tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001763341148384302024-03-05T16:38:59.588+00:00Aberdeenshire UNISON blogAberdeenshire UNISON blog
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-32977359201038883852017-10-25T20:32:00.000+01:002018-01-04T12:49:33.579+00:00Aberdeenshire Branch has a new branch website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="entry-meta">
<span class="meta-comments"><span class="screen-reader-text">UNISON Aberdeenshire Branch has a new branch website.</span></span></div>
<div class="entry-meta">
</div>
After
12 years and two national awards we have retired the old branch website
and launched a new one designed to be cleaner, more accessible and able
to be updated by a wider group of the branch team.<br />
<br />
We will no longer be updating this blog so for up to date branch information please go to <a href="http://aberdeenshireunison.org/" target="_blank"><b>http://aberdeenshireunison.org/</b></a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-55982970617082594402017-10-24T18:08:00.000+01:002017-10-25T20:27:13.665+01:00Leisure and Culture Trust Update UNISON – working to protect members and services <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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As Aberdeenshire Council continues to explore the
proposal to move its sport, culture and leisure services out to a trust, UNISON
continues to be involved in all working groups and project board looking at
this option. </div>
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Here, Branch Secretary, Inez Kirk gives an update on the
branch’s work to ensure our members feed into this process.</div>
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“UNISON has met with our members during a series of
meetings during September and the feedback we have received continues to form
our negotiating strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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We have been seeking:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>trade union recognition in the new trust</div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>a non voting trade union advisor to the board</div>
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</span></span></span>a sign-up of the trust to the SJC (Scottish Joint
Council)</div>
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</span></span></span>terms and conditions to maintain parity with colleagues
remaining within </div>
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the Council. </div>
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So far, the Council has agreed to trade union recognition;
the others we continue to discuss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQHCv-GGZxwnr2h7M8xZQ60Tc77SWIJyzLsPIgOet4Nu3jUQMySozyeer470VesTqh9bMLoM4EAwXwrcJH7lH2uCvi0A9pWPm0r2rDFN4KrAV-GukiDl7S_jYblNnDL18md9t6PQQP04/s1600/inezteece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQHCv-GGZxwnr2h7M8xZQ60Tc77SWIJyzLsPIgOet4Nu3jUQMySozyeer470VesTqh9bMLoM4EAwXwrcJH7lH2uCvi0A9pWPm0r2rDFN4KrAV-GukiDl7S_jYblNnDL18md9t6PQQP04/s200/inezteece.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inez Kirk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The one big issue that has affected many people’s
view on whether they would be happy to move to a trust or not is the Barclay
Report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a report published late
summer that indicated grounds for the removal of non domestic rates relief to
trusts similar to the one being proposed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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If the Scottish Government were to action these
recommendations, then the proposals for the trust are not likely to save money
and could, infact, cost the council more. </div>
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Obviously work continues with plans to be put
before full council in November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The Scottish Government does not make their budget
announcements and allocations until mid December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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It is clear that UNISON needs to continue our work
to protect the best interests of our members and the vital health and wellbeing
services they provide."</div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-34311476553388162882017-10-20T19:07:00.001+01:002017-10-20T19:07:18.874+01:00Now is the time to stand strong, stand united and put public services first<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaTMUT6wNVXntVPmnflJfxAGqMGx1VmVRZKp4gjAKmaT1TlXEdNuOSlf2n6s3mN1FQsivX0FycRn0prmhGbRITwyZSr0O4NjX3SN0Wo94liBLJAZl0aOXXtGu5kh3ZB2PI2_0fbIxPDo/s1600/rallysmall-745x420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="745" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaTMUT6wNVXntVPmnflJfxAGqMGx1VmVRZKp4gjAKmaT1TlXEdNuOSlf2n6s3mN1FQsivX0FycRn0prmhGbRITwyZSr0O4NjX3SN0Wo94liBLJAZl0aOXXtGu5kh3ZB2PI2_0fbIxPDo/s400/rallysmall-745x420.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Branch Chair and NEC member Kate Ramsden joined thousands of people from our union and other unions as they came together in London and demanded
change, an end to austerity and real pay rises for all public service
workers.<br />
<br />
Addressing the rally in Parliament Square, Dave Prentis, UNISON
General Secretary told those assembled that this is trade unionism at
its best, “United, single-minded and determined to change our country
for the better.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Dave added, “We’ve suffered years of brutal austerity, vicious
attacks on our public services and 600,000 jobs hacked away – all
overseen by a government that does not care what damage it causes to
people’s lives.<br />
<br />
“In the first six years of Tory rule, public sector pay rose by just
4%, but the cost of living soared by 22%. And it’s getting worse.
Inflation is now at 3% whilst UNISON members are still subject to a 1%
pay cap. Every year under the Tories, they’ve faced a pay cut, and every
pay slip a painful reminder of that fact,” slammed Dave.<br />
<br />
“The care worker who can’t afford the bus back from work. The
healthcare assistant walking home from their shift via the local
foodbank. The teaching assistant, reliant on pay day loans to get
through Christmas. These are not tales of pity or woe. This about real
lives – the millions of people who care for us. Who ask for nothing more
than dignity, respect and a fair share.”<br />
<br />
But, said Dave, the tide has begun to turn.<br />
<br />
To applause he said, “Together, united, we can break this immoral pay
cap for all public-sector workers. All deserve the pay rises they’ve
been denied. All deserve an end to attacks on their jobs, their services
and their wages. The Tories will pay the price for their failure and
for letting public servants down. And we will hold them to account for
what they have done to public services – at the ballot box and every day
until then.<br />
<br />
“It’s time for the government to act – and Pay Up Now!”Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-55078740107955646412017-10-09T20:54:00.001+01:002017-10-09T20:54:57.193+01:00Branch members join Pay Up Now march and rally to demand decent pay rise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCDNWtnUi-8_aDjQ9VcHq0ip4tqpoh4J1br-cXHhCla4Zpab6ZHLpLheCtUo8gK6w4lzrXRggl8RyTq36e1fvyYKkALi9nloNmjzJuHYLgU2hYqI_38ckbn75K9r0OFmuXhcjbaVAYAg/s1600/March7thOct2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="960" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmCDNWtnUi-8_aDjQ9VcHq0ip4tqpoh4J1br-cXHhCla4Zpab6ZHLpLheCtUo8gK6w4lzrXRggl8RyTq36e1fvyYKkALi9nloNmjzJuHYLgU2hYqI_38ckbn75K9r0OFmuXhcjbaVAYAg/s320/March7thOct2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Branch members joined over 5,000 public service workers as they
marched through Edinburgh on 7 October as part of UNISON’s Pay Up Now!
Campaign, which is keeping pressure on both the Scottish and
Westminster governments to end the pay cap and give all workers a
decent pay rise.<br />
<br />
Public service employees have seen their pay held back
right across the UK for almost a decade. Public sector pay rose by
just 4.4% between 2010 and 2016, while the cost of living rose by 22%.<br />
<br />
The rally was addressed by Lilian Macer, UNISON Scotland convener,
general secretary Dave Prentis and Gordon McKay, the union’s senior vice
president.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unison-scotland.org/2017/10/08/edinburgh-march-rally-photos-video/" target="_blank"><strong>See the full report on the UNISON Scotland website with photos and videos of the event.</strong></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-66915589994790447882017-09-16T10:33:00.001+01:002017-09-16T10:54:14.672+01:00Pay Up Now! Come along to the March on 7th October and tell the Scottish and UK Governments we need a pay rise now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiNTe0mul_mSgIBf1fajwLq2ggnDZnfggFTi6_xFaou_0NO1tAlCtOk7CTi0DzTt-zE2rmIrqueFW1wnZqiUJNhOQa9Ejlbl8xjvUtYVHmER-s_0zy9ZytClyGJJO9fFyBHuLoRVpq_k/s1600/payupnowrallyversion600px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiNTe0mul_mSgIBf1fajwLq2ggnDZnfggFTi6_xFaou_0NO1tAlCtOk7CTi0DzTt-zE2rmIrqueFW1wnZqiUJNhOQa9Ejlbl8xjvUtYVHmER-s_0zy9ZytClyGJJO9fFyBHuLoRVpq_k/s400/payupnowrallyversion600px.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Following months of UNISON pressure, the Scottish Government has
said they will lift the 1% pay cap on public service workers. That’s a
welcome start, but what does it mean?<br />
<br />
1.2%? 1.7%? 2%? Inflation is 2.9%, so that’s still a real terms
pay cut. And what about all the pay we’ve lost over the last 10
years?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/pay-up-now/" target="_blank">See just how much you’ve lost with our pay cut calculator www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/pay-up-now.</a><br />
<br />
And who is it for? The Scottish Government has mentioned
nurses and teachers. But what about all the rest of us. Council
workers are amongst the lowest paid and local government has taken the
biggest hit of job losses.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/200032" target="_blank"><b>Sign UNISON's Pay Up Now Petition on the UK Parliament website</b></a><b>.</b>
If our colleagues south of the border win a pay rise then more cash
will come to Scotland for ours. It's easy to sign. Please do it now.<br />
<br />
<b>Don't leave it to someone else to fight for your pay</b><br />
Council workers, NHS staff, and UNISON members from
across the service groups along with their friends and families from
all over Scotland, will gather at Holyrood on Saturday 7 October to
show we’re serious about getting a proper pay rise.<br />
<br />
Without you and your fellow workers there, we won't have
the strong voice we need. The government will say workers
didn’t turn up, so there’s no real demand by staff for a decent pay
rise.<br />
<br />
<b>The fun bit</b> – Coach transport will be
free, and there’s going to be free t-shirts, goodie bags for the kids,
face painters, children’s entertainers, and 500 free tickets to Dynamic
Earth. What’s not to like?<br />
<b>Bring your kids, bring your partner, bring your granny, or just bring you!</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Coaches are free, but you must book in
advance. Just call the UNISON Resource Centre on 01224 620624. Spaces
are limited, so get in touch by Monday 25 September.</i></b><br />
<br />
Coach pick up points are:<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="121"><b>Place</b></td>
<td valign="top" width="66"><b>Time</b></td>
<td valign="top" width="246"><b>Pickup point</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="121">Elgin</td>
<td valign="top" width="66">06.30</td>
<td valign="top" width="246">Town Hall</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="121">Inverurie</td>
<td valign="top" width="66">07.30</td>
<td valign="top" width="246">Town Hall</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="121">Aberdeen</td>
<td valign="top" width="66">08.00</td>
<td valign="top" width="246">UNISON Office, Alford Place</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119"><b>Place</b></td>
<td valign="top" width="67"><b>Time</b></td>
<td valign="top" width="246"><b>Pickup point</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">Fraserborough</td>
<td valign="top" width="67">06.30</td>
<td valign="top" width="246">Leisure Centre car park</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">Peterhead</td>
<td valign="top" width="67">07.00</td>
<td valign="top" width="246">Academy Bus Park</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">Ellon</td>
<td valign="top" width="67">07.30</td>
<td valign="top" width="246">Opposite New Inn</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="119">Aberdeen</td>
<td valign="top" width="67">08.00</td>
<td valign="top" width="246">UNISON Office, Alford Place</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Coaches should be back in Aberdeen around 6pm, and after for places further north.<br />
<br />
We will provide bottled water, but please bring a packed
lunch for the day. We will have a collection to raise money for the
local CFINE Food Bank (<a href="http://www.cfine.org/">www.cfine.org</a>).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-32838142305374371902017-09-02T16:59:00.000+01:002017-09-02T16:59:29.983+01:00UNISON Pay up Now campaign - March with us on 7th Oct for fair pay for all public service workers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4V1-GqMKNbPyeCrbsQCaLSEczjyNZE7uuyLX3pJ2PzZnZyj51NZHJedIDB8Rver6Jw-2Ee8fgfYnY2xuKzP-DyMyq3RHXDonGT69Rp4pmK9kKDtV0Vyiu0J8tYHn2EwWvuOzTZN13hw/s1600/payupnowrallyversion600px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4V1-GqMKNbPyeCrbsQCaLSEczjyNZE7uuyLX3pJ2PzZnZyj51NZHJedIDB8Rver6Jw-2Ee8fgfYnY2xuKzP-DyMyq3RHXDonGT69Rp4pmK9kKDtV0Vyiu0J8tYHn2EwWvuOzTZN13hw/s400/payupnowrallyversion600px.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
UNISON's Pay up Now campaign is calling for an end to the pay
restraint imposed by UK and Scottish governments which has affected
members in all service groups from the NHS to Local Government to
colleges and universities to police staffs and the community and
voluntary sector and more.<br />
<br />
The branch is fully behind the campaign and is calling on
all our members to get down to the March and Rally on 7th October in
Edinburgh. Buses are running from Aberdeen and you can book your place
by calling the UNISON Resource Centre on 01224 620624.<br />
<br />
Branch Secretary, Inez Kirk said, "For years now all
public service workers have seen their pay held back by government in
the name of austerity. First a freeze then a cap, resulting in public
sector pay, across the UK, rising by just 4.4% between 2010 and 2016
while the cost of living rose by 22%.<br />
<br />
"That’s no way to treat hardworking people who play such a
vital role in looking after us and holding our communities together –
keeping us safe, healthy, educated, and cared for."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/pay-up-now/" target="_blank"><strong>Click here for the UNISON UK calculator and find out what your wages should have been to keep up with inflation.</strong></a><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair added, "Governments, both in
Scotland and UK, are now under real pressure to scrap the 1% cap on
public sector wages and UNISON is leading the fight to get you the pay
rise you deserve.<br />
<br />
"And more and more people are listening and supporting our Pay Up Now! campaign.<br />
<br />
"Now it’s up to us, in UNISON, to keep that pressure on until we get:<br />
<ul>
<li>an end to the pay cap</li>
<li>government money made available for an immediate pay rise for all public sector workers</li>
<li>an end to government interference in bargaining arrangements for all public sector pay.</li>
</ul>
"We can’t miss this opportunity. They won’t pay up if
we don’t speak up. So, please get involved in our campaign and help us
win by keeping the pressure on to scrap the cap."<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/pay-up-now/" target="_blank"><br /><strong></strong></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-36833390462296001792017-08-07T19:02:00.000+01:002017-08-07T19:02:24.837+01:00Aberdeenshire UNISON branch statement on council's Equalities Outcomes 2017-21<em>Below is the statement which the branch has sent to all
Aberdeenshire councillors as well as to the HR Equalities Team within
the council</em><strong>.</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iulT4e7f3YNLau9lHHPna53cNXtr73brWtDYHe-FJgpZco9bDUiX5CFa2llNe-b4WVWfPXNuwJ-BQMCVAfdByNdoN5BmNqpm_Kwba84CMDr28AzizJuf5f8npMFwnI0Ly4LZ6j0KWKg/s1600/kathleen-wednesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iulT4e7f3YNLau9lHHPna53cNXtr73brWtDYHe-FJgpZco9bDUiX5CFa2llNe-b4WVWfPXNuwJ-BQMCVAfdByNdoN5BmNqpm_Kwba84CMDr28AzizJuf5f8npMFwnI0Ly4LZ6j0KWKg/s1600/kathleen-wednesday.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kathleen Kennedy speaking on equalities</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Aberdeenshire Branch welcomes the council’s new
Equalities Outcomes for 2017-21 with their specific focus upon
disability, posted last week on Arcadia.<br />
<br />
The branch commends the council’s Disability Confident
accreditation under the Department of Work and Pensions' Disability
Confident Scheme. This accreditation recognises the council’s
commitment to ensure that people with disabilities and long-term health
conditions feel engaged, supported and presented with opportunities to
fulfil their potential within the workplace.<br />
<br />
The branch is committed to doing everything we can to support the
council in making this a reality. We are also proud that our Equalities
Officer, Kathleen Kennedy is a member of the UNISON Scottish disabled
members’ self-organised group and has also been active on the national
disabled members’ committee and is on the standing orders committee for
their conference this year.<br />
<br />
This reflects very positively on the branch and also on
Aberdeenshire Council, as Kathleen can bring her knowledge and
experience gained on these groups back to the council. We will be
looking for the council’s support for this work.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Kathleen said, “I am very keen to work with the council
in promoting their equalities agenda in a way that meets the needs of
their staff and the communities we serve.<br />
<br />
“It is important for the council to take steps to hear
from staff how they experience the council as an employer and to look
at how best the council can support staff who have a protected
characteristic.”<br />
<br />
Branch Chair, Kate Ramsden added, “We know that in a
time of cuts to council services, those with protected characteristics
can be particularly vulnerable and we will want to work closely with
the council to ensure that our members with disabilities and other
protected characteristics are not disadvantaged.<br />
<br />
“We are pleased that the council has committed so fully
to the equalities agenda and we will be monitoring closely how this
works out in practice for our members.”Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-13544599079356750922017-08-05T18:44:00.000+01:002017-08-05T18:44:15.330+01:00Sleeping in and the minimum wageRecent legal judgements mean that an employer who
requires workers to do a sleep in at their workplace must include that
time in calculations for the national minimum wage.<br />
<br />
This means that members, and potential members, who sleep
in and are low paid, may be entitled to a pay rise and possible back
pay.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJP0QYwUIxXqE0W30CbwlqnRZepB6c9DDxHWQQ4CBl0R92T9KOCBQvJG9wAI8ZtU2e3vBcINDBKe22rahy9SZE-02COAYrdLQMdzABCg08tCW_0_tFtRbWPhtZQJm-eAxjFrAKGBL0GQ/s1600/inezteece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJP0QYwUIxXqE0W30CbwlqnRZepB6c9DDxHWQQ4CBl0R92T9KOCBQvJG9wAI8ZtU2e3vBcINDBKe22rahy9SZE-02COAYrdLQMdzABCg08tCW_0_tFtRbWPhtZQJm-eAxjFrAKGBL0GQ/s200/inezteece.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inez Kirk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This issue will particularly affect
low-paid members in the private or community and voluntary sector who
do regular sleep-ins.<br />
<br />
But probably not those working for Aberdeenshire council because they are paid above the minimum wage.<br />
<br />
Here Inez Kirk, Branch Secretary explains the issue:<br />
<br />
“The law states that all workers over the age of 25
should be paid the national living wage as set by Westminster. This
rate is £7.50 per hour. This means that for every hour worked this rate
should be paid.<br />
<br />
“However, this does not mean that each hour during a sleep in should be paid £7.50.<br />
<br />
“What it does mean is that the total number of hours
worked and the total pay received for those hours should meet the
living wage rate.<br />
<br />
“So, for example, if you start work at 3pm and work until
11 then sleep in for 8 hours then work from 7 until 3, your total
working hours are 24.<br />
<br />
“If you then take the total amount of pay received and
divide it by 24 and it comes to above £7.50 then your pay meets the
level of the national living wage. If it is below £7.50 then the law
has been broken and this has to be sorted and back pay given.<br />
<br />
“So if you were on £9.77 per hour for the above shift you would be paid 16x£9.77 = £156.32 Plus sleep in £35.41 = £191.73<br />
<br />
“Then divide that by the total number of hours classed as working £191.73/24 = £7.99<br />
<br />
“This shows that pay rate is within legislation.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
“Many charities pay just the living wage of £7.50 per
hour and pay sleep in rates below the agreed rate and so when they
average out the pay for the shift their workers fall below the living
wage. In these circumstances the law has been broken and workers are
entitled to compensation.<br />
<br />
“At present Aberdeenshire council workers do not qualify
for the compensation highlighted on the TV because the council pays
above the living wage.”<br />
<br />
Inez added, “But this is not the end of the story. UNISON
is continuing to take it further and say if the rate of pay for the
job is decided by an evaluation scheme then all hours classed as
working should be paid at that rate. However this is a long time down
the road,” said Inez, adding that the recent case highlighted in the
press has taken 10 years to get to this outcome.<br />
<br />
This also gets more complicated with the term living wage.<br />
<br />
“Westminster has set the rate of the national living wage
at £7.50 but the Scottish government has set a different rate for the
Scottish living wage £8.45. However, this is a voluntary rate and not
legally enforceable. The Scottish government has said that all workers
providing pay within health and social care should be paid this rate.<br />
<br />
“This is where at least in Scotland there may be room for manoeuvre in the future.”Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-71954132242925566092017-07-27T22:12:00.001+01:002017-07-27T22:12:36.258+01:00Local Government pay deal agreed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgXjxcTaD9UqDtxhWtTZNDVKllC4a4Jc_m8Bbol4QVeGceSlI_pZGJgg7pTr9vzJEwU4tPIhBDpTe9ZAqsKLRfNGp3g5fxMhGuLUQ1m4e__euDPZgJpiK-_xtvsRIfSx8vH0LgYXHvjs/s1600/PayCampaign2017FairPay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgXjxcTaD9UqDtxhWtTZNDVKllC4a4Jc_m8Bbol4QVeGceSlI_pZGJgg7pTr9vzJEwU4tPIhBDpTe9ZAqsKLRfNGp3g5fxMhGuLUQ1m4e__euDPZgJpiK-_xtvsRIfSx8vH0LgYXHvjs/s1600/PayCampaign2017FairPay.jpg" /></a></div>
CoSLA has agreed the 2017/18 pay award<strong><br /></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>The pay deal is..</strong><br />
<br />
• Employees earning less than £35,000 a £350* increase (*pro rata based on 37 hours)<br />
• Employees earning more than £35,000 a 1 per cent increase.<br />
• Scottish Local Government Living Wage is the minimum
pay for all pay and allowances including additional hours, contractual
overtime and other allowances. It will be pensionable.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Letter to branches from Dougie Black, SJC Secretary:</strong></em><br />
<br />
I can now confirm that COSLA have at a Special
Leaders Meeting now agreed the SJC Pay award for 2017/18 and the
appropriate agreement for issuing to all local authorities is being
drafted and will be distributed within the next few days.<br />
<br />
The Leaders have also agreed to a joint approach to the
Scottish Government making the case for additional resources for
local government and if this was successful they recognise that
additional money for future pay awards is a priority.<br />
<br />
We will also be meeting with COSLA within the next few
weeks to start preliminary discussions on a future Pay Strategy and
hoping to conclude this by December this year.<br />
Regards<br />
<br />
<strong>Douglas Black<br />
</strong><strong>Regional Organiser/SJC Secretary<br />
</strong><strong>UNISON Scotland</strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-37749823509544014722017-07-26T17:58:00.001+01:002017-07-26T17:58:52.087+01:00UNISON legal victory sees employment tribunal fees scrapped<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KXTXzGH1v6uXX5-5isUQeVABuH11fwe59rushxqz8MZhqb0OgB7Ep_g9EjhDdm9DLsclrqXOGz_2bSNlMfy9flJIvLNrpkRXeMfd6kFyMBSZzVGoE8E16XTG1VTsm2tFgUKaWhvEPsE/s1600/UNISON+court+win+jul17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="745" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KXTXzGH1v6uXX5-5isUQeVABuH11fwe59rushxqz8MZhqb0OgB7Ep_g9EjhDdm9DLsclrqXOGz_2bSNlMfy9flJIvLNrpkRXeMfd6kFyMBSZzVGoE8E16XTG1VTsm2tFgUKaWhvEPsE/s400/UNISON+court+win+jul17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The branch is delighted to report that employment tribunal fees will
be scrapped after UNISON won a landmark court victory against the
government this morning.<br />
<br />
The Supreme Court – the UK’s highest court – has
unanimously ruled that the government was acting unlawfully and
unconstitutionally when it introduced the fees four years ago.<br />
<br />
From today, anyone who has been treated illegally or
unfairly at work will no longer have to pay to take their employers to
court – as a direct result of UNISON’s legal challenge.<br />
<br />
The government will also have to refund more than £27m
to the thousands of people charged for taking claims to tribunals
since July 2013, when fees were introduced by then Lord Chancellor
Chris Grayling.<br />
<br />
Anyone in England, Scotland and Wales wanting to pursue
a case against their employer has had to find as much as £1,200. This
has been a huge expense for many low-paid employees, says UNISON.<br />
<br />
Reacting to this morning‘s decision,<strong> UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:</strong>
“The government is not above the law. But when ministers introduced
fees they were disregarding laws many centuries old, and showing little
concern for employees seeking justice following illegal treatment at
work.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2017/07/tribunal-fees-victory/" target="_blank">Read the full story here</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-42145623221291272892017-07-18T20:50:00.002+01:002017-07-18T20:50:56.650+01:00Under 27? Come along to UNISON's young members' BBQ and Information Event on 22nd July <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.aberdeenshireunison.com/graphics/youngmembersbbqjuly17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.aberdeenshireunison.com/graphics/youngmembersbbqjuly17.jpg" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="400" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
Local UNISON branches have organised a young members' BBQ and
information event for Saturday 22nd July from 10am at the Grampian
Resource Centre, Alford Place, Aberdeen.<br />
<br />
Local Organiser, Ann McEvoy said, "The Young Members
Committee is coming up to Grampian Resource Centre and this is a great
opportunity for Young Members (up to the age of 27) to drop by and meet
and find out more about the Young Members Self Organised Group (SOG).<br />
<br />
"It is also an opportunity for them to become more involved."<br />
<br />
<b>The BBQ begins at 1pm but the Young Members Committee
will be there from 10am to answer any questions or just to meet with
local young members.</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-74463049307883419482017-07-18T20:45:00.000+01:002017-07-18T20:45:37.993+01:00UNISON - protecting members' interests as council continues to look at alternative delivery model for sport and leisureThe branch has written out to all affected members with an update on
the proposals for an Alternative Delivery Model - essentially a Trust -
for sport and leisure services.<br />
<br />
The branch will hold meetings with affected members in September to seek your views.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDsRZzqOWW4lcYi9wstjUrX16KvWriD9csoJZ9sn7zXiRaN-2aAJBqOwQPlUEKjLdZ45jcdNYLSmMXPhxkRHjuC57R9ghmu3tcHfLvyUu53pKcxTWFdXcWOS-YmvzjgMPgBJHFvCI5Fg/s1600/inezface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="129" data-original-width="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDsRZzqOWW4lcYi9wstjUrX16KvWriD9csoJZ9sn7zXiRaN-2aAJBqOwQPlUEKjLdZ45jcdNYLSmMXPhxkRHjuC57R9ghmu3tcHfLvyUu53pKcxTWFdXcWOS-YmvzjgMPgBJHFvCI5Fg/s1600/inezface.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inez Kirk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Inez Kirk, Branch Secretary writes, "The Council are continuing to
work on the proposals for a full business case to establish a Trust for
Sport and Leisure. <br />
<br />
"UNISON continues to be involved at every stage of this process;
within the Project Board Working Group and Sub Groups. UNISON is
continuing to play the role of “critical friend”, pointing out
alternatives to accepted ideas and emphasising the need on ongoing two
way communication with all affected staff. <br />
<br />
"We are aware that proposals are due to be heard by full
Council in September with a view, if the proposals are accepted, to be
implemented on 1st April 2018.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
"UNISON continues to emphasise the view that, staff that
may transfer should be protected as if they remained within the
Council and that terms and conditions are protected long term. If the
proposals go ahead, UNISON is seeking:<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li>trade union recognition for the three recognised trade unions: UNISON, GMB and Unite. </li>
<li>that Scottish Joint Council (SJC) terms and conditions be recognised by the new employer</li>
<li>that trade union be present on the Board of
Governors, on a non voting basis, as advisors in line with current
arrangements for the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) for Health
& Social Care. </li>
<li>that all employees of the proposed new board be
treated equally, having the same pension, rights and terms and
conditions.</li>
</ul>
"UNISON will continue to act in the interests of all
staff. During September, UNISON would like to meet with staff to get
their views.<br />
<br />
"If you have any comments/queries, please do not hesistate to contact me.<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
<br />
Inez Kirk<br />
<br />
<strong>INEZ KIRK</strong><br />
<strong>Branch Secretary</strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-62641004792485546592017-06-28T19:12:00.000+01:002017-09-04T19:28:25.275+01:00Sadness but also optimism at this year's UNISON National Delegate Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW_Xv0_LliIvu1H9FRvJNffwq9FoAuHXyWLz8C_b6FPhHoa9wPhUmnKR4eN4gMaxbZ9pMJlW580z_UyGJkMtO1I1Y8nC_e8tX_GwiKx3Qf-bIBzd5xx2AH2A8m1Xd3AuskInGcNpatt8/s1600/crowd400px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTW_Xv0_LliIvu1H9FRvJNffwq9FoAuHXyWLz8C_b6FPhHoa9wPhUmnKR4eN4gMaxbZ9pMJlW580z_UyGJkMtO1I1Y8nC_e8tX_GwiKx3Qf-bIBzd5xx2AH2A8m1Xd3AuskInGcNpatt8/s400/crowd400px.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The cloud of the tragic events in London and Manchester hung heavy over this year's Conference.<br />
<br />
The aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, whatever the
causes, threw into focus the reality of the divide in a Tory UK
between obscene wealth and inexcusable poverty.<br />
<br />
The need to address that was reflected in policies we set on breaking
the pay cap, on campaigning for decent public services, on housing
policies and on a decent living wage that is actually enough to live on.<br />
<br />
Equalities too was high on the agenda. One of the most
moving bits of any Conference is when people who are directly affected
have a personal story to tell. There was much of that in this debate.
The pain of the stories was matched only by the courage of the
delegates telling them.<br />
<br />
But there was optimism too. The outcome of the General
Election left us all with hope that there is an end to austerity in
sight. The Labour Manifesto, so heavily built on the policies that
UNISON has been calling for since 2010 and before, gave a more upbeat
feel to this conference than has been in evidence for a long time. And
Jeremy Corbyn's wonderful speech as he addressed UNISON conference was
the icing on the cake.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
"The politics of hope will always overcome the politics of fear," said Jeremy to cheers. <br />
Asked about his priority in government he told us that
it is first and foremost to sort economy to reduce inequality and invest
in public services; a plan to build more houses; proper funding for
health and social care and education.<br />
<br />
Jeremy Corbyn came into the conference hall to a
standing ovation and he was given another standing ovation at the end of
his speech.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0bYSiJ8Sd56quEe6vkgJlBS9kzFM3xgGEoNMzjCa46s6HrdeS-TLrJ26mZ50n7fXRTS6S13WxZlRKFRT_Irz2ktV6MkZJpPxRIuB0kYjE-zpZdjRI-Utox5fZEQqei1nCqKi4PCSmco/s1600/kathleen-wednesday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0bYSiJ8Sd56quEe6vkgJlBS9kzFM3xgGEoNMzjCa46s6HrdeS-TLrJ26mZ50n7fXRTS6S13WxZlRKFRT_Irz2ktV6MkZJpPxRIuB0kYjE-zpZdjRI-Utox5fZEQqei1nCqKi4PCSmco/s1600/kathleen-wednesday.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kathleen Kennedy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Branch delegates did not get into the debates this year but both
Susan Kennedy, Asst Branch Secretary, there representing the Local
Government Service Group Executive; and Kathleen Kennedy, Branch
Equalities Officer, representing National Disabled Members were at the
podium.<br />
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Key role for branches in tackling stress</span></h1>
Scotland’s Kathleen Kennedy, supported the motion on
behalf of Disabled Members, referring to her own experiences.<br />
<br />
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">There must be support for members living with mental ill health</span></h1>
Moving the motion on behalf of the National Disabled
Members Kathleen Kennedy told delegates that one in four people
experience mental ill health at one stage in their lives and yet
mental health is still a taboo subject.<br />
<br />
“There is still a lot of prejudice and lack of
understanding around mental health, which means that many people don’t
feel comfortable disclosing their mental ill health.<br />
<br />
“It is vital that anyone with mental ill health is able
to get the support they need, without fear of judgement or
discrimination, and that mental health is treated equally with
physical health.”<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2KDOl94KW-zL0X2mE8U5BL_kjvtPmyoz-KChlVyFegZL-IWp4lvLJ56Vok5DAnApmbevwmJn5nlWzZzUEPNKCDnOLye2wIyok-HPtyOGmRxHn9tTUPPYOhPosbENZnC7sQ0prUfh9Nc/s1600/susanfriday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2KDOl94KW-zL0X2mE8U5BL_kjvtPmyoz-KChlVyFegZL-IWp4lvLJ56Vok5DAnApmbevwmJn5nlWzZzUEPNKCDnOLye2wIyok-HPtyOGmRxHn9tTUPPYOhPosbENZnC7sQ0prUfh9Nc/s1600/susanfriday.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan Kennedy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Scotland’s Susan Kennedy, speaking for the Local Government Service
Group supported the need for UNISON to provide dedicated Mental Health
Champions to support our members, activists and delegates at
conference.<br />
<br />
Susan said, “This week at both Local Government and National Delegate
conferences we have all witnessed the impact of government cuts. Cuts
which bear relation to increased workplace stress and mental health
issues.”<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unison-scotland.org/2017/06/23/must-support-members-living-mental-ill-health/" target="_blank">Read full report here</a><br />
<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Terminally ill workers must have legal protections</span></h1>
Scotland’s Susan Kennedy, speaking on behalf of the Local Government
Service Group Executive told delegates that UNISON supports the TUC’s
‘Dying to work’ campaign and the call for all of us to promote and
campaign to force the employers to sign up to the ‘Dying to Work
Charter’.<br />
“The choice to remain in work or not should sit with the
individual…NOT with the employer,” said Susan, condemning employers who
increasingly and unfairly force our members with terminal illnesses
out of a job through their capability policies.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unison-scotland.org/2017/06/22/terminally-ill-workers-must-have-legal-protections/" target="_blank">Read full report here</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aberdeenshireunison.com/conferences/lgconf17.html" target="_blank"><b>Read about branch involvement in Local Government Service Group Conference 2017 as it happened</b></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-58952095503815596432017-06-15T20:52:00.000+01:002017-06-15T20:52:07.963+01:00Financial surgeries free to UNISON members July and Sept 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqYMLA2VHe5dZpiGSyhy2OtuunEFA2WhbJsHui3lRFTWXjmaQsgaiawIsk-yXnjrcrRPQUVYMAzbdd71MuxIxuchbWs-EcitwtcD2saXYG9XXRlrzk_Y-7-9shgPEWkhJ-5p_AeVS-vQ/s1600/lighthouse.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqYMLA2VHe5dZpiGSyhy2OtuunEFA2WhbJsHui3lRFTWXjmaQsgaiawIsk-yXnjrcrRPQUVYMAzbdd71MuxIxuchbWs-EcitwtcD2saXYG9XXRlrzk_Y-7-9shgPEWkhJ-5p_AeVS-vQ/s1600/lighthouse.png" /></a></div>
UNISON Living along with Lighthouse Financial Advice is holding free
surgeries for UNISON members seeking financial advice in Gordon House
and Woodhill House in July and September.<br />
<br />
These will be held in the Ury Room in Gordon House on
14th July and 29th September and in Conference Room D in Woodhill House
on 10th July and 26th September.<br />
The professional financial advisers can advise on<br />
<ul>
<li>financial protection for you and your family</li>
<li>pension advice and planning for retirement</li>
<li>savings and investments</li>
<li>tax planning</li>
<li>mortgages</li>
</ul>
You can book your place by contacting Hilary Thomson on 01273 523717 or email on <a href="mailto:hilary.thomson@lighthousegroup.plc.uk">hilary.thomson@lighthousegroup.plc.uk</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aberdeenshireunison.com/docs/2017julyseptfinancialsurgeriesgoho.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for a Gordon House poster</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aberdeenshireunison.com/docs/2017julyseptfinancialsurgerieswooodhill.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for a Woodhill House poster</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-34967421220260429292017-06-03T21:36:00.002+01:002017-06-03T22:35:38.093+01:00Aberdeenshire UNISON supports the WASPI campaign<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
On Friday 26<sup>th</sup> May, Aberdeenshire UNISON members
joined women from WASPI (Women Against State Pensions Inequality) on stalls at
Woodhill House and Gordon House, to highlight the unfairness in the changes to
state pensions for women born in the 1950s and to call for fair transitional
arrangements to be made.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqD0jLxTBu2-sv5oYmXbiOZm7Vgs3haqyQ_iTSTpWTkOXEpgqBPZAJqmU1hVNxg2ajHw3DXdY-AleAaRvC7qRs6GmYgDPCNemyIVnMqwfViukqnymwz8hS-fDI_Q50QvWsYLc4jSOcYEU/s1600/waspi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="400" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqD0jLxTBu2-sv5oYmXbiOZm7Vgs3haqyQ_iTSTpWTkOXEpgqBPZAJqmU1hVNxg2ajHw3DXdY-AleAaRvC7qRs6GmYgDPCNemyIVnMqwfViukqnymwz8hS-fDI_Q50QvWsYLc4jSOcYEU/s320/waspi2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewis Macdonald, Labour MSP pledges support to WASPI</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
UNISON is strongly supporting the WASPI campaign as it
affects a lot of our members now and in the future.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
UNISON activists Kathleen Kennedy and Morag Lawrence, along
with Local Organiser Ann McEvoy and WASPI women were joined at the Woodhill
House stall by Labour MSP, Lewis Macdonald, and by Labour general election
candidates, Orr Vinegold (Aberdeen North) and Kirsten Muat (Gordon). All
pledged support for the WASPI campaign.</div>
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In Gordon House, UNISON’s Ann Gray was joined by the SNP candidate
for Gordon, Alex Salmond, who also pledged his full support.</div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HcqhpGEMxKR_mFrYzzS6Yujiueh_JoLtlmKUIg-ZPGK5BQ93v7aYWKIhZr82uASo0Un8HGknyycYy5HmCdjKBLhjvEbJUVIGTbO3G5lTmFnhcr3trs5MGjIlA7dxlHJwKY5XWtmtRms/s1600/waspi3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="329" data-original-width="399" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HcqhpGEMxKR_mFrYzzS6Yujiueh_JoLtlmKUIg-ZPGK5BQ93v7aYWKIhZr82uASo0Un8HGknyycYy5HmCdjKBLhjvEbJUVIGTbO3G5lTmFnhcr3trs5MGjIlA7dxlHJwKY5XWtmtRms/s320/waspi3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SNP's Alex Salmond also pledges support to WASPI</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When women born in the 1950s started work, their
expectations were that they would get a state pension age 60. The Tory government
brought in an Act in 1995 saying that the women's pension age would increase
from 60 to 65 over a ten year period to bring women’s state
pension age in line with men’s. This hugely impacts on women born in the 1950s especially
if they planned to retire at 60. They now find themselves working to 65 or
above.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The WASPI campaign does not oppose the equalisation of men
and women’s pension ages. However for many women who planned to retire at 60 on
the basis of getting their state pension at that date, this has created a great
deal of financial hardship. The Tory government failed to properly advise these
women of the changes and many affected women still don’t know that they won’t
be entiltled to a state pension till they are 65. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S579qiRrnhOIDNbOBMEsW3mqTvq_AFUoEYRaZJvqGe-radv6earTLyHxQ2BoTfgArR0l6OGkA4NNG0U93mETJCkN4rL3_pz3WV23DlH-co01jdwGQsJJ1QNmHgdsDY1EC9LrYB6jwDU/s1600/waspi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="400" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S579qiRrnhOIDNbOBMEsW3mqTvq_AFUoEYRaZJvqGe-radv6earTLyHxQ2BoTfgArR0l6OGkA4NNG0U93mETJCkN4rL3_pz3WV23DlH-co01jdwGQsJJ1QNmHgdsDY1EC9LrYB6jwDU/s320/waspi1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Labour candidates for Aberdeen North and Gordon lend their <br />
support to the WASPI campaign</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
WASPI’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>aim is to
achieve fairer transitional state pension arrangements for all women born in
the 1950s affected by the changes to the state pension law.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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They do this through effective campaigning and teaching the
public and lobbying politicians and raising the public awareness to get support
for their campaigns. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kathleen Kennedy said, “It is great to see our local politicians
and General Election candidates support this campaign.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We have to stop this from going any further. Women deserve
fairness and they should not have to work on, or to scrimp and save to make up
for not getting the state pension at 60 that they were led to expect.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is yet another attack on women’s pensions,” added
Kathleen. “Myself and another colleague in our forties often joke - will we
ever get to retire? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We need to ensure the state pension age doesn't continue to
rise for both women and men!”</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-74627607344624733502017-05-31T22:33:00.001+01:002017-05-31T22:33:26.065+01:00Pay update - Members vote for action but turnout below threshold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVd6vrpNZ1WZ0tch6mqWpmgaLlrFDJAFoc1wS8w8cU_kjwHDiRjgYGbS1HNTCRFL-jSoStGG3322ZHausO3xedCIO_jKuG_Y9mlM3z1htSZKkrnJ2n5brlIpg_goYBZpnqPMt4cB_2O4/s1600/payleaflet2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVd6vrpNZ1WZ0tch6mqWpmgaLlrFDJAFoc1wS8w8cU_kjwHDiRjgYGbS1HNTCRFL-jSoStGG3322ZHausO3xedCIO_jKuG_Y9mlM3z1htSZKkrnJ2n5brlIpg_goYBZpnqPMt4cB_2O4/s1600/payleaflet2017.jpg" /></a></div>
UNISON Scotland today announced the result of the Industrial Action
ballot which closed yesterday with 62.7% voting in favour of industrial
action. However the turnout was 22.8%.<br />
<br />
Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair said, "As the turnout is below the 50%
threshold, it is not possible to take industrial action under current
legislation imposed by the UK Government."<br />
<br />
• Number of votes cast; 15,214<br />
• Number of yes votes; 9,540<br />
• Number of no votes; 5,662<br />
• Number of spoiled or invalid papers; 12<br />
<br />
The employers have previously stated that they would be prepared to
meet with the trade unions once the ballot had concluded and as a
result UNISON will be seeking an early meeting to explore how pay can
be concluded for 2017/18.<br />
<br />
Inez Kirk, Vice-Chair of the Scottish Local Government Committee
added, "The committee met in Glasgow this morning to consider the
ballot result and were understandably disappointed.<br />
<br />
"The ballot did return a vote in favour of taking industrial action
but did not meet the requirements of the Trade Union Act 2016.<br />
<br />
"However the result did indicate that there are a substantial number
of UNISON members who are unhappy with the employers offer on pay and
we will be taking this into our meeting with the employers."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-74905872498200698912017-05-26T10:55:00.001+01:002017-05-26T10:58:07.475+01:00Kate elected to UNISON lay leadership <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyEWy_ENv1iyjeso9BPuGIrZ22VpIqyGSPBMMCrBVQp11CzrFgpbecbCpMWHuQnlMZam9pOgm_13DuwDggP9T0rd8Hv_s4AUpj_e5Ipx6Enj295c95aG0t1Aq9YrkmDg6stqPHitl3Us/s1600/kate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyEWy_ENv1iyjeso9BPuGIrZ22VpIqyGSPBMMCrBVQp11CzrFgpbecbCpMWHuQnlMZam9pOgm_13DuwDggP9T0rd8Hv_s4AUpj_e5Ipx6Enj295c95aG0t1Aq9YrkmDg6stqPHitl3Us/s1600/kate.jpg" /></a></div>
Kate Ramsden, Branch chair has been successfully elected onto the
National Executive Council (NEC) of UNISON. This is the senior lay leadership of the union and Kate will represent Scottish members on this body. She will take up one of the
two female seats after this year's National Delegate Conference in
Brighton and will serve for two years.<br />
<br />
Also elected to represent Scotland are: Davena Rankin, in
the other female seat; Maggie Cook in the reserved seat; Stephen
Smellie in the general seat and Jim McFarlane in the male seat.<br />
<br />
Scotland's Gordon McKay, who previously represented
Scotland in the male seat, has now been elected to the Health seat on
the NEC.<br />
<br />
Thanks to all those who voted!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unison-scotland.org/2017/05/23/nec-election-results-2017/" target="_blank">UNISON Scotland website</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2017/05/2017NEC_summary_results.pdf" target="_blank">Summary results in full</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-12988798789521263572017-05-26T10:49:00.002+01:002017-05-26T10:49:56.459+01:00There for you - UNISON Welfare update May 2017 - School uniform grants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElOBvMMgy9S6rFVk-p-tgYAvi5by_DKkL-0Ens1_PLb8ZgMTyaWjvwF-l9VQVFkVSTXDyw22tDbcOPgqkkVlQ3E-xyBHoDjBJMIqyhz3o337E4XVSAm7Yt2dS-dxzBm72ZcV_hhzKLPA/s1600/school-uniform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElOBvMMgy9S6rFVk-p-tgYAvi5by_DKkL-0Ens1_PLb8ZgMTyaWjvwF-l9VQVFkVSTXDyw22tDbcOPgqkkVlQ3E-xyBHoDjBJMIqyhz3o337E4XVSAm7Yt2dS-dxzBm72ZcV_hhzKLPA/s1600/school-uniform.jpg" /></a></div>
Families on low incomes can struggle to make ends meet, especially just before the start of the new school year.<br />
<br />
UNISON’s scheme helps members on low incomes deal with the cost of school uniforms.<br />
<br />
The 2017 school uniform grant is now available. You can find more information and an <a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/financial-assistance/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">application form at this link on the UNISON UK site </a>– <strong>please ensure that UNISON has received this by July 21st</strong>.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-13973196801315428552017-05-11T18:51:00.000+01:002017-05-11T18:51:19.768+01:00UNISON Scotland local government pay ballot now open - don't forget to vote<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIGZ9yLZxkg7YXtm21NmZw6e3D6XFemkb36AoKoCwpLg2pNCnJUTahwqcQZU8xdcan211LRaTWdHSL1boxw2eQTi3eNXMZm__VjecdQhEBfTQeZcYJ-Zf32E1yAiH3CPH6FxKKykl2zM/s1600/payleaflet2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIGZ9yLZxkg7YXtm21NmZw6e3D6XFemkb36AoKoCwpLg2pNCnJUTahwqcQZU8xdcan211LRaTWdHSL1boxw2eQTi3eNXMZm__VjecdQhEBfTQeZcYJ-Zf32E1yAiH3CPH6FxKKykl2zM/s1600/payleaflet2017.jpg" /></a></div>
The pay ballot for UNISON council workers opens today until 30th May 2017<strong>. </strong>We are calling on all our members to use their vote and have their say. UNISON is campaigning for a YES vote.<br />
<br />
<strong>Why should you vote in the pay ballot?</strong><br />
Your pay is worth far less now than ten years ago after years of pay restraint and inflation.<br />
Local government workers are seeing their living
standards squeezed as the prices of food, gas and electricity, travel
and childcare continue to rise. This can not continue – you deserve
more. You deserve fair pay.<br />
To take action we need a 50% return on the ballot.
Let's show the employers that we care about our pay and that we want
decent pay.<br />
<br />
<strong>What’s not fair?</strong><br />
While inflation indexes show how costs are rising, the
impact on individual households is often worse. This cannot continue.<br />
The employers have offered:<br />
• Employees earning less than £35,000 a £350* increase (*pro rata based on 37 hours)<br />
• Employees earning more than £35,000 a 1 per cent increase.<br />
• Scottish Local Government Living Wage is the
minimum pay for all pay and allowances including additional hours,
contractual overtime and other allowances. It will be pensionable.<br />
<br />
<strong>What is fair?</strong><br />
The employers’ offer falls far short of our claim. We asked for:<br />
• A flat rate payment of £1,000 for all employees.<br />
• The continued uprating of the Scottish Local Government Living Wage.<br />
• A future pay strategy to identify and redress the imbalance caused by previous pay awards below the rate of inflation.<br />
<br />
<strong>How do I vote? </strong><br />
UNISON recommends that you vote YES for strike action.
Ballot papers along with a pre paid return envelope will be sent
directly to members home addresses. If you do not receive a ballot
paper then call the Ballot Helpline 08000 857 857 which will be open
from 17 May – 25 May.<br />
<br />
<strong>Am I being asked to strike?</strong><br />
Yes. This is a formal industrial action ballot. The
consultative ballot that you previously took part in returned a very
firm rejection of the employers offer.<br />
<br />
<strong>What action might I be asked to take?</strong><br />
This will be determined by UNISON’s Scottish Local
Government Committee later this month however it is likely that any
programme of action will commence with a single day of action for all
members.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unison-scotland.org/service-groups-and-sectors/local-government-pay2017/" target="_blank">Click here for UNISON Scotland resources</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-75997040647762967742017-05-03T20:06:00.002+01:002017-05-03T20:06:31.225+01:00UNISON members to be balloted for industrial action – Voting opens 11 May & closes 30 May<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-9hGDiomuivZbjHVp90dxhdh8D_HJrVaLtpA02HgO5uWK7RmUK-KXcTNxQkftYNFreOW0zvi5eNHaksoBwXi2bF_IUTiKaS3138Vrb9OeSOwT4mfsg-vARbqx0OZ42CG5hPuFff1kTw/s1600/PayCampaign2017FairPay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-9hGDiomuivZbjHVp90dxhdh8D_HJrVaLtpA02HgO5uWK7RmUK-KXcTNxQkftYNFreOW0zvi5eNHaksoBwXi2bF_IUTiKaS3138Vrb9OeSOwT4mfsg-vARbqx0OZ42CG5hPuFff1kTw/s1600/PayCampaign2017FairPay.jpg" /></a></div>
<strong>A letter has been sent out to all members urging members to vote YES for industrial action in support of decent pay. Please note - the dates of the ballot have been changed to 11th May to 30th May 2017.</strong><br />
<br />
<em>Dear Member</em><br />
Following one of the highest returns in a full
membership consultation, UNISON members voted overwhelmingly to REJECT
the Employers’ offer (77.6% of those voting).<br />
<br />
On this basis a decision was taken to proceed to a full
Industrial Action ballot. Members have sent a clear message to say
they have had enough of years of below inflation pay rises.<br />
<br />
Members of UNITE The Union and GMB have both accepted
the Employers’ offer, however the number of UNISON members rejecting
the offer exceeds the total combined Local Government membership of
these trade unions .<br />
<br />
<strong>UNISON will continue to fight for FAIR PAY, putting our members at the heart of the campaign.</strong><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The Tory Trade Union Act designed to make it more
difficult for workers to exercise their right to withdraw their labour
cannot succeed. It is important that every member participates in the
ballot to maximise the ballot return.<br />
<br />
Please note that, in order to comply with current
legislation, the ballot will be a full postal ballot as the law
prevents us from carrying out any ballot by digital means.<br />
<br />
The ballot will run from 11th May 2017 until 30th May 2017.<br />
<br />
<strong>UNISON’s Scottish Local Government Committee is recommending that members VOTE YES for a programme of Industrial Action.</strong><br />
<br />
You are encouraged, in advance of the local and general elections, to raise the need for FAIR PAY with all candidates.<br />
<br />
<strong>Mark Ferguson</strong><br />
Chair, Scottish Local Government Committee<br />
<strong>Douglas Black</strong><br />
Regional Organiser, SJC SecretaryAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-41019406168874579822017-04-11T10:48:00.000+01:002017-04-11T10:48:14.615+01:00Members overwhelmingly reject pay offer - UNISON to ballot on industrial action <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiDbHIftYEK2NfrlrIB5t651RVSW1D_sSeayThxr1ttIsI9srnc9LfWj4cgSBL1I_ZBRwutsAfZ7cfNQlBnn6_56DxvjqQyAjDkw_Jhhg0xVh1nDqgJrqKJ2L1o3pe17g4JzBNkmXdNs/s1600/PayCampaign2017FairPay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiDbHIftYEK2NfrlrIB5t651RVSW1D_sSeayThxr1ttIsI9srnc9LfWj4cgSBL1I_ZBRwutsAfZ7cfNQlBnn6_56DxvjqQyAjDkw_Jhhg0xVh1nDqgJrqKJ2L1o3pe17g4JzBNkmXdNs/s1600/PayCampaign2017FairPay.jpg" /></a></div>
UNISON will ballot 70,000 local government members across every local authority in Scotland on industrial action.<br />
<br />
The decision was announced at UNISON’s local government
committee meeting on Monday following a consultative ballot which saw
77.6 per cent vote to reject the employers’ pay offer.<br />
<br />
Dougie Black, regional organiser for UNISON Scotland,
said: “Local government workers have suffered years of pay restraint
and their pay is worth far less now than ten years ago. The cost of
food, gas and electricity, travel and childcare continue to rise and,
as a consequence, their living standards have been severely eroded.
This can not continue.<br />
<br />
“If pay had even just risen with inflation a home care
worker, for example, would be paid £19,900 a year when instead they
are paid just £16,900; an early years’ worker would receive £24,100
instead of £20,400 and a library assistant would earn £26,400 instead
of £22,400. And that’s just to keep up with the cost of living.<br />
<br />
“Fair pay remains a priority for UNISON. Our members
are the cogs that keep local government services turning and they
deserve to be treated fairly.”<br />
<br />
Mark Ferguson, Chair of the Local Government Committee
added, "The result of the ballot on SJC Pay resulted in an overwhelming
rejection of the employers offer.<br />
<br />
"The Local Government Committee met to consider this result and
unanimously agreed to pursue a further ballot for industrial action to
seek to force the employers to make an improved offer."<br />
<br />
A Branch Secretaries meeting will be organised w/c
17th April at which further details of the consultative ballot
outcome and the arrangements and campaign for the formal industrial
action ballot will be outlined. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-14152533588885194022017-04-07T11:00:00.002+01:002017-04-07T11:00:58.290+01:00NEC Elections 2017 Please use your vote for the NEC - Branch nominations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Fa9Zpr51Uhqx6acUUaXoHXuJKfrQbPN5naAbXKCHRWsiXpLlBz6a5gPpDyVYwMksyN_1kC_3PVHSi7CfpZX_NLrLcOEFLAsA8R1hegeLPn_-IenHQFDdOx_oZzm-Iw3VOJP4PClkk0w/s1600/UNISONCentre-sign-320x180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Fa9Zpr51Uhqx6acUUaXoHXuJKfrQbPN5naAbXKCHRWsiXpLlBz6a5gPpDyVYwMksyN_1kC_3PVHSi7CfpZX_NLrLcOEFLAsA8R1hegeLPn_-IenHQFDdOx_oZzm-Iw3VOJP4PClkk0w/s1600/UNISONCentre-sign-320x180.jpg" /></a></div>
Ballot papers will begin to land on doormats from 3rd to 28th April
for the elections to UNISON's national ruling body, the National
Executive Council (NEC).<br />
<br />
Historically there is a very low turn-out for these
elections despite their importance to the running of our union. The
branch is urging all our members to vote in these elections.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2017/03/nec-ballot-notification/" target="_blank">Click here for information about all candidates and procedures</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2017/03/nec-ballot-notification/" target="_blank">The choice of who you vote for is yours but you can click here to see who the branch has nominated and why. </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-23724240972227276532017-04-07T10:54:00.001+01:002017-05-13T14:23:23.263+01:00Local Government Election 5th May 2017 - Branch writes to candidates to ask - Will you support public services and workers' rights?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0vArHpyyBtmVNCpNIglrnNyEgv4KA4-Hpl8P0W5stFZ9yllACfeuK6wDYqG4gmfKO-0XIPZA7lcUTz6Htb5ex4Ku0LSa0Xbg0hX0dbRIt0n463FwwVfWv9UM_eKZoNM2_8Gebrvx2Xg/s1600/LGelectionsfront1_Apr2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0vArHpyyBtmVNCpNIglrnNyEgv4KA4-Hpl8P0W5stFZ9yllACfeuK6wDYqG4gmfKO-0XIPZA7lcUTz6Htb5ex4Ku0LSa0Xbg0hX0dbRIt0n463FwwVfWv9UM_eKZoNM2_8Gebrvx2Xg/s400/LGelectionsfront1_Apr2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The Scottish local government elections take place on Thursday 4 May 2017.<br />
<br />
Local government has borne the brunt of austerity cuts
over the last decade. UNISON is campaigning for fully resourced and
accountable public services in local communities delivered by a
fairly paid council workforce.<b><span style="color: #400080;"><br />
<br />
</span>The branch has written to all candidates to ask
them if they will support Scotland’s Fair Work Framework, which pledges
that staff should have security, respect, fulfilment, opportunity and
an effective voice at work.</b><br />
<br />
<b>If they will invest in public services and
oppose the policy of austerity, which is starving essential wellbeing
services of adequate funding.</b><br />
<br />
<b>If they will commit to keeping education, social care and other local public services, under direct local democratic control.</b><br />
<br />
The branch will share the responses received and will
let you know who has not replied. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS WHEN CASTING YOUR
VOTE AND VOTE FOR CANDIDATES WHO WILL PROTECT PUBLIC SERVICES AND
WORKERS' RIGHTS.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aberdeenshireunison.com/campaigns/lgelection17.html" target="_blank">Click here to see responses </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unison-scotland.org/campaigns/local-government-elections-2017/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #400080;">Click here for UNISON Scotland's Local Government Elections 2017 page</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-23777263786281409332017-03-17T14:32:00.000+00:002017-03-17T14:32:25.531+00:00Online consultation on Pay Offer - Vote to REJECT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQINdkY4H5VzjoiwQOPXVXdjQ1Ap5joDFU-Rdb8gYayFbh_zUl6FRfB4MmjT3omP_7icsMsGe6UvxrKOsSp1O5vQrZq3Z-h0snmmJGcmlpcscebFAjKqikjwUq9wUrB1oAUWQ-tKOJ4A/s1600/lgpay2017600px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQINdkY4H5VzjoiwQOPXVXdjQ1Ap5joDFU-Rdb8gYayFbh_zUl6FRfB4MmjT3omP_7icsMsGe6UvxrKOsSp1O5vQrZq3Z-h0snmmJGcmlpcscebFAjKqikjwUq9wUrB1oAUWQ-tKOJ4A/s320/lgpay2017600px.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
UNISON will be balloting members on the employers' latest pay offer via an online forum for the first time ever.<br />
<br />
To register your vote, <a href="http://www.unison-scotland.org/service-groups-and-sectors/local-government-pay2017/" target="_blank">please click here</a>. You will also find leaflets and posters explaining why the pay offer is not fair pay.<br />
<br />
<strong>N.B.</strong> Please check your e mails and Junk folder for the ballot materials and to go to <a href="https://www.unison.org.uk/my-unison" target="_blank">My UNISON</a> to update your e mail addresses.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aberdeenshireunison.com/pay/pay2017.html" target="_blank">Click here for more information on the Branch website. </a><br />
<br />
<b>We are worth it! </b><br />
<br />
<b>
</b><b>We are Worth Fair Pay. </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100176334114838430.post-15984223978649182732017-03-13T20:45:00.001+00:002017-03-13T20:49:09.905+00:00UNISON Scotland Local Government Committee to consult on new pay offer with recommendation to REJECT <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasxoMUDj51dhUJVHQwC9-au6rTnXgfeZaIYk4QJrvmIgVDst4SGmaCyXq7SsIJedzctqpjgeZQl60uYPibnJb6L4MXBNfQcEkhj0Xof16o6slzYrcHnn1E2VJ9ynn747dXnDZR4uIw5c/s1600/PayCampaign2017FairPay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasxoMUDj51dhUJVHQwC9-au6rTnXgfeZaIYk4QJrvmIgVDst4SGmaCyXq7SsIJedzctqpjgeZQl60uYPibnJb6L4MXBNfQcEkhj0Xof16o6slzYrcHnn1E2VJ9ynn747dXnDZR4uIw5c/s1600/PayCampaign2017FairPay.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Local government employers have tabled a final pay offer and
UNISON will now consult members on their views with a recommendation to
REJECT this offer.</b><br />
<b> </b>
<br />
For the first time this will be an an online consultation.<br />
<br />
UNISON Scotland’s Local Government Committee
unanimously decided to recommend REJECTION of the offer. The committee
also agreed to consult members in a digital online ballot commencing <b>17th March and closing at 12 noon on 7th April.</b><br />
<br />
The employers upped the two previous offers to £350
flat rate for those earning up to £35,000 and 1% for those above, but
it fell far short of the union’s demand for a flat rate across the
board.<br />
<br />
Dougie Black, UNISON lead negotiator, said: “The joint trade union
position was united behind the need for only a flat rate claim and not a
mixed offer.<br />
<br />
"Since the offer was tabled the local government
settlement had marginally improved. Previous offers had seen £250 up to
£25,000 and 1%, then £300 up to £30,000 and 1% for those above.<br />
<br />
“We had persuaded the employers to go back to the COSLA leaders and
seek a fresh mandate on the basis of the trade union position.<br />
<br />
"However this is nowhere near enough. Our flat rate claim of £1000
would have gone some way towards redressing the 14% fall in pay in real
terms. This is a mere drop in the ocean, even for our low paid members."<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
He added that on a positive note, councils would continue to pay the
Scottish Local Government Living Wage, ensuring it applies to all pay
related enhancements and is pensionable.<br />
<br />
Inez Kirk, Branch Secretary and UNISON negotiator added: “A high
participation in this ballot is absolutely crucial if we are to move
towards a full industrial action ballot.<br />
<br />
"New thresholds within the Trade Union legislation mean that a 50%
participation rate in industrial action ballots is required and whilst
this consultative ballot is not governed by this legislation it is
imperative that we demonstrate that we can achieve a percentage return
close to that level.<br />
<br />
“To seek to maximise participation we have agreed to run this
consultation on the basis of a full digital consultative ballot. This
means that access to the ballot will only be through a secure UNISON web
page. Where we have members email addresses registered on the RMS
these individuals will receive an email and a link to enable them to
vote.<br />
<br />
"Those members for whom we do not have email addresses for will be
required to access a web page, answer two security questions and vote
online. There is a significant job of work to do by branches to
encourage participation and assist those members who may not have
electronic access. I will prepare a full briefing sheet on the ballot
detail.”Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01807791106203715168noreply@blogger.com0