UNISON NATIONAL EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS 2013





BRANCH NOMINATIONS - the following candidates have been nominated by this branch
DAVE AUGER - WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL MALE SEAT
GLEN KELLY - LOCAL GOVERNMENT MALE SEAT
PAUL HOLMES - LOCAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL SEAT
APRIL ASHLEY - NATIONAL BLACK MEMBERS FEMALE SEAT
HUGO PIERRE - NATIONAL BLACK MEMBERS MALE SEAT

Balllot papers will be sent to members’ home or other notified address. Members will be provided with a pre-paid envelope for the return of the ballot paper to the Independent Scrutineer. All voting will be by post.

The despatch of ballot papers to individual members will begin on 22 April 2013.  

If individual members have not received a paper by 29 April 2013 then they should contact the ballot helpline operated by UNISONdirect on the following telephone number: 0845 355 0845

Lines are open from 6am to midnight Monday to Friday and on Saturday from 9am to 4pm. Members with hearing difficulties can use textphone 0800 0 967 968. 

UNISON REJECTS PAY OFFER AS DERISORY!
At a meeting of the NJC (the elected body which negotiates with the Employer) on February 27th the Employers latest pay offer was unanimously rejected and it was agreed that that members would be consulted as regards industrial action.
It was recognised that members facing as they do job cuts , restructures and attacks to terms and conditions may not be up for taking action, but it was also recognised that the idea that we were somehow 'trading pay for jobs' was not the case and that our failure to pursue a substantial pay claim had not saved one job in Local Government!
As such it is no longer a case as to whether we can do nothing , we have no choice but to fight for better pay. and as activists we will need to go out to members and convicne them of the arguements as to why we must fight on pay

Below are minutes of the NJC meeting

Employers Pay Offer

Report from Heather Wakefield (Head of Local Government)

Option 1

1% on all payscales

unilateral arbitration clause replaced by bilateral reference”- HW comment employers have not complied with unilateral arbitration for some years.

“Joint statement providing note of the issues on which both sides agree to commence serious discussions”.

Employers want to cherry pick even if changes were agreed there would be no uplift where local negotiations have resulted in lower terms!

Option 2 HW called “Punishment Option” employers response to not agreeing option 1!

1% on pay points 4 to 10

0.6% on pay points 11 and above

Likelihood of imposition? HW “would not surprise me in the least”

Employers side would it is believed consult all employers on whether NJC should only discuss pay and T+Cs would be kept to local negotiation.

GMB – Reluctant to reject offer but it is believed that if UNISON did accept – GMB would reject!!

Decision agreed – Reject both derisory options and consult Branches on rejection and possible industrial action.

Motion from North West

After some debate as to whether it could be debated (it could)

It was agreed with one abstention.

The motion recognises that whilst there may not currently be the mood for a fight on pay among our members UNISON believes it is imperative we must build for that fight

UIA INSURANCE FREE £500 PRIZE DRAW
       go  to https://www.uia.co.uk/competition/

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY MATTERS MEMBERS SURVEY 2013
As part of the NJC pay Matters campaign the Local government Service group has launched an online survey.
We need as many members as possible to complete the survey in order to strengthen our case with the Employer
The survey can be found here