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107 April/May 2014 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 SCOTLAND 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 Nicola Sturgeon to implement the recommendations and Scottish Labour 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 Glasgow 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 Scottish Parliament 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.
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