Branch gears up to win fair pay

The Branch is gearing up to win a YES vote in the forthcoming strike ballot for fair pay. Following a 65% yes vote in a consultative ballot, UNISON Scotland will ballot council members on industrial action. The ballot will be held from 9th to 29th September 2014.

It has arranged two members’ meetings, the first in 53 Windmill Street, Peterhead on 21st August and the second on 25th August at Gordon House, Inverurie, both from 12-2pm.

All members are encouraged to come along and hear why you need to vote in the ballot and why UNISON is calling for a YES vote.

The Branch is also encouraging members to write to their councillors calling for fair pay.

Inez Teece, Branch Secretary said, “This year's imposition of a 1% pay increase was made without reference to the agreed bargaining machinery.

“This can’t go on. We need to get back to proper negotiations with the Scottish employers on pay.

“We have all seen the value of our wages drop in real terms. Everything else has increased in price while our wages have stagnated.

“We are continually told that the economy is recovering, yet for local government employees the prospects continue to be as bleak as ever.”

Inez added, “This is a national Scottish fight and we must ensure that we deliver a resounding YES so that all local government employees across Scotland receive a fair wage for a fair days work.”

Ballot for action to begin 9th September

Members in Scottish Local Government will be balloted on a programme of industrial action in support of an improved pay offer in September this year. The ballot will open on 9th September and close on 29th September.

Inez Teece

Industrial action options are currently being considered but it is likely that it will start with a day of action by all members in the event of a successful ballot.

Inez Teece, Branch Secretary and Vice Chair of the Scottish local Government Committee said, "This is an important time for our members, cuts to services are a reality in all local authorities, jobs continue to be shed at an alarming rate, terms and conditions are under threat and those members that are left are required to do more for the same or less.

"On top of this the Scottish Employers have imposed a paltry pay increase. This has not been negotiated it has simply been imposed!

"Pay remains a priority for this union now is the time to give that message to our employers and tell them that we will not be treated like this. We are told that the economy is back at 2008 levels. If that is true how come our pay has not kept pace?" asked Inez.

A group has been established at Scotland level, to develop the campaign and provide the resources and support for branches to engage with members. The Branch will now take the campaign out to our members to build for a YES vote. Further details will be announced on the website in the coming days.

Aberdeenshire Branch sends best wishes and solidarity to all trade union members taking action for fair pay today

Aberdeenshire Branch sends greetings in solidarity with all our UNISON colleagues in schools and local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and with other trade unions colleagues, including the PCS union, taking action across Scotland as well as the rest of the UK.

Click here to see reports from our UNISON colleagues.

Tweet your support at #J10strike#NJCpay14

Members vote for action ballot

The Consultative Ballot on Local Government pay closed on 7th July with members voting by 65% to 35% in favour of moving to a formal industrial action ballot in support of an improved offer.

UNISON's Scottish Local Government Committee meet with Branch Secretaries to plan the next steps to maximise participation and win the ballot.

The Branch Secretaries' meeting will take place before the end of July.

Engaging with Health and Social Care Integration to protect members’ interests and the services they provide

Health and social care integration is both an opportunity and a threat, so it is important that UNISON branches in Health and Local Government are fully engaged in the process, to maximise the benefits for our members and service users, and to address any concerns.

Willie Duffy, Mark Ferguson and Tam Waterson

That was the message from Tam Waterson, Chair of Scottish Health and Mark Ferguson, Chair of Scottish Local Government, as they met with representatives from the Grampian Health Branch and Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire UNISON on Tuesday 1st July. Willie Duffy, Regional Organiser was also in attendance.

Tam and Mark have been charged by the UNISON leadership to visit Health and Local Government branches across Scotland to monitor progress and offer advice on the integration agenda.

Conference slams the austerity agenda and supports Scotland's stance on independence

Like Local Government Conference the focus of National Delegate Conference was again on the pay and conditions of our members, with calls for decent pay rises, an end to zero hours contracts and a proper living wage for all.

There was also a huge focus on the equalities agenda as it is women, especially low paid women, black, disabled, LGBT and young members who have been the hardest hit by this Tory/Lib Dem Government's austerity policies.

Conference backed action, including co-ordinated strike action to win decent wages for our members.

Local Government Conference - Fighting for decent pay

This year's Local Government Conference rightly had a major focus on pay, with UNISON in England and Wales balloting members for strike action on pay, and a consultative ballot in Scotland.

Kate Ramsden

Delegates were reminded that pay freezes and paltry rises over the past few years have led to a 13-17% pay cut for most of our members. With rises in food and energy prices, this has had a big impact on many as they have seen the money in their pockets more and more squeezed.

However, for our low paid members, it has forced many into a choice of eating or heating, reliance on foodbanks to feed their kids and the need to work more than one job.

This has been exacerbated by a steep rise in zero hours contracts, especially (though not exclusively) in the private and voluntary sector, and a failure by many employers to pay the living wage, with more than 5 million out of only 38 million people of working age earning below this level.

And all this at a time when the rich have seen their wealth rise by £190 billion and the levels of income inequality are almost as high as they were in Victorian times.