Action plans put to industrial action committee

Following the ballot vote for action, UNISON Scottish local government leaders have sought authority from the union's industrial action committee for a programme of industrial action over the coming months.

This will include a day of action followed by a programme of geographical/selective action. Branch consultation will kick off next week.

UNISON negotiator and Branch Secretary, Inez Teece said: "Members are angry about the way they have been treated. Their pay being eroded whilst theytake the brunt of the cuts. We urge employers to come back to the negotiating table."

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Members vote YES for action

The Local Government Pay Ballot, which closed at lunchtime today, 29 September 2014, has delivered a Yes vote for industrial action on the basis of 53.5% to 46.5%.

UNISON Scotland's Local Government Committee will meet in Glasgow on Friday 3rd October to discuss the way forward and a full update with follow then.

Branch calls on all members to join the March and Rally on 18th October 2014 in Glasgow to call for "A Just Scotland"

The branch is calling on all our members and their families and friends to join us at the "A Just Scotland" March and Rally in Glasgow on 18th October 2014 which will call for decent work and dignified lives.

 

The March and Rally is part of Challenging Poverty week and has been organised by the Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC) . The march will muster in Glasgow Green at 10am and will march off at 10.30am to a Rally in George Square.

See more information on the STUC website

 

It has been timed to coincide with the TUC's mass demonstration in London, "Britain needs a Pay Rise."

 

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair said, "The Referendum has been and gone and the Scottish people have spoken. However if the independence debate did one thing that was to engage great swathes of the Scottish people, young and not so young, in the debate about what kind of Scotland we want to see, and to put social justice and equality high on the political agenda.

 

"Creating decent work and providing dignity for those who cannot work is at the heart of the battle for social justice and against austerity, and tackling inequality. Those of us who believe in this must come together now from both sides of the Referendum debate and work together to win social justice in Scotland.

UNISON Scotland local government strike ballot Vote YES for Fair Pay

UNISON Scotland is balloting all its council members on strike action for fair pay. Ballots were sent out from 9th September and the Branch is encouraging all our members to vote and to vote YES.

Inez Teece, Branch Secretary and member of the Scottish Local Government negotiating team explains the background to the dispute.

"The Scottish Employers have imposed a pay award of 1% on our members from 1 April 2014.

"Further they have refused to negotiate on UNISON's claim for this period which was:

• An additional £1 per hour for all staff conditioned by the Scottish Joint Council
• Consolidation of the Living Wage
• Deletion of spinal column points below the level of the Living Wage

"This action by the employers is quite unacceptable and shows a blatant disregard for the agreed bargaining structures and threatens the future of nationally agreed pay awards.

Meat hygiene inspectors strike for fair pay

Meat hygiene inspectors, vets and support staff took two days of strike action last week in a long-running dispute over pay. They staged two four-hour walkouts from 6.30am-10.30am on Tuesday, August 26, and again on Wednesday, August 27.

This follows a ballot earlier this month, which saw UNISON’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) members overwhelmingly vote for strike action over an imposed pay offer of just 0.75%, while most other public service workers have been offered a 1% increase.

UNISON has previously invited the FSA to resolve the pay dispute through independent conciliation. Even as late as last week, UNISON asked them to reconsider and go to ACAS for arbitration, but they refused.

Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair said: “Our Branch is one which hosts members in the Food Standards Agency Sector. We stand fully behind our members' action.

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.