UNISON. Scotland's biggest and liveliest trade union, representing members delivering public and related services.
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
December Scotland in UNISON out now
Monday, 21 December 2015
Stand up for school librarians, says UNISON Scotland
Date: Monday 21 December 2015
UNISON Scotland has called on councils and Scottish Government to do more to protect school librarians. UNISON says the evidence is that local councils are seeing school library services as a soft target to meet budget cuts and are cutting school library services across Scotland.
UNISON has made a submission in support of School Libraries Petition PE 1581 to the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee.
UNISON has evidence of cuts in North and South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Glasgow, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Shetland.
UNISON spokesperson, Simon Macfarlane, said:
'There is a consistent pattern of the school libraries service being a soft target to meet budget cuts. School libraries are not class rooms with books. They are vital for young people’s learning. School librarians have a central role in equipping our young people for the digital age; recent research has shown that children face struggle to discriminate between facts, fiction and paid for product placement online. School librarians are ideally placed to support young people to be more discerning in their use of the internet for research. We shoudl be investing more not less in school librarians. It’s unacceptable that Scottish councils are taking the brunt of the austerity cuts. But we also canot let services like school libraries disappear’
END
NOTES
UNISON is the biggest trade union in local government. We represent education staff including librarians and school librarians
The picture across Scotland varies but there is a consistent pattern of local authorities using the school libraries service as a soft target to meet budget cuts.
LOCAL CUTS INCLUDE: North and South Lanarkshire, East Renfreshire, Renfrewshire, Glasgow, East and South Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Shetland
South Lanarkshire proposals include reducing school library staffing by 15%
North Lanarkshire is now proposing to review the school librarian service for a second time with the reduction of 2 FTE School Library Resource Manager posts. The last review saw all schools with pupil roll under 700 reduce librarian numbers to 0.7 FTE librarian. All new staff now are only employed term time. The Council has also removed the need for library staff to have professional library qualifications.
East Renfrewshire Council is proposing moving from 1 fully qualified librarian from each of its high schools (7) to the FTE of 3.5. The original plans to use senior pupils to staff the library appear to have been dropped due to public opposition.
Glasgow has reduced the school librarian service to 0.5 posts per school.
Renfrewshire now has only 7 librarians across 11 schools.
East Ayrshire has replaced 3 librarians with 3 library assistants. Means 9 secondary schools are now covered by 5 librarians and 4 library assistants.
South Ayrshire has, l replaced a number of librarians with library assistants.
In Dumfries and Galloway when the librarian retired from Dumfries Academy responsibility for the library was given to the Head of English. Lockerbie Academy also currently without a librarian and Annan Academy have reduced the hours to 20 per week
Fife - school librarians who have retired have been replaced with library assistants
Shetland, where the school library service has always been integrated with the public library service, there have been cuts to school library book budgets of 20-30% over the last four years. While staff numbers have remained the same the working hours of staff have been cut from 8 FTE to 5.93 FTE.
UNISON Scotland has called on councils and Scottish Government to do more to protect school librarians. UNISON says the evidence is that local councils are seeing school library services as a soft target to meet budget cuts and are cutting school library services across Scotland.
UNISON has made a submission in support of School Libraries Petition PE 1581 to the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee.
UNISON has evidence of cuts in North and South Lanarkshire, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Glasgow, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Shetland.
UNISON spokesperson, Simon Macfarlane, said:
'There is a consistent pattern of the school libraries service being a soft target to meet budget cuts. School libraries are not class rooms with books. They are vital for young people’s learning. School librarians have a central role in equipping our young people for the digital age; recent research has shown that children face struggle to discriminate between facts, fiction and paid for product placement online. School librarians are ideally placed to support young people to be more discerning in their use of the internet for research. We shoudl be investing more not less in school librarians. It’s unacceptable that Scottish councils are taking the brunt of the austerity cuts. But we also canot let services like school libraries disappear’
END
NOTES
UNISON is the biggest trade union in local government. We represent education staff including librarians and school librarians
The picture across Scotland varies but there is a consistent pattern of local authorities using the school libraries service as a soft target to meet budget cuts.
LOCAL CUTS INCLUDE: North and South Lanarkshire, East Renfreshire, Renfrewshire, Glasgow, East and South Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife and Shetland
South Lanarkshire proposals include reducing school library staffing by 15%
North Lanarkshire is now proposing to review the school librarian service for a second time with the reduction of 2 FTE School Library Resource Manager posts. The last review saw all schools with pupil roll under 700 reduce librarian numbers to 0.7 FTE librarian. All new staff now are only employed term time. The Council has also removed the need for library staff to have professional library qualifications.
East Renfrewshire Council is proposing moving from 1 fully qualified librarian from each of its high schools (7) to the FTE of 3.5. The original plans to use senior pupils to staff the library appear to have been dropped due to public opposition.
Glasgow has reduced the school librarian service to 0.5 posts per school.
Renfrewshire now has only 7 librarians across 11 schools.
East Ayrshire has replaced 3 librarians with 3 library assistants. Means 9 secondary schools are now covered by 5 librarians and 4 library assistants.
South Ayrshire has, l replaced a number of librarians with library assistants.
In Dumfries and Galloway when the librarian retired from Dumfries Academy responsibility for the library was given to the Head of English. Lockerbie Academy also currently without a librarian and Annan Academy have reduced the hours to 20 per week
Fife - school librarians who have retired have been replaced with library assistants
Shetland, where the school library service has always been integrated with the public library service, there have been cuts to school library book budgets of 20-30% over the last four years. While staff numbers have remained the same the working hours of staff have been cut from 8 FTE to 5.93 FTE.
Friday, 18 December 2015
Simple Minds called to campaign for world cup workers in Qatar
Date: Friday 18 December 2015
UNISON, Scotland’s biggest trade union, has written to the Scottish band Simple Minds asking they speak out for migrant workers rights in Qatar.
UNISON supports the TUC Fair Play for Qatar campaign which is highlighting the poor working conditions of migrant workers who are building football stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup. Simple Minds are booked to play a gig in Qatar on 29 January Simon Macfarlane, UNISON international committee spokesperson, said “Workers are being drafted in mainly from India, Nepal and Bangladesh and forced to live in squalid conditions, paid as little as 45 pence an hour and work in a very dangerous environment. Almost 1000 workers have died in Qatar building infrastructure for the world cup and if nothing changes the death toll could be as much as 4000 by the time the World Cup starts in 2022. Simple Minds have an excellent record in supporting Human Rights across the world. They were leading campaigners against South African apartheid. And songs like Belfast Child and Mandela Day are loved for their message as much as anything else. It would be great if they highlighted the plight of migrant workers in Qatar” END Notes TUC Fair Play Qatar campaign https://www.tuc.org.uk/international-issues/countries/qatar Letter from UNISON Scotland international committee to Simple Minds is online here:http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/international/ |
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
UNISON Scotland reaction to ministerial statement on draft 2016/17 budget
Date: Wednesday 16 December 2015
‘UNISON Scotland recognises that Tory austerity limits the options available in the Spending Review. However, it is unacceptable that yet again local government is bearing the brunt of cuts. We are now in the 8th year of the council tax freeze that limits how councils can choose to respond to austerity. This cannot continue. We need to discuss how we are going to properly fund Council services as they play a crucial role in the health and well being of all of us.'
END
UNISON is the biggest trade union in Scotland
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
UNISON calls for Robert Gordon University to remove Donald Trump's honorary degree
Date: Wednesday 9 December 2015
UNISON members working at Robert Gordon University have written to the Principal, Professor Prondzynski, calling on him to remove Donald Trump's honorary degree because he is reported to have called for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States"
UNISON believes this to be unacceptable.
Colin Jones, Robert Gordon UNISON steward said:
“Robert Gordon University has a strong international reputation and UNISON believes that our University's association with Donald Trump can only undermine all the hard work we have put into building this worldwide reputation.
"We believe that the University must distance itself from such views and make it as clear as possible that such statements are both unacceptable and irresponsible. They are divisive and put Muslim friends, family and colleagues in danger of discrimination and reprisals, and will make international relations worse not better.
END
UNISON believes this to be unacceptable.
Colin Jones, Robert Gordon UNISON steward said:
“Robert Gordon University has a strong international reputation and UNISON believes that our University's association with Donald Trump can only undermine all the hard work we have put into building this worldwide reputation.
"We believe that the University must distance itself from such views and make it as clear as possible that such statements are both unacceptable and irresponsible. They are divisive and put Muslim friends, family and colleagues in danger of discrimination and reprisals, and will make international relations worse not better.
END
Notes:
UNISON is the largest trade union in Scotland. It is the public services union and it is the recognised union for professional and support staff at Robert Gordon University.
The Principal of Robert Gordon University is Professor Ferdinand Von Prondzynski. Robert Gordon University awarded Donald Trump his honorary degree in 2010.
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
New 2016 Course Programme Launched
This year's programme has been adapted to take account of a request for more flexibility on the days on which courses are run and has prioritised the courses that our members and activists have identified as their primary priorities.
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
UNISON reaction to DCC Neil Richardson’s statement to Scottish Parliament
George McIrvine, UNISON Police Staff Scotland branch secretary said: ”They have no real strategy as to how they are going to achieve this years savings never mind the next 11 years and that's quite apparent with the current £25 million blackhole. It's not best value for the public purse and it's not what the rank and file officers signed up to do.
We now see a civilian staff workforce who have young family, rent, mortgages and debt; they therefore need to work for the foreseeable future. Redundancy is no longer an option to the majority.
Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority will either have to look at making cuts elsewhere to their budget instead of focussing it all on a small percentage of the civilian staff workforce or finally admit they cannot achieve the Scottish Governments efficiency savings. Chief Constables in England & Wales have been spoken out about such unrealistic goals and budget cuts, why can't Scottish senior police officers do the same?”
People’s Assembly Scotland calls for ‘widespread social movement’ against council cuts
The campaign group, to which UNISON Scotland is affiliated, has issued a pack for unions and community groups with a statement of principles, advice on street stalls and lobbying, and a model letter to councillors.
Phil McGarry, chair of the People’s Assembly Scotland, is calling on councillors to be honest about how cuts are damaging services: “We are calling for councillors to abandon austerity denial and be up front about cuts and the damage they are doing. They should publicly label cuts as ‘this service withdrawn due to austerity’
“We recognise that in order to take a stand, councillors will need broad based support and this initiative aims to build that at grassroots along with trade unions and other progressive bodies.”
Monday, 30 November 2015
ICT should focus on providing better services not cuts, says UNISON report
Date: Monday 30 November
2015
A UNISON Scotland report Disconnected, published today, 30 November 2015, claims that ICT services should focus on better services. The report highlights that ICT systems are all too often seen as a way of providing cheaper rather than improved public services.
This UNISON report is qualitative research of ICT staff across Scotland working across a range of public services. In local government, NHS, housing associations, universities, the police and elsewhere.
It finds that ICT systems are central to all our public services, ICT departments are feeling the brunt of cuts, and many ICT experts are leaving public sector either through redundancies or to find work elsewhere and they not being replaced.
ICT staff say they are not listened to. That morale is low. When they give warnings of problems coming down the line they are ignored. They see big opportunities to improve public services wasted in favour of short term savings to budgets. They feel ICT is too often seen as a way of delivering cuts rather than improving delivery of public services for us all. There is a lack of awareness of the potential of ICT
In common with other public services ICT staff say they are stressed by too much work and not enough people to deliver it. Staff talk of a ‘circle of decline’
Dave Watson, head of UNISON bargaining and campaigns said, ‘ICT is often thought of in terms of the hardware however its success is reliant on ICT staff and their understanding of public services and how we interact with technology. Public services must meet complex needs and ICT has a central role to play in that, it simply needs harnessed properly.’
Dave continued, ‘Public services ICT workers could make a real contribution to improving our public services, if we invested in them to develop their ideas. However employers tend to adapt private sector solutions with big promises to save budgets instead. In fact we are seeing big cuts in ICT staff and their departments, so it is no wonder we see big ICT projects going over budget or failing altogether.’
END
Notes
A UNISON Scotland report Disconnected, published today, 30 November 2015, claims that ICT services should focus on better services. The report highlights that ICT systems are all too often seen as a way of providing cheaper rather than improved public services.
This UNISON report is qualitative research of ICT staff across Scotland working across a range of public services. In local government, NHS, housing associations, universities, the police and elsewhere.
It finds that ICT systems are central to all our public services, ICT departments are feeling the brunt of cuts, and many ICT experts are leaving public sector either through redundancies or to find work elsewhere and they not being replaced.
ICT staff say they are not listened to. That morale is low. When they give warnings of problems coming down the line they are ignored. They see big opportunities to improve public services wasted in favour of short term savings to budgets. They feel ICT is too often seen as a way of delivering cuts rather than improving delivery of public services for us all. There is a lack of awareness of the potential of ICT
In common with other public services ICT staff say they are stressed by too much work and not enough people to deliver it. Staff talk of a ‘circle of decline’
Dave Watson, head of UNISON bargaining and campaigns said, ‘ICT is often thought of in terms of the hardware however its success is reliant on ICT staff and their understanding of public services and how we interact with technology. Public services must meet complex needs and ICT has a central role to play in that, it simply needs harnessed properly.’
Dave continued, ‘Public services ICT workers could make a real contribution to improving our public services, if we invested in them to develop their ideas. However employers tend to adapt private sector solutions with big promises to save budgets instead. In fact we are seeing big cuts in ICT staff and their departments, so it is no wonder we see big ICT projects going over budget or failing altogether.’
END
Notes
- Full UNISON report Disconnected:
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/
Disconnected_ICTStaffSurvey_Nov2015.pdf - UNISON Scotland is the public services union and the biggest union in Scotland. We represent ICT workers in public and community based services across Scotland
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
UNISON Scotland e-briefing on Autumn Statement - Osborne forced to abandon savage tax credit cuts
25 Nov 2015
UNISON Scotland e-briefing on Autum Attement online now...
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/e-briefing_UKAutumnStatement_Nov2015.pdf
"The UK highlights include the abandonment of the savage Tax Credit cuts, following the government’s defeat in the House of Lords. Higher tax receipts and lower borrowing costs helped meet this cost. However, from 2018 claimants will switch to the new Universal Credit and we will need to ensure this isn’t used as a means of reinstating the Tax Credit cut. "
...
"The impact of today’s announcement on Scotland is an average real terms cut in the Scottish budget of 1.3% per year. A detail entirely missing from the Scotland Office press release! In addition, public bodies will have to find the cost of the increase in employers National Insurance contributions that the Chancellor announced last year. Plus increasing demands on services and other costs."
More briefings at UNISON Scotland website
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/
UNISON Scotland e-briefing on Autum Attement online now...
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/e-briefing_UKAutumnStatement_Nov2015.pdf
"The UK highlights include the abandonment of the savage Tax Credit cuts, following the government’s defeat in the House of Lords. Higher tax receipts and lower borrowing costs helped meet this cost. However, from 2018 claimants will switch to the new Universal Credit and we will need to ensure this isn’t used as a means of reinstating the Tax Credit cut. "
...
"The impact of today’s announcement on Scotland is an average real terms cut in the Scottish budget of 1.3% per year. A detail entirely missing from the Scotland Office press release! In addition, public bodies will have to find the cost of the increase in employers National Insurance contributions that the Chancellor announced last year. Plus increasing demands on services and other costs."
More briefings at UNISON Scotland website
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/briefings/
Tax credits u-turn will bring huge relief to working families - UNISON
Wed 25 Nov 2015
Nearly three million working families countrywide have breathed a collective sigh of relief, says UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis.
Commenting on the announcement today (Wednesday) that the Chancellor is to reverse his planned cuts to tax credits, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Nearly three million working families countrywide have breathed a collective sigh of relief. Since the cuts were announced in the summer, parents have faced increasing anxiety over losing the tax credits they rely upon so heavily.
“We’re pleased that the Chancellor has made good use of the thinking time last month’s Lords vote gave the government.
“But the real credit for today’s decision goes to the many brave parents who talked publicly about their already stretched finances, and the distress and hardship the cuts would cause. Their stories convinced the government this unfair tax credits grab was wrong.
“The government must now do more to encourage employers to pay staff more – at least the real living wage of £8.25 an hour. This would make a difference to the many low-income families still struggling to make ends meet.
“In 2018 new claims for tax credits will stop, and the families receiving them will start to be switched on to Universal Credit. The Chancellor must not use this change as a way to revive his original plans and leave working families worse off in 2020 than today.”
UNISON UK press release:
https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2015/11/tax-credits-u-turn-will-bring-huge-relief-to-nearly-three-million-working-families-says-unison/
Nearly three million working families countrywide have breathed a collective sigh of relief, says UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis.Commenting on the announcement today (Wednesday) that the Chancellor is to reverse his planned cuts to tax credits, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Nearly three million working families countrywide have breathed a collective sigh of relief. Since the cuts were announced in the summer, parents have faced increasing anxiety over losing the tax credits they rely upon so heavily.
“We’re pleased that the Chancellor has made good use of the thinking time last month’s Lords vote gave the government.
“But the real credit for today’s decision goes to the many brave parents who talked publicly about their already stretched finances, and the distress and hardship the cuts would cause. Their stories convinced the government this unfair tax credits grab was wrong.
“The government must now do more to encourage employers to pay staff more – at least the real living wage of £8.25 an hour. This would make a difference to the many low-income families still struggling to make ends meet.
“In 2018 new claims for tax credits will stop, and the families receiving them will start to be switched on to Universal Credit. The Chancellor must not use this change as a way to revive his original plans and leave working families worse off in 2020 than today.”
UNISON UK press release:
https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2015/11/tax-credits-u-turn-will-bring-huge-relief-to-nearly-three-million-working-families-says-unison/
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Follow Live Jimmy Reid Lecture by Nicola Sturgeon
Follow Live Jimmy Reid Lecture by Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP First Minister of Scotland
Tonight First Minister of Scotland, Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, will give the Jimmy Reid Lecture at Bute Hall, University of Glasgow, on the Trade Union Bill. The meeting will be chaired by Grahame Smith, General Secretary, STUC
Jimmy Reid was installed as elected Rector of the University in the Bute Hall in 1972 where he made his famous ‘The rat race is for rats. We're not rats. We're human beings’ speech. His archives are maintained by the University and some will be on display prior to the lecture.
The STUC call The Bill vindictive, unfair and unnecessary. It is an attack on the fundamental human right of workers to withdraw their labour, a right enshrined in international Conventions to which the UK is a signatory and which it will now contravene. It is a Bill that tramples over our civil liberties and should be of concern not just to workers but to everyone who values the right to peaceful protest.
The First Minister and guests will be welcomed by Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anton Muscatelli. Following the speech there will be a question and answer session. The Reid Foundation Director, Professor Gregor Gall, will then make a short contribution on the Foundation’s work programme to conclude the event.
You can watch the event live: www.gla.ac.uk/events/reid
Tonight First Minister of Scotland, Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, will give the Jimmy Reid Lecture at Bute Hall, University of Glasgow, on the Trade Union Bill. The meeting will be chaired by Grahame Smith, General Secretary, STUC
Jimmy Reid was installed as elected Rector of the University in the Bute Hall in 1972 where he made his famous ‘The rat race is for rats. We're not rats. We're human beings’ speech. His archives are maintained by the University and some will be on display prior to the lecture.
The STUC call The Bill vindictive, unfair and unnecessary. It is an attack on the fundamental human right of workers to withdraw their labour, a right enshrined in international Conventions to which the UK is a signatory and which it will now contravene. It is a Bill that tramples over our civil liberties and should be of concern not just to workers but to everyone who values the right to peaceful protest.
The First Minister and guests will be welcomed by Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anton Muscatelli. Following the speech there will be a question and answer session. The Reid Foundation Director, Professor Gregor Gall, will then make a short contribution on the Foundation’s work programme to conclude the event.
You can watch the event live: www.gla.ac.uk/events/reid
Thursday, 19 November 2015
UN climate talks and cancellation of demonstrations in Paris - Support #ScotClimateMarch #COP21
The International Trade Union Confederation made the same call. Both were responding to the decision by the French authorities, following the terrorist attacks in Paris, to cancel demonstrations there on 29 November and 12 December at the start and end of the important UN climate talks.
Dave Prentis said: “While we show our respect for the Paris tragedy, it is also important that we show that, even without the Paris demonstrations, politicians will not be left of the hook when making the most serious climate change commitments for the next generation.
“By marching on 28 and 29 November, our voices will be stronger than ever in calling for a climate deal that must protect people and the planet.”
Demonstrations in the four UK capitals are going ahead on 28 and 29 November. Scotland’s climate march in Edinburgh is on Saturday 28 November. www.scotlandsclimatemarch.org
Trade unionists are marching for a Just Transition to a low carbon economy to be part of the final global climate deal.
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
Scotland welcomes refugees - message from International chair and secretary
Robina advised us of the links her organisation had made with the Kempson family who live on the island of Lesvos in Greece where a huge proportion of the refuges trying to reach mainland Europe arrive first. The Kempson family have found themselves on the fronyt line of helping thjousands of refugees and PAIH are supporting them in challenging the large aid agencies over the inadequacy of their action so far on Lesvos. Robina was able to tell us on Saturday this action is beginning to have some impact on the NGOs. The plight of refugees is stark and we were reminded how many perish in the attempt to reach safety.
PAIH have set up schemes whereby individuals can register to house refugees; volunteer to assist and donate money that is guaranteed to get to the front line.
International newsletter now online
UNISON Joint International Seminar, Newcastle Upon Tyne A report by Tony Caleary / Hamid Rasheed
TTIP Commission Recognises ISDS is Fundamentally Flawed!
Bus to Paris, for 12 December demonstration on UN Climate Change Talks
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/international/index.html
Friday, 13 November 2015
Retired Members' conference reports
MAC Senior, the newssheet for UNISON Scotland retired members, has six lively pages reporting on the 2015 UK Retired Members’ Conference in Brighton last month.
http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/retired/index.html
Thursday, 12 November 2015
New Scotland in UNISON now online
WOWPetition to assess full impact of all cuts to support & social care for disabled people
Michelle Maher of WOWPetition explains why you should sign the WOWpetition.co.uk
Today’s papers
are full of the horrific impact of cuts to social care and with the Independent
Living Fund just starting to impact, we are sadly sure this will get worse. We
urgently need an assessment all cuts to disability support as called for by EHRC
and Social Security Advisory Committee which Osborne is blocking, showing no
duty of care towards disabled people.
As you know ESA
(WRAG) has also been cut by £30 a week, access to work, support employers,
council tax, housing benefit, and the roll out of PIP has seen many people
losing support. We need you’re help to get behind and back the new WOWpetition.co.uk fronted
by Francesca Martinez. If you can e mail the petition to members tweet
and put on facebook any help would be great.
We are a small
group of sick, disabled people and carers who need backing.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/brutal-government-cuts-forcing-disabled-6802010#ICID=sharebar_twitter
Michelle Maher
Sign the new petition here: WOWpetition.co.uk
Petition: Assess full impact of all cuts to support & social care for disabled people
Govt has ignored calls for a full assessment of the impact of Welfare, Social Care & NHS reform on disabled people and their families. The number of households with a disabled family member living in “absolute poverty” increased by 10% between 2013 & 14.Since WOWpetition collected 104,000 signatures the Government claimed IFS said it was too difficult to do a CIA, IFS subsequently contradicted the claim and said it could be done. EHRC and Social Security Advisory Committee have also called for a CIA of how cuts have affected disabled people and their families. A Cumulative Impact Assessment undertaken by Landman Economics and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research proved disabled people have been hit the hardest by cuts.
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
Scottish Parliament Trade Union Bill lobby
UNISON Scotland joined with the STUC at today's lobby of the Scottish Parliament. There was a rally outside Parliament with speakers from the main political parties. Activists then watched MSPs debate the Bill in the main chamber debate of the day, passing a strong motion opposing the Bill. Ther is more detail in Dave Watson's blog post.
Thanks to the UNISON Scotland branches who supported the lobby with their MSPs.
UNISON calls on Police Scotland to implement all recommendations in HMICS Call Handling Final Report
Tue 10 November 2015
UNISON has welcomed the HMICS Independent Assurance Review: Police Scotland – Call Handling Final Report published today (10 Nov) and calls on Police Scotland to implement all its recommendations.
HMICS has taken into account the high level of pressure that UNISON police staff members work under in the Contact, Command and Control (C3) division of Police Scotland. We hope this report shapes the C3 direction with greater accountability and assurances for the public.
UNISON did all it could to assist with this report. We note the report states, ‘UNISON provided us with details of key areas of concern and supporting evidence. These concerns reflect both Scottish Police Federation and Association of Scottish Police Superintendants views’.
UNISON will work with the new police chief constable to ensure all recommendations are implemented.
Gerry Crawley, UNISON Regional Organiser for police staff said, "UNISON Police staff members have been highlighting problems inherent in the Contact, Command and Control strategic direction. We are pleased that our concerns have been listened to and have been reflected in this report. The report recommendations are vital to ensure our members wellbeing in this high pressure environment that has been under such scrutiny recently. We call on Police Scotland to implement the recommendations"
George McIrvine, Branch Secretary of UNISON Police Staff Scotland branch said,
"I welcome this report not least because it confirms the hard work that UNISON members do. The vast majority of all 999 emergency calls are answered within 10 seconds and handled properly.
"I look forward to working with the new chief constable to ensure these recommendations are implemented in full. It is crucial that he commits to work with key stakeholders, such as UNISON, so we can work together to ensure the public get the high quality service UNISON members are determined to provide."
END
UNISON represents staff working in Contact, Command and Control Centres
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