Workers' Memorial Day Thursday 28 April 2016 - Remember the dead, fight for the living

This year's International Workers Memorial Day Service, will be held at 1pm (gather from 12.30pm) at Persley Walled Garden, Persley, Aberdeen. All are welcome to attend.

For more information go to the ATUC blog.

International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) takes place all over the world on 28 April each year.
The purpose of IWMD is two-fold. Firstly it is about not forgetting those who have died, been injured, or made ill by their work. Secondly it is about ensuring that tragic loss and suffering are used to reinvigorate the campaign for healthier and safer work.

The campaign slogan is "Remember the dead, fight for the living."

The number of people killed at work in Scotland has been rising in recent years, according to official figures. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said 20 workers lost their lives north of the border in 2014-15. Recently three workers have lost their lives in work related accidents in the local area so this will be a particularly poignant service.

In this time of austerity, it is ever more important to protect our Health and Safety legislation, which is constantly under attack.

The Service will last for approx 30mins.

Kathleen's equalities role raises branch profile in Scottish and national disabled members' forums.

Branch Equalities Officer, Kathleen Kennedy, is a member of the UNISON Scotland Disabled Members' Committee, which is a self organised group consisting entirely of disabled members who campaign on behalf of our disabled members to ensure that disability issues are given a voice within UNISON.

From the Scottish Committee Kathleen has now been elected onto the National Disabled Members Committee.

Kathleen said, "The National Disabled Committee has a key role to raise issues surrounding disability across the whole of UNISON. As a member of this committee I am also involved with organising the National Disabled Members Conference."

Kathleen will attend this conference and will co-chair the Women's Caucus meeting at the National Disabled Members Committee and National Disabled Members Conference.

Kathleen is also involved in two Disabled Women Members' Network Days and has been elected as one of the National Disabled Members Delegation going to the TUC Disabled Workers Conference.

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 .

Can UNISON help you with a Winter Fuel Grant?

If you are a UNISON member and are struggling to pay your fuel bill this Winter, UNISON Welfare, There for You may be able to help.

WINTER FUEL GRANTS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. What are UNISON There for You Winter Fuel Grants? In addition to our normal range of services and in response to the growing difficulty many members on low income are experiencing paying their fuel bills, a programme has been put in place that will assist our most vulnerable members.
   
2. How much are the Grants? They are one-off grants of £40.00 per household.
   

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.

Come along to the branch AGM on 17 Feb - Agenda and papers are now out

All members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Aberdeenshire Branch of UNISON on 17th February 2016. There are 2 venues and times to enable you to attend.  Firstly 12-2pm at Committee Room 3, Woodhill House, and later from 7-9 p.m. at the Kintore Arms, Inverurie.

The AGM agenda and papers have now been sent out to all members and we would really encourage all our members to attend one of these meetings.

The AGM is the branch's supreme policy making forum. It will elect the Branch Officers and stewards for 2016 and will set policy on important issues affecting all members. This year we have five motions, four of which deal with the branch's campaigning work including opposing the cuts and the trade union billand supporting members in the workplace.

Our speaker will be Carol Ball, Vice-Chair of the Scottish Local Government Committee and our branch pensions champion James Mulholland will be on hand to give an update on pensions.

Please come along and hear more about what the branch is doing for you and what you can do to support the branch.