February 2020
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The specialist union for social workers e-BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2020 To strike, or not to strike? That is the question doing something else. Our Consultative Ballot to SWU members Or when they simply will be getting emailed out to all members dislike the way their social mid-February 2020. Please ensure that you work employer asked complete this online as we need to be guided by them to do something. the membership on future thoughts regarding These tension points potential strike action in the UK. often go unnoticed and unremarked upon. They The situation with any potential strike are usually part of the give The Social Workers Union (SWU) will always offer and take in the workplace. our wholehearted support to colleagues in public sector trade unions who take industrial action. Sometimes, however, they flare into something bigger. An industrial dispute is the most Presently we are unable legally to ask our collective and formal manifestation of those members to strike until we have a mandate from tensions. A strike brings those compromises into members regarding future action. We do ask sharp relief for all the parties involved. Striking is our members to take the following action for any a last resort but sometimes the only tool for social dispute: workers to protect themselves and avoid being at the complete mercy of employers. The ability Not working overtime on days of industrial to strike gives more of a balance between worker action. Not working unpaid hours and employer power. Without it, more and more governments will ban industrial action and punish Consultative Ballot people who dare to strike. Most strikes are over SWU is often asked about our view on industrial pay and better working conditions. Without the action. Needless to say, there is a range of threat of strike action, social work employers will opinion among members on the subject. SWU be able to restrict pay increases, while working will be consulting with members February 2020 conditions will get worse. on this ballot and this will determine future action if deemed legally appropriate and necessary. SWU Members - Why strike action is not necessary (An argument from a member SWU Members - Why strike action is on why SWU should not strike) necessary (an argument from a member The core purpose of unions in a modern on why SWU should take part in a strike) society is not only to protect their members The employment relationship - between social and negotiate improvements in their pay and work employer and employee - is full of tensions, conditions, but also to promote professional bargains and compromises. Even the most standards and engage constructively with all motivated employee has days when stakeholders and employers for the benefit of they would rather be service users, colleagues and the profession. 1 Working relationships can falter and breakdown, campaigning and being active. The success of but hostility toward management, employers the union lies in the motivation and involvement of and colleagues is counter-productive and is our members. In our union we really promote the something which is not assisted by the threat continued involvement of our members to shape of strike action. Social workers skills enable the organisation. Nonetheless, the hard work us to use the force of argument rather than the remains with the A&R Team who are the Unique argument of force. The power of negotiation, Selling Point of this union; without them we would protest and legal action over industrial action. not be who we are due to the skilled work that they do, and their commitment. While social workers should recognise and reserve our legal right, and respect the right of The General Federation of Trade Unions training others, to take part in lawful industrial action, options available to members are worthy of a we should not support strikes or other forms of look as are the legal and financial discounts industrial action that are damaging to social work and training provided from Dr Neil Thompson. or to the interests or welfare of those service users SWU membership is much more than just who seek our support. This position provides paying your fee as a safety net in case you need social workers with the opportunity for reasoned representation; as we have lots more going on, discussion, negotiation and compromise. and opportunities to be active. Industrial action, the threat of it, or a hostile I was again elected onto the GFTU National or intimidating approach to negotiation, is not Executive for another two-year period, reinforcing only destructive, it sends the wrong message our position amongst the influential specialist about the social work profession and education unions and the growth of the GFTU as a pioneering to service users, fellow professionals and the and imaginative organisation with a growing public. It does not promote the image of a membership now approaching 280,000 members. professional social workforce. Avoiding such strike tactics promotes professionalism. Our unique selling point remains with the following: SWU is the only UK trade union for, We differ from “conventional” trade unions and run by, qualified and registered social workers. Therefore; SWU is the only trade union Yes, we differ from “conventional” trade unions in to GUARANTEE representation by a qualified that rather than being workplace shop stewards, social worker who understands the complexities our Advice & Representation Team are full-time of the profession. With officers working professional officers, qualified and experienced across the UK, we provide representation at in social work and with a breadth of knowledge internal hearings for disciplinary and grievance about the issues that affect social workers daily. procedures, and employer investigations into Whilst traditionally larger unions have done practice and misconduct allegations. well to focus on terms and conditions, moving forward, what appears to be of equal importance for Social Workers is employment wellbeing and Going forward job satisfaction. Interestingly; this is reflected February 2020 will see a consultative ballet going further through recent Bath Spa University out to all our UK members to help determine the research and follow up meetings indicating that legal basis for any participation by SWU in any addressing those factors keep social workers in future industrial action scenarios. This is only the their posts alongside higher pay levels or more start of the process as local action requires clear annual leave. This fits with findings from a recent legal scrutiny to enable us to maintain a localised General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) but legal ballot. Union conference. ‘THANK YOU’ SWU Members Already we have invested heavily in campaigning, I would like to express my thanks to all our additional staff and ongoing resources but with members for their patience and understanding on an annual fee of £25 (£10 for students) there are this complex matter; your continuing membership obvious financial limitations to our budget. The is vital to our strength as a union as we continue fixed funding from SWU for the Austerity Action in our aim of improving the working conditions of Group (Boot out Austerity) strengthens Social Workers and fight for better resources for our commitment to ongoing the people who use these services. 2 As part of the General Federation of Trade • Opting in to SWU means that unlike a Unions Executive, we hear regular stories professional association, SWU can enforce about the successes of smaller unions; making the legal entitlement of representation in themselves very relevant and organised. A employers’ hearings by SWU’s Trade Union common theme is how much the smaller unions officials. We work alongside BASW, which are effective due to their specialism and ability to offers advice and representation at regulatory connect with members. Equally, smaller unions body hearings. in the GFTU have similar difficulties to SWU • SWU is the only trade union to have all A&R when strike action is called. Trade Unions officials as qualified social workers who understand the complexities of the profession. Despite the growing demand for smaller unions; With officers working across the UK, we can where overall trade union membership in the UK appropriate provide representation at internal fell from an historic high point of 13.5 million hearings for disciplinary and grievance procedures, members in 1979 to 6.2 million members in 2018. and employer investigations into practice and The level of overall union members decreased by misconduct allegations or offer trade union advice. 275,000 over one year from 2015 (a 4.2 per cent decrease), the largest annual fall recorded since • The General Federation of Trade Unions the Trade Union Membership 2016: Statistical (GFTU) training options available to members Bulletin series began in 1995. are worthy of a look (and can provide important evidence in the context of continuous A number of large individual unions have professional development!) as are the legal continued to lose membership over the past and financial discounts and training provided decade. I am therefore particularly pleased from Dr Neil Thompson. It is much more than to say that membership of the Social Workers just paying your fee as a safety net in case Union has expanded, and we are getting you need representation; as we have lots close to 13,000 members. As we know, a real more going on, and opportunities to be active. strength is that union members want to be active through our Union Contact scheme and further On behalf of The Social Workers Union may I opportunities to engage with activism. wish you a very peaceful and happy 2020 and thank you for all that you do every day for children, Why SWU membership is important young people, families and adults.