BBC Scotland: Unions protest in Edinburgh over public sector cuts

23 October 2010Last updated at 15:09 

 

A rally in Edinburgh to protest at public sector cuts was attended by more than 20,000 demonstrators.

Union group the STUC arranged the event to demonstrate against measures in the UK government's Spending Review.

STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said: "We launched this campaign to dispel the myth that there is no economic alternative to these cuts.

"There is an alternative. Get people back to work, get the economy growing again, and the public finances will largely take care of themselves.

"We also launched this campaign to expose the lie that it is those with the broadest shoulders that will bear the brunt of the cuts."

Union leaders said they had been "overwhelmed" by the response to the protest rally attended by people from across Scotland.

See full story at BBC Scotland News

More UNISON pics and story to follow here on this blog and on UNISON Scotland website. 


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BBC News - Budget hits the poorest hardest, says IFS

BBC News - 25 August 2010 Last updated at 04:58

The coalition government's first Budget has hit the poorest families hardest, a leading economic think tank has said.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the measures announced in the Budget in June were "regressive".

Its analysis suggests that low income families with children are set to lose the most as a percentage of net income due to benefit cuts announced in the Budget.

The Treasury said it did not accept the "selective" findings of the IFS.

The IFS had already challenged the government's claim that the Budget was "progressive".

Its report concluded: "Once all of the benefit cuts are considered, the tax and benefit changes announced in the emergency Budget are clearly regressive as, on average, they hit the poorest households more than those in the upper middle of the income distribution in cash, let alone percentage, terms."


Read more on BBC News site...

But there is an alternative: See www.unison-scotland.org.uk


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Glyn Hawker on BBC: There is an alternative. We don't need to be making these cuts.

July 29

UNISON Scottish Organiser Glyn Hawker today argued on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that there is an alternative to the current cuts and privatisation agenda.

Speaking in advance of today's Independend Budget Review report, she said: "There is an alternative. We don't need to be making these cuts.

"The alternatives are about generating income, about making sure we collect the tax currently not being collected, that we look at those people who do have more making a bigger contribution rather than taking away from those at the bottom end."

The so-called Tax Payers Alliance were also interviewed. UNISON has highlighted the fact that the TPA is an unrepresentative right wing body keen to promote massive cuts in public sector spending. UNISON is a democratic organisation made up of tax payers and could make far more claim to the name. The TPA is made up of right wing ideologues and non-dom millionaires.

For some interesting facts about the TPA, check out the website of The Other Taxpayers Alliance.  www.taxpayersalliance.org/

Listen to Good Morning Scotland here The interview starts at about 1 hour 9 mins into the recording.


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Mike Kirby on Newsnight Scotland: Ring fence all public services

UNISON's Scottish Convener Mike Kirby was interviewed on the BBC's Newsnight Scotland in advance of publication of the Independent Budget Review report today.

He argued that the debate should not be about cuts or which services to ring fence, but about the kind of public services Scotland wants.

He added: "All public services should be ring fenced."

Watch the programme here

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BBC blueprint for attack on public sector pensions

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Commenting on BBC pension cuts and public sector pensions, Dave Watson, UNISON Scottish Organiser, said:

"Clearly public sector pensions are now under full attack. We've had all the scaremongering and mythmaking about gold plated pensions for public sector workers. The truth is the average pension in local government is just £4,000 a year, and that's not gold plated.

"In fact public sector pensions are sustainable and affordable - we have already gone through massive changes to ensure that. There is no reason why public sector workers should pay for the bailout of the bankers. Public sector workers and their unions will defend decent pensions, by industrial action if necessary."


See BBC News website

BBC to cut staff pension benefits
15:44 GMT, Tuesday, 29 June 2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10443981.stm
"BBC business editor Robert Peston says the plans could be a blueprint for future public-sector pension plans."
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BBC Interview: UNISON branch says Glasgow city council should defend public services

Brian Smith, Secretary
Glasgow City UNISON Branch

UNISON's Glasgow city branch secretary hit out today at Glasgow city council in a BBC interview.

Brian Smith urged councillors to defend public services and warned of the impact on services, families and the local economy of the council "implementing Tory cuts".

He said: "The workforce in Glagow would want to ask the council leader Gordon Matheson 'what are you going to do to protect services? Stand up to the government. Don't cut services.'"

Listen to the interview on BBC Radio Scotland's 'Scotland Live' programme here

Brian's interview starts at about 17 minutes and 40 secs into the programme.

The BBC report on the council warning it needs to make a further £40m worth of savings is here

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The cuts are coming - Brian Taylor's blog BBC Scotland

The cuts are coming

Brian Taylor
15:38 UK time, Tuesday, 22 June 2010

"Certainty. That VAT rise, the cuts in benefits, the restoration of the pension earnings link, the increase in capital gains, the reduction in corporation tax.

Imponderable. The precise details of public spending - including, even, the overall total for the Scottish block because that is dependent upon Whitehall negotiations which are about to get under way.

But even within that imponderable we can be certain of one thing. Scottish public spending is about to fall and fall sharply."

Read more at Brian Taylor's blog Blether with Brian


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BBC interview: Dave Prentis attacks government pensions scaremongering

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis today rejected government attacks on public sector pensions in an interview on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme.

He hit out at claims the pensions are 'gold-plated', given the average pension in local government for women is just £50 a week.

The full interview is available on the BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00sq2pn/Good_Morning_Scotland_15_06_2010/  at 1 hour 45 minutes into the broadcast.

UNISON UK press release
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BBC News: UNISON protest over public sector cuts

BBC News - Protest over public sector cuts:



Thousands of union members have joined a demonstration in Glasgow against public service cuts.


Unison, the public services union, has held a march and rally in the city's west end to urge Scots to defend their services as the general election looms.

Unison said about 2,500 people took part in the event.

Unison's Scottish convenor said the cuts were threatening various services, from classroom assistants' hours to mobile libraries and meals on wheels.

Convenor Mike Kirby said: "Unison members, who deliver services across Scotland, are reporting that cuts are already threatening services for Scots from the cradle to the grave.

"And this is just the start of a sustained period of attacks on the public sector.

Our members didn't cause the crash, and neither did the people we serve every day in communities across Scotland Gerry Gallagher Unison UK president

"As politicians vie with one another to out trump each other's cuts to pay for the bail out of the banks, we urge our members and community campaigns to join Unison's Public Works campaign.

"We will urge them to tell politicians at all levels - in Westminster, in Holyrood and locally, that you will not accept cuts in our vital public services to bail out the fat cats."

Unison's UK president, Gerry Gallagher, STUC general secretary, Grahame Smith, and the Scottish president of the Public and Commercial Services Union, Janice Godrich, also spoke at the rally.

'Own story'
A similar demonstration was held in London's Trafalgar Square at the same time.

Mr Gallagher said: "In Glasgow and in London today our key message is that public services should not suffer because of the bank bailout.

"Our members didn't cause the crash, and neither did the people we serve every day in communities across Scotland.

"You all have your own story to tell. And tell them you should.

"Because it is the combined voice of public service workers and service users that need to be heard in corridors of power."

The marchers set off from Kelvin Way, walked through the west end before holding a rally in Kelvingrove Park.


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Chris Bartter's response to the Ryanair model and the "three wise men"

On Tuesday Douglas Fraser, the BBC’s Business and Economy editor raised a number of issues about public services, charging and the ‘three wise men’ in his blog BBC - Douglas Fraser's Ledger: Priority Boarding for Public Services. Fraser raised the prospect of a Ryanair business model for public services as promoted by PricewaterhouseCoopers consultants and quoted Crawford Beveridge as saying that "nothing was off limits".  UNISON Scotland's Chris Bartter was minded to comment on Faser's blog – here’s what Chris had to say:

"I suspect these three wise men do not, in fact, have an 'open remit'. All Mr Beveridge has said so far indicates that they are assuming that we need to cut public services. This is simply a big business driven assumption.

In fact, a) UK debt is not significantly larger than other comparable European countries, b) the deficit is not as large proportionally as after the War, when we were able to create the NHS.

What has happened is that a very large amount of public cash has been given to failing, private businesses (mainly banks) to stop them going bust. Now they and other private companies (including PriceWaterhouseCoopers – what is their responsibility for auditing these failed banks one wonders?) say we have to cut other public sector spending to pay for this.

I think the people of Scotland (and the UK) would rather like to consider other alternatives. For example:
We could make the sector that caused the imbalance in public sector spending, (if imbalance it is) contribute rather more than they currently are doing to pay off the money they owe. (Either by increased taxes, or by paying back loans etc). Indeed Ryanair themselves might consider a realistic payment to compensate for the climate damage they do.

We could look at the whole public spending package and see if there are genuine items of waste - UNISON has recently suggested cutting the use of private consultants by the public sector, not replacing Trident, or introducing ID cards, abolishing the Scottish Futures Trust and other forms of PFI. Are the three going to consider these options?

It may well be that (boosted by the continuing investment by the public sector) return to growth is faster than predicted. There are some signs of increased growth already. If taxation is fair, that is one method of cutting the deficit.

However the likely truth is that it will require some of all of this. What it does NOT need is for damaging cuts to be speedily implemented on our increasingly in-demand public services. That way lies increased poverty and suffering, more demand on public finances (via increased demand for benefits etc) and a real risk of a return to recession.

Are these items on the three's agenda? If not, they should be."


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BBC Scotland: Private prison victory for union

Private prison victory for union
Page last updated at 09:08 GMT, Thursday, 10 September 2009 10:08 UK


Scotland's Information Commissioner has ordered the release of key financial data from a £50m PFI contract for Kilmarnock jail.
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and the private jail's operator had resisted giving the information to the union Unison.
They argued it would substantially prejudice the contractor's commercial interests.
Unison said it was "a major victory for the public's right to know". ...

BBC: Climate change targets 'tougher'

Climate change targets 'tougher'
Page last updated at 07:50 GMT, Tuesday, 23 June 2009 08:50 UK

Stronger targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been included in legislation to be debated by MSPs on Wednesday.
The climate change bill had committed to a 34% emissions cut but ministers said a new target of 42% would be set.
But it will only be set at 42% if European governments agree to reduce emissions by 30% at climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
Labour said it welcomed what it called "an astonishing u-turn" by the SNP...

BBC Scotland: 'Mock funeral' is held over cuts - 12:50pm update

Two trade unions have staged a mock funeral at the Scottish Parliament to protest against the loss of voluntary sector jobs and services.

Members of Unite and Unison gathered outside Holyrood dressed in black and accompanied by a horse-drawn hearse.

The groups will later be joined by care charities in urging MSPs on the petitions committee to intervene.

They want the Scottish Government to give support to a "fair funding agreement".

BBC Scotland News: Page last updated at 12:50 GMT, Tuesday, 17 March 2009
More on BBC Scotland News website

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BBC NEWS | Scotland | Water workers warn of more action

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Water workers warn of more action:
Page last updated at 14:57 GMT, Thursday, 27 November 2008


A 24-hour walkout by hundreds of Scottish Water employees could be followed up with further action.


A Unite spokesman said unions involved were open to fresh talks on pay, but he said more stoppages were possible.

Scottish Water said the action involved 802 union members and it had contingency plans to maintain services.

The unions involved are Unison - which said more than 1,000 staff were taking action - Unite and the GMB. Thursday's action is to end midday on Friday.

The Unite spokesman said: "If Scottish Water want to talk then we are up for that.

"Union members are really disappointed by the actions of Scottish Water for imposing what is a pay cut whilst still undertaking negotiations."

It is the latest in a series of separate pay disputes affecting thousands of public service workers in Scotland, including local authority employees and coastguards.

Scottish Water said the pay award it had made was within public sector guidelines.

It was paid in the September salaries of the company's 3,685 employees and was backdated to April. The award equates to 3% over 15 months.

'Pay cuts'

But Unison said Scottish Water could afford more.

Dave Watson, the union's Scottish organiser, said: "In recent years our members have helped to save Scottish Water over £1bn through reduced operating costs and improved efficiencies.

"Customers and directors have benefited, while workers have faced real terms pay cuts due to inflation."

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water's customer service delivery director, was confident usual services could be maintained during the action, which will finish at midday on Friday.

He said: "We have a committed team in place, determined to maintain a normal service for our customers."

Director of communications Chris Wallace added: "We are deeply disappointed; this decision is not the right action for Scottish Water."

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Scottish Water staff go on strike

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Scottish Water staff go on strike

Page last updated at 13:09 GMT, Thursday, 27 November 2008

 

Hundreds of employees at Scottish Water have started a 24-hour strike over wages.

The firm said the action involved 802 union members and it had contingency plans in place to maintain services.

The unions involved are Unison - which said more than 1,000 staff were taking action - Unite and the GMB.

It is the latest in a series of separate pay disputes affecting thousands of workers in Scotland, including bus drivers and coastguards.

Scottish Water said the pay award it had made was within public sector guidelines. It was paid in the September salaries of the company's 3,685 employees and was backdated to April. The award equates to 3% over 15 months.

'Pay cuts'
But Unison said Scottish Water could afford more.

Dave Watson, the union's Scottish organiser, said: "In recent years our members have helped to save Scottish Water over £1bn through reduced operating costs and improved efficiencies.

"Customers and directors have benefited, while workers have faced real terms pay cuts due to inflation."

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water's customer service delivery director, was confident usual services could be maintained during the action, which will finish at midday on Friday.

He said: "We have a committed team in place, determined to maintain a normal service for our customers."

Director of communications Chris Wallace added: "We are deeply disappointed; this decision is not the right action for Scottish Water."

BBC Good Morning Scotland: Dougie Black interviewed by Gary Robertson

BBC Good Morning Scotland
Thursday 27 November 2008

08:40am Dougie Black, UNISON Scotland interviewed by Gary Robertson on the Scottish Water strike.

BBC News: Council workers to strike again

BBC NEWS | Scotland:
Page last updated at 17:35 GMT, Thursday, 25 September 2008 18:35 UK

Council services were disrupted during an earlier strike Unions have set a date for fresh strike action by council workers in a continuing dispute over pay.   Unison, which represents 100,000 local government workers in Scotland, said the latest action would begin on Monday, 6 October. The announcement came a day after a 24-hour walkout by 150,000 local government staff. Unions are unhappy with a 2.5% pay offer and want 5% instead. Council bosses called for more talks. A Unison spokesman said the forthcoming action would target particular services and would involve lower numbers of workers than previous strikes. He declined to give any indication how long it would last. 'Reality' check However council bosses claim they have already made concessions and the resources are not available to meet the workers' demands. Local authority employers' group Cosla called on the unions to bring more realistic demands to the table. A Cosla spokesman said: "We are prepared to meet with the unions at any time. "We do not want the people of Scotland inconvenienced by unnecessary strike action." He urged the unions to come to any meeting with "a degree of reality in their position". "We have moved twice already firstly to get to 2.5 % (from 2.2%) and then a one-year deal from three. The unions have not moved an inch." Unison Scottish secretary Matt Smith said strike action was "only taken with the greatest of reluctance" and said he hoped the union and Cosla could come to a "negotiated settlement".

We told you so - questions over pupil safety

UNISON warned on Monday that some Scottish councils are risking children's safety by trying to open schools during today's strike action

Councils put schoolchildren at risk in desperate attempt to undermine staff strike

This viewer comment, posted to the BBC website strike story, appears to confirm that councils that force teachers to open schools are taking risks with pupil safety.

BBC:News: Scotland:Workers in Strike Action:Viewer Comment

Anon, Central Scotland


"I am the head teacher of a large primary school in Central Scotland. Despite my request to my local authority to close my school on safety grounds, having no janitor or support staff, and on health grounds, down to the fact classrooms and toilets will not be cleaned and the bins not emptied, my request was declined. Local Authorities are not willing to support school staff and as a result are putting pupil safety at risk.

I am unwilling to provide my contact details as I know that I will be targeted by the education authority as a result. I also know that I am one of many head teachers who are being forced to put pupils at risk today."

More

BBC News: Strike suspends ferry and schools

Page last updated at 08:28 GMT, Wednesday, 24 September 2008 09:28 UK

BBC News Scotland Highlands & Islands Strike suspends ferry and schools

Strike suspends ferry and schools

Many schools on the Western Isles and in the Highlands are closed as a result of industrial action by council staff.

The walkout involves hundreds of employees of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highland Council.

Large schools on the islands are affected, while almost 50 primaries in the Highlands are shut to pupils.

Recycling centres are closed, refuse collections not being made, registration offices shut and Highland Council's Corran Ferry did not operate.


In the Highlands, 10 secondary schools are shut and eight are limiting classes to older year groups.

Nurseries are also affected and almost 50 primary schools are closed.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said its offices in Stornoway and Balivanich are closed.

Offices in Castlebay and Tarbert are open, but may be subject to limited services.

Many islands schools, particularly the larger ones, are closed due to a lack of support staff and disruption to local authority-run bus services.

More

BBC News: Admin Worker's Happy 60th Birthday on the picket line!

From Glasgow Wed 24 Sep

Shirley Buchanan, an admin assistant at Glasgow City Council, will be celebrating her 60th birthday while taking part in the strike.
"It will be something to remember it by," she said...
She has been involved in a number of strikes during her 20 years as a council employee, but thinks this dispute is one of the worst.
"I think it's more serious because of the current rate of inflation," she said. "No one has extra money.
"Prices are shooting up daily. Food, fuel, everything is going up except our wages."
Ms Buchanan said low-paid female workers were suffering most.
She said: "They have families to support and they've got a pay rise that's the equivalent of just 42p a week."
Ms Buchanan said she believed she had no choice but to take part in the walkout.
"It's a big thing for anyone to get involved in strike action, but it's the only way to get employers round the table," she said.

More