Branch lobbies Scottish Parliament for increase to council budget settlement

Branch activists lobbied the Scottish Parliament on 3rd and 24th February as it debated the Budget Bill, to call on the Scottish Government to improve their settlement for Local Authorities to prevent cuts and job loss.

Inez Teece, Branch Secretary and Vice Chair of the Scottish Local Government Committee who attended both events with the branch banner said,
"It was good to see such a big turnout at the lobby of parliament on the Budget Bill.

"It is very disappointing that the Scottish Government has refused to shift and is talking down the impact of the cuts on council jobs and services.

Click here for a full report on the Branch website

AGM vows to fight for public services, for public service jobs and for the trade unions who protect them

A lively aggregate AGM saw members at two meetings, the first at Woodhill House and the second at the Kintore Arms, Inverurie, throw their weight behind campaigns to champion public services and public service workers and to fight the Tory government's anti-union bill.

The AGM also backed a local campaign to call for the appropriate provision of healthcare staff to carry out the administration of medications or medical procedures within council and third sector settings; and to put a stop to the voluntary administration of medicines that puts low paid and often untrained staff at risk.

And those members working in professions subject to registration with the Scottish Social Services Council pledged to encourage colleagues to join UNISON for their own protection and to urge members to contact the branch if they are under SSSC investigation.

Our speaker at the aggregate meetings was Carol Ball, joint-Vice Chair of the Scottish Local Government Committee alongside our own Inez Teece. Our thanks go to Carol for a very interesting and powerful presentation on council cuts and the Scottish campaign to champion Local Government services and members.

Click here for a full report of the AGMs .

Elected members sign up to UNISON's no compulsory redundancies campaign on budget day

Members of Aberdeenshire UNISON were on hand to ask elected members to sign up to UNISON’s  “No Compulsory Redundancies” campaign as they arrived at Woodhill House for this year’s budget meeting on Thursday 11th February.

The branch has welcomed Aberdeenshire Council’s public commitment to no outsourcing of services and no compulsory redundancies, but has warned that non-filling of vacancies and the ending of temporary contracts could have the same effect.

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair said, "We were delighted that a high number of elected members signed UNISON's pledge cards.

Cuts impact “devastating” says UNISON - speaking up for services and the people who deliver them

Aberdeenshire UNISON has warned that the council’s planned cuts over the next five years will hit jobs and services hard and will continue to have a devastating impact on the quality of life in Aberdeenshire, especially for our most vulnerable.

The branch has called on Aberdeenshire councillors to minimise job losses and to keep their commitment to no compulsory redundancies and to maintain services to the most vulnerable.

Branch Secretary Inez Teece said, “We recognise that the council is in a difficult position, especially with the continued council tax freeze and we would urge the Scottish Government to reconsider this as we have shown that it only benefits the better off.