www.wolverhampton-unison.org

Tuesday, 9 December 2008

BRANCH MEETING
Tuesday 16th December 2008

Council Chamber, Civic Centre - 7pm

Agenda:
Tranformation
Job cuts
Single Status

Tuesday, 4 November 2008

PAY LATEST

The NJC Trade Union Side met on Monday, 3 November 2008 and unanimously agreed the following proposed Terms of Reference for the arbitration process over NJC pay fro 2008-9.

“The Arbitrator is asked to consider the arguments put forward by both sides and make an award to resolve the 2008/9 pay dispute.

All parties accept the arbitrator’s decision is final. In particular, this means:

a) No further industrial action will take place during the arbitration process or following the Arbitrator’s decision, and
b) Any award will be implemented in full without delay”

The Employers’ Side are also considering this form of words and we hope to hear confirmation from them by the end of this week.

The arbitration process will be conducted by a panel of three arbitrators. The names are yet to be provided to both sides by ACAS and agreed. The process will involve both Sides making detailed written submissions to the Arbitration Panel. The exact timings are being established, but it is envisaged this will be done by the last week of November. This will be followed by an oral hearing, probably in early December.


Review of the Green Book

The branch consultation was very clear that branches want the terms and conditions issues separated from the 2009-10 pay claim. This view was supported by the other two NJC trade unions. There have been no further discussions with the Employers on the review since we last updated you in Newsletter 20 in September.

Thursday, 23 October 2008

PAY DISPUTE - EMPLOYER AGREES TO PAY "ON ACCOUNT"

The employers and the NJC have agreed to UNISON's request that the 2008-9 pay offer will be paid "on account" pending the outcome of binding arbitration of the dispute via ACAS. This means an interim award of 2.45% will be paid before christmas - backdated to April 1st. Click here for more details.

Thursday, 2 October 2008

NJC COMMITTEE AGREED THE WAY FORWARD ON PAY

UNISON’s NJC Committee met on 18 September to review progress in the
negotiations which have followed the two days of action in July over the pay award for 2008/09 and the joint statement with the LGA which followed them.
A number of important decisions were made at the meeting. They are explained in detail
below. The decisions were:
· Not to ask members to take any further industrial action in relation to this year’s pay
offer
· To refer this year’s pay offer to ACAS for binding arbitration.
· To approach this year’s pay offer, any review of the Green Book and pay for 2009/10 separately
· To submit a pay claim to the employers as soon as possible 2009/10
· To agree the Trade Union Side’s aims for any future review of the Green Book.
· To undertake an in-depth review within the NJC Committee of the negotiations and
events surrounding this year’s industrial action and to draw up plans to increase our
bargaining strength at local and national level.
· To hold meetings of the full Joint Trade Union Side of the NJC on 1 October and
3 November

Three Joint Secretaries’ meetings have been held since the July action. UNISON and UNITE have consistently pushed the employers to resolve the outstanding pay dispute and this was the first point included in the framework for the negotiations, which was agreed after the second meeting.
Unfortunately the employers claim that there is no pressure on them to increased their final offer of 2.45% and 3.3% for those on scale points 4,5and 6—either from individual local authorities, the
Local Government Association or the Government. The joint Trade Union Side of the NJC
Executive therefore met to take stock of this situation on 10 September and to consider the unions’ aims for any review of the Green Book which might take place in the future. The 2007/8 pay
settlement included such a review.
The Trade Union Side recognised that members need and deserve a pay increase as soon as possible. With no apparent prospect of an improved offer, there was therefore a unanimous decision by all three unions—including the GMB—to recommend to their respective national committees that the matter be referred to the Arbitration and Conciliation Service (ACAS) for binding arbitration. The national agreement—the Green Book— provides for either side of the NJC to do this and we believe that the employers will not stand in our way

NJC Committee's recommendations
The NJC Committee—UNISON’s lay committee—with representatives from each Region,
considered a lengthy report from the negotiators on 18 September and also looked in detail at the results of the consultation on members’ views over further industrial action, which it
requested at its last meeting. With few exceptions, branches responding said that members were not willing to take further action—either ‘all out’ or selective. The Committee therefore decided not to call for further action and to accept the recommendation of the Trade Union Side and seek binding arbitration.
TRANSFORMATION- IS YOUR JOB AT RISK?

The City Council has now issued UNISON with a HR1 form (formally a Section 188 Notice) under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
This notification gives official notice that the local authority intends to make up to 300 posts redundant by 31 December 2009.
The local authority has also informed UNISON that it will be January 2009 before they know exactly which posts will go, however, we are aware that the posts will be from the 1700 employees currently working in customer services, finance, human
resources, information technology and procurement.
The first proposed compulsory redundancies will not take place before 1 April 2009.
The job losses are a direct consequence of the partnership for customer efficiency
services (PaCES) and the introduction of new systems by the City Council’s partner Axon.
The City Council believes the partnership will save £60 million over the next ten years, however, it has now become apparent that more money than first realised has to be put into the partnership by the council at an earlier stage, putting further strain on the council’s finances and leading to the partnership being re-negotiated even before it’s signed!
In the meantime the council has announced further savings will have to be found to bridge a £35 million shortfall by 2011.
UNISON is now having weekly meetings with Chief Officers and consulting on ways of avoiding compulsory redundancies, including external recruitment restrictions, not filling vacancies, redeployment into the new structures and seeking volunteers from across the council. (Although the Council is refusing to adopt this option).
300 job losses should not be acceptable to the council tax payers of Wolverhampton, UNISON will do everything we can to avoid compulsory redundancies, managed
correctly the 300 compulsory redundancies are avoidable.

Monday, 15 September 2008

PAY UPDATE

Whilst national negotiations continue , there is little to report.
Negotiations have resulted in two joint statements ;
http://www.unison.org.uk/localgov/pages_view.asp?.did=7558

All branches were asked to consult members on what further action
they would be prepared to take . This branch decided to hold a postal ballot of all members ,
the results of which will be posted tomorrow


WHAT NEXT?
In the interim a march and lobby of Labour Party Conference organised by local government unions will take place on SUNDAY 21st SEPTEMBER in Manchester.
The branch has organised a coach to take members tot he lobby
Furhter details can be obtained from the union office at
unionoffice@wolverhamptonunison.org.uk or phone 07932 797139

Friday, 22 August 2008


BRANCH BALLOT
In view of the importance of the decision as regards further
Industrial action it has been decided to carry out a postal ballot of all members .
You should receive yours soon.

Tuesday, 19 August 2008

PAY OFFER LATEST

All UNISON branches have been asked to carry out a consultation with members as regards to what action (if any) are they prepared to take in the event of current talks failing.
contact your steward or the branch office to give your view

Tuesday, 5 August 2008

Union to enter talks with local government employers

On 23rd July UNISON’s local government National Joint Committee (NJC) voted unanimously to back further talks with Local Government Employers, aimed at settling the current dispute over pay.
Discussions between UNISON, Unite and the Local Government Employers led to an understanding that talks can go ahead, with a timetable to be agreed at a later date. Joint talks are scheduled to start on 13 August.
In the light of this decision the NJC agreed not to name a date for further strike action. Progress will be monitored over the coming weeks and the decision reviewed in September.

Tuesday, 8 July 2008










STRIKE RALLY
Wednesday 16th July 2008
12.30pm
Piazza Civic Centre

Wednesday, 25 June 2008


MEMBERS VOTE TO STRIKE!
UNISON members in local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted by 55% to 45% for a programme of sustained strike action over a 2.45% pay offer.
The National Joint Council committee have agreed with 55% of our members that we will fight for a decent pay rise. They also confirmed the 16th and 17th of July will be the action dates.

This decision needs to be ratified by the Industrial action committee on Friday (which it is expected to do).
Once it is formally agreed this branch will begin building for the days of action.
UNISON is a democratic organisation and it is hoped that all members will abide by the ballot result and support the strike!

Tuesday, 20 May 2008



UNISON is calling upon all our members in local government to vote “YES” in the official ballot for strike action in opposition to the employers’ “final offer” of 2.45% – an offer which falls well below the rate of inflation and amounts to a pay cut in real terms.

The strike ballot starts on 30 May.Following a national consultation exercise, UNISON members have decided to reject the pay offer from the local government employers,The offer is to increase all but the lowest pay points by 2.45%.

The Retail Price Index is currently over 4% - and prices of many basic commodities are going up far faster. The average family is spending 20% more on food compared with a year ago!

If we accepted another pay rise below the rate of inflation we would be accepting another year in which we could afford to buy less at the end of the year than we could at the beginning.

The decision to reject the pay offer is a decision to reject a pay cut.In the past – in 1989 and 2002 – national strike action by local government workers has forced the employers to increase “final” pay offers. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.We are not alone.

The Government are trying to force all public servants to accept pay rises below the rate of inflation.This has already lead to disputes with teachers, college lecturers and civil servants.Money can be found when the Government want to find it to bail out Northern Rock or to correct unpopular decisions on tax. Money could be found for fair pay for public servants.We can coordinate our campaign for fair pay with other groups of workers to maximise pressure on the Government and employers.If members vote for action, UNISON will call a two day strike in July – if the employers do not back down further strike action will be called.

Vote YES for fair pay – vote YES to strike action!

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

PAY OFFER CONSULTATIVE BALLOT RESULTS

The results in wolverhampton branch were;

in favour of accepting 350 those rejecting the offer 771

Within the West Midlands region the vote was split 50-50

The result nationally was a 54% majority rejecting the offer

On this basis the national Service group executive have called for a formal national ballot on a date to be arranged

Tuesday, 6 May 2008

17 May, the International Day Against Homophobia:

On 17 May 1990, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders.
The fight for the recognition of equal rights for lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender people did not end there though.
Today around 80 countries in the world still criminalize homosexuality and condemn consensual same sex acts with imprisonment, of these 9 (Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) still have the death penalty. Discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation and gender identity is still not recognized formally by the member states of the United Nations (even though human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Committee have repeatedly condemned discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity).
for more www.idaho.org.uk
www.idahomophobia.org
Ribbons are available in the UNISON office at the civic

Monday, 28 April 2008

Balloting has begun on this years pay offer
THe consultative ballot that all branches are carrying out has begun . Depending on the outcome of the consultative ballot the National leadership will decide if a formal national ballot will be conducted.
As this is a not a 'formal ballot' you can vote in a variety of ways ;
*if you have a steward in your workplace approach them (if they dont approach you first)
*all workplaces will be sent a form for members in that workplace to vote, however this will need somebody to take responsibility to complete the form.
* There is a ballot box in the UNISON office
* Email your vote to daveauger@wolverhamptonunisonoffice.org.uk

Thursday, 17 April 2008

Local Government NJC Pay Offer 2008/09

The national employers are offering the following: -

A 2.45% pay rise on all pay points from scale point 7 giving a rate of £6.55 at scale point 7

An additional flat rate increase of £100 on scale points 4, 5 and 6 giving an increase of 3.3% and pay rates of £6.20, £6.28 and £6.37 respectively

As part of the agreement they also want us to “seek to” conclude the review of the Green Book by 31 December 2008 and;

To “seek to” reach agreement on pay awards for 2009 and 2010 by 31 December 2008.

The UNISON National Joint Council Committee’s recommendation is to reject the employers offer. However, members should be aware that, in our view, it would require substantial, all-out strike action starting with two days consecutive strike action and escalating to further consecutive action of more than two days if there were to be any chance of re-opening negotiations and securing an improved offer


Vote in the UNISON Office.

The closing date for the ballot is 6 May 2008.

Wednesday, 2 April 2008


Workers of the West Midlands Unite!
Come and join the 14th annual 1st May celebrations in Wolverhampton. @ Pegasus, Craddock St, Whitmore Reans WV6 0QQ
Once you've been out to vote AGAINST the fascist bnp on council election day, THURSDAY 1st May, come along for free international entertainment and trade union speakers & stalls;
all free, except the bar!
fun for all the family

LINE UP:
7pm
doors open and chance to visit stalls, bar, bouncy castle, mehndi Music from One Love International Sound System
7.15pm Azaad Dhol Group
7.30pm welcomefrom compere Andy Goodall, May Day Committee Alquin Magpantay - Filipino/ English Ballads (UNISONHealth worker)
speaker: Graham Stevenson (UNITE) Why Trade Unionists should read the MorningStar
7.50pm Lady Leofric’s Cross Cotswold Morris Dancers & Castle CleggStep Clog Dancers
8.10pm speaker: Dyal Bhagri, National President Indian WorkersAssociation
8-20pm interval & food - free Asian + Caribbean buffet music from One Love International
Salsa Mundo dancers
8.45pm speakers: Ali Rahimi Iranian Trade unionist
Ken Purchase MP on schools
9pm Banner Theatre – 1st May Band renowned Midlands based group singing of Internationale followed by One Love Sound System
11pm ends
organised by Wolverhampton May Day Committee
www.wolvestuc.org.uk

Friday, 29 February 2008

NATIONAL OFFICE SAY "NO"

Yesterday branch officers met with national officers regarding the single status proposals. They have concluded that;

"the package as it stands is not recommendable" and that it had failed "to pass equality tests".

as such UNISON will not ballot on the proposals. UNISON made the employers aware of this yesterday and we will be meeting with them on monday.

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

The 'statement from the leader' issued today implies that UNISON is responsible for delays in the process.
Firstly lets remind ourselves that the single status agreement was signed in 1997
TEN YEARS AGO! and none of the delay can be placed at the door of the trade unions.
we make no apologies for wanting to make sure any deal is equal pay proof before it is put to members, that is why the proposals are in the hands of our national office, as the authority well knows , the leaders advice for union members " lobby their trade unions to clear the way for a ballot is therefore somewhat disingenuous.
we are however meeting national officials on Thursday to discuss the proposals and hope to have an announcement on friday.
The leaders statement that 'honouring increments....will inevitably lead to a reduction in services" appears to ignore the fact that these increments are not new and would have always ( in the absence of the employers deadline) been honoured

Friday, 22 February 2008

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR DIRECT ACTION!

whilst we wait for our national office to decide whether we can ballot on the councils proposals , it is worth pondering on a few things;

staffordshire- following a 86% vote in favour of their new pay-scale they drew the following conclusion:

"as a result of this collective action (strikes held in 2006) , the authority withdrew their proposal, and committed themselves to meaningful and transparent negotiations with the trade unions, including an increase in the funding for the new pay structure."

Argyle and Bute branch , where a series of strikes led to the Council making new proposals.

Birmingham branch where UNISON members who are not losing continue to support those members who will lose and a further strike on the 26th February has been announced.

Hopefully we as union members in Wolverhampton will stick by the basic tenets of trade unionism and remember the 20% of losers in Wolverhampton when the time comes?

Friday, 8 February 2008

light at the end of the tunnel?

The branch is still waiting for the national office to assess the wolverhampton single status proposals. They are only assessing the proposals in terms of whether it is equal pay proof ( in other words that it has addressed the legal equal pay issues.
Staffordshires proposals have now been assessed by the national office and Staffordshire branch are in the process of balloting its members .
If press reports are to believed however, the Staffordshire proposals are being presented has having been 'formally backed' by UNISON. This as indicated above is not the role of the National Office.
If the National office do not find a proposal equal pay proof this branch has to reject it out of hand. It does not mean that if the National office do pass it that we have to recommend it to members.
it is still our belief that this proposal involves too many red circled posts (losers) and that it should be rejected.
Birmingham strike success
The wolverhampton branch banner was in Birmingham at what was a very successful rally celebrating the succssful strike by Birmingham UNISON members.
We have no doubt , that should it prove necessary our branch will be just as succesful.
It is interesting that the Leader of the Labour group on Birmingham Council
Albert Bore expressed full labour support for the strike and that "negotiating changes to the structure was not an option, it has to be abandonded and started again".
Maybe they just talk differently in opposition?

BRANCH AGM TUESDAY 19TH FEBRUARY
7PM IN COUNCIL CHAMBER

Monday, 14 January 2008

SINGLE STATUS UPDATE

The proposed payscale has been sent to the UNISON national office for a legal opinion as to whether it is equal pay proof. If it is not then UNISON cannot even put the offer to members.
If it is then UNISON will ballot members.
UNISON regional office are currently preparing the ballot process .so watch this space