financial pressure, while their workload increases.

“We have a crisis with the availability, the cost and the quality of our housing and we urgently need a large scale investment to reverse Scotland’s housing crisis. Any plan for social justice – and Scotland has had no shortage of talk of social justice in recent months – must have housing at its core.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The full UNISON Scotland survey – Open the door: housing staff on the homes we have and the homes we need – can be accessed on our website athttp://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/housing

2. Scotland has approximately 1.46 million owner-occupied homes, 368,000 privately rented homes, 277,000 homes rented from housing associations and 318,000 homes rented from local authorities. There are currently 23,000 long-term private sector empty homes across Scotland.

The most recent Scottish Government Housing Statistics record that there are 179,954 households with outstanding applications for social housing; of these some 29,500 are households on transfer lists meaning 150,000 households are waiting to enter social housing.

3. Further information can be found in our UNISON reports:

• Making homes for a fairer Scotland 
  http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/housing/
  MakingHomesForAFairerScotland_June2013.pdf
  
• Funding and building the homes Scotland needs 
  http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/housing/
  FundingAndBuildingTheHomesScotlandNeeds_Mar2013.pdf

Enhanced Devolution, the Smith Commission - views wanted

On 19 September, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that Lord Smith of Kelvin had agreed to oversee the process to take forward the devolution commitments on further powers for the Scottish Parliament.

The terms of reference for the Smith Commission are to convene cross-party talks and facilitate an inclusive engagement process across Scotland to produce, by 30 November 2014, Heads of Agreement with recommendations for further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament. This process will be informed by a Command Paper, to be published by 31 October and will result in the publication of draft clauses by 25 January. The recommendations will deliver more financial, welfare and taxation powers, strengthening the Scottish Parliament within the United Kingdom.

Interested parties have until 31 October to submit views, and UNISON Scotland will do this directly and through the STUC.

In February 2013, UNISON Scotland had adopted Fairer Scotland and Devolution, our contribution to the debate on how devolution settlement can be strengthened.

http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/scotlandsfuture/FairerScotlandDevoPaperFeb2013.pdf

It is evident that the grounds of the debate have altered since that time and it would be appropriate to review that statement.

In the absence of a meeting of the Scottish Council before the submission date of 31 October, the Scottish Committee Policy seminar will meet on 23 -24 October and will consider submissions from branches.

Any comments should reach me by 5.00pm on Monday 20 October, 2014, at m.kirby@unison.co.uk

Mike J Kirby
Scottish Secretary
UNISON

Council pay action plans

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

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

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

New Scotland in UNISON online

Major demo 18 October Glasgow, action updates, TTIP threat, holiday pay and much more on October's Scotland in UNISON. See it here on the website or here on issuu.

Take One Action - get to GFT for UNISON sponsored film Salt of the Earth!

SALT OF THE EARTH (USA 1954) - GFT Thu 2 October at 6pm
Screening and audience discussion - with Cath Cunningham - Fife miners' strike women's support activist

The Take One Action Film Festival is on now and has some fantastic films. UNISON Scotland has sponsored four of the screenings - our last one is on Thursday 2 October at Glasgow Film Theatre

Banned for a decade in the US, SALT OF THE EARTH is a pioneering agitprop drama tracing the story a mine-workers’ strike against so-called “austerity measures".

When a debilitating accident befalls a New Mexican zinc miner as a result of safety cutbacks, Mexican and US miners alike decide to withdraw their labour. But it is only when the workers’ wives get involved – bringing a moving and lyrical definition to solidarity – that the balance of power painfully starts to shift.

Featuring mainly real-life miners and their families, Salt of the Earth remains a fresh and rousing call for on-going non-violent resistance in the face of consumer and corporate exploitation.

 

More info here: http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/international/takeoneaction.html

or at the Take One Action website http://www.takeoneaction.org.uk/

Food Bill must prioritise food safety

Wed 1 Oct 2014

UNISON, the union who represent meat hygiene inspectors and environmental health officers, is calling on MSPs debating the Food (Scotland) Bill tomorrow (Thursday 2 Oct) to make the interests of consumers paramount in the objectives of the new regulatory body Food Standards Scotland.

The union is highlighting recent food scandals to make the case against deregulation. More than 60% of chickens in the UK are now infected with the campylobacter food poisoning bug, which on average kills 110 people each year and results in 22,000 people being treated in hospital. Despite this, the current UK regulators are scrapping independent inspection in poultry plants, allowing companies to appoint their own inspectors.

And it’s not just the UK regulators. The Scottish Government recently promulgated regulations that allow the visual only inspection of pigs in abbatoirs. This means tumours and abscesses will be minced into the sausages and pies we eat.

Dave Watson, UNISON’s head of bargaining and campaigns, said that; “Meat inspectors and vets must be able to carry out thorough independent inspections, free from food industry influence. Councils must also be properly funded so that food outlets are regularly inspected.”

“Since April 2012 meat inspectors and vets have prevented over a million instances of diseased animal carcasses from entering the food chain in Scotland. MSP’s are urged to recognise that simply creating a Scottish body to regulate food safety is not enough. They must legislate for higher standards to ensure the objectives set out in the Bill are achieved.”

UNISON believes the primary concern of Food Standards Scotland must be to protect consumers not increase food industry profits. This will also protect the high quality Scottish food brand which is so important for Scottish jobs.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1.    UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union. We represent the operational workforce of the Food Standards Agency – predominately meat inspectors and vets working in abattoirs and meat plants. We also represent Environmental Health Officers who inspect food premises and undertake food sampling.
 
2.    UNISON’s debate briefing for MSPs can be read here  http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/MSPe-briefing_FoodBill_Oct2014.pdf

3.    Our written submission to the Health Committee can be read here http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/EvidencetoScotParlHealthCmttee_FoodScotlandBill_May2014.pdf

4.    UNISON Scotland investigated the impact of cuts on local authority environmental health departments and at the Food Standards Agency. Two surveys of UNISON members confirmed our warnings that cuts are putting public health at risk. Full briefing can be read here. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/b031_BargainingBrief_CutsinFoodSafety+EnvironmentalHealth_Feb2013.pdf

YES for action on pay

#councilfairpay Scottish local government UNISON members have voted Yes for action on pay. The ballot which closed at lunchtime today has delivered a Yes vote for industrial action by 53.5% to 46.5%. UNISON Scotland's Local Government Committee will meet in Glasgow on Friday 3rd October to discuss the way forward and a full update with follow then.

Why low pay costs us all dear

Just a few days left for members in local government to return their industrial action ballot papers and vote for fair pay.

In today's Scotsman newspaper, UNISON Scotland's Head of Bargaining and Campaigns, Dave Watson, sets out why low pay is costing us all dear.

He concludes:

"The pay ballots in local government and elsewhere are motivated in part by workers wanting to look after their families. But it is also about building a stronger economy based on wages not profit. British workers need a pay rise, more say in the work place and an end to low pay."

 

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UNISON pays tribute to Chief Nursing Officer who leaves her post today

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Commenting on the announcement by the Scottish Government Health Dept that Chief Nursing Officer, Ros Moore is to leave her post, Matt McLaughlin, Lead Organiser for Nursing paid tribute to her approach and professionalism saying,

“UNISON Scotland have worked closely with Ros Moore since she came in to post, she has during that time been a great advocate for nursing and the profession.  She quickly developed really good working relationships with UNISON which has enabled us to start to tackle some of the challenges facing nurses in Scotland today.  She takes the time to listen to people and has always put patient care central to all that she does.”

Commenting on the impending vacancy within the Health Department, Matt said,

“It is vital that the Scottish Government move quickly to fill this vacancy and that someone is in post before Ros leaves. We need to be assured that high quality, professional nursing continues to be a priority for Scotland, any delay will send the wrong message to Scotland nurses.”

Matt added, “Ros told nursing members at UNISON annual conference that she felt our role was to be good ancestor for those who come after us – she understood that the NHS is a family and that UNISON nurse members had a big role to play, she has been a great nursing role model who will be missed. We wish her all the best for the future.”

We will continue to press for a Just and Fairer Scotland

#indyref Mike Kirby UNISON Scottish Secretary: This independence referendum has been extra-ordinary. The turnout alone (84%) the highest for any election in over 60 years– tells you how seriously voters took their responsibility. It is a truly humbling experience to see the power of democracy at times like this.

UNISON is the biggest trade union in Scotland. We took our role to ensure that the debate about Scotland constitutional future delivered concrete benefits for working people very seriously too.

We engaged our membership through the formal processes at UNISON Scottish Council and a series of area consultations. The extent of the engagement amongst our members was reflected in what we have seen across community and town halls throughout Scotland.

Listen to the people and keep public services in public hands, says UNISON

A key issue in this independence referendum has been the future of public services.

People in Scotland have made it clear they want more not less investment in public services. They have also made it clear they reject privatisation and want to keep public services public.

Mike Kirby, UNISON’s Scottish secretary said,

‘This has been an historic referendum with extraordinary levels of political engagement. The future of public services has been central to the debate across the media, local communities and families in Scotland. And it has been weighing on the minds of most as they cast their vote in the referendum.

The people have been absolutely clear that they value public services. They reject privatisation, want investment not cuts in public services, and demand that public services remain in public hands. UNISON will continue to work together with other trade unions, civic society and politicians of all parties to meet these aspirations.’

ENDS

For further information please contact:

· Danny Phillips UNISON communications officer 0141 342 2877 / 07944 664 110
· Dave Watson UNISON head of bargaining and campaigns 0141 342 284 / 07958 122409

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Remembrance celebration for Dr Ali Syed

 

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UNISON Strike Ballot for Local Government

UNISON Scotland has sent out formal industrial action ballot papers this week to over 72,000 local government members. The ballot will be open from 9th September 2014 until 29th September 2014.

The ballot asks members whether they are prepared to take strike action to force the employers to respect the joint negotiating machinery and return to the negotiating table and improve upon the 1% offer.

The UNISON Scotland Local Government Committee is recommending that members vote YES to industrial action for Fair Pay.

Members are angry that local government is taking the brunt of the cuts. Local government pay has been eroded by 16% since 2007, there have been 39,300 job cuts in local government in Scotland, low pay is endemic in the sector and the employer imposed a below inflation pay increase again this year.

UNISON local government committee believe we need to send a message to the employer that must come to the negotiating table to discuss a way forward.

Following the narrowest of ballot votes (49.78% for action and 50.22% against) UNISON members accepted the 1% one-year offer for 2013 in good faith. However, the employers (COSLA) imposed 1% for 2013 and 2014 as well. The other unions (GMB and Unite) accepted this deal out with the bargaining structures. The employers are refusing to discuss pay with UNISON for 2014, showing a blatant disregard for the agreed bargaining structures and threatening the future of nationally agreed pay awards.

Above all UNISON encourages members use their vote, whether you want to vote yes or no to industrial action.

If members vote YES, the action will be co-ordinated on a Scotland-wide basis and branches will be encouraged to mount local events and stunts.

Fire Fighters Tour Great Britain

Fire Brigades Union 'Ring of Fire' tour of Great Britain arrived in Glasgow today to highlight the £19 million cuts to our Fire Service

Mike Kirby, head of UNISON Scotland, addressed supporters in St Enoch's Square. He reminded them that Fire Fighters enjoyed huge support from the public and he thanked them for the important work they do. He also stressed that the men and women fire fighters were the first to say that they could not do their difficult jobs without the specialised support team around them

All fire fighting teams need fleet and hydrant mechanics, administrative officers and pay roll workers, cleaners and caterers, community safety advocates, training and education departments, store men and women, drivers, ICT, communications experts and technicians. All of these people play an essential role in the Fire Service.

UNISON members in the fire service face a very uncertain future. The Headquarters of the former Fife and Central Fire and Rescue Board’s are earmarked for closure, meaning these local communities are losing the economic benefits of these facilities. Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and East Lothian will also lose sites employing support staff. Many support staff roles are being drawn into the Central Belt, again impacting on local economies across Scotland.

Staff are waiting for decisions about re-deployment, some are being relocated and their pay is being reviewed. The impact of the £19 million budget cut is being felt by all support staff.

Finally Mike sent a message to all politicians, telling them "The respect and appreciation for the service is not measured by cost, it is measured in the security and safety of our people, at work and in their communities. Fire fighters need to know when they look over their shoulder their support staff are right there with them"

#PeoplesClimate marches in New York and around the world. No jobs on a dead planet.

Campaigners for a new global climate deal say they will hold the biggest climate march in history when world leaders meet in New York later this month.

The UN Climate Summit 2014 takes place there on 23 September and the #PeoplesClimate march is on Sunday 21 September.

Hundreds of #PeoplesClimate marches are also being held around the world, including in London and Edinburgh.

The New York summit has been called by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who says it is crucial that countries commit to a new deal at UN talks in Paris in December 2015.

Millions of workers worldwide want to see a binding climate deal agreed.

A recently launched International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) campaign, signed by TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady, calls for climate justice, warning: “There are no jobs on a dead planet.”

Frances O’Grady today repeated her call for a decisive deal in Paris.

The Unions4ClimateAction campaign stresses that climate change is a trade union issue and calls for a Just Transition to a carbon free economy, demanding an ambitious and legally binding agreement in 2015.

UNISON Scotland is part of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS), which will be urging people in Scotland to speak up and support a global deal in campaigning up to the Paris meeting.

SCCS is publicising the grass roots organised #PeoplesClimate march in Edinburgh on Sunday 21 September. There is also a gathering in Glasgow on the same day.

Meanwhile, the UK Government today launched its strategy for the Paris talks and said that a global deal will be good for the economy.

.

Glasgow City Council under fire over further cuts to care services

Tue 9 September 2014

Trade unionists, community groups and members of the public will gather in George Square later this week to lobby Glasgow City Council over proposed changes to its home care service.

The council announced plans to outsource all responsibility for assessing people who need home care services, including organising services, from their social work department to council-owned Cordia. Currently, Cordia employs most home carers in the city but the assessment of need, spending of budgets and oversight of the service is carried out by local social work staff.

The council has cited “budget pressures” – meaning future cuts – as a central reason.

The Defend Glasgow Services (DGS) campaign – a group set up by trade unions, community organisations and community campaigners – is holding a lobby on Thursday, September 11, to call on the council to reverse its decision.

Brian Smith, branch secretary of UNISON’s Glasgow City branch, said:
“This is the first time in Glasgow under a ‘purchaser/provider split’ that the provider will take on all responsibility for the assessment of a person’s need. This includes the level of service provided, people’s care reviews, responding to complaints and all spending.

“Home care services are already being reduced through shortened visits and this is just a further attack on services for the most vulnerable people in the city. It also threatens Cordia workers’ jobs, wages and conditions.

“We want Glasgow City Council to put people first by calling a halt to these changes and focus instead on investing in home care services and those who provide them.”

Under Glasgow City Council’s plans, Cordia will be given the existing home care annual budget of £50 million and be expected to deliver 10 per cent efficiencies by 2016, and further “appropriate targets” thereafter.

ENDS

Reinventing our Economy

Two events supported by UNISON Scotland taking place this week with a focus on an alternative economy. There are still some spaces available and both events are free thanks to support from The Carnegie Trust.

 

Debate on Wednesday 10 September, 19:30-21:00, Glasgow University Union

Wellbeing, work, equality and the environment: What path for a sustainable economy?

Contributors include: Ann Pettifor, Richard Murphy, Professor Jo Armstrong and Professor Richard Werner.

http://reinventoureconomy.uk/

 

Conference on Thursday 11 September, 9-5pm, Glasgow University

Reinventing our economy for people and Planet: a conference about alternative sustainable economic policy

Contributors include: Anatole Kaletsky, Tim Jenkins, Professor Andy Cumbers, Professor Malcolm Sawyer, Professor Molly Scott-Cato and others.

http://reinventoureconomy.uk/

 

You can register for both here:

http://reinventoureconomy.uk/#tile_registration

 

 

 

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Doncaster Care UK strikers in Glasgow

Andy Squires, shop steward from Doncaster Health Branch spoke to UNISON Scotland organisers in Glasgow today. He updated them on the Doncaster Care UK Strike

Doncaster living services for vulnerable people had historically always been provided by the NHS. However it was tended out by Doncaster Council. The tender was bid for and won by a private company.

Andy told the meeting that UNISON members in Doncaster that members had overwhelmingly voted for strike action and are fighting an employer intent on slashing wages to below the living wage in order to make their profits.

Andy said, 'we are on strike for a fair living wage. Staff are now in danger of losing their homes dues to wages being slashed by up to 40%. One in five are living below the poverty line. We all need a pay rise.'

UNISON Scotland organisers asked Andy to thank UNISON members in Doncaster for 'standing up to further privatisation NHS and for getting national media coverage highlighting many of the privatisation, low pay and employment law issues we are fighting here in Scotland too'

All donations to Doncaster Carers campaign can be made payable to 'Doncaster UNISON 20511'

 

 

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Scotland self organised group conferences

Papers are online now for Scottish self organised group conferences: For details click on the following links:
LGBT Members Saturday 1 November Glasgow (deadline 3 October)
Black Members Saturday 15 November Edinburgh (deadline 24 October)
Disabled Members Saturday 8 November Glasgow (deadline 17 October).

Cleaners in public sector are struggling to maintain hygiene, says UNISON

A report out today (Tuesday) by UNISON Scotland, Dishing the Dirt, paints a bleak picture of cleaning staff – who are struggling to keep hospitals, local government and other offices clean. They feel undervalued by their managers, and are asked to clean more, with less staff, and cheaper less effective cleaning materials. The report is based on interviews with cleaners across NHS Scotland, local council offices, colleges and elsewhere in both public and contracted out services.

Those surveyed claimed they are trapped in an endless cycle of work. They are badly paid but their pay is going down in real terms, and they rarely consulted about their views at work. They are an undervalued, isolated sector.

Meat Inspectors Strike

There was a good response this morning from farmers and others at the meat inspectors picket line at the Scotbeef plant in Bridge of Allen. Food safety is important to protect quality meat brands. As well as consumers.

And at other plants across Scotland.

 

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Ali Syed funeral today 1.30 Glasgow Central Mosque

We have heard the sad news that Ali Syed MBE has passed away today after a long illness. Ali Syed will be interred at Glasgow Central Mosque at 1.30pm Tuesday 26 August

Meat hygiene inspectors strike for fair pay

Meat hygiene inspectors, vets and support staff are embarking on two days of strike action from today in a long-running dispute over pay.

Two four-hour walkouts are scheduled to take place, from 6.30am-10.30am on Tuesday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, August 27.

The decision follows a ballot earlier this month, which saw UNISON’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) members overwhelmingly vote for strike action over an imposed pay offer of just 0.75%, while most other public service workers have been offered a 1% increase.

UNISON has previously invited the FSA to resolve the pay dispute through independent conciliation. Even as late as last week, UNISON asked them to reconsider and go to ACAS for arbitration, but they refused.

Dave Watson, UNISON Scotland’s Head of Bargaining and Campaigns, said: “Meat inspectors, official veterinarians and support staff cost each person in the country just 38 pence per year. When you consider that since April 2012, they have prevented over a million instances of diseased animal carcasses from entering the food chain, it’s a small price to pay for safer food.

UNISON remembers Ali Syed

We have heard the sad news that Ali Syed MBE has passed away today after a long illness.

Ali Syed
born 18 November 1934
died 25 August 2014

"Ali was a trade union activist for many years holding a range of posts in UNISON health branches and in Glasgow Trades Council. Other branches will remember his many contributions to debates at Scottish Council. His trade union values shone through in all his work, including the many causes he took up - not least the plight of the Palestinian people", Dave Watson, UNISON Scottish Organiser, said in a message to branches.

"Ali was also a stalwart of Socialist Health Association Scotland for many years, serving as Chair and then in retirement as Vice-Chair. He also served on the SHA UK Central Council. This followed an outstanding NHS career in cancer care, latterly at the Beatson Centre in Glasgow. He was Labour to the core and made many contributions at Scottish Labour Party conferences.

"He will be sadly missed by all his comrades and the very many people he helped. Our thoughts are of course with his family.

"We have no further information at this time regarding funeral arrangements, but will circulate when we do."

Staff who keep our food safer deserve a pay rise

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) hasn't had the best of press recently, now they have forced their staff out on strike and refused to resolve the dispute at ACAS.

There has been growing concern over the way the FSA handles food safety across the UK. It's part of the reason why Scotland is in the process of establishing a separate body, although many of the problems are likely to remain here as well.

A recent survey for the Food Standards Agency showed 59% of raw chicken bought at supermarkets contained the potentially deadly bacteria Campylobacter. As an article in the Scotsman put it, "After a decade of trying to get the poultry industry to clean up its act, the Food Standards Agency had promised to name and shame the worst offenders in the first quarter of its year-long survey. However, pressure from the industry has led the FSA to back down".

Vote Yes for Fair Pay - Leaflets and posters now online

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

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

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

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

People's Assembly Campaign Handbook online

UNISON Scotland is supporting the People's Assembly and has contributed to a new campaigning guide issued by the People's Assembly Against Austerity Scotland. Find out more and get a copy at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/peoplesassembly/

The People's Assembly is a broad united national campaign against austerity, cuts and privatisation in our workplaces, community and welfare services, based on general agreement with the signatories’ Founding Statement. http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/scotland

Update on Holiday Pay following 'Lock' case judgement in European Court of Justice

19 August 2014

UNISON Scotland is urging members who think they have been underpaid holiday pay to contact their local branch as soon as possible.

The call follows a decision in May this year by the European Court of Justice which means employees who normally get paid enhancements like overtime, shifts and commission - but not when they are on holiday - might be able to make a claim against their employer.

The judgement is the result of a successful claim by UNISON member Joe Lock, in what is now being called the ‘Lock’ case. The court ruled that paid annual leave is a fundamental social right and Mr Lock’s holiday pay should include any commission which is directly linked work, in this case for British Gas. The result of this decision will have important implications for workers across a wide variety of sectors.  In short, the court has said employers need to assess ‘normal pay’ for their workers when they are calculating holiday pay.

Mike Kirby, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary, said: 
“This significant decision confirms what UNISON has been saying for some time. Holiday pay not only includes a worker’s basic pay, but also other payments like overtime, bonuses and commission which can be reasonably said to form part of their normal pay packet.

“We want to work constructively with employers to scope out the impact of this ruling. Employers will need to look at the terms and conditions of their staff and realise that current business models of under-contracting, running on overtime and the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts are no longer an option.”

Branches are writing to all employers where we have members and asking what they intent to do in relation to unpaid holiday pay in respect of additional payments during working time. On a national level, UNISON is collating responses from employers and will then decide a strategy on how best to pursue them.

It is not yet clear how many members may be affected, however, it is vital that any members who think they may have a claim get in touch with their local branch as soon as possible.

UNISON Members:
What to do if you think you might have a claim

• Contact your local branch as soon as possible. They will be able to keep you up-to-date on your employer’s response and on UNISON’s claim strategy.

• Ensure your contact details are up-to-date. The easiest and quickest means of contact is through email.

• Contact the branch immediately if your employer stops making the payments for commission, other supplements, bonuses or over-time pay; or if your employer starts paying any unpaid commission, other supplements, bonuses or overtime pay during annual leave.

• For more information please contact your local branch officer.

Survey for Personal Assistants launched

The WEA and UNISON Scotland have launched a survey for PAs and a series of workshops on managing conflict in employment relationships. The survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3V35ZQ6 or contact l.rankin@weascotland.org.uk for a hard copy. The FREE joint training workshops are for PAs and their employers to help them develop good working relationships. It will look at the causes and effects of conflict; the reasons behind reactions to conflict and help you develop skills to reduce and prevent conflict. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/socialwork/personalassistants.html

Gaza: 'We march for three things. The children, the children, the children.'

#Gaza Edinburgh’s Princes Street came to a halt again this week when marchers stopped and sat for two minutes silence to remember the dead in Gaza. Even onlookers respected the silence and applauded as the demonstrators set off again for Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland.(From the UNISONActive blog)

On the 90 minute march, people carried a card, each with the name of one of the 2,000 Palestinians, almost 400 of them children, killed by Israeli forces. It was a poignant and powerful way of highlighting the human cost.

The demands were straightforward: An immediate end to the killing, Israel to lift the siege and to abide by UN resolutions. An end to arms sales to Israel and boycott, divestment and sanctions to bring pressure on the Israeli government. A free Palestine.

UNISON Scotland celebrates 40 years of the Health & Safety at Work Act

40 years ago today, the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 received the Royal Assent and became law in Britain.  Despite often being misunderstood and misinterpreted, it remains one of the best pieces of legislation on the statute book which has saved and improved the lives of countless UK workers. 

 

In the 40 years since the Act was passed, the number of fatalities in the workplace has fallen by 85 per cent while the number of injuries at work has fallen by 77 per cent.  It has enabled industry, unions and regulators to work together to create solutions to workplace dangers and threats to ensure that employees can return home safely each night. 

 

However, it is disappointing to note that the present Con Dem government continues to attack provisions in the Act.  Since it came to power in 2010 it has:

• Cut funding to the HSE by 40%;

• Set up 4 reviews to look at the “burden” on business and the functions of the HSE;

• Drastically cut HSE and Local Authority inspections;

• Ditched some important Codes of Practice and replaced them with guidance notes;

• Changed what and how employers have to report injuries and illness;

• Blocked new initiatives from Europe and tried to reduce existing measures;

• Made it harder for workers to claim compensation.

Most recently, through the Deregulation Bill, it is attempting to remove large numbers of self-employed workers from its coverage, in order to replace it with new rules about which self-employed workers are covered and which are not.

 

While the Act has been successful in bringing down deaths and injuries in the workplace it has been less effective at preventing occupational diseases such as cancers, asthmas, dermatitis, back pain and lung diseases. In addition, stress is now one of the biggest causes of workplace ill health and sickness absence, often caused by bullying and harassment.  An open and fair workplace culture is needed, so that employees are encouraged to report health and safety concerns without feat of victimisation or intimidation.  We need to work to use the Act to its fullest extent in the future to continue to address these problems.

 

Happy 40th Birthday Health & Safety at Work Act.  We will fight to ensure that you continue to protect us for many years to come.

Thousands in Edinburgh demand peace for Gaza

#Gaza Thousands turned out on in Edinburgh on Saturday to demand an end to the killing in Gaza. The Edinburgh UNISON banner was there as the rally at the Mound moved along Princes Street for a minute's silence and ended at Bute House, the First Minister's official residence.
  

Edinburgh UNISON banner - Tom Connolly

Hundreds also gathered in Aberdeen in the fourth consecutive week of demonstrations in the city. More than 60,000 also rallied in London. Malcolm Chisholm MSP and Aamer Anwar were among the speakers at the Edinburgh rally.

pic Tom Connolly

After 19 days of bombardment from Israel, the death toll in Gaza passed. UNICEF estimates that one in three civilian deaths are children under 18. Whole families have been wiped out. On 23 July, a UN statement said: "One child has been killed in Gaza every hour for the past two days."

UNISON pop up protests continue today at Glagow City Chambers 12.30pm

UNISON will continue their 'pop up protests' today (24 July) 12.30pm outside Glasgow City Council chambers. Any UNISON member taking part will do so in their own time.  Please see yesterday’s blog (23 July 2014) for more details about UNISON's court victory http://unison-scotland.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/council-loses-bid-to-block-games-bonus.html

Yesterday UNISON members also had a pop up protest outside Glasgow Kelvingrove Art Gallery (see picture). UNISON are protesting because Glasgow City Council company Glasgow Life refused to pay enhancements to workers during the Commonwealth Games.

Other workers in the council, other council run companies and the city’s transport companies will be paid enhanced rates and specific payments for working more hours during the Games. However, workers in the city’s Sports Centres and Museums will only receive their basic pay rate for any additional hours they work.

Many workers are already on a low income, and many have had shift changes forced on them without their agreement, and many have also had their annual leave curtailed during school holidays.

Brian Smith, UNISON’s City of Glasgow Branch Secretary, said, ‘Glasgow Life workers are working hard to make Glasgow Commonwealth Games a success. We want these games to succeed, just like everyone else. But these workers earn an average of £16,500 per year. These are the people who are working hard to deliver the Commonwealth Games but can’t afford tickets to go. They deserve fair treatment.’

Instead of sitting down to find a solution Glasgow Life has been wasting time and money with legal action against UNISON. Yesterday's court decision means Glasgow Life have to pay both their own and UNISON's legal costs, something UNISON never wanted to happen in the first place. UNISON believes the claim by UNISON members in Glasgow Life is reasonable and will continue their pop up protests today.

Council loses bid to block games bonus row protests

UNISON has successfully defended a Glasgow City council bid to win a court order to block a Commonwealth Games pay protests - in workers' own time - at the city chambers.

The protests related to council company Glasgow Life's refusal to pay enhancements whereas workers in the council, other council run companies and the city’s transport companies will be paid enhanced rates and specific payments for working more hours during the Games.

UNISON Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said: "The judge has ruled that the council and Glasgow Life were wrong in their view that UNISON members were acting outside the law.

"People have a right to peaceful protest in their own time. We'd call on Glasgow Life and the council to work with the trade union to address the underlying issues rather than spending money in the courts."

See the story in the Herald at http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/commonwealth-games/cwg-news/council-legal-threat-to-block-games-bonus-row-protests.24826754

All workers deserve a fair deal for Commonwealth Games, says UNISON

Trade union members in Glasgow’s Sports Centres and Museums are in dispute with their employer Glasgow Life, a company run by Glasgow City Council. The dispute is over payments for working during the Commonwealth Games.

Workers in Glasgow City Council, other council run companies and the city’s transport companies will be paid enhanced rates and specific payments for working more hours during the Games.

However, workers in the city’s Sports Centres and Museums will receive only their basic pay rate for any additional hours they work. Many workers are already on a low income, and many have had shift changes forced on them without their agreement. And many have also had their annual leave curtailed during school holidays.

Brian Smith, UNISON’s City of Glasgow branch secretary, said, ‘Glasgow Life workers are working hard to make Glasgow Commonwealth Games a success. We want these games to succeed just like everyone else. But these workers earn an average of £16,500 per year. These are the people who are working hard to deliver the Commonwealth Games but can’t afford tickets to go. They deserve fair treatment.’

Ballots thresholds and striking for decent pay

A million people across the UK have been taking strike action today to protest at falling pay. It's a clear message to Government that people have had enough having to endure falling living standards while the rich get richerThe Tories are trying to distract attention from this protest against growing poverty by trying to make it an issue of growing legitimacy . So over the past few days we've had threats made to the right to organise .

The mere prospect of this has as you'd expect, got the Daily Mail licking their disgusting, greedy slavering, anti-trade union lips. "Plans intended to ban teachers and other public sector workers from going on strike are being drawn up by the Conservatives in the biggest crack down on unions in 30 years" they announce gleefully.

Eh not so fast there tax dodgers ."Ban ...public sector workers from going on strike" The Government might have some problems trying to draw up legislation on that.

Their enthusiasm for privatising and outsourcing means who is and isn't a public sector worker is more and more difficult to define. If you work for the council, or Health Board - well you are in the public sector, that's easy. What if you work for Serco who are contracted by the council? Are you public sector or private sector?

How else could they "ban" people? By occupation? Leaving aside once you get past "Nurses" and "Teachers" you'll find that across the country people doing similar jobs have differing job titles and indeed the jobs might not be identical. Good luck with writing a law that will stand up to scrutiny on that one...

Of course that isn't the only thing they might try. Yesterday David Cameron told parliament "I think the time has come to look at setting thresholds in strike ballots." He should perhaps be careful what he wishes for.

Not wanting to bother our colleagues down South they've really been very busy today we grasped the nearest ballot result to hand. In 2012 out of all the UNISON Scotland members in the NHS who could have voted for strike action 28.7% did so. Mr Cameron is Prime Minister despite his party receiving the support of only 23.5% of the elegible electorate. Indeed there isn't a single Tory in Parliament who received a 50% threshold of support.

Of course if Mr Cameron is genuinely concerned about improving turn outs in strike ballots then no one would be more receptive than Trade unions. Unions would love to see higher levels of participation in ballots, and have been arguing for years for measures that would improve things. Turn outs in postal ballots in any circumstances tend to be low but there are a variety of other measures that would certainly improve matters. Allowing unions to use secure online or telephone voting for example (Political parties use these methods for their own internal elections). Or, stop me if this seems controversial, given that an indutrial action ballot is an issue about the workplace - maybe people should be allowed to cast a vote via supervised workplace ballots.

Of course what is really bothering Cameron and his pals in the tax dodger owned press isn't how many people voted by postal ballot a few weeks ago - but how many people have voted with their feet today.

That doesn't annoy them - it frightens them.

So it should.

New Scotland in UNISON online now

The cuts don't work report; Conference reports; Unite and fight on pay; Anger at registration fees; UNISON is the union for social workers; Privatisation fears in care integration; Challenging both sides on a fairer Scotland and much more in July's Scotland in UNISON which is online now at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/index.html
PDF at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/july14/siujuly14.pdf
and on issuu at http://issuu.com/unisonscotland/docs/siujuly14

Health inequalities report marks NHS 66th birthday

Tomorrow is the 66th anniversary of the NHS in Scotland. Yes, even before devolution, the NHS in Scotland had a separate statutory basis.
    As our contribution to the commemorations, UNISON Scotland has produced its latest paper on health inequalities in Scotland. Not just another analysis of the problem, but some practical measures as well.
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/20140630HealthInequalitiesinScotland.pdf

Animal welfare in abattoirs

The BBC Scotland 2014 programme ran a piece on animal welfare standards in abattoirs on 2 July.

It shows, through secret filming and interviews with abattoir workers and farmers, shocking animal welfare standards in Scottish and UK abattoirs. This piece shows that we need stronger regulation, resisting efforts to lower standards.

The Scottish meat brand will not be protected by abandoning regulation. It is therefore in the interests of consumers and meat producers to ensure we have the highest standards. The recent decision by the Scottish Government to end the visual inspection of pigs is just one example of this deregulatory approach. Mincing tumours and abscesses into our sausages cannot be right.

 

 

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