WEST COUNTRY WORKERS

THE ISSUE 6 2018 ISSUE GREAT NEWS THE FROM SOUTH WEST TUC YOU’RE JOBS HIRED!AGENDA

Apprenticeships across the West of England

© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

“A real West Country Making a opportunity” union champions difference Aliza on being an We continue our look at the Looking at Women apprentice at Bristol people who shaped our in Leadership City Council political history Pages 8 & 9 Pages 4 & 5 Pages 6 & 7 Don’t let your payslip 2

The South West TUC has ith government figures A large part of the campaign is the showing nearly one in website that asks apprentices to input launched a campaign to W five apprentices are not their pay and how many hours they inform apprentices of receiving the minimum wage to have worked, then it calculates whether which they’re entitled, the South the sum reaches the minimum wage for their rights West TUC has produced an online their age and stage in their training. apprentice pay calculator as part of Many employers do not even pay its ‘Don’t Let Your Pay Slip’ initiative. this amount. “A good apprenticeship is a route to a “There is a real problem with rewarding career but some apprentices underpayment in apprentice pay,” are not paid even the legal minimum confirms Professor Felix Ritchie, wage,” says South West TUC Regional Head of Research at the University Secretary Nigel Costley. of the West of England’s accounting, economics and finance department. “We want to help apprentices get good training, be paid right and “Apprentices are more likely to treated well. We will support and be paid less than the minimum promote good employers, but we wage than other groups in the will also call out those employers country, which is a concern because and training providers who allow apprentice pay is already the lowest apprentices to be underpaid.” of the minimum wages.” The South West TUC campaign will: Dr Hilary Drew, associate head of • Inform apprentices of their rights department for partnerships and lecturer in HR management at UWE, • Share an easy-to-use apprentice pay praised the new website, saying: “It’s calculator fantastic. The challenge, though, is • Share ‘Happy Birthday - time for a pay getting it to the right audience. rise’ cards “We did research in 2013 and 2015 and • Train young trade unionists to be able when we asked young workers how to meet and advise apprentices on their pay rates much they were paid, how many hours The South West TUC campaign will: they worked, most of them didn’t know. • Work with training providers to make • Inform apprentices of their rights • Work with training providers sure employers meet minimum pay “For most of the kids, out of school, to make sure employers meet levels out of college, this will probably be • Share an easy-to-use apprentice minimum pay levels • Help UCU college lecturers get the their first job,” agrees Professor Ritchie. pay calculator message across to students “They probably haven’t seen a payslip • Help UCU college lecturers get • Share ‘Happy Birthday - time for before, so asking questions – how many the message across to students • Spread Facebook and other social a pay rise’ cards hours do you work? what’s your gross media ads. • Spread Facebook and other pay? – is quite difficult for them. Sorting • Train young trade unionists to Top: Dr Hilary Drew. social media ads • Encourage apprentices to join that out is going to be key.” Bottom: Professor their union be able to meet and advise Felix Ritchie apprentices on they pay rates • Encourage apprentices to join their union 3

Lee Probert and Anna Keen

“We should all get behind any campaign that promotes the value and power of apprenticeships”

“The people we spoke to had no idea more active part in protecting the to train people into the job they’re they might be paid the wrong wage,” apprentices they employ and teach. doing. adds Dr Drew. “They never thought “But we also want apprentices to “By paying people correctly, it about how much they might be paid, know their rights from day one.” underlines how valuable people are never thought their boss might be who do those jobs and strengthens underpaying them. To help apprentices learn more about our workforce by having good quality their rights at work, the South West “Paying apprentices the proper jobs that people are paid for.” TUC will be training up trade union wage is the right thing to do, it’s fair. activists, members and workplace Lee Probert, head of City of Bristol Particularly in the sectors we looked reps to go into colleges and host College, agrees: “Apprentices make at, there was an idea that there was training sessions on the calculator. up a significant part of the workforce a low-pay culture and you work in in Bristol so we should all get behind this profession therefore you will be “We want to ensure as many any campaign that promotes the paid less. It’s setting people up to be apprentices are safeguarded against value and power of apprenticeships exploited and that’s wrong.” exploitation or error by knowing how as a route to securing high level skills to read their payslips, check their Research suggests most instances of and training and properly reflects contracts and work out their hours.” underpayment are mistakes by the what they deserve in terms of their said campaigns officer Ines Lage. employer rather than a calculated pay and conditions.” effort to exploit young workers, but The TUC’s campaign has the You can find the website here the South West TUC is taking no support of Anna Keen, chair of www.tuc.org.uk/apprenticepay n chances. learning partnership and Bristol City cabinet member for skills. “We believe it’s unfair to put the “Apprenticeships are excellent for burden on young apprentices to fight many people,” she says. bad bosses when they’re just starting out, and at the bottom rung of the “They allow you to earn money, they organisation,” says Nigel Costley. give you a different route through to higher education and they strengthen “We want employers, colleges our workforce because we’re able and training providers to take a

Yellow buses Bournemouth apprentices and Unite members being given their apprentice tool boxes courtesy King Dick Tools Apprenticeship-shape and Bristol 4 fashion behind the scenes at city firms Tim Lezard visits three f you’d asked me, six months A-levels and did some work in the ago, whether I would have retail sector. workplaces that invest in I been sitting in a meeting with “This is much better, though, apprentices, and benefit directors and managers, I’d never because it’s a real opportunity as a result have believed you.” for me. It’s really good for my self-confidence. I’m learning and So begins 18-year-old Aliza Ibraim, getting paid at the same time!” who is working as an apprentice at Bristol City Council. Her There are more than 100 enthusiasm and ability to learn and apprentices at Bristol City Council absorb information in the finance working as business administrators, department has already been noted electricians, plumbers, accountants, by colleagues. supporting teaching and learning in schools and in human resources. “She’s brought a spark to the “As a council we want to model L-R: Nigel Costley, Aliza Ibraim office,” beams her manager and Marvin Rees. Jonathan Jacobs. “When she what we say,” says Mayor Marvin arrived she was shy. She didn’t Rees. “We’ve been talking about want to answer the phone, talk to apprenticeships and different anybody, but in the last six months pathways into work. Using she’s come out of her shell, and with apprenticeships is a more effective training and guidance she is now a way of recruiting from a more regular participator in meetings. I diverse group of race and class can see her going a long way.” backgrounds. We want the city to do it, so we do it ourselves.” “I’d been in education for so long and it was just exams, exams, “We’re actively promoting exams,” Aliza sighs. “It’s mostly apprenticeships, not just to the been what you learn off a book council, but to the city as a whole,” and that doesn’t really work for me. I says Tiffany Jenkins, the council’s didn’t want to go to university, apprentices team leader. “We so I took a gap year after my teach them a certain way so they’re multi-skilled and can address our shortage of skills. At the same time they make the council a more diverse place to work and, hopefully, “It’s really good for my self- we can help get them into more n confidence. I’m learning and senior positions.” getting paid at the same time!”

Jonathan Jacobs and Aliza Ibraim. Apprenticeship-shape and Bristol 5 fashion behind the scenes at city firms Apprentices at Bristol Port Tony Lawless avid Brown says an ristol Waste MD Tony Lawless apprenticeship at Bristol is a big fan of apprentices – D Port can lead to a job for life. B he was one himself. The company’s chief executive sees “We don’t do enough the scheme as a route to the top, apprenticeships in this country,” saying: “Providing you show the he says. “There’s a massive skills commitment, the tenacity and the shortage in the UK. It’s diabolical integrity to work here, there is no we’ve got into this state where bar no where you can reach in the decent training for apprenticeships company. Like everything in life, the isn’t even considered any more. “It was an opportunity to better more you put in at the beginning, myself, to progress within the the more you will reap at the end.” “Some of the excuses – it’s so expensive to run – don’t add up. My company,” he says. “Beforehand As an example, he cites his general apprenticeship at Dowty Aerospace I hated speaking in front of manager, who started as an in Gloucestershire was five years long crowds, which you need to do as a His colleague Ben Mogg All music to David Brown’s apprentice, became a supervisor, a and after the first couple of years I supervisor. I can do it now.” used to work in retail ear, no doubt. “The junior manager and is now the most was producing exactly the same stuff before joining the Port. benefit to us is enormous It’s also helped him outside of work, senior stevedore on the dock. as the fully-skilled people were, so “I was becoming bored because if you invest in at Whitehall Rugby Club, where he That’s good news for the latest I had three years’ apprentice wage with day-to-day life,” he people at an early stage in is now vice captain of the second influx of young apprentices, all while they were training us. That says. “It’s different here. their career, that will be paid team. “Doing my apprenticeship eager to learn their trade. must have paid for itself.” gave me confidence, it encouraged It’s going really well, I’m Anton Parker back in spades,” he says. “Our “When I finished Sixth Form I didn’t learning a lot and life’s more apprentice programme ensures Ben Chinnock is a man who’s me to step up,” he says. know what to do,” says Ben Harvey exciting than it used to be.” they get a broad base initially so benefitted from Tony’s vision. Since And if a rival firm comes in to tempt (19). “I have an interest in electrics, beginning his apprenticeship 18 “I’ve been here a year,” says Connor they get the chance to look at all the him away, he’ll go with his boss’s so I applied to work here and I got months ago as a chargehand, he’s Murphy. “I live in Weston and there individual departments, then they blessing. “I’d slap him on the back the job. It’s good down here. I enjoy been promoted twice and seen n aren’t many job opportunities get to specialise. and wish him well,” says Tony. it, everyone’s welcoming.” his salary jump by £8,000 as he there. I didn’t have the best grades “If you arrive here as an 18-year-old, assumed a supervisor role. Lewis Hannam, 18, has been in school, so decided to go for there is no reason why you can’t Ben Chinnock working here for just over a month. something where I was still learning, remain here in employment until “It’s better than I thought it was could build up my CV. It seemed you are 60+. ” n going to be,” he says. “The people ideal. The money’s good and I’m are so friendly and helpful. You’re loving it so far.” never left on your own.” Bailey Harrington adds: “It “I’ve been here a year and a half,” was a brilliant opportunity to says Jake Watkins. “I thought it further myself as a person, as was better for me than going to well as getting a career. It’s a university because it exposes me to challenge as well. It’s helped real work, sets me up for a career.” my confidence too.”

All images by: © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk Julie Varley WEST 6 COUNTRY

Julia Varley (above) started work talents led her to being elected to the Union in UNION in her local mill aged 12. Inspired TUC General Council. She worked Somerset, by her Chartist grandfather and the closely with Margaret Bondfield and successfully memory of the Peterloo Massacre, the pair became the leading women opening a she took part in the unsuccessful in the trade union movement. chain of new strike at Manningham Mills in 1890 branches for women glove-makers, CHAMPIONS and later played wider roles in the even in isolated rural areas. Born in Bristol of Irish parents, James growing ideas of a Labour Party and O’Grady (bottom left) left school The National Union of Glovers and women’s rights. She was arrested and aged 10 to train as a cabinet-maker. A Leather Workers was formed in 1920 PART TWO imprisoned for joining a suffragette member of the Amalgamated Union and primarily based around Yeovil. protest at the House of Commons. 1890 - 1926 of Cabinetmakers, he became TUC It was not until 1931 that it opened She moved to Birmingham as president in 1898. He was elected its ranks to women and then only on Nigel Costley continues his look at some inspirational secretary of the Birmingham Women MP for Leeds East in 1906, taking a restricted terms. Worker’s Organisation Committee, keen interest in international affairs, characters from the South West’s trade union past Women who joined risked the which aimed to assist women workers, negotiating an exchange of prisoners reaction of the employers. Twelve especially in Cadbury’s Bourneville with the Soviet Union in 1919 and women at Ensors in Chard joined the factory, and threw herself into helping becoming involved in union-led union and were threatened with the the 1910 women chainmakers’ strike efforts to relieve the Russian famine sack. The union stood by the new in the Black Country, becoming an in 1921. On leaving Parliament he was recruits and the boss backed down. organiser for the rapidly growing made Governor of Tasmania until 1930 By 1938 there were three women Workers’ Union. and then Governor of the Falkland on the union’s executive and equal Islands until his retirement in 1934. When the strike of china clay workers membership terms were agreed. It broke out in 1913, the union called on took a lot longer to get equal pay. Varley to marshal support amongst The West Country was a centre the families and communities around for producing leather products, In 1921 Devon-born Charles east Cornwall. After her Cornwall and unions have a long history of Bowerman (above) experience she helped the Blists organising the workers. In 1916 Ruby became the TUC’s first Mill strikers in the Cotwolds and her Part was an organiser for the Workers’ general secretary. He

Women at Nestle’s condensed milk factory in Ernest Bevin was a tough, formidable Chippenham went on strike for better pay organiser and one of most inspirational and conditions and joined the Workers’ trade unionists of the 20th Century Union rally shown here in 1917.

James O’Grady Charles Bowerman James Cook

7

A strike of women in 1912 at Gundrey’s in Bridport led them to be dubbed ‘Wildcat Women’

Bevin was a tough, formidable become a miner in South Wales, and 1919. The government backed down organiser and he worked his way by 1919 was a union official in the after one of the most successful Ruby Part was an organiser for through the union to become General Rhondda. He was a brilliant, erratic strikes organised by the rail unions. Secretary of the Transport and and emotional speaker and in 1924 He was elected an MP in 1924 and the Workers’ Union in Somerset, General Workers’ Union. He led the was elected general secretary of the became Secretary of State for the union during the General Strike in Miners’ Federation at the age of 39. successfully opening a chain of new Colonies. He had little faith in the 1926, the depression of the 30s and He led the miners’ strike up to and 1926 General Strike and the mine branches for women glove-makers the start of the war. during the General Strike and played workers’ union accused him of a key role in the 1926 miners’ strike. He In 1940, the day after Winston betrayal for failing to show them died in 1931, aged just 47. Churchill became Prime Minister at enough support. The charge of the head of the National Government, treachery grew when he joined Bevin was asked to become Workers in Ramsey MacDonald’s National moved from Honiton to London After he led a silent demonstration Minister of Labour. He agreed Swindon Government that imposed cuts in in 1873 to work as a compositor of unemployed men in Bristol and a month later he was elected lined the unemployment pay. The Labour Party and joined the London Society of Cathedral, the city council agreed to unopposed as MP for Wandsworth. streets expelled him. Compositors, becoming its general a series of public works including the He mobilised millions of people when secretary in 1892. Five years later he construction of the lake in Eastville to the war effort and re-directed James Jimmy Thomas was forced to resign was elected to the Parliamentary Park – known for many years as conscripts to work down the mines. Thomas in 1936 when his son was accused Committee of the TUC and in 1901 ‘Bevin’s Lake’. Those chosen became known as (left) was of leaking Budget secrets to a man was elected as a Progressive Party ‘Bevin Boys’. buried. who had paid Thomas £15,000. He alderman on London County Council. In 1910 Bevin supported striking Born in claimed the cash was an advance for In 1945, with the war over, Labour He was also Labour MP for Deptford dockers and formed a carters’ Newport a proposed autobiography but the won a landslide victory and Bevin from 1906 until 1931. union branch. In 1911 he became a in 1874, he story seemed implausible and his became Foreign Secretary. He full-time officer and went on to win became political career was over. Ernest Bevin, (left) one of the most led Britain’s negotiations with the national acclaim when he presented a railway influential trade unionists of Soviet Union and America. It was Throughout his turbulent career he the case for a pay rise to a court of fireman the twentieth century, was the start of the Cold War and a James Thomas enjoyed the loyalty of the Swindon rail enquiry. With no legal training and in a local born into a large, poor family period of recognition that Britain workers, who honoured him in 1948 little time to prepare, he forcefully colliery before moving to Wiltshire in Winsford in Somerset. was no longer the powerful force it when his body was brought back to and imaginatively put the arguments and joining the Associated Society of He became a farm labourer once was in the world. Bevin’s sudden the town to be laid to rest. n to the court, closely watched by the Railway Servants Union. He became but after a heated row with death in 1951 ended a remarkable media. He used plates of food to a popular figure amongst the local the farmer he headed to career from Somerset farm worker to show how poor the offer was. News workforce and was elected the first In part three we look at some more Bristol where he did odd the top of world politics. photos of the derisory quantities of Labour councillor for the town. West Country heroes, including jobs before becoming food shocked the nation and helped the man who helped found the a carter delivering him to win a national minimum wage Arthur James Cook (above) was He became an officer of the union British Communist Party, the mineral water and pop. for dockers of 16s a day for a 44-hour the son of a Somerset soldier who and helped lead the rail strike of 1911. Bristolian barred from standing as He became involved in week. The press dubbed him the became one of the country’s best- He was elected general secretary of an MP and women who fought for local politics, joining the ‘Dockers’ KC’. known miners’ leaders. He left his the National Union of Railwaymen equal rights. Bristol Socialist Society. native county in the early 1900s to in 1917 and led the national strike of

Ernest Bevin Watch this space – women 8 leading change

t’s been 150 years since the TUC They produced films discussing: Policy and campaigns was formed and 100 years since men and feminism, the need to ask officerInes Lage looks I some women first got the vote. “I have learnt a lot. I have gained more more women to stand in political roles, a campaign video on the back at the first TUC South Women have made huge strides for confidence on my way to becoming a importance of using gender neutral West Women in Leadership equality; from the London match leader in one way or another. Sisters language, and one with Lego on creating new activists (yes, they women who fought for better programme working conditions to the Ford united come what may” produced an entire Lego movie!). Dagenham women whose strikes On top of this, they are currently led to the Equal Pay Act. And for working on individual research the first time ever, UK organisations We continue to see too few willingness to learn, do and be more projects. And as an example of the employing more than 250 workers women in positions of power and was clear. leadership capabilities, many leadership; women make up the have to account for this through a The course developed leadership have already begun using it to majority of the UK electorate fewer gender pay gap audit. skills – communication, networking, negotiate better working practices than a third of our MPs and only 16% presenting and debating, with employers. So where are we today with women’s of top CEOs are women. equality? understanding and using different Our aim was to encourage the On top of this, the gender pay gap leadership techniques, as well women to learn from each other Unfortunately, not far enough. audit only told us what we already as providing them with practical and form a long-lasting network of Yes, the Ford strikers secured knew – it has barely shifted. And for experience in research and contacts that will help them achieve legislative change but it took a unions in particular, it brought home campaigning and influencing key and progress once completed. the urgent need for us to promote, stakeholders. further sixteen years and more Women in Leadership group in Parliament strikes before they eventually encourage, and develop more earned 100% of their skilled male women into positions of leadership counterparts’ pay. Indeed, fifty years within our movement. on, over 8,000 women in Glasgow So we developed the TUC South took action for the exact same West Women in Leadership demands - parity of pay with their Programme to bring on a new male counterparts. cohort of future women leaders - women already working hard to push for change but not yet visible “I sat right next to the senior manager in senior union positions. All with different perspectives, and because of that, he kept looking to ideas and aspirations the group me for answers, involving me. I spoke of 24 women represented 11 trade unions – from branch secretaries up so much more” and women’s officers, to union organisers and convenors from all sectors and walks of life. From the outset their enthusiasm and 9

Women in Leadership group in the EU Parliament

We sought to inspire and learn the South West who, not only leads experience after meeting with about the different pathways to on aerospace and defence but is senior managers: leadership. heavily involved in equality and “It was brilliant!” said Anthea. “I “Taking is a key word. You have to women’s rights in the EU. take every opportunity available to Joanne Kaye, UNISON South West normally would have sat somewhere Regional Secretary and TUC South “’Taking’ is a key word,” she else in the room. But I remembered you. Always be open to them” West Vice-Chair spoke to the group advised. “Because you have to take the ‘sitting at the table’ discussion, of her experiences and encouraged every opportunity available to you. so I arrived early, sat right next to the women to be unafraid of being Always be open to them. the senior manager and because different – advice that really struck of that, he kept looking to me for “And build a good team. The best with the group. answers, involving me. I spoke up so Women in Power was a very popular discussion at this year’s way to look and be good is by much more.” Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival. West County Workers asked some of the Many also found their political having good people around you. panel what their advice was for women ambitious to get to the top. voices as we helped them to Each woman brought their own As a former trade union organiser, understand and navigate those experiences, knowledge and voices. Clare was an inspiration to just how political vehicles to lobby for Friendships have been made and Doina Cornell, leader of Stroud District Council: “Even if you always do the far the women can go.” change. During a visit to the Houses the course has sparked in them a right thing, it is par for the course as a woman leader you’ll get challenged of Parliament the group met From getting more involved in desire to nevertheless persist. and criticised, so be sure to have a few people around that you absolutely Thangam Debbonaire MP for Bristol senior meetings to improving work trust. Their support and advice will help get you through the tough days.” “Meeting women from lots of other West who encouraged them to practices, the group have also unions has raised my awareness of Thangam Debbonaire, MP for Bristol West: “Find mentors, mentor others, consider political leadership. seen four promotions after just a shared goal of promoting women contribute to networks, treasure people who will give you critical feedback six months. We’ve also had more The course involved international in the workplace,” said Fiona. “My you trust as well. Cultivate health – emotional, mental, physical and debates about equality, workers’ dimensions, and in the context of confidence has been rebooted and financial. Judge yourself against your values.” rights, politics, women leaders and Brexit, exposed them to external installed an even better version that trade unions than you can wave a Dr Wanda Wyporska, executive director of The Equality Trust: “Be proud forces key to improving workers’ has given me new challenges and banner at. of who you are and where you come from. Our experience is our expertise and women’s rights in the UK, aspirations” and our insight is immensely valuable in shaping change. Our voices need particularly from the EU. And Indeed, following a session on how “I have learnt a lot,” said Torkwase. to speak to power.” during a visit to the EU Parliament women must both figuratively and “I have gained more confidence on in Brussels, the delegation met literally sit at the meeting table, Baroness Dawn Primarolo, former my way to becoming a leader in one Clare Moody Labour MEP in one woman shared her recent Paymaster General and MP for Bristol way or another. Sisters united come South: “Do not let anyone suggest that what may.” leadership is a male quality. Leadership History has shown us women have is about assertiveness and team “Meeting women from lots of other led changes that brought more building, not bluster. Be confident. Be fairness, justice and equality. yourself. All your experience is relevant unions has raised my awareness of a Developing more women leaders and valuable. Never under estimate your shared goal of promoting women in can only be a good thing. So watch potential. Encourage and support other this space as history continues to women. Their voices need to be heard.“ the workplace” be made. n

The Women in Politics fringe panel the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival 10 Councils in Crisis

Nigel Costley looks at Redundancies have been declared Like Northamptonshire, Somerset overspend of £3m in this year’s in the city’s finances. The failure to and staff are expected to work is now talking about merging its spending pot. And it will have to declare the true scale of the crisis what’s happening in the during two days of their annual leave. local councils into one big unitary make a further cut of £6m in the cost the chief executive and senior authority. This would see the 2020/2021 budget. finance officer their jobs but it has West Country where even Unions in Somerset are mobilising abolition of Somerset County been the most vulnerable who have to defend jobs, holiday rights Over the past eight years, 400 Tories are feeling the pain Council, Taunton Deane Borough really paid the price. In its efforts to and services. Somerset Council jobs have been lost across Council, West Somerset Council, slash spending Bristol Council cut of austerity is being dubbed as the next Torbay’s council departments South Somerset District Council, £5m from the budget for children ‘Northamptonshire’ after its fellow and more redundancies may be Sedgemoor District Council with special needs. Parents in Bristol Conservative council was forced declared. Torbay residents will and Mendip District Council. won a legal challenge over the cuts into a form of insolvency. A decade see a reduction in street cleaning, Dorset, along with Bournemouth, after the authority failed to consult of austerity has left all councils building maintenance and funding Christchurch and Poole, is currently them properly. struggling to even meet their legal for community groups in the years in the process of forming a single- requirements and with more cuts ahead. And next year’s Torbay Air Swindon Council has cut its budget tier structure. to come Somerset will not be the Show might be cancelled. for tackling substance abuse and last authority to seek desperate Cornwall merged all its councils ten public health services for children. he Conservative leader of When Labour’s Marvin Rees measures to survive. years ago and is now reducing the In Wiltshire the library service has Somerset County Council was elected Mayor of Bristol he number of councillors. It has also discovered an unreported black hole already suffered one round of cuts T feels “abandoned” by his The Independent recently ran a proposed a 3.9% rise in council tax party in government and his story under the headline: “English to maintain vital services. Cornwall local Tory MPs after presenting councils brace for biggest has seen core funding slashed from a crisis budget to stave off government cuts since 2010 despite £150m four years ago to just £14m financial collapse. ‘unprecedented’ budget pressures.” next year. It needs to find savings of The revenue support grant – the £31m next financial year and further Bath & North East Somerset Council main source of government funding savings totalling £67 million by may have to find savings of some for local services – will be cut by 36% 2022/23. £50m in the next five years on top of next year, marking the largest annual £74m cuts since 2013. deduction in almost a decade. But Torbay Council’s chief executive after years of austerity the latest Steve Parrock said his authority The latest round of cuts will squeeze will push some councils could go the same way as hit services for children with over the edge. Northamptonshire and Somerset special needs and other services. as it struggles to make more than £12m in savings over the next three years. Torbay featured in a BBC list of eleven of the UK’s most cash strapped councils. The main source of Parrock tried to reassure the local community by saying: “We are government funding will be a going concern but we do have cut by 36% next year serious concerns about future funding”. Torbay needs to make £5.5m savings and recover a forecast Council cuts have taken their toll on staff through job cuts, below inflation pay Charting a way forward to rises and increased pressure of work improving working conditions 11

which resulted in some smaller 77% of their budget by 2020, and rade unions have been Cornwall Council has also signed that conditions for workers on libraries being staffed almost totally Conservative Chair of the LGA, Gary keen to press local councils the Ethical Care Charter. construction projects under local by volunteers. Porter, says that will leave an £5.8bn Tinto signing charters Plymouth Council has signed the authority control in Bristol meet the funding gap for local government: Councils have eaten into what that commit them to various GMB’s ‘Making It’ Charter, the highest standards. “We won’t be cleaning the streets, reserves they have to meet costs. campaigns. first council in the country to do Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol signed we won’t be cutting the grass, we Devon Council transferred £12m so. The city has a concentration of the Unite charter that commits to won’t be putting streetlights on at all, from its reserves in the face of Plymouth council leaders joined manufacturing jobs in the South of achieving the highest standards your libraries will go, your potholes central government cuts and a £2.9m UNISON General Secretary Dave England, with around 13,000 people in respect of direct employment won’t get filled up.” overspend in children’s services. Prentis to sign the ‘Ethical Care employed in the sector. status, health and safety, standards Conservative Devon’s deputy leader Stroud District Council leader Doina Charter’. The Charter commits the Leader of the Council, Councillor of work and apprenticeship training. and Cabinet member for finance, Cornell joined 23 other Labour council to work with the city’s care Tudor Evans, pledged to support The city council has become the first John Clatworthy, said: “I think the council leaders in an open letter to organisations to end zero-hour the campaign, which calls for local authority in the South West to man on the Clapham omnibus would the Chancellor demanding a release contracts and pay workers for travel investment in manufacturing and become an accredited living wage say ‘well done’ to all concerned in from the financial crisis facing local time between home care visits. strong UK-based supply chains to employer, building in the £9 an hour these difficult financial times.” services. The leaders feared the Councillors pledged to work with support local communities. minimum into its procurement for The Local Government Association destruction of the “social contract care firms to ensure workers are service contracts. The South West Bristol City Council has given its believes councils will have lost between citizen and state” and paid at least the Living Wage – TUC and the Mayor are calling on all blamed the cuts for rising crime, currently £9 an hour. backing to Unite’s Construction Bristol employers to follow suit. falling life expectancy, the increase in Charter that seeks to ensure foodbank usage, homelessness and

rough sleeping. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary; Matt Roberts, GMB Organiser, Tudor Evans, Council cuts have taken their toll on Tudor Evans, Plymouth leader and Kevin Plymouth leader and Rowena Hayward GMB Treweeks, UNISON Plymouth launch the staff through job cuts, below inflation Senior Organiser Ethical Care Charter pay rises and increased pressure of work. This in turn has weakened economic growth as consumer spending lags behind. The TUC has called on the government to invest in public services and turn around local councils so they can be engines for growth and help rescue people from poverty. Councils are the heart of local communities and the root of democracy. It is time to unleash their potential rather than squeeze them to death. n

UNISON South West lobby in Taunton September 2018 12 Time for Better Pay Salisbury mayor After a massive survey of retail workers, USDAW has launched a campaign for £10 an hour, rights to a ‘normal hours’ contract and an end to zero-hour Chair welcomes unions contract misuse. Nick Ireland, South West Divisional Secretary and Kay alisbury mayor Mike Osment TUC Senior Policy Officer Hugh Timbrell USDAW rep on the South cycles West TUC shown here to promote the Srecently welcomed union Robertson gave his assessment safety reps to a South West TUC of the impact of Brexit on safety message. conference in the city. He spoke of regulations, saying the government Cuba the harm done to the local economy had promised to uphold existing from the nerve agent incidents. laws but reminding the meeting Delegates went on to hear from the of what ministers had said in the FBU about emergency response to past about the need to cut such chemical hazards and from Prospect protections. about the work of Porton Down, the L-R: TUC Senior Policy Officer Hugh Robertson, nearby science centre. Mayor Osment, UNISON Regional Secretary South West TUC chair Kevin Terry is cycling 355km around Cuba to Joanne Kaye and South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley raise funds for essential educational equipment for young disabled Cuban school children and supporting the vital work of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. You can sponsor him here Steve Preddy (below) is Unite’s new regional secretary for the South West. https://shop.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/departments/cycle-cuba- Born and bred in Bristol, he joined challenge/656/sponsor-kevin-terry-on-the-cycle-cuba-challenge-2018 the TGWU in 1980, was appointed regional officer in 2001 and promoted to regional co-ordinating officer in Tolpuddle tees raise funds 2011. He takes over from Peter Hughes, who has moved across the Severn to for Bus Shelter Dorset become regional secretary for Wales. Tolpuddle Festival-goers this summer raised £300 to buy sanitary products for homeless people. Organisers sold 100 limited edition t-shirts in Suffragette colours during the event, with proceeds going to Bus Shelter Dorset, a charity that helps people with lack of access to sanitary products, perhaps due to financial constraints but also because of insecure living All TUC publications may be made available for dyslexic or visually impaired readers, on request, circumstances. in an agreed electronic format or in accessible formats such as Braille, audio tape and large print, at no extra cost. Contact the South West TUC on 0117 947 0521. Designed by Rumba www.rumbadesign.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-911288-44-2