May 2009 Don’t lent Toeriews ditsch Minimum Wage

A Tory attempt to abolish the ‘CyberWarrior’ John Prescott unscrupulous bosses. Minimum Wage has been beaten off launched the Wage Concern online “UNISON fought long and hard to by the Wage Concern campaign set up campaign along with UNISON and establish the statutory national by Labour MPs and unions - but the shopworkers’ union Usdaw. minimum wage, in the teeth of Bill is due to be heard again in the Prescott has vowed to continue the opposition and unfounded Commons. campaign until Chope’s bill is scaremongering about massive job defeated, and the future of the losses. We will continue to resist any Wage Concern Minimum Wage is guaranteed. attempt to dilute or abolish it.” The Employment Opportunities Bill backed by Tory Christopher Chope Unscrupulous bosses www.wageconcern.com and ten other senior Conservative UNISON General Secretary Dave MPs was withdrawn at the last minute Prentis said: “I am delighted that  From October the Minimum Wage because of pressure from Wage Christopher Chope and his Tory cabal is due to rise by 7p to £5.80 an hour Concern, but they intend to table it failed in their attempt to turn the from October, by 6p to £4.83 for 18 to again on 12 June. clock back to the days of poverty pay 21-year-olds and by 4p to £3.57 for Labour’s unlikely New Media where workers are exploited by 16 and 17-year-olds Euro Labour champions of workers’ rights

Scottish Labour’s European parties throughout the EU,” election campaign is firmly Martin said. focused on the fight for jobs Other items on this agenda for Scotland. include the New Social Speaking at the launch of Europe, climate change and the campaign, Labour MEP gender equality. David Martin said: “The Martin and his Scottish pressing issue is the Labour MEP colleague economy, and Labour MEPs Catherine Stihler have a good are determined to play our track record in campaigning Euro launch: Mary Lockhart, Kirsty Connell, David Martin, Gordon part in creating a fairer for workers’ rights in Europe. Brown, Paul McAleavey, Catherine Stihler, Nasim Khan Scotland where we get back They were among the on track and fight for jobs.” Socialist Group of MEPs and in Europe of fighting for leave and extra parental Martin is the leading which voted in the European measures to improve life for leave.” candidate on the Labour list Parliament in December to working people. for the European elections on end the UK opt-out from the “Our decision to sign up to  Party list Thursday 4 June. Working Time Directive. the EU Social Chapter has for the European Elections on “Tackling the financial The Labour European given new rights and benefits 4 June: crisis is top of the European Manifesto, Working Together to Scottish workers and their David Martin, Catherine Socialist agenda that has been for a Better Future, argues families,” it states, “including Stihler, Mary Lockhart, Paul agreed with the UK Labour that the party has a strong the right to take five weeks McAleavey, Kirsty Connell, Party and its 33 equivalent record in Scotland, in the UK paid holiday, more maternity Nasim Khan A new leader Scottish Conference in saw the Labour Party back on the front foot against the SNP, following the stunning victory in Glenrothes in Dundee 2009 November and the dropping of the SNP flagship policy of Local Income Tax in February. New Scottish Labour leader impressed on his debut with a strong, serious speech in which he pledged to “learn the lessons, to regroup, recover and reinvigorate our Scottish Labour passion.” Scottish Labour There was some knockabout stuff too, when Gray described SNP Conference leader Alex Salmond as “impossibly smug, impossibly naff... just frankly report impossible.” Fighting council cuts The SNP’s concordat with local Scottish Labour’s annual conference in Dundee on 6-8 March 2009 government has become a was chaired by Dave Watson of UNISON. In his speech he called for straitjacket which is causing cuts in support for public services and backed the longstanding Labour local services to those who need manifesto commitment to keep the Royal Mail in public ownership them most, UNISON Scottish government cuts argued that the because of the council tax freeze financial settlement for Scotland’s and cuts in business rates.” councils will lead to real cuts in Smith said: “Of course we public services this year with even welcome the SNP’s abandonment of more damaging threats for next year. the local income tax. But in seeking Speaking in support of the motion, to pave the way for that policy the Smith said: “Today in the midst of Scottish Government set unwelcome this financial crisis many are and unworkable financial looking to local government to make parameters. Now the concordat has a difference: to be an economic become a straitjacket.” generator; to look after those who Smith called on the Scottish are suffering; and to be the voice of Labour Party to restate the value of local communities. Yet at this time local government and campaign to we find that councils are themselves improve local services, to recognise Matt Smith facing crisis. and fairly reward local government “At a time when its services are workers, and to recognise that “a Secretary Matt Smith told the more than ever required, local financial crisis is no time to reduce Conference. government is starved of funds and services to those who need UNISON’s motion on local opportunities to increase its income them most.”

Inequalities which was jointly Labour Link on the fringe organised with the Socialist Health Labour Link was busy on the Association. SHA chair Dr David Conference fringe once more as Conway spoke along with lawyer UNISON jointly organised three Mike Dailly and successful meetings. MSP.

Dave Watson spoke at a meeting The Socialist Educational on climate change co-hosted by Association and the Campaign for Oxfam Scotland and WWF. Other Socialism were joint sponsors with speakers were Richard Dixon Labour Link of a fringe meeting on (WWF), MSP, Des McNulty the economic crisis, chaired by MSP and Judith Robertson (Oxfam). Katrina Murray. Public finance and accountancy expert Professor Labour Link’s Gordon MacKay Prem Sikka spoke along with Katy chaired the fringe on Health Clark MP and MSP. Dave Watson The real pensions divide Moving UNISON’s emergency motion on ‘Sir Fred Goodwin and pensions’, Scottish Labour Link chair Gordon MacKay called on the government to end the fat cat bonus culture and rewards for failure; and to act to ensure fair and decent pensions for all workers in retirement. “The real pensions divide is not between public sector and private sector workers as the Tories and their allies claim,” MacKay said. “It is between ordinary workers whose modest pensions are under attack and high flying directors, who like Sir Fred Goodwin, believe they are entitled to ever increasing pension settlements based on inflated salaries and bonuses at their own discretion. NHS parking demo “The reality is that local UNISON delegates and activists at non- government workers can expect on Scottish Labour’s Conference in existent, average a pension of around £3,800 Dundee joined in a demonstration so a car per year, one half of one percent of the Goodwin figure.” against car parking charges in and some- Scotland’s Health Service at where to Ninewells Hospital. Ninewells is park it is one of three Scottish hospitals definitely that still charge for car parking, needed to because it is run under a PFI Katrina Murray attend contract. clinics, visit, or to get admitted, The demo was designed to and - for the people who make build support for Labour MSP the health service happen - Paul Martin’s bill in the Scottish actually get to work. Profit simply Parliament, which would outlaw should not come into it.” charging for parking anywhere in the NHS in Scotland Team Labour in Dundee Paul Martin, MSP for Glasgow Dundee Labour representatives Springburn said: “My bill will Morag Houston came out to support the demo. make it illegal for a health board Marlyn Glen, North East to levy parking charges on Scotland Labour MSP said: “Paul PFI profiteers slammed patients, visitors or staff - or Martin’s bill will remove the UNISON delegate Morag Houston anyone who has to visit a site for slammed the private contractors that current two-tier system of parking whatever reason.” run car parking at Edinburgh’s at NHS hospitals that Royal Infirmary. They looked set to Katrina Murray, Labour discriminates against NHS make around an extra £170,000 by Prospective Parliamentary patients, NHS staff and NHS recalibrating machines for the Candidate for Dundee East and visitors at Ninewells.” changed VAT rate. UNISON activist said: Jim McGovern, Labour MP for She was backing a motion giving “People in Tayside have long Dundee West said: “Since parking support to the private member’s bill been opposed to forking out for charges have been abolished proposed by Paul Martin MSP, car parking at Ninewells. Although throughout Scotland, with the which would make charging for car Ninewells is a city hospital with exception of Dundee, Glasgow parking illegal throughout good public transport links, the Scotland’s NHS, including in PFI and Edinburgh, the debate is now area it serves is huge in funded facilities. quite simply one of fairness.” geographical terms stretching Other UNISON delegates who  from North Fife through Angus to spoke at the 2009 Scottish Labour  Paul Martin has strengthened Highland Perthshire. his bill during consultation. The Conference included Katrina “Public transport in these revised NHS Car Parking Bill will Murray, Matthew Crighton, Billy be launched on 15 June. Stewart and Alan Cowan. localities is often scant or even Stop Trident renewal Labour Link Scotland is calling for UNISON praised for full Parliamentary scrutiny and debate of the next stage in the Trident renewal process, as part of Health Board votes a campaign to stop the new nuclear weapon system being UNISON has been singled out for implemented and to decommission praise because of its role in all existing Trident weapons. promoting direct elections to Health boards in Scotland. The Scottish Government measure which allows elections to Health Boards for the first time was passed by Parliament in March. The successful Bill follows on from an earlier Private Member’s Bill promoted by Labour MSP Bill Cathy Jamieson MSP Butler with the active support of The Scottish motion to the UK UNISON. Labour Link Forum in Manchester Labour Health spokeswoman on 3-4 July, argues that the current Cathy Jamieson said in the debate economic circumstances mean that it was Labour Party policy to Trident renewal would be “an even support the introduction of pilots for greater waste of resources which directly elected Health Boards. should be used to sustain and “I pay particular tribute to protect vital public services and UNISON Scotland,” she remarked, our economic future.” “which has pressed that case through The next stage of the Trident our policy-making processes.” renewal process, Initial Gate, in Bill Butler MSP for Glasgow Bill Butler MSP September has been timed during Anniesland) said “I believe that the that will be a very good thing. a Parliamentary recess, which bill will, as UNISON correctly “We have all had enough of top- may mean no scrutiny or debate. pointed out in its evidence to the down bureaucratic decision making, The motion calls for: committee, lead to a sea change in which too often merely echoes  full Parliamentary scrutiny and the culture of NHS Boards. I believe vested interests. That is a bad thing.” debate during Initial Gate;  a campaign against Trident Elections to Health Boards in Scotland renewal along with other unions, CND and Scottish The Health Boards (Membership and Elections) (Scotland) Bill CND,and the Campaign Against  received Royal Assent on 22 April. the Arms Trade; Elections will be piloted in two areas, yet to be identified, and the continued opposition to the   system will be rolled out across Scotland’s 14 Health Boards. replacement of Trident, and; A majority of members in all Boards will be directly elected, though decommissioning of the existing   some appointees will remain. Trident weapons system.  The system of election will be Single Transferable Vote, and the Get in touch, get involved voting age for Health Boards will be 16. Do you know who your local Labour You can find UNISON Scotland Briefings and Responses on health board Link Officer is? Or where and when elections and other campaigns at www.unison-scotland.org.uk meetings take place? Do you want regular email bulletins with information about campaigns and  Join Labour for just £1 a month other activities? If you want get As a UNISON member you can join the Labour Party at a special rate more involved or to sign up for the of just £1 per month. e-bulletin, email Malcolm Burns Download the UNISON Labour application form here: [email protected] or call www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/B3330.pdf 0141 342 2811. or call the Labour membership hotline on 08705 900 200

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