Thursday, 30 December 2010
Thursday, 16 December 2010
LABOUR ASSUME CONTROL OF WOLVERHAMPTON
At last nights Council meeting , following a vote of no confidence moved
by the labour group. Labour took control of the Authority.
Whilst UNISON welcomes this as a progressive step, the extent to
which it will ameliorate planned cuts remains to be seen
UNISON is opposed to ALL cuts in public services and in our members
terms and conditions.
Other Labour councils intend to make swingeing cuts here and here.
UNISON will continue to fight and campaign against cuts and nationally
UNISON has prepared a warchest for the battle ahead.
For an update on the campaign read
At last nights Council meeting , following a vote of no confidence moved
by the labour group. Labour took control of the Authority.
Whilst UNISON welcomes this as a progressive step, the extent to
which it will ameliorate planned cuts remains to be seen
UNISON is opposed to ALL cuts in public services and in our members
terms and conditions.
Other Labour councils intend to make swingeing cuts here and here.
UNISON will continue to fight and campaign against cuts and nationally
UNISON has prepared a warchest for the battle ahead.
For an update on the campaign read
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
KEEP THE POST PUBLICMARCH AND RALLY
Saturday 29th January 2011
Birmingham
to download poster goto
http;//www.scribd.com/doc/44833831
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
TELL YOUR MP NO TO CUTS!UNISON, through its Million Voices campaign, and the TUC have been campaigning hard to make the case for valuable public services, protecting the most vulnerable, tax raising alternatives to cuts (such as the Robin Hood Tax) and the risk of a double dip recession.
Many members are concerned too about Coalition plans to not only cut services but also to bring the free market in to English public services, such as for example the proposals in the Health white paper for breaking up Primary Care Trusts in to small GP commissioning units and the expansion of Academy and Free Schools.
UNISON members are triple stakeholders as public service workers, taxpayers and users of public services. We need you to write to your MP , express your opposition to the destruction of public services and ask for their support!
a model letter can be downloaded at
http://www.scribd.com/doc/42776097/Mps-letter-1
Lack of protection for pensions, pay and conditions when outsourcing takes place is a critical issue for thousands and thousands of Unison members and public servants everywhere. Heather Wakefield head of UNISON Local Government expresses fears that the Government will seek to reduce protection even further
Heather's Public Finance blog
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
LOBBY OF CABINET MEETING - NOW BUILD FOR LOBBY OF FULL COUNCIL
ON WEDNESDAY 3RD NOVEMBER
for full report on Council cuts plans goto www.wolvestuc.org.uk
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
ALTERNATIVES TO CUTS!
Essential reading for anyone opposed to cuts in public services including an article by Dave Prentis UNISON General Secretary.
http://tinyurl.com/challengingcutspamphlet
Thursday, 14 October 2010
UNISON WARNING - GOVERNMENT CUTS WILL PUT PRIVATE SECTOR AT RISK
Dave Prentis UNISON General Secretary warns economic recovery at risk.
http://www.unison.co.uk/asppesspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2014
For further info on PWC report on impact on private sector jobs read
http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2010/10/reality-of-con-dem-rule-for-working.html
Dave Prentis UNISON General Secretary warns economic recovery at risk.
http://www.unison.co.uk/asppesspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2014
For further info on PWC report on impact on private sector jobs read
http://unisonactive.blogspot.com/2010/10/reality-of-con-dem-rule-for-working.html
Thursday, 7 October 2010
FIGHT TO DEFEND PUBLIC SERVICES BEGINS!
Only a united trade union movement can resist the ConDem Governments plans to decimate Public Services.
Under the pretext of the financial crisis their plans are ideologically driven to achieve the long held aim of dismantling public welfare.
The attacks will leave milions of ordinary people losing vital services, the elderly , the vulnerable
and working class people will all be at risk , in order that the privately educated rich tories can protect their mates the bankers and in big business.
There are alternatives to the savaging of the public sector
In the meantime the fight against the cuts needs to be driven locally .
Our branch along with the local Trades Union Council has formed an anti-cuts alliance.
we have been on the streets of Bilston, Wednesfield and Wolverhampton leafletting and petitioning against cuts and have received overwhelming support from the public.
With our branch banner we also marched on the 10,000 strong demonstration in Birmingham
on Sunday 3rd October outside the Tory party Conference.
NEXT ACTION- TUESDAY 19TH OCTOBER LOBBY OF PARLIAMENT
THE BRANCH HAVE ORGANISED A COACH TO THE LOBBY
IF YOU HAVE THE DAY OFF OR CAN GET THE DAY OFF, WHY NOT COME DOWN WITH US AND LET YOUR MP KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT PROTECTING PUBLIC SERVICES ?
for details phone 4096
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
UNIONS REGISTER A FORMAL DISPUTE
Following the Employers failure to make a pay offer for 2010/11 despite continuing high inflation and an RPI in june 5% and their failure to apply the £250 increase to those earning below £21,000, The joint unions have registered a formal dispute.
lodging a formal dispute means that the three matters under dispute will be referred to ACAS for arbitration . The dispute is not linked to industrial action.
Following the Employers failure to make a pay offer for 2010/11 despite continuing high inflation and an RPI in june 5% and their failure to apply the £250 increase to those earning below £21,000, The joint unions have registered a formal dispute.
lodging a formal dispute means that the three matters under dispute will be referred to ACAS for arbitration . The dispute is not linked to industrial action.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
ONE RULE FOR THEM........
CALL FOR COUNCILLOR EXPENSES HIKE “A DISGRACE”
Plans to boost local councillors’ allowances by 2.3% were condemned as “a disgrace” today by West Midlands UNISON, the largest public service union in the region.
The Local Government Association (LGA), who is recommending the increase, is also calling for councillors to get paid a daily rate of £152.77 to attend LGA meetings.
Roger McKenzie, UNISON’s regional secretary, said:“This expenses hike is a disgrace. What a slap in the face for hard working council staff across our region, who have not been offered a single penny pay increase this year.
Rising inflation, coupled with a pay freeze, is effectively a pay cut for workers already struggling to pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads. In contrast to civil servants and other public sector workers, local government employers are refusing to give staff paid under £21,000, including nursery workers, home carers, housing workers, leisure and parks staff, school meals and cleaners, the £250 pay rise promised in the emergency budget. Where is the justice in that? Councillors should be holding the town halls in our region to account and making sure taxpayers get good value for money. Those taxpayers would be right to ask why councillors are enjoying hikes in expenses, while workers and our increasingly hard pressed communities are left out in the cold? Across the West Midlands council workers face massive job losses and communities are losing vital services they rely on.For the LGA to publish two sets of guidelines on the same day - one suggesting that councillors get a rise and another condemning workers to a pay freeze - is shocking.”
CALL FOR COUNCILLOR EXPENSES HIKE “A DISGRACE”
Plans to boost local councillors’ allowances by 2.3% were condemned as “a disgrace” today by West Midlands UNISON, the largest public service union in the region.
The Local Government Association (LGA), who is recommending the increase, is also calling for councillors to get paid a daily rate of £152.77 to attend LGA meetings.
Roger McKenzie, UNISON’s regional secretary, said:“This expenses hike is a disgrace. What a slap in the face for hard working council staff across our region, who have not been offered a single penny pay increase this year.
Rising inflation, coupled with a pay freeze, is effectively a pay cut for workers already struggling to pay their bills and keep a roof over their heads. In contrast to civil servants and other public sector workers, local government employers are refusing to give staff paid under £21,000, including nursery workers, home carers, housing workers, leisure and parks staff, school meals and cleaners, the £250 pay rise promised in the emergency budget. Where is the justice in that? Councillors should be holding the town halls in our region to account and making sure taxpayers get good value for money. Those taxpayers would be right to ask why councillors are enjoying hikes in expenses, while workers and our increasingly hard pressed communities are left out in the cold? Across the West Midlands council workers face massive job losses and communities are losing vital services they rely on.For the LGA to publish two sets of guidelines on the same day - one suggesting that councillors get a rise and another condemning workers to a pay freeze - is shocking.”
Thursday, 8 July 2010
GOVERNMENT ATTACKS ON OUR PENSIONS BEGINS!
THe Condem government have begun eroding our pensions.
George Osborne's statistical sleight of hand in shifting from the RPI (Retail Prices Index) to the CPI (Consumer Prices Index) as the basis for future uprating of pensions in payment will have an immediate impact.
The TUC has calculated that an eighty year old pensioner on the average public sector pension of £5,500 who has been retired for twenty years would now have a pension of £4,845 a year - 12 per cent or £655 less - if CPI uprating had been in force since their retirement.
A public service pensioner who has been retired for ten years would now have a pension 8.4 per cent lower.
At UNISON Conference in Bournemouth Dave Prentis pledged support for national strike action against an attack on our pensions. we imagine he was expecting such an attack emerging several months into the life of the Coalition Government , rather than several weeks.
But now it's here. These are real cuts in our pensions - the most blatant attack imaginable and no different to a cut in pay.
We may not be ready for a national strike ballot next week or next month, but we need to be declaring disputes, making preparations and mobilising members.
THe Condem government have begun eroding our pensions.
George Osborne's statistical sleight of hand in shifting from the RPI (Retail Prices Index) to the CPI (Consumer Prices Index) as the basis for future uprating of pensions in payment will have an immediate impact.
The TUC has calculated that an eighty year old pensioner on the average public sector pension of £5,500 who has been retired for twenty years would now have a pension of £4,845 a year - 12 per cent or £655 less - if CPI uprating had been in force since their retirement.
A public service pensioner who has been retired for ten years would now have a pension 8.4 per cent lower.
At UNISON Conference in Bournemouth Dave Prentis pledged support for national strike action against an attack on our pensions. we imagine he was expecting such an attack emerging several months into the life of the Coalition Government , rather than several weeks.
But now it's here. These are real cuts in our pensions - the most blatant attack imaginable and no different to a cut in pay.
We may not be ready for a national strike ballot next week or next month, but we need to be declaring disputes, making preparations and mobilising members.
Friday, 2 July 2010
"We've only just begun" – that's the message of our Million Voices campaign as UNISON faces a post-election landscape dominated by a government that's determined to cut quickly and cut deeply when it comes to public services.We face the challenge of protecting our services and our members from an ideological attack that is determined to make them the scapegoats when dealing with an economic crisis caused by the bankers and financial markets. The union's key campaign will have more relevance and resonance than ever.
At UNISON national conference held in June General Secretary said "We need to get our members onto the streets: anything to get the public behind our cause, to let them know they are dealing with people, not statistics,"
EMERGENCY COMPOSITE MOTION 2: DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS, OUR PUBLIC SERVICES AND OUR TRADE UNION RIGHTS AGAINST THE AUSTERITY AGENDA
Thursday, 1 July 2010
DAVID CAMERONS LETTER
YOu maybe aware that as part of their 'asking the electorate' stunt, the Condem government have written to all public workers asking us where we think public sector cuts should take place.
UNISON advice is that members should not respond.
The only response to this letter is that any public sector discussions which need to take place must be through meaningful dialogue and consultation with UNISON and other public sector trade unions.
UNISON advice is that members should not respond.
The only response to this letter is that any public sector discussions which need to take place must be through meaningful dialogue and consultation with UNISON and other public sector trade unions.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
HEADTEACHERS UNION -BOYCOTT OF SATS
UNISON ADVICE TO MEMBERS
goto http://www.unison.co.uk/education/pages_view.asp?did=11143
UNISON ADVICE TO MEMBERS
goto http://www.unison.co.uk/education/pages_view.asp?did=11143
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
BRANCH SECRETARY ANNUAL REPORT
The controlling Conservative group on Wolverhampton City Council supported by the Liberal Democrats are determined to introduce a 0% increase in Council Tax in April 2010 in order to help buy the local elections in May!
This has resulted in the whole of 2009 being spent under the cosh of the £40 million Savings Programme and the delayering (DelMa) process, our employer forcing through cuts in services and redundancies during the worst economic recession in living memory.
A recession caused by the greed of global banking but being paid for with the jobs and terms and conditions of local public sector workers.
Well over 200 redundancy payments have been made by the City Council in the last 12 months but UNISON estimates over 500 posts have been deleted during the same period taking £millions of pounds out of the local economy, while the council reserves now stand at £60 million!
The Branch was originally issued with a Section 188 notice in September 2008 for 300 redundancies around the Axon deal (now defunct at a cost to the local tax payers of £7.5 million), then in January a second Section 188 notice calling for 95 volunteers, then later in the same year a third for 173 compulsories, a fourth for Sweetman Street bungalows staff, a fifth for day centre staff, sixth for staff of The West Midlands Travelling Children's Consortium, these have been followed by various schools in the City and Wolverhampton Homes and finally a further voluntary redundancy scheme on the City Council..
During this time our UNISON branch lobbied numerous scrutiny and full council meetings, and had some success in stopping some of the redundancies in Leisure Centres and Cemeteries, but the decisions taken in 2009 have saw the demise of some establishments, notably Underhill House, and the Visitor Centre. UNISON supported campaigns, postcards and petitions including, Stop the Ekta Day Centre closure with the Asian community which won a reprieve and Meals on Wheels where the threat of a frozen meal service was withdrawn but a phased increase of £2 per meal will go ahead this is despite a 7,500 name UNISON petition being raised in Wednesfield, Bilston and Wolverhampton centres. The opposition to the savings programme must continue the threat of externalisation of Blakenhall Resource Centre and the setting up of a wholly owned company is privatisation by the back door which will affect thousands of our members and is in direct conflict of UNISON's nationally agreed policies.
Adrian Turner
adrianturner@wolverhamptonunison.org.uk
The controlling Conservative group on Wolverhampton City Council supported by the Liberal Democrats are determined to introduce a 0% increase in Council Tax in April 2010 in order to help buy the local elections in May!
This has resulted in the whole of 2009 being spent under the cosh of the £40 million Savings Programme and the delayering (DelMa) process, our employer forcing through cuts in services and redundancies during the worst economic recession in living memory.
A recession caused by the greed of global banking but being paid for with the jobs and terms and conditions of local public sector workers.
Well over 200 redundancy payments have been made by the City Council in the last 12 months but UNISON estimates over 500 posts have been deleted during the same period taking £millions of pounds out of the local economy, while the council reserves now stand at £60 million!
The Branch was originally issued with a Section 188 notice in September 2008 for 300 redundancies around the Axon deal (now defunct at a cost to the local tax payers of £7.5 million), then in January a second Section 188 notice calling for 95 volunteers, then later in the same year a third for 173 compulsories, a fourth for Sweetman Street bungalows staff, a fifth for day centre staff, sixth for staff of The West Midlands Travelling Children's Consortium, these have been followed by various schools in the City and Wolverhampton Homes and finally a further voluntary redundancy scheme on the City Council..
During this time our UNISON branch lobbied numerous scrutiny and full council meetings, and had some success in stopping some of the redundancies in Leisure Centres and Cemeteries, but the decisions taken in 2009 have saw the demise of some establishments, notably Underhill House, and the Visitor Centre. UNISON supported campaigns, postcards and petitions including, Stop the Ekta Day Centre closure with the Asian community which won a reprieve and Meals on Wheels where the threat of a frozen meal service was withdrawn but a phased increase of £2 per meal will go ahead this is despite a 7,500 name UNISON petition being raised in Wednesfield, Bilston and Wolverhampton centres. The opposition to the savings programme must continue the threat of externalisation of Blakenhall Resource Centre and the setting up of a wholly owned company is privatisation by the back door which will affect thousands of our members and is in direct conflict of UNISON's nationally agreed policies.
Adrian Turner
adrianturner@wolverhamptonunison.org.uk
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