STUC Dundee Scottish Government Reports on the main could create fairer local PUBLIC UNISON speakers at government funding the Scottish Trades now, UNISON tells WORKS: Union Congress a million STUC congress p3 voices 1994 for public ScotlandinUNISON services April/May 2014 No.107 scottish council activists bulletin Use these stories in your branch newsletter or circulate the pdf version to members REFERENDUM: UNISON TACKLES BOTH CAMPS ON A FAIRER Workers’ Memorial Day 28 April orkers Memorial Day takes Putting our public Wplace all over the world on 28 April each year. The message of ‘Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living’ will be spread through a range of events across Scotland. services at centre See www.stuc.org for a list of events in your area and check out the www.unison.org.uk for UNISON materials you can order for the day. of indy debate NHS England

by John Stevenson SiU editor pay action special UNISON Scotland hile Scottish health workers will Adebate has challenged the Wget the Pay Review Body (PRB) referendum Yes and No camps on recommended 1% rise agreed by the how their plans would create a Scottish Government, delegates to fairer Scotland. UNISON’s UK Health Conference last Delegates from branches across Scotland week reacted to Westminster’s failure heard SNP deputy leader to implement the recommendations and deputy leader Anas in England by calling for a campaign Sarwar field questions on public services, for action starting with a protest day trade union rights, privatisation and welfare. on 5 June. Lilian Macer, fresh from being re-elected From 1 April, NHS staff in Scotland got as UNISON Scottish Convener, said we a 1% pay uplift, while staff earning under wanted to hear the detail of how the two £21,000 will also receive an additional sum campaigns would create the fairer and more The SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon, UNISON’s Lilian Macer and Labour’s Anas to increase their pay by £300 in total. just Scotland that UNISON wants to see. Sarwar at UNISON Scotland’s special debate on 5 April. The changes came in after the Scottish Introducing the speakers, she said: “When Government accepted recommendations I am asked what side UNISON is on, we say from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB). we are on the side of public services and When asked what side is In England 1% is being applied only to public service workers.” staff at the top of their grade and even then Anas Sarwar opened the debate with a UNISON on, we say: ‘We are on it is ‘non-consolidated’. call for people to read the new Scottish ‘ Tam Waterson, UNISON Scotland Health Labour ‘Red Paper’, billed as the party’s chair, said: “We are delighted the Scottish ‘radical alternative to independence’. the side of public services and Government has decided to implement the ‘Together we can’, was the theme of recommendations of the Pay Review Body the paper and Anas reminded delegates public service workers.’ Lilian Macer in full.” that the referendum was “the biggest “We would urge the UK Government to decision in our political lives.” NHS for everyone and it “came together 14th wealthiest country in the world. also commit to paying health service staff Echoing UNISON’s Fairer Scotland to build the welfare state for everyone not “Why should the Scottish people not share the recommendations in full.” publications, he said the debate should be just in Scotland”, he said. Labour would in that wealth?” she asked. While welcoming the Scotland about: “not where the power lies but what deliver “not an illusion of hope but a The Scottish Government had settlement, Scottish branches have been politicians do with that power.” realisation of hope.” protected the NHS from “being concerned for some time that the PRB is not “The real divide is not between For Nicola Sturgeon it was only fragmented and privatised... Why not give delivering on fair pay. However their call to Scotland and England, it is between the independence that would “give us the us the power to create a welfare state that return to collective bargaining was not haves and have-nots”, said Anas. power to protect public services.” we would want?” supported by the conference. An independent Scotland would be the Questions and Answers Page 2 The Labour movement delivered the Mayday events Residential strike wins concessions ayday events will be held across the country around 3/4 May, so Members took seven days of £794 per year. During late 2013, the M by Brian Smith why not check out details on the City Branch of strike action in January and The Council also sought to Council had tried to bully STUC site and get along to local February in what became an alter the job roles of the workers into agreeing to the early 400 UNISON marches and entertainment. Nmembers in Glasgow increasingly bitter dispute. lowest paid workers to include changes on an individual basis Glasgow Friend of Mayday have another City Council’s homes for In early 2014, the council the administration of through the issuing of five bumper series of events with Mark Thomas, older people have moved ahead with the medicines. individual letters, ignoring the Marxist magician, Ian Saville, superb secured important implementation of cuts in shift Finally, UNISON members normal collective bargaining harmonica player, Fraser Speirs and the concessions and forced payments, changes to job viewed the new staff to arrangements (a similar doyenne of political song, Arthur Johnstone. back an anti-trade union roles and a move to twelve resident ratio on the new approach was tried and also The show is again produced by FairPley. and anti-collective and a half hour shifts. The twelve and a half hour night failed in October 2013 in a Events spread to Dumfries and Blantyre bargaining approach changes included 122 full shift as inadequate and a risk dispute with over 1,000 pupil with Rab Noakes, Eleanor Morton, Dave from the Labour time workers losing £1495 per to the care of the 600 support assistants). Anderson, Bruce Morton and Susan controlled council. year and 60 part timers losing residents. Turn to Page 3 Morrison. Details at may1st.org.uk. www.unison-scotland.org.uk ScotlandinUNISON page 2 april 2014 Elderly UNISON urges MSPs to back face to face careers guidance by David Stark Culture Committee at the services while having their care needs Skills Development Scotland in March. place, the SDS website My NISON has presented The research looked at the World of Work had limited valued staff UMSPs with research impact of changes in the impact on pupils’ career UNISON confirming the importance services offered to school pupils management skills compared Aamendment of pupils having access to by Skills Development with other sources of careers to the STUC professionally qualified Scotland. support. underlined the face to face careers In particular it examined the It would also be wrong to need for a well guidance. greater reliance on web services assume because younger people paid, well trained Following the UNISON and reduction in face to face are perceived to be computer and secure commissioned research by careers guidance for many savvy that they would prefer this James Corry, SDS UNISON, workforce to Sheila Semple and Cathy pupils. method of support. told the STUC: “Attainment achieve high standards of care. Howieson (University of UNISON members in Skills Indeed pupils very much for all can be achieved by It was time to end zero hour Edinburgh), Skills Development Development Scotland valued the opportunity to ensuring one to one face to contracts, pay the living wage and Scotland Branch was invited to welcomed the research findings discuss their career plans with a face advice and guidance is provide proper training. which concluded that web Careers adviser. also available for all.” UNISON’s Sam Macartney said: attend the Education and “We in this hall know that the most effective way of giving staff a voice and insisting on both decent working Collective bargaining is HE talks hit conditions and maintaining standards, is to join a union and critical phase make sure your workplace is essential for social justice s we went to print, organised. negotiations after three “We know that Congress, but it’s the ollective bargaining is A strike days by higher task of all of us to get out and make now essential for our C education members were sure that everyone knows it. Because economy, Jane Carolan maintaining and improving standards at a critical stage. told the STUC congress in UNISON higher education depends on it. And if we are lucky a ‘back to basics’ speech enough to get old, so will we.” negotiators will be considering calling for a new manifesto a report on 23 April and will for negotiating rights. then mount a consultation with “These rights must be Help from members via branches. enforced and we should not Other trade unions are UNISON Winter accept half measures or other reported to be doing the same. attempts to distract us”, she It is understood that the Fuel Grants said. report will address issues in the uel poverty across the UK She was backing a motion is increasing as gas and current dispute and the F from the General Council O: LOUIS FLOOD 2014/2015 pay round. electricity bills go up and backed by Unite, PCS, RMT The HE Service Group wages remain the same. and the STUC youth conference PHOT Executive will be contacting The winter period is particularly which called for legislation Keith Ewing Jane Carolan members in the coming days. difficult for many UNISON that:- members but they’re not alone. organisers or the union busters. Labour to give back “real rights ò promotes collective UNISON’s Welfare’s Winter Fuel “And the right to strike, the to organise and to bargain and bargaining in accordance Grants have helped many members fundamental right to withdraw to strike.” with international law; £300k personal through this difficult period. labour. He asked why in the 21st One member wrote to us recently ò bans the use of union “Collective Bargaining century employers were free to injury wins in and said: “I received a cheque for busting firms; challenges inequality and is a victimise stewards and why just one month £40.00 on Friday from the Winter ò makes collective bargaining force for social justice”, said they could tear up collective Fuel Grant, It is great that a charity a pre-condition in awarding Jane. agreements and contracts of NISON has won considers people who work full public contracts; Bargaining and workers’ employment “as if they were U£333,334.30 for time but still sit with heating off Jane laid out the basic trade rights was the theme of toilet paper.” members in compensation and wrapped in quilts during the union rights we must campaign Professor Keith Ewing, He called for rights cases in Scotland in the harsh winter months. Please pass on for. She called for: “The right to Professor of Public Law at recognised by the International month of March. my gratitude and appreciation it will collective bargaining to be King’s College London at a Labour Organisation and the The settlements range from help”. underpinned by other fringe meeting run by the European Court of Human £10,000 to £1,300 and cover For more information on fundamental labour rights. Morning Star and the People’s Rights to be honoured in the members from 22 branches. UNISON Welfare check out our “The right to organise Assembly Scotland. UK and for that we needed to Another 300,000 reasons for website. unimpeded by the blacklist He laid down a challenge for make demands of . being a UNISON member! Putting public services at centre of referendum debate From Page 1 companies like INEOS a tax cut, Equality She also criticised Labour for Anas Sarwar took a multi- Stephen Smellie, UNISON although Nicola Sturgeon retorted Rising inequality was the big “tripping through the lobbies to lateralist view and said he wanted Scotland Deputy Convener, that Labour at UK level had cut concern for Kate Ramsden, impose a welfare cap.” to get rid of nuclear weapons challenged the politicians on the corporation tax in the past. Aberdeenshire Branch, “as the But Anas Sarwar said that a everywhere, not just in Scotland. INEOS scandal where the boss Anas Sarwar made a specific richest 1,000 in the UK increase UK Labour Government would held the unions - shackled by anti- pledge that “there will be no their wealth by £190 billion whilst tackle inequality through fairer ... and finally trade union laws - and the country privatisation of the NHS under a more and more children grow up taxation, as he slammed ‘in-work The key for Anas Sarwar was to ransom. Would they fight back Labour Government.” in poverty.” poverty’. how best to deliver social justice. and take companies like that into He insisted the NHS was not And Retired Members’ They would re-instate the 50% He cautioned against thinking public ownership? being protected in Scotland. 4,000 Secretary, Sue Chalmers, asked tax rate for the wealthiest. He also there was social justice in “Public ownership should jobs had ben lost and “bad things how pensioners could be “assured promised a citizens’ income for Scotland. “Bad things are always be an option”, said Nicola are happening right now” under a retirement and old age free from those on benefits. happening in Scotland from the Sturgeon and she pointed to the SNP control. poverty.” “The last Labour Government decisions of both governments.” taking over of Prestwick airport Both Anas Sarwar and Nicola cut child poverty and that is a The whole UK faced the same and that fact the SNP had Trade union rights Sturgeon condemned the growing record I am proud of,” he said. challenges and the best way to protected the NHS from bring social justice was to do it On trade union laws Nicola inequality in our society. Trident privatisation. Sturgeon promised a convention Nicola Sturgeon said, “I feel together. “Together we can Responding to a question from Anas Sarwar said Stephen’s on employment and labour passionate about having a more succeed”, he said. question had gone to “the heart of Jim Main, Glasgow City Branch, relations. equal society. It’s why I came into Nicola Sturgeon said she and it - the excesses of big business. Nicola Sturgeon said Trident was “The NHS partnership model politics.” She pointed to the Anas agree on more than they Public ownership was an option an “abomination.” is how I see the future”, she said. increases in child care to help disagreed about on social justice. and should have been considered more women into work as a way With all UK parties signed up It was about, “what gives us Anas Sarwar replied that at the time.” out of poverty and to the payment to it: “It is now or never. The only the best chance to deliver the kind unions needed more than just He slammed SNP plans to cut of the Living Wage across the way to stop Trident is of Scotland we want to see.” For “warm words and a convention.” corporation tax as giving big public sector in Scotland. independence.” her that was independence. page 3 april 2014 ScotlandinUNISON Create fairer council funding now Stories by John Stevenson, he Council Tax freeze is local services or local and then Labour all promised to Kate Ramsden and Jane Tbenefiting the richest by communities. freeze the Council Tax.” That Aitchison. £1,500 while disabled Political reactions from the 80s temporary freeze has become a For full stories see people can be £3,000 worse cancelled re-evaluation “when ‘permafrost’. www.unison-scotland.org.uk off. middle class ratepayers The result is that: “Local “That needs fixed and it can be squealed”. government has no local powers Police and done in Scotland now - we have When the same people whined and can’t govern as their ability to all the powers we need”, about rate rises to fund schools raise funds in response to local fire £30m UNISON’s Stephen Smellie told and roads, the Tories abolished needs has been taken away.” the STUC congress. the rates and gave us the poll tax. “We need a proper debate on VAT burden The UNISON Scotland motion “When business complained.. the future of local government called for politicians of all parties government took away councils’ finance”, said Stephen, “through he FBU to ‘stop hiding from difficult Stephen Smellie powers to levy the rates. a progressive tax system.” Tand decisions and sort out fair tax for nothing but a political football for “When we revolted against the A progressive system should UNISON told the STUC that local services’. years.” poll tax and helped bring down tax all income and wealth with the creation of “Local government finance is All parties had failed to deal Thatcher, the Tories rushed in the taxes on income and profits a centralised knackered”, said Stephen. “Why council tax”, said Stephen. levied nationally, along with a with local government with Police and should it not be when it has been respect for local governance or “First the Tories, then the SNP fair property tax at local level. Fire Service has meant the Scottish taxpayer footing a bill of Services, housing and the about £30 million pounds through the loss of VAT exemption. This burden is unnecessary living wage key to recovery and unfair and impacts dramatically on both community and emergency worker safety. he STUC is calling on the composite outlines some of the George McIrvine, of the TUK and Scottish ways that can be done.” UNISON Police Staff Scotland Governments to end This message was backed up Branch, told congress that UNISON had raised this issue austerity and instead invest later by UNISON Scottish with the Scottish Government in public services and pay a convener Lilian Macer moving some two years ago and it another UNISON motion on living wage to ensure a refused to divulge whether they ‘better today and more austerity, housing, welfare and had been aware of the issue. prosperous tomorrow for young people. Due to that lack of Scotland’s people’. “This is about exposing transparency, “The Scottish And it urged the Scottish austerity for what it is - an attack taxpayer, and indeed police and Government to ‘change its mind’ on human decency”, said Lilian, fire support staff, are now and use its procurement rules to “and it sets out some of the paying the hefty price”, said insist that contractors pay the measures we’ll need to take on George. Living Wage. the road to recovery.” In the first of two UNISON “Scotland has a housing crisis. Affordable and Scotland motions backed by the Margaret Cook Lilian Macer there are over 180,000 people on flexible childcare congress, UNISON’s Margaret local authority waiting lists Cook told delegates: “Over half them through cuts as the funded public services can alone.” he Scottish Government of the 13 million people in Westminster government has, or provide a source of decently paid “Building more social housing Tshould deliver on its post poverty in the UK actually come leave them to wither on the vine employment and training, was the solution for the housing referendum plans for more from working families. by refusing to raise money for boosting demand in local crisis after the second World War affordable childcare now, “Statistics like this should not them, as the Scottish government economies. - and it is the obvious choice upskill staff and improve exist – or be allowed to become has”, said Margaret. It called on governments to now”, said Lilian. their pay; and recognise that even more grave. We must take “I am proud to come from a ensure that living wage Building social housing accessibility and flexibility action. local authority who pay the living provisions are at the heart of creates employment and means are just as important as “We need to put people back to wage, ensuring that workers are public procurement regimes. people gain through improved affordability to working work and make sure the work rewarded for the efforts which “We need to give chances to housing choice. women. they do pays enough to live on. they put in. our young people – we need to “We all gain from the Backing a Community motion “One obvious way to start “People should not be working put people back to work and reduction in housing benefit bills at the STUC, UNISON’s Carol doing that is to adequately fund yet still be unable to get by.” make sure that employment and income from rents to local Ball laid out the benefits of our public services, not attack The motion said that properly means a living wage. This authorities can be reinvested.” providing high quality, flexible and affordable childcare to children, families and the Glasgow dispute: Positive impact across city and beyond economy. From Page 1 as in most disputes a core group of minimum staffing levels in all ago that the number of social “We want services provided by Members voted by three to one members, many of whom had 15 homes. All nightshifts will care workers will never be less the public sector, properly funded to strike with the first days of never taken strike action before or have more workers by than the number of social care and not for profit. This is what action on 14 and 15 January. been involved in the trade union recruiting additional staff. assistants in the new homes. families want and deserve.” A further five strike days took branch, became key local ò A one off payment equal to the The council said that their place over the next four weeks. organisers and contributors to how value of one year’s loss of pay revised offer would cost them just Give us resources The strikes had a huge impact on the dispute was run. for dayshift workers who lost under a £1million. for Children Act the residential service, secured The branch received hundreds due to a cut in shift payment. The council only made the very good media coverage, won of messages of support from he STUC will urge the ò The consolidation of 47 workers revised offer due to the pressure widespread support from residents across the UK and some government to provide in temporary promoted posts exerted on them by UNISON T and their families and rattled the magnificent donations to the strike the resources to fund the for three years or more. Some members taking strike action. senior council managers and hardship fund from other ‘named person’ role in the with less than three years will Compared to where we were in politicians. UNISON branches. new Children and Young keep their temporary grade for January, the revised offer had more The UNISON branch organised In late February, due to the People Act. a period of time based on the positive than negative aspects. In a members’ meetings during the increasing pressure on the council UNISON’s John Stevenson criteria of “first in, last out”. ballot of the members, 69% voted to strikes to allow those taking the and the threat of a further nine accept the revised offer. told delegates: “A law that has ò Administration of most action to determine the next steps days of strike action, leading The strikers also pushed back great intentions to improve the medicines by social care wellbeing of our children in in their action, called two protests council officials outwith social the anti-trade union, anti-collective assistants in the five new 120 Scotland needs to be backed up at the council chambers, co- work services and politicians from bargaining approach adopted by bedded homes due to open over with the resources to actually ordinated public leafleting and the Labour administration offered the council at the beginning of the the next three years (but not in deliver on those promises. ensured that generous strike to meet with the UNISON Branch. dispute. In that respect, the dispute the current 15 homes) with a Otherwise it will be no more than hardship payments were made The council tabled a revised offer has had a positive impact across restatement of a previous intentions - and worse still, our when required. which included: the trade union movement in the New stewards were elected and commitment made five years members will be left carrying the ò An increase in the core city and beyond. can.” page 4 april 2014 ScotlandinUNISON University review on diversity must be implemented Pat wins iPad for recruiting a friend he STUC slammed the of proper consultation with and senior management teams Tnew Code of staff, students and trade of universities that fully Governance from unions. represent the diversity of their university chairs as a Congress also re-iterated its workforce and student body missed opportunity opposition to undergraduate we will continue to see making very limited tuition fees, and rejected the building projects prioritised change, failing to address rest of the UK tuition fees for over decent pay and equitable issues on senior students. terms and conditions for all managers’ pay, and failing UNISON’s Davena Rankin staff and for Black and female to ensure representation called for the original Von staff. on the governing bodies Prondzynski review Davena Rankin “The glass ceiling will not reflects the diversity of recommendations on the in full, including reserved seats only continue to exist but will Scotland’s population. reform of University for trade unions. be reinforced and double This failure is due to a lack Governance to be implemented “Until we have governors glazed.” Young Members take up delighted Pat Bevans is presented Awith her prize of an iPad by Highland Branch Chair Liz MacKay ‘Gie’s a Hoose’ campaign after winning UNISON Scotland’s “recruit a friend” competition. by Katrina Rankin The initiative was launched at the Chair UNISON Scotland Young end of last year and members were Members Committee invited to recruit a friend and submit ollowing our their names to the prize draw by Fsuccessful Young November. UNISON Scotland would Members Development like to thank all those who entered Weekend and AGM, which and a big welcome to all our new was held 21-23 March 2014 members. in Stirling, we are delighted to introduce our Members accept new Scottish Young Members Committee. new SCRA deal The committee is working by Diane Harvey hard on their ‘Gies A Hoose’ UNISON SCRA Branch housing campaign which will run over two years. cottish Children’s Reporter New Young Members’ Committee. See the website for details We have produced a young S(SCRA) members have workers pack which includes a of packs to use in branch glad to be receiving help from Committee meets four times a accepted a new three year pay deal housing guide for young recruitment - Thank you. our young members at National year and we encourage anyone in a close run ballot. people, information on the We will also distribute to Young Members Weekend. who wishes to attend, or to find SCRA’s initial pay offer had been a one housing crisis in the form of local organisers in Scotland so We will then collate our out more about the Scottish year deal from April 2013 for a flat rate our ‘Gies A Hoose’ leaflet, as they can also use them in survey information for the next Young Members, to contact us. across the board increase of £345 with no well as recruitment materials recruitment activity. step of our campaign which Our details are on the incremental progression. and an application form. The next step of our will be a petition to the Scottish UNISON Scotland website. We On a turnout of 70%, a massive 92% The pack was launched at our campaign will be our paper and Government. also use social media, Facebook voted to reject the pay offer. As a result, stall at Scottish Council on 5 video survey of young This is a huge campaign and and , as well as the SCRA withdrew the one year offer and April 2014. Our stall was a members’ housing situations; we will continue to put in our UNISON Scotland website to proposed a three year offer. success and we thank all our this will include street efforts to ensure it is a success. keep our members up to date on This means in year one, all staff will colleagues who took their share campaigning and we are also The Scottish Young Members activity of the committee. receive a 1% increase and all eligible staff will receive full pay progression with payments backdated to April 2013. Welcome guide to doing radical social work In years two and three there is pay progression for all eligible staff and an by John Stevenson More than that, they help and acting together in a trade increase for those still moving up the scale. SiU editor when the hard decisions have to union is essential. Staff at the top of their pay scale e have waited since the be made in areas like child There is nothing wrong with receive a 1% increase in 2013/14 and a W1970s for an protection. ‘small scale resistance’ as Colin non-consolidated payment of £300 in the accessible book that not For many in the job, there is a puts it, but without a collective following two years. only sets out the theory and fear that the profession is voice, individuals can be easily UNISON welcomed the improvement politics of radical social becoming separated - or being picked off. on the original offer but overall, the offer work, but also gives forced to separate - from its roots The book, as itself admits, is does nothing to address the year on year practical strategies for as a human rights and social optimistic. Optimistic that social pay cuts our members have suffered and putting them into practice. justice profession. work is still worthwhile. UNISON recommended rejection. The wait is over with the Neo-liberal policies mean that By not only listing the Members were clear that rejecting the publication of ‘Doing Radical welcome increased accountability problems but also looking at the offer would mean a fight with Scottish and more evidenced practice are Social Work’ by Colin Turbett, a ground can avoid oppressive solutions, that optimism is Government over the public sector pay too often delivered by a children and families team manager practice and begin to influence welcome at a time when so many cap. 69% of members voted in the in North Ayrshire and a member of the policies that create inequality managerialism that focuses more in the profession feel de-skilled on numbers than people. consultative ballot with a small majority UNISON Scotland’s Social Work at a range of levels. and obstructed from delivering on (53.7%) voting to accept the offer. “Radical social work practice Radical social work seeks to Issues Group. real social work values. But 46.3% were prepared to fight and ‘Doing’ is the key word in the will not, in itself change the empower and has at its root an ‘Doing Radical Social Work’ voted to reject the offer. This should send title because this is not a distant world”, writes Colin, but within understanding of the politics that should be essential reading for a clear message to SCRA, and to the theoretical treatise but a real all the structures that restrain create social and personal everyone in social work to Scottish Government, that the fight for practical guide to how social social workers, they can still ‘problems’. Practising without that remind them about the values the fair pay goes on. workers can strive to make a make things better for some of the job claims to aspire to. most oppressed in society. understanding risks compounding difference. Better than that, it outlines Taking stock of social work Tellingly, the book stresses the oppression of the people we practical things you can go out today, with a journey through that recognising the real roots of purport to serve. We want to hear your news and do tomorrow. radical approaches over the years, social issues, defending rights, In examining practical ways SiU is your paper, we want to hear your ‘Doing Radical Social Work’is Colin shows - with case studies being respectful and inclusive that we can avoid that and take stories. John Stevenson (Editor) 0131 available in bookshops and and helpful bullet point are, after all, just elements of measures to achieve real change, 558 7488, webmanager@unison- summaries - how workers on the good practice. the book argues that collectivism online. edinburgh.org.uk

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