Inverclyde UNISON warns on cuts to services and jobs

DATE: 11 August 2010

Inverclyde Council today announced  that it expects to employ 500 fewer staff by 2013 and said it faces a funding gap of £33.7 million in the next three years. Details here

UNISON Inverclyde Branch - Press Release

The announcement by Inverclyde Council that as many as 500 jobs could be lost over the next three years will create a great deal of anxiety amongst UNISON members and their families. It will also unnerve members of the community who our members provide a service to.

The scale of the cuts is unprecedented and while UNISON accepts that this not of the council's doing, nonetheless we would encourage the Council to think long and hard before deciding what services will be reduced or withdrawn.

UNISON Service Conditions officer Robin Taggart says: "The Trade Unions will continue to work with the Council in an effort to find solutions to such a huge funding gap. We believe there is scope to identify savings which least impact on jobs and services, such as the use of expensive private consultants which cost the Council nearly £0.5m last year. But our greatest concern is the projected level of job losses with as much as 10% of the current workforce no longer having a job by the end of the three year budget period.

"Unemployment in Inverclyde is already comparatively high and it's difficult to see how job losses within the Council can be mitigated by increased employment opportunities elsewhere in the area. It's not overstating the point that this situation could prove to be devastating not just for Council employees and users of services but also for the local economy which is already having to cope with the affects of population diminution."

UNISON, along with the other Trade Unions, is committed to continuing with the partnership approach. However Robin Taggart adds: "The joint budget group provides us with an opportunity to influence the overall direction of where the budget cuts may eventually fall. However industrial action may be unavoidable in future if the Council decides to serve compulsory redundancy notices on our members."

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UNISON wins important unsocial hours payments equal pay case

DATE: 6 August


An Employment Appeal Tribunal has backed UNISON’s claim that women working for St Helen’s and Knowsley NHS Trust are entitled to the same level of unsocial hours payments as men.

The Lancashire decision* paves the way for women at this trust and at other hospitals to challenge pay discrimination on the same grounds.

The women, working as healthcare assistants, domestic supervisors, and on reception, were paid time and one third for working on a Saturday, and time and two thirds for working on Sundays and bank holidays. But the men were paid at a higher rate of time and a half for Saturdays and double time for Sundays and bank holidays.

The trust claimed that unsocial hours payments were part of their staffs’ normal working week, and that payments for these hours could not be separated out from basic pay. Today, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has backed UNISON’s claim that unsocial hours payments are a separate term of the employment contract, and can be directly compared.

The case sets an important precedent, giving women at this trust and others, hope that they, too, can challenge unsocial hours payments that are more generous to men.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:

“It is more than 40 years since the Equal Pay Act, and long overdue for employers to face up to their responsibilities to pay men and women equally. The decision made in this case clarifies that unsocial hours’ payments must also be 100% fair and equal.

“The employers have dragged their heels and forced these women to jump through legal hurdles in their fight for equality. They should now pay up, rather than wasting any more of the taxpayer’s precious funds on legal challenges.”


Information to Editors: *The case: Brownbill v St Helens and Knowsley.

From UNISON UK news release

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CIPD call to ban strikes - UNISON response

DATE: 6 Aug 2010


Commenting on a recommendation by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) that the government consider banning strikes by public sector workers, Dave Prentis, UNISON’s general secretary, said:

“We already have the toughest strike laws in Europe and unions are working hard to defend the huge attack on public service workers, their families and local communities.

“The CIPD should be turning their fire on the greedy bankers, who caused the recession and are still living it up on their bonuses, rather than on our members working hard against the odds to maintain vital public services.

“The government meanwhile, would be wise to concentrate on economic recovery rather than picking a fight with the unions.”
 
From UNISON UK news release
 
BBC news report of CIPD call
 
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UNISON warns of legal action to protect English NHS from being torn apart

DATE: 6 Aug 2010

Forging ahead with plans to implement English NHS White Paper before consultation illegal warns UNISON

UNISON, the UK's largest public service union, is preparing to take urgent legal action to protect the NHS from being torn apart. The union says that NHS Chief Executive, Sir David Nicholson, is pressing ahead with plans that have neither Parliamentary approval nor legal backing.


The move centres around the status of the UK Government's latest NHS White Paper that proposes sweeping changes. Sir David Nicholson is accused by the union of pre-empting the result of the consultation and subsequent Parliamentary process by writing to Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and other providers with a series of "actions that we need to start now".

The letter states that under the present law it is simply unlawful to propose a series of far reaching, top-down changes to the NHS without giving the public, patients and interested parties, including UNISON, a proper opportunity to have their say about the proposals.

The union’s letter warns that unless the union gets a satisfactory response, urgent Judicial Review proceedings are on the cards.

Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said:

“The Government’s White Paper will change forever the NHS as we know it. These sweeping changes were not part of any party manifesto and it is outrageous that these changes are being brought in without consulting the public, patients, staff and unions.

“The NHS Constitution enshrined in law the right to consultation and yet, in writing to NHS managers, Sir David is working on the premise that the consultation is only about the best way to achieve pre-determined outcomes – this makes it nothing more than a paper exercise and a sham.

“We have asked for a response within 7 days and if we are not happy with the reply we are reserving the right to issue urgent Judicial Review proceedings.”



* “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS

From UNISON UK news release


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Pension-cutting private companies rob workers of a decent future

UNISON, the UK's largest public services union, today called on private companies to act responsibly and provide decent pensions for their workers, instead of leaving individuals struggling to make complex, often expensive, individual pensions arrangements.


UNISON Scotland is warning that high fees and poor performance means that many people will be left short of money when they retire, even if they have paid into a private pension.

Others are put off from saving by confusion over complicated pensions' policies, and leave taxpayers to pick up the billion pound benefits bill.

Two thirds of employers don't provide a single penny towards their employees' pensions while awarding themselves gold-plated retirement packages. After a lifetime of top salaries, boardroom bonuses and perks, many retire on six figure pensions, while their workforce retire with little or nothing.

Scottish Organiser Dave Watson said: "Public sector workers save year in, year out for their pensions, but most private sector workers are denied this opportunity. Individuals are faced with very complex pension choices and end up with plans that charge high fees, are inefficient and underperform, leaving them not enough money to live on when they retire.

"The Government should act now to bring an end to this pensions apartheid across the country.

"Ironically hardly a week goes by without an attack on the so-called scandal of 'gold-plated pensions' enjoyed by public sector workers such as social workers, nursery nurses, classroom assistants, care workers, nurses and paramedics.

"But the real pensions scandal is how the country will afford to look after the people who have not saved, or not saved enough for their retirement and then need means-tested state benefits?

"Private companies have locked hundreds and thousands of workers out of pension schemes. Despite making profits, many are closing their final salary schemes to staff, leaving them with inadequate defined contribution schemes.

"Some leave their workers with no pension scheme at all. These are the real villains and the Government should make sure they do not get away with leaving taxpayers to foot the benefits bill."

Any perceived savings being called for on public sector pension funds would mean higher costs for taxpayers on a range of means-tested benefits, including pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

A reduction in public sector pension schemes would also impact heavily on the economy as such schemes provide billions of pounds of investment every year in the UK and Scottish economies. They are more important, not less, at a time of a downturn in private investment.

Scottish Local Government Pension Funds had £19.8 billion invested in 2008, which equates to more than 21% of Scottish GDP (£93.3 billion). The Strathclyde fund, with £9.3 billion invested is the largest in the UK.

Ends

Notes for editors: Newspaper reports today say that a study of high street pensions shows workers are being hit by high charges and hidden fees. See, for example, www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/190799/British-pensions-are-cut-in-half/

Stay in touch with UNISON Scotland's latest news releases on our website http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/index.html  and frequent updates on our blog http://unison-scotland.blogspot.com/

Overwhelming rejection of local government pay offer

Date: 2 August 2010

UNISON Scotland today announced the result of a consultative pay ballot of its local government members.

A total of 80% voted to reject the council pay offer, which was for a 3 year deal of 1% in the first year, 0% in the second and 0.5% in the third.

UNISON and the other main unions had recommended a no vote.

Stephanie Herd, Chair of UNISON’s Scottish Local Government Committee, said: “This overwhelming rejection shows how strongly our members feel about an offer that is in reality a three year pay cut.

“Not only would our members and their families lose out, it would be bad news for local economies across Scotland as members have less money to spend in local shops and businesses.

"It is not surprising that our members feel angry and voted no, when chief officials in local authorities were awarded 2.5% and teachers 2.4%.

“It is unacceptable to attempt to tie many of the lowest paid public sector workers, who deliver essential front line services, into a 3 year deal worth 1.5%.”

Dougie Black, UNISON trade union side secretary and lead negotiator, said: “We are meeting with members of our Local Government Committee today and with the other unions later this week to decide on the next steps in our pay campaign.

“Industrial action is one of a range of possible options we will be considering.

“We will also be seeking an early meeting with the employers to re-open negotiations following this decisive rejection of their offer.”



Notes for editors:


1. Three unions make up the trade union side of the Scottish Joint Council: UNISON, Unite, GMB.


2. Both Unite and GMB held their own consultative arrangements over a similar timescale, resulting in rejection of the offer.

3. UNISON represents around 100,000 Scottish Council staff.


4. The unions’ claim is for a one year deal of 3% or £600, whichever is the greater. It includes a £7 per hour minimum wage, with the settlement weighted towards the lower paid.


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Glasgow branch backs vital service for women who have experienced sexual violence

The Herald 2 August 2010
Rape victim support centre to close as council cuts back
The Evening Times 2 August 2010 
Alert on threat to rape victim advice service as staff quit


UNISON's Glasgow branch today urged Glasgow City Council to keep open a vital service for women who have experienced sexual violence.


Brian Smith, branch secretary, told The Herald and the Evening Times that Breakthrough for Women provides essential advice, support and counselling, helping hundreds of women each year from across the city.


He added: “After meeting with council officers on 29 July, UNISON is of the view that the Council intend to close Breakthrough for Women.

"We would ask that this important service to women who have experienced sexual violence is retained. The demand for the service remains and is valued by the women who use it, other frontline social work staff and other agencies.

"We hope that the Council demonstrates its commitment to this group of vulnerable women by continuing to offer the current services.”

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