Support rallies for Plymouth UNISON

Hundreds rallied for union rights in Plymouth this lunchtime as pressure mounted on the Tory council to reverse its derecognition of UNISON.The council derecognised the union – the largest among its workforce – last week after UNISON refused to sign a new collective agreement introducing worse pay and conditions for staff, which legal advice said was potentially discriminatory.The move was condemned by general secretary Dave Prentis as an "aggressive and disproportionate response to UNISON's honest efforts to protect our members. jobs, pay and conditions and protect vital services for local people" and he urged the council to get back round the table and negotiate.Over the past week, the UNISON branch has been overwhelmed by messages of support from the people of Plymouth and the labour movement across the country and the globe.Yesterday, the European Public Service Unions general secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan wrote to the council, urging it to re-recognise UNISON, and the branch received a message of support from New York municipal workers.Bill Henning, vice president of US union CWA in New York, wrote: "On behalf of the 10,000 members of our local union, comprising many who work for the City of New York, we express our solidarity with our sisters and brothers in UNISON. "We stand ready to assist you in any way possible." An injury to one is an injury to all. Your victory will be our victory."And today, hundreds of UNISON members, Plymouth residents and fellow trade unionists turned out at the lunch-time rally outside the Civic Centre to press Plymouth council to recognise UNISON and start talking.South West regional secretary Joanne Kaye said: "The only sensible solution is for the council to restore recognition and let us get back to the negotiating table and find a solution we can all support."We are being condemned for standing up for our members and standing firm against pay cuts – but that is our role as a trade union, and the council needs to understand this."The union's lawyers have also written to the council, warning of a legal challence if it does not see sense.

Public sector pension plans pose danger to private firms

Undermining the huge investment power of local government pension funds (LGPFs), is a dangerous financial gamble, with serious consequences for the UK economy, warns UNISON, the UK’s largest union today (17 August). A study by the union reveals the enormous risk posed to companies on the London Stock Exchange, and to major UK banks, by Government plans to change the pension scheme. The scheme’s investments, worth a whopping £160 billion last year, make it equivalent to one of the largest institutional investors in the world. The funds own 1.5% of shares in the largest companies on the London Stock Exchange – investing nearly £11 billion in the top 11 companies. LGPFs also own 1.5% of UK banks shares. Dave Prentis, UNSION General Secretary, said: “Local government pension funds are a steady and significant stream of investment for many big UK firms. Worth £160 billion, it’s a huge financial boost to private companies, and to the UK economy as a whole. “But this could all change if Government plans to raise contribution rates, price people out of the scheme. A quarter of local government workers already opt out because they can’t afford to save for their retirement. “At least 20% more could opt out if contribution rates go up further. This will hit cash flow hard and could mean investments are cashed in early. The worst case scenario is that the schemes collapse entirely. This would be a disaster for the taxpayer, who would have to pick up a massive means tested benefits bill later on down the line.”Top facts on the local government pension scheme:The scheme went through a thorough review in 2008 to make it sustainable and affordable for the long term. And it worked – a fact confirmed by a recent report by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA). Local government workers already pay between 5.5 and 7.5% of their salary into their pension. The average pension in local government is £4,000, dropping to just £2,800 for women.The local government scheme could fund all its liabilities for twenty years without a single penny more in contributions. Tables with amount of LGPF holdings in major FTSE companies and banks, available from the press office.

Unemployment figures - UNISON response

Commenting on the rise in unemployment figures by more than 38,000 in the three months to June - to 2.49 million - Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:"This is 38,000 more families forced onto the dole queues and struggling to survive in the face of rising costs. "Young people getting their A Level results tomorrow face a bleak future. There will be many who had dreamed of going to university, but are priced out by the hike in tuition fees. They will be joining those people struggling to find work. "The Government's savage cuts have cut off vital opportunities in the public sector and the private sector is struggling to withstand the economic downturn. "Requests to UNISON for support with bankruptcy have soared by 78% - because of members or their partners losing their jobs. This will only increase as more jobs disappear and vacancies go unfilled. "The Government's economic strategy is in tatters. They need to stop the cuts and restore hope by planning for growth."

Bankruptcies rocket as inflation figures released

UNISON has today (16 August) revealed a 78% increase in members contacting them for support to declare themselves bankrupt*, as a result of the Government’s failing economic policies. Many of the members forced to file for bankruptcy are low paid women, who borrowed money to buy goods and services, but are unable to pay back because someone in the family has lost their job.
UNISON Welfare - the charity arm of the union - is predicting a further rise in bankruptcy requests, as Government cuts lead to more public sector workers losing their jobs. Many more members, who have mortgages, would file for bankruptcy, but are afraid of losing their homes, so seek other types of support. UNISON Welfare was also forced to close a new school uniforms grant scheme early, due to the high demand. The grant pot was extended several times, to £40,000, to help members across the UK buy clothes for their children to start the new school term.In the three-month period from April to June, UNISON Welfare paid out £216,741 for all types of grant. 70% of members needing help were women, with 68% falling into the 36-55 age group. A combined total of 85% of the members work in local government and health.The highest number of members asking for support were in the North West, Scotland, Northern and Yorkshire and Humberside regions. The majority of school uniform grant requests were also from the north. Requests for help with emergency crisis payments rose by 34%, basic household items by 26%, and disability equipment and adaptations, by 25%. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:“UNISON Welfare has provided vital support to low-paid members throughout the economic crisis, but the demand is growing by the day. The Government needs to change its economic policies, before more people are pushed into poverty. “Our members are already struggling to cope with the pay freeze and the situation will only get worse, with inflation expected to go up to 5% by the end of the year. Many are struggling just to buy a school shirt for their child. “A huge increase in requests to our charity for bankruptcy support shows the severity of the situation. “The Government should abandon all talk of cutting the 50% tax rate and concentrate instead on closing the gap between those at the top and the bottom.”The school uniform grant is payable at £50 per child up to a maximum one off payment of £150. The small grants programme was introduced in 2010 with the launch of the Help with Winter Fuel Costs Grant, to help low paid members struggling to pay bills.*The union covers up to £700 in fees to the court to file for full bankruptcy, or £90 for a debt relief order, for debts of £15,000, or lower, after the member has fully qualified for assistance.

UNISON Mobilises for action at anti-cuts Festival

Artists will paint a real picture of the damage caused by public sector cuts at UNISON's Mobilise Festival in Edinburgh, alongside musicians, comedians and special guests.The festival against the Government's cuts, which runs from 13 to 20 August, will include daily debates, followed by live music and open mike slots. Highlights include the launch of Dave Anderson's new topical satire show, performances from Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate, a public speaking workshop with renowned author Denise Mina and cartooning with the Guardian's Martin Rowson. Comedy performances featuring Susan Morrison, Vladimir McTavish, Steve Day, Lee Camp, Bruce Morton, Phil Differ and Robin Ince, are also on the agenda.The UK's largest union is opening up the majority of events to the public, although there are a limited number of places available. UNISON's Scottish Secretary, Mike Kirby, said:"Edinburgh is a festival city, but it is also on the brink of the largest council privatisation plan ever to hit Scotland. We know that this will have a devastating impact on local people who rely on these vital services and on the staff who provide them." Mobilise is about bringing people together to prepare for action. We must fight against the Government's savage public sector cuts and the Festival is a creative way to reach out and get more people involved in our campaign. "Mobilise is about celebrating high quality public services and fighting to keep them a priority."

Tickets are available at www.mobilisefestival.co.uk or 0131 226 0053 . For more festival information please contact Nancy Kelly on 07904 342230 or the UNISON Press Office - numbers above.

Library lottery plan holds communities to ransom

UNISON is warning that community groups are being held to ransom by Government plans, to force them to take over their libraries, or lose them. The plans will create a postcode lottery, with some communities doing without libraries altogether if groups fail to rise to the challenge. If contracts with charities also fail, private companies are ready to come in and clean up. The union has slammed plans set out in a report by the Local Government Association on the future of the library system*, for failing to protect the quality of the service.Heather Wakefield, UNISON's Head of Local Government, said:"The blueprint for libraries is gambling with a service so many rely on. "Community groups should not be forced into taking over services, as many will not have the capacity, or numbers to keep them going. This will lead to private companies getting their teeth into libraries in the long run, which could lead to charging.
"More than 30,000 children are leaving primary school with a reading age of seven or below - libraries are key to improving literacy, especially in deprived areas. They are also a vital lifeline for many, with reading clubs, job seeker support and homework groups. These services cannot be provided without skilled staff. "The Government must act to stop local authorities rushing through changes to services with no consultation. An investment in libraries is an investment in the future generation."

Huge gap in private sector pensions – UNISON response

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, called for pension fairness, as a study by the High Pay Commission revealed a huge inequality between the value of, and access to, pensions in the private sector. The study, out today (8 Aug), revealed that 97% of FTSE 350 company executive directors have a company-backed pension - compared to just one third of UK private sector workers. This means nearly 15 million private sector workers do not have access to a scheme to which their employer contributes. The average FTSE 100 lead executive with a final salary pension could expect to receive nearly £175,000 - completely dwarfing the £6,000 pension those private sector workers who are in a scheme can hope to receive. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “This study shows just how unfair pensions provision is in this country. At the top of companies, nearly all directors have access to a pension to which their employer contributes. When they do retire, they’ll get a six figure pension. “Then at the bottom, two thirds of workers do not have a pension that their employer pays into. And the so-called ‘lucky’ ones that do will only get £6,000 a year when they retire. “Many of the most vocal critics of public sector pensions are the same company directors who are set to retire on a fortune. This is rank hypocrisy - employers need to understand the importance of decent pensions. “For all the private companies, who shirk their responsibilities to provide their workers with decent pension, it only increases the burden on the taxpayer.“The taxpayer ends up paying more in means tested benefits, and in increased take up of health and social care services.”

The Tory council assault on unions

Unions are the biggest obstacle to the privatisation of services. No wonder Conservative councils want to stop paying conveners
Peter Lazenby
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 31 July 2011 09.00 BST

Local authorities spend billions on services such as refuse collection.
The government has opened a new front in its war on Britain's trade unions. It is attempting to wreck trade union organisation among hundreds of thousands of local authority workers by saddling unions with millions of pounds in costs.
The first evidence I saw of this came in Leeds, ironically in the week that Britain's labour movement marked the anniversary of the imprisonment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, the six Dorset agricultural labourers who were transported to Australia in 1834 for swearing allegiance to a union.
Here's what is happening. Councils give union representatives – elected convenors or shop stewards – time to do their union work. It's called "time off for union duties". The work is the nuts and bolts of trades union activity, such as representing people at disciplinary and grievance hearings. Some of it fulfils people's statutory right to be represented.
Some convenors with thousands of members work full time on union duties, although they are employees of the councils, who pay their wages. For example in my city, Leeds, the secretary of the council branch of the public service union Unison, which has 8,000 members, is a social worker, but spends all his time on union duties.
It is in councils' interests to have such a system. It helps maintain smooth industrial relations. It avoids the disruption of pulling people off their jobs daily to represent colleagues. It provides a mechanism to solve potential disputes before they happen.
In Leeds, Conservative councillors are attempting to sabotage the arrangement by calling on the Labour-controlled council to stop paying the union convenors' wages, and make the unions find the money. There are 15 convenors. The Tories say stopping their pay would save Leeds council around £400,000, at a time when the council has to find £90m in cuts (cuts imposed by the Tories and their Lib-Dem supporters in government).
The proposal is accompanied by mealy-mouthed lip service to the "valuable role" played by trades unions, and reaffirming "reasonable support" for trades unions, including time off for union duties. But if implemented it would cripple the Leeds council unions' abilities to provide representation for their members.
At first I thought the plan might be a one-off from some ambitious, union-loathing Tory wanting to make a name for himself, and make life difficult for the unions. It isn't. It's happening across the country, with other Tory councillors making similar proposals or preparing the ground for them. The Tories are even targeting union organisation in police authorities. If successful, it would financially cripple public sector unions.
Local authorities spend billions of pounds a year in taxpayers' money to provide refuse collection, street cleaning, housing, old people's homes, state education and other services. Some Tories want the billions it costs to run these services handed to the profit-hungry private sector. Union organisation is the biggest single obstacle to this aim, so it has to be removed.
If the Tory strategy succeeds, remaining services in the public sector will be privatised and their provision will be motivated by profit, not people's needs. Dividends and bonuses will be the key factors in running our schools and old people's homes.
Margaret Thatcher recognised that organised labour was the biggest stumbling block confronting privatisation. Now David Cameron and his allies plan to finish the job of destroying union organisation.
In 1834 the Tolpuddle Martyrs were transported to Australia for organising collectively. Transportation may be a thing of the past. The Tories' determination to remove obstacles to private sector profit is not