Shropshire UNISON Labour Link

2012-01-31T10:22:00.001Z

Unions call for Green Teams to boost economy and environment

A new report by UNISON, supported by the TUC, today maps out a green path to recovery. It calls for local authorities to take a lead in developing sustainable energy projects that will both cut carbon emissions, ease fuel poverty and create vital local jobs to boost economic recovery. The report – based on a comprehensive survey of local authorities – shows councils are creating green jobs, highlights a new funding model available for sustainable community projects and calls on the government to issue clear policy to encourage take up. This must include reinstating higher Feed in Tariffs* for community level renewable energy projects. It also shows the vital role the public sector can play in tackling our economic decline and fulfilling our international environmental commitments. Crucially, the report makes recommendations to central and local government on how to make green teams a reality. The report will be launched at an event at TUC Congress House today (31 Jan) - The New Green Team: Local government, sustainable energy, jobs and skills. Speakers on the day will include Caroline Lucas MP, Leader of the Green Party, Frances O’Grady, Deputy General Secretary, TUC and Mike Jeram, National Secretary for Business and the Environment, at UNISON. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Central and local government must act now – both our economy and environment are hanging in the balance. Green teams are a real opportunity to create much needed local jobs and boost our energy efficiency. By making homes more sustainable, we would also help ease fuel poverty that millions of families are struggling with. Local businesses would not only benefit from more people working and spending money in local shops, pubs and restaurants, but could also take part in community energy efficiency programmes. “This report sets out exactly what needs to happen to overcome the obstacles standing in the way of rolling green teams out nationally. We want key stakeholders such as local authorities and MPs to act on this – it really is a win/win scenario.” TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Local councils across the UK are starting to make a real difference when it comes to cutting down on energy costs – insulating homes, tackling fuel poverty and slashing their own emissions. But all of this costs money, and the worry is that with local authorities seeing a huge cut in the grants they get from government, this good work is being put at risk.“Greater energy efficiency is not a luxurious optional extra – it is something that will pay long-term economic and environmental dividends, and it must be right at the heart of the public policy agenda. So whether it’s through a Robin Hood Tax on financial transactions, a tax on bankers’ bonuses or a proper clampdown on tax avoidance, the means certainly must be found to make the UK an energy efficient reality.”*Feed in tariffs allow people or companies to generate electricity and either use it or sell it to their energy supplier.

2012-01-27T22:29:00.000Z

Taxpayers' Alliance compensation figures distract from real policing picture

Commenting on figures released by the TaxPayers' Alliance, which show that £12 million has been paid out to injured police staff since 2006, Ben Priestley, UNISON’s national officer for police staff, said:“The police do a really important job and it is only right that they are supported if they are injured at work. “The sums involved are just 0.01% of the £17 billion budget. "This mustn’t be used as a distraction from the huge cuts being made to the police, which are forcing officers to pick up duties previously carried out by back office staff and threaten to increase crime levels in all our communities.”

2012-01-26T18:34:00.003Z

The Taxpayers Alliance are at it again !!

Don't let the truth spoil a good Tory plot to undermine public services.
The cost to the Tax payer is 5p in every £1 and this is achieved by having a well managed fund that generates a good income and actually saves the Council having to dig deeper into the tax payers pockets.Until recently the Shropshire fund was one of the best in the country.The Tax Payers Alliance is a perfect example of how dangerous it is to have knowledge that you do not understand and use it in an area where you do not know what you are talking about.

2012-01-25T21:50:00.001Z

Taxpayers Alliance gets it wrong on pensions

Commenting on the TaxPayers' Alliance report released today, which wrongly calculates that £1 in every £5 in council tax goes towards local government pensions, Heather Wakefield, UNISON’s head of local government, said: "This simply isn’t true. Actually, the local government pension scheme costs the taxpayer just 5p in every £1 paid in council tax. "Councils get only 25% of their revenue from council tax, 75% comes from other sources, including business rates and local government grants. "If the schemes were closed down, or people were priced out, they would be pushed onto means-tested benefits in their retirement. When dinner ladies, social workers and care staff retire, on average they will get just £4,000 a year, dropping to just £2,600 for women."The TPA should concentrate on getting their facts straight, rather than attacking sustainable and affordable schemes."

2012-01-24T11:28:00.001Z

Cameron's economy speech

Commenting on David Cameron’s speech on the economy, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said: “David Cameron claims he wants to create a fair economy, but we won’t take him seriously until he acts to stop bankers awarding themselves huge bonuses. “At the same time that Goldman Sachs staff are enjoying nearly £8bn worth of bonuses, the Government is freezing pay for public sector workers and axing jobs and vital services.“If Cameron really wants to create a fair economy he needs to tackle unemployment, stop savage cuts and invest in deprived communities.”

2012-01-13T18:02:00.000Z

UNISON members back local government pensions talks

UNISON members in the local government pensions scheme this week voted to continue negotiating with the employers over potential changes to their pensions. More than 150 nationally elected activists in UNISON’s five sector groups representing the local government pensions scheme, gave their backing to the framework proposals for talks that the union’s negotiators have secured since November 30. Negotiations will now enter an intense phase, running until April 2012 – at which point members will be fully consulted on the final offer. Should talks fail, the union’s ballot remains live, leaving the option of more industrial action on the table. Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said: “This week, our elected activists representing members that save into the local government scheme, gave their unequivocal backing to the framework proposals for more negotiations that we have secured since November 30. “We have agreed some important principles for the talks, including no change to contribution rates until 2014, and a commitment to protecting the pensions rights of workers that have been outsourced or are under threat of privatisation. “Talks with the local government employers will now run until April 2012. Members will continue to be consulted at every stage – including when we have a final offer. But if talks should break down – our ballot means we can still take industrial action.” *The five sector groups include - Local Government, Community, Police and Justice, Water, Environment and Transport (WET), and Higher Education.

2012-01-05T20:57:00.000Z

UNISON welcomes some justice for Lawrence family

(04/01/12) With today's sentencing of two men for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, UNISON welcomes a degree of justice for the Lawrence family.UNISON president Eleanor Smith said: "At last the Lawrence family have some justice. Their campaign – which is not over – has been both tireless and dignified."I am proud of the role that UNISON has played in giving the family its support."And she continued: "There can be no place for racism in our society – both of the overt kind demonstrated in the horrendous attack on Stephen, and the more covert, institutional kind unearthed by the inquiry into the original police investigation."We all have a responsibility to make sure every possible lesson can be learnt to honour Stephen's memory."

2012-01-04T22:19:00.000Z

Decent social care must be funded through national insurance

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today called for a national Social Care service properly funded through national insurance to tackle the growing crisis in elderly care. The call comes in the wake of demands for urgent action and fundamental reform to care and home help services from a broad coalition of government advisers, charities, unions and independent experts.The union has welcomed some of the proposals set out by the Dilnot Commission as a “step in the right direction” but warned that the commission’s recommendation of voluntary insurance, will not solve the problem of underfunding.Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government said:“Social care is characterised by inadequate funding which has created an unfair and unsustainable system, leading to falling quality care. It’s time to take urgent action but voluntary insurance is not the answer. It will create a two-tier system of care – high quality care paid by insurance and low quality care underfunded by the state.“What is needed is a national Social Care service properly funded through national insurance to really tackle the growing crisis in elderly care. Without serious public funding there will be the disappearance of these services and an increase in private sector provision. This is not the way to ensure a personalised quality care service or develop a quality well paid care workforce for the future.”

2012-01-04T22:17:00.000Z

Real pensions timebomb is in the private sector

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today called on the government to take urgent action to protect private sector pensions, after a survey revealed a shocking number were being closed or watered down. With two thirds of private sector workers already shut out of saving for their retirement, action would also protect taxpayers from a spiralling means tested benefits bill. UNISON estimates that taxpayers already face a bill of up to £15 billion for supporting the millions of private sector workers who have not not saved for their retirement – the real pensions timebomb. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “The real pensions timebomb is in the private sector. Already two thirds of these workers get nothing from their employers towards their pensions - this could cost the taxpayer billions in the future. The situation will spiral even further out of control, if more schemes are shut down and the taxpayer has to step in to cover the cost of supporting even more workers in their retirement. “The government must take urgent action to make sure more schemes in the private sector are not lost or weakened. The new regulations coming in later this year will be too little too late for many who will still have to rely on the state in retirement – the minimum contributions are insufficient to give people enough to live on in their old age.”

*Survey by the Association of Consulting Actuaries.

2011-12-21T23:05:00.002Z

Local Government pensions framework to go ahead

A timeline and set of principles that provide a positive framework for negotiations on the local government pension scheme (LGPS), is back on track, said UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union, today. The move follows the withdrawal of a letter from Secretary of State, Eric Pickles and the issuing of a new letter, which the union says provides the basis to proceed to negotiations. Following lengthy talks, the principles have been jointly agreed by the Local Government Association (LGA), UNISON and the GMB.The framework will be subject to detailed discussions with UNISON’s senior local government members in the new year. Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said: “We are pleased that the agreement on principles and a timeline for more talks on the local government pensions scheme, are back on track. They have the green light from government, marking a major step forward in the dispute over public sector pensions. “We have always argued that as the local government scheme has funds worth more than £140 billion, it should be dealt with in a different way to the other Treasury backed schemes. “Following discussions with senior members in local government we hope to move towards detailed negotiations in 2012, where we can work out the very complex details of the new pension scheme.

2011-12-20T21:04:00.005Z

Local government trade unions suspend agreement pending further talks

The local government trade unions, UNISON, UNITE and GMB, have today been alarmed by the response from Eric Pickles, to the joint proposal from the unions and the Local Government Association (LGA), for reforming the local government pension scheme. We understand the Secretary of State’s response has subsequently been withdrawn. In light of this confusion, we therefore suspend our agreement, and are now seeking an urgent meeting with the government to establish an agreed way forward. Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said: “The announcement today from Eric Pickles undermines trust and confidence in the relationship with the government over negotiations surrounding the Local Government pensions scheme. “In order to re-establish confidence, and a way forward, we hope that ministers will meet us as a matter of great urgency in order to get negotiations back on track. “We are disappointed that a positive way forward appears to have been undermined in this way, and hope that government, the LGA, and the trade unions, can reach agreement on a way forward.”

2011-12-16T23:13:00.001Z

Warning bells should sound in Westminster

Commenting on today’s unemployment figures, showing a rise to 2.64m between August and October, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:“This is a seriously bleak midwinter, as 128,000 more workers join the millions already on the dole queues. “Every month, as unemployment rises, and figures hit a 17 year high, the Government continues to ignore the human cost and push ahead with its hard and fast cuts – clinging to the hope that a struggling private sector can pick up the pieces. “These figures deliver a cold hard dose of reality. Private sector employment has increased by only 5,000, while the public sector has been hit with 67,000 job cuts – a huge gulf that the Government will fail to fill. As Thomas Cook looks likely to shed more than 600 jobs and la Senza become the latest retailer to face a restructuring, it is obvious that the worst is yet to come.“It is shameful to see that yet again, women, who make up the majority of low paid public sector workers, are the hardest hit by job losses. The 54,000 increase in youth unemployment shows that young people are also bearing the brunt, creating a lost generation that the Government will struggle to curb.“Unemployment hit similar highs before – when the Tories were in power. Warning bells should be sounding in Westminster this Christmas. We need urgent action to kick start the economy and prevent a new year unemployment record.”

2011-12-07T17:05:00.001Z

Damning report reveals real picture of council cuts

UNISON is calling for the Government to refocus on local government services and finances, in light of a damning report* on council cuts by the Audit Commission and Local Government Association* (LGA). The report shows that councils across England have already made 145,000 job cuts and the number is set to spiral. This will have a devastating impact on the lives of local government workers and communities relying on the vital services they provide.UNISON Head of Local Government, Heather Wakefield, said:“The Government must refocus on providing funding to make sure vital local services are maintained, rather than stripped bare. Councils have already made far more job cuts than they said would be necessary. This report shows that the worst is yet to come.“UNISON members have been hit hard, as they struggle to pay bills in the face rising costs. Council workers are covering large numbers of deleted and frozen posts - on a two-year pay freeze, without the £250 compensation promised by Osborne for the lowest paid. Workers are doing more, for less, as resources drop, but demand rises. On top of this, they face cuts to pay and conditions, alongside plans to make them pay more into their pensions, work longer and receive less in retirement. “Teaching assistants, youth workers and social care workers are among the groups facing the largest cuts - despite record youth unemployment and an ageing population. Low paid women are the biggest losers, as they make up 75% of council workers and 90% of the occupations worst hit.“It is disgraceful to hear the Tory-led LGA boasting of having made 50% more savings than required by central government, even before the financial crash. The latest redundancies come on top of these huge, unnecessary cuts. These job cuts are not inevitable, there is an alternative and councils have a duty to their local communities to provide hope and employment to help people get through this financial crisis.“The report paints of a picture of a bleak future, where skilled staff lose their jobs, or are left buckling under the pressure with vital services being stripped back. These council cuts are hard, fast and unnecessary and will devastate communities when what the country needs are policies that will help to kick start the economy.”

2011-12-04T16:58:00.000Z

Fuel poverty rises by a quarter

Commenting on new Consumer Focus figures, which show that fuel poverty is now hitting a quarter of all UK households, Mike Jeram, UNISON’s head of business and environment, said:“As winter draws near, a quarter of all households are being forced to make the choice between heating and eating. “According the national office of statistics, there were 25,700 deaths relating to fuel poverty in 2010-11, this is shameful. And sadly is likely to rise in line with the fuel poverty figure increase.“Just recently the big energy companies hiked up their prices, pushing ahead with profits in mind, while throwing more people into fuel poverty. Public sector workers facing pay freezes and job cuts, cannot cope with these rising fuel prices. “The Government has yet again made false promises, as it looks likely to fail its legal duty to end fuel poverty by 2016. “The Government is pushing people further into poverty with its austerity agenda. It should be concentrating on getting the economy back on track and protecting people from unsustainable prices.”

2011-11-30T22:18:00.001Z

Public Service Pension Strike Rally Shrewsbury Square lunchtime today

2011-11-29T21:53:00.000Z

UNISON chief issues rallying call to its 1.1 million members

On the eve of the biggest strike in the union’s history, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, has issued a rallying cry to its 1.1 million members saying:“This is an historic week for our union. The time has come to make your stand and join the fight for a fair pensions deal. I am so proud of all our members – including the nurses, social workers, PCSOs, librarians, dinner ladies, teaching assistants, bin men and paramedics who will be standing shoulder to shoulder on picket lines tomorrow.“We know we have the public on our side. They know that public service workers are not asking for more – they just want the pension deal they were promised.“Taking strike action is not an easy option, especially with Christmas just round the corner, but we will show Government ministers tomorrow that we will not take this pensions tax lying down.”

2011-11-28T22:46:00.002Z

Government policies hitting women hard- not strike action

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today accused the Government of making women and families pay a high price for the economic crisis, while the bankers get off scot-free. He hit back at claims made by Co-chairman of the Conservative Party, Sayeeda Warsi, that the pensions strike will damage women, saying that it is cuts to jobs, vital public services, pensions and benefits that are hitting women across the UK hardest. Added to this, the rising cost of absolute basics such as food and fuel are squeezing family budgets to the limit. The truth is that 3,700,000 women will be affected by the Government’s plans to make them pay more, work longer, for less benefits.Dave Prentis, went on to say:“It is this Government’s savage economic policies that are really hurting women and their families. UNISON has one million women members and they deliver vital services day in day out, looking after and educating our children, caring for the sick and elderly and keeping communities and young people safe. It is this Government that has pushed them to the brink and into strike action to protect their pensions. “Applications to join UNISON have gone up by 126% since the result of our ballot was announced, 81% from women. These women don’t take strike action lightly, but they know who to turn to for help – and it is not this Coalition Government who are losing the trust of women across the UK.”For facts about women and pensions see UNISON’s ‘The Pension Pinch’Coalition ministers want to make major changes to the pension available to public service workers – 65% of whom are women.

Check out our infographic. Click on it to enlarge it.
http://www.unison.org.uk/n30/infographic.asp

2011-11-28T10:31:00.003Z

Public spending myths

It’s an uncertain and confusing time. People will try to exploit this by
spreading misinformation and creating scapegoats. Some are even
saying that public services are part of the problem. Here are the facts.
Was this crisis caused by too much public spending?

 the UK still spends less (21% of GDP) on public services and social security
than France (29%), Germany (27%), Italy (25%), or Sweden (29%).

 before this crisis, total UK public debt was less than 40% of GDP – lower than
other comparable economies and lower than it was in 1997.

 irresponsible borrowing and lending in the private sector caused this crisis – in
2008 household debt was 109% of GDP, and corporate debt almost 300%.

 public deficits are now rising fast because the government has had to take on
the private sector’s bad debts and counteract the damage to the economy.

Are public services a waste of money?

 there are examples of waste, like PFI or management consultants, but most of
the money goes to help people in need or improve everyone’s quality of life
 public service productivity has been improving consistently since 2003 – for
every pound put in, we get more and better services in return.

 investing in public services also helps local jobs and businesses – for every
pound spent, 64 pence is recycled into the local economy.

Do I get anything in return for the taxes I pay?

 the average UK household relies on benefits and public services worth more
than £10,000 every year – more than they contribute in direct or indirect tax.

 those in greater need, such as the elderly, people with disabilities or children in
poverty, rely on public spending even more – and would be hardest hit by cuts.
“In every downturn, politicians and press turn on the public sector – feather-bedded,
gold-plated, protected… Picking on choice examples of public excess, the right aims
to persuade voters to cut services in ways that will cause immense public harm.”
– Polly Toynbee, The Guardian

Are we paying for lots of ‘non-jobs’ in public services?

 some job titles sound odd if you don’t know what they mean – but they usually
turn out to be important and valuable if you look into it properly

 the public sector employs fewer managers per worker than the private sector,
and fewer administrators per worker than the private financial services sector

 the real problem in our public services is staff shortages – for example we don’t
have enough midwives, youth workers, planners, social workers, or carers

Do public service workers have it easy?

 26% of public sector employees feel “very stressed” or “extremely stressed”,
compared to 18% in the private sector

 31% of local government workers and 52% of NHS workers regularly work
overtime without receiving any extra pay or time off in lieu

 public service workers take no more sickness absence than workers of the
same age and gender employed in the private sector

 last year there were 48,000 redundancies in ‘education, health & public
administration’; many more are expected this year

Are public service workers over-paid?

 the richest 1% of the UK population take home more money every year than
the total pay bill for the NHS, schools and local government put together

 the majority of public service workers earn less than £22,000 a year, and 20%
of them – more than 1.5 million in total – earn less than £7 an hour

 since 1997 public sector pay has risen less than private sector pay, and for the
past few years public sector pay deals have been below-inflation

 the average pension for a local government worker is about £4,000 a year, or
£1,600 for women

 the average NHS pension is about £7,000 a year, or £5,000 for women – this
figure includes higher paid doctors; most NHS staff get much less

Does the recession mean public services have to be cut?

 right now the government should be borrowing to increase social spending.
Cutting benefits or services would make the recession longer and harder.

 in future years we will have to reduce government borrowing. But this can be
done by raising taxes or cutting spending in other areas. It’s a political choice.

 more people think the government should raise taxes (53%)
rather than reduce spending on public services (35%) as a way
of paying back public debt.

 billions could be raised by ensuring big companies and the
super-rich pay a fairer share of tax.

More could be saved by cancelling Trident or ID cards.

2011-11-25T09:53:00.001Z

UNISON adverts paint real picture of pensions crisis ahead of strike

UNISON has launched a set of hard-hitting adverts, which show the real face of the pensions crisis pushing public sector workers to strike. The women featured include a custody detention officer, nurse and a local government worker, who finds jobs and apprenticeships for unemployed young people. The adverts point out exactly how much worse off the women would be at work and in retirement because of ministers’ pension proposals.Women in the public sector have been the hardest hit by the Government’s pay freeze, job and service cuts. Proposals to make them pay more for their pensions and work longer, for less, have forced these workers to breaking point and have led to them to join the picket lines on 30 November.Dave Prentis, UNISON’s General Secretary, said:“These are real people taking real action to protect their pensions. The majority of public sector workers are women, who are struggling to pay their bills and feed their families in the face of a pay freeze and rising inflation. These workers cannot afford to pay more and work longer, to receive less in retirement.“The workers in the adverts represent the many women who have been pushed to the brink by Government ministers’ pensions proposals.“Public sector workers spend their lives providing vital services and care deeply about their communities. They have had their pay frozen and seen rising workloads, as jobs and services are slashed. Now Government ministers’ are coming for their pensions. “We are willing to negotiate with Government ministers’ any time, any place, but we still have no deal that we can put to a single one of these workers. We want pensions that are secure and sustainable and give people dignity in their retirement. The door is open, it’s time to talk.”

2011-11-24T14:14:00.002Z

UNISON calls on Government ministers' to negotiate

Commenting on Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander's announcement today that there was "no more money on the table" to settle the dispute over the Government's controversial pension reforms, Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:Despite what Danny Alexander says, there is no money on the table at the moment and no offer. After eight months of talks, all we have is a statement in Parliament. Danny Alexander's words need to be translated into offers in the specific pension scheme talks, so that we have something on which to negotiate and to put to our members. And if government ministers are so worried about the impact on the economy, they should make sure that there are offers made in those talks. The strike will go ahead - it is a last resort, but dinner ladies, teaching assistants and nurses will be among millions of public sector workers walking out next Wednesday. We are willing to negotiate any time, any place, for pensions that are secure and sustainable and give people dignity in their retirement.

2011-11-22T09:57:00.001Z

Government Housing Strategy Raises False Hope

“For the millions of people on waiting lists, living in unsuitable homes, or struggling to get on the housing ladder, the Government’s latest bid to tackle the housing crisis, does little more than cruelly raise false hopes”, warned Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, today.Decent, affordable housing is in short supply said the union, but today’s announcement of £400m has to be seen in the context of the 60 per cent - £4billion - cut to the affordable housing budget announced in last year’s spending review.Dave Prentis, went on to say:“The level of demand for affordable homes is outstripping supply at a rate of two to one. The government’s dogmatic refusal to spell out the extent to which their measures will address this gap does not give any grounds for optimism.“We need serious, long-term investment in the housing sector to give people hope and to boost jobs and the economy.”

2011-11-20T14:10:00.002Z

FURTHER INFORMATION ON LGPS DISPUTE

1. The changes made basing index linking from RPI to CPI have already happened and will further reduce pensions.

2. Many low paid staff have already opted out of the LGPS – an average of 25% of eligible workers are not paying into the scheme, and in some authorities less than 50 per cent of workers are paying in

3. Many LGPS members are facing tough choices about their outgoings in the face of a pay freeze and the soaring cost of living including food, transport and energy prices. The 80% of local government workers earning £21k or under have not received the £250 compensation during what is so far a two-year pay freeze, unlike other parts of the public sector. Contribution increases will mean many will not be able to afford to continue to pay into the scheme

4. The threshold of £15k to protect ‘low paid’ workers from paying more is far too low. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s “Minimum Income Standard” for a working couple with two children is at least £36,800 for a minimum acceptable standard of living – an average of £18,400 each

5. Many part-time staff whose actual earnings are less than £15k will not be protected from having to pay higher contributions because their full-time equivalent earnings on which their pension is based would be above that. In local government two thirds of our workforce are part-time

6. The uncertainty about just what our pension will be worth in future years means many workers are losing confidence in the benefits of paying into the scheme. The current proposals for LGPS are due to take effect in 2014, but a whole raft more detrimental changes are expected from 2015. Workers are increasingly questioning whether it will be worth our while to continue paying more and more in. The uncertainty that has blighted confidence in private sector money-purchase schemes is spreading to public sector schemes

If there are large scale opt-outs from the LGPS, the consequences could be catastrophic.

On current terms the LGPS will be cash rich for 15-20 years – it currently takes in £4bn more each year than it pays out. If the changes trigger large scale opt-outs, the Scheme will be in deficit within 5 years. Far from sustaining public sector schemes for the future, the changes could be bringing about their demise.

2011-11-03T22:52:00.000Z

03/11/2011
Yes Vote signals green light for strike action

Following the decisive yes vote, UNISON’s lay activists have given the green light to strike action on 30 November, to protect their pensions.The union welcomed the theoretical improvements to the pension schemes made by Danny Alexander yesterday, saying that the pressure from UNISON and others had resulted in the Government moving significantly from their original position.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, said:“Today’s Yes vote signals the green light for the first day of strike action, and we will be joining with other unions in the TUC co-ordinated day of action on November 30th.“While there was significant movement from the Government yesterday, at this stage we only have a theoretical pension scheme, that has yet to be translated into scheme offers. We have no offer in either the local government or the health pension schemes that we can put to our members.“What we do have is a overwhelming yes vote in a legal ballot. And our democratic committees have taken the decision to authorise action with the TUC in line with the wishes of our members.“So it is now up to government ministers and employers‚ to get down to work and come up with firm offers that we can put to our members.”

2011-10-25T21:25:00.003Z

Dave Prentis, general secretary

Our industrial action ballot over unnecessary and damaging plans to make public sector workers work longer, pay more and get less in their retirement, closes on Thursday 3 November. See what the changes mean to you here.Everyone entitled to vote should have received their ballot paper by now - find yours at home and post it back - don't delay. Vote Yes today. It's important that you use your vote. We know that those who are against us will argue that any abstention is a No vote and means you're in favour of the attacks on your pension. Don't give them that excuse!So act now and vote Yes to defend your pension. And forward this e-mail to your work colleagues and friends. If you haven't received your ballot paper, or if you need a replacement, remember you've got until midday on 31 October to call the ballot hotline on 0845 355 0845.

Separating the pensions facts from the right wing fiction:

If closed today the LGPS could still pay all its liabilities for 20 years.

The Treasury gets £2bn more in NHS pension contributions than it pays out in benefits.

The average Local Government pension is £4,000 pa - hardly gold plated.

The average NHS pension is £7,000 per annum - again hardly gold plated.

Half of NHS women pensioners receive less than £3,500 per annum.

The bosses of Britain's largest companies have an average pension 34 times bigger than the average public sector pension

2011-10-25T21:19:00.000Z

High Court challenge to public sector pensions

Six unions have mounted a legal challenge on behalf of millions of public sector workers over what inflation index is used to increase their pensions.A judicial review hearing starts in the High Court on Tuesday (25) to challenge the switch to using the consumer price index (CPI) instead of the traditionally-higher retail price index (RPI) for the annual increase in public sector pensions.The move - effective from April this year - was announced by chancellor George Osborne in the June 2010 budget, without any consultation or negotiation, who claimed CPI was the more appropriate measure. The unions have always contended it was a deficit reduction measure.As part of the ongoing talks over wider cuts to public sector pensions, ministers have since ruled out any negotiations on the issue.The government must review pensions and benefits each year against increases in prices and uprate them by at least the same percentage. September's inflation figures put CPI at 5.2% and RPI at 5.6%.Because CPI is around 1.2% lower on average than RPI, the loss to existing public sector pensioners will be around 15%. It is already affecting staff currently paying into career average schemes whose pension pots are revalued annually and will be smaller when they retire.The switch has also been applied to many private sector pensions, wiping an estimated £75 billion off their value. Some estimates put the figure even higher.The unions' case is that the imposed move was not permitted under social security legislation, and that it reneges on assurances given by successive governments that RPI would apply.The six unions are UNISON, the Fire Brigades' Union, teachers' union NASUWT, Prison Officers Association, Public and Commercial Services union, and Unite.All the unions have either already balloted for industrial action, are balloting, or will be supporting the day of action over pensions on 30 November.There will be a demonstration in support of the judicial review outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL, from 8.30am to 10am on Tuesday 25 October.UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: "UNISON is backing this judicial review because we cannot allow the coalition to run roughshod over pensioners."The way that a country treats its citizens when they retire is a mark of a decent and fair society. The government has stepped over that mark - the switch is nothing but a cynical, multi-million pound raid on pensioners to pay down a deficit they did nothing to cause. This flawed measure of inflation does not even include housing costs - a major expenditure for many retired people."Instead of clobbering pensioners, and people on benefits, the government should impose a tiny tax on financial transactions that would raise billions."FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said "The government actions are unfair and, we believe, unlawful. This is a vicious attack on existing and future pensioners that could cost them tens of thousands of pounds."Pensioners are being forced to bear an unfair burden for the financial crisis caused by the banks. Firefighters will be robbed of thousands of pounds while the bankers who caused the problems continue to count up huge bonuses."We're being told to work a lot longer, pay a lot more and now get a lot less. Hard hit pensioners don't feel 'we're all in it together' when the chancellor's chums in the City still have their snouts in the trough at our expense."NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates: "The question the court is being asked to answer is whether it is just and fair to arbitrarily change the basis on which pensions are calculated, reducing their value by thousands of pounds."The government's actions are a breach of the contract with ordinary working people. We are looking to the court to make sure that millions of ordinary workers will not be left facing a bleak and uncertain future at a time when cost of living is soaring."POA deputy general secretary Mark Freeman said: "Once again the government has shown its willingness to attack the vulnerable in society to protect their friends in the financial institutions. The trade unions will demonstrate their support for pensioners on 30 November and the POA urges all right thinking workers to demonstrate on that day.*PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "The switch from RPI to CPI is just another example of how this government wants public servants, pensioners and people entitled to benefits to pay the heaviest price for the recession. For new entrants to the civil service it means an immediate cut in their pensions, ripping up an agreement we reached just a few years ago."As well as challenging this in court, the unions are mounting the widest, most co-ordinated industrial action we have seen in our lifetimes, to force the government to think again and show how out of touch millionaire ministers are with the lives and concerns of the rest of us."Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey said: "Our legal challenge against the coalition government is hugely significant for workers in both the public and private sectors."Public sector workers face an opportunistic attack on their pensions by this government, but many workers in the private sector have also been affected."Vested interests are trying to create a wedge between public and private sector workers, when in reality they have common cause on this. We know that some private sector employers are already attempting to move to the lower inflation index citing the government's example. In reality this government wants us all to work for longer and for less."

2011-10-18T11:18:00.001Z

Government 's £35 million raid on public sector pensions

From today, millions of retired public sector workers will see the real value of their pension drop, because payments will be linked to increases in the September CPI*, rather than increases in the September RPI**, says UNISON, the UK’s largest union. Based on the average pension rates in the health and local government schemes, UNISON calculates that the move has taken more than £35 million out of the pockets of retired public sector workers in just one year alone. September’s RPI figure has historically been used to calculate the yearly uplift in state and public sector pensions, as well as a range of other benefits, to reflect the cost of living. With CPI consistently lower than RPI, this represents a cut in pensions and other benefits, at the same time as the government is trying to claim it wants to protect pensioners. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “This is nothing but a multi million pound raid on pensioners to pay down the deficit. It’s a disgrace – retired people getting a state or public sector pension did not cause the economic crisis – but they are paying for it. At the same time the government is trying to claim it is protecting pensioners – these claims are hollow. “We already know that pensioners are struggling to cope with the rising cost of fuel, food and housing. From April next year, life will be a little harder for some of the most vulnerable in our society. It could push more people into poverty in their old age. “Public sector pensioners will be hit twice – once in their basic state pension, and again in the public sector pension they have saved all their working life for. “Taking money out of pensioners’ pockets will also hit our chances of economic recovery. Our stagnant economic growth desperately needs people to be out spending in shops and businesses – not struggling to cope with the basic cost of living. There are fairer alternatives to pay down the deficit. Instead of clobbering pensioners, and people on a host of other benefits, the government could impose a tiny tax on financial transactions to raise billions.”The switch in pensions and benefits indexation is part of wider moves to attack pensions. UNISON is currently running the biggest ballot in history over detrimental plans for public sector pensions, and is calling on members to Vote Yes for industrial action. Government ministers are trying to raise £4 billion by making public sector workers pay more, work longer, all for less in their retirement – we believe this is a tax on public sector workers to pay down the deficit. Reforms already made to public sector pensions have made them affordable and sustainable for the long term. The local government scheme, that council, some education workers and police and probation staff save into, could pay all its liabilities for 20 years without a single penny more in contributions. The health scheme raises £2bn for the Treasury every year, because more money is coming in than going out. Over the next five years it will raise £10 billion that will be used to top up government spending.

2011-10-17T10:32:00.001Z

False economy of damaging changes to local government pension scheme

UNISON has exposed the false economy of Government Ministers’ plans to make damaging changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). Figures produced for the union, show that by paying into their pensions council workers save the government a total of £2.5billion every year* in benefit claims. The proposed changes would lead to pensioner poverty for millions of workers, pushing them onto benefits such as pension credit, council tax benefit and housing benefit. The average pension received by all members of the LGPS is just £3,048* a year - but saving for their pensions means members are less dependent on benefits in the future. The UK’s largest union is currently balloting 1.1 million members for strike action over the changes to public sector schemes.Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:“These figures expose the false economy of making these unnecessary and damaging changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme.“If Government Ministers push ahead with their plans to make council workers pay more and work longer, for less, then many may be forced to opt out the scheme, pushing people onto costly benefits when they retire.“Two thirds of LGPS members are women, working as teaching assistants, carers, social workers, cleaners and dinner ladies. The average pension of these women is just £2,800 a year, yet they may be forced to opt out if Government Ministers push ahead with plans to make them pay more and work longer, for less.“The Local Government scheme is cash rich, with the income far exceeding the outgoings. All public sector schemes were assessed and renegotiated to be sustainable and affordable just three years ago and are very secure. “Our members know these changes are a false economy and will fight to protect their pensions by ticking the ‘Yes’ box in the ballot papers this week.”

2011-10-17T10:26:00.001Z

Pensions dispute linked to recruitment surge

At the heart of the campaign: the West Midlands pensions hub in action (14/10/11) The concern of public sector workers for the future of their pensions – and their recognition of the role UNISON is playing in protecting them – has led to a surge of new members in the West Midlands. The region has recruited more than 640 new members in the past 10 days, as a direct result of the pensions dispute. Across the UK, UNISON is balloting 1.1 million members for industrial action over the proposed changes to pensions, which would make public sector employees work longer, pay more and get less when they retire.Seven days before the ballot opened, West Midlands region focused its annual health week on the pensions issue. That week alone, it recruited 315 student nurses. "There are hundreds of briefings going on across the region, with activists and staff getting to meet members in all areas and all service groups," says regional convenor Sue Laws. "And recruitment is excellent. "This is a great opportunity to get out there and show what UNISON can do."West Midlands regional secretary Ravi Subramanian adds: "This is, without doubt, the biggest industrial action ballot UNISON has ever undertaken. We need a big turnout and a strong Yes vote to send a strong message that UNISON members will fight to protect their pensions."To that end, says Mr Subramanian, UNISON needs every one of its activists to go into workplaces to spread the message about why it is important to vote in the ballot. The region has prepared the ground for its own activists with the creation of a "pensions hub". Set up in the regional centre in Birmingham and staffed by four organising staff, the hub acts as a walk-in centre for pensions champions and other branch activists, advising them on the key pensions facts and how to discuss them with members. The team also operates a phone line and email Q&A service, distributes pensions materials, and produces a News from the Hub newsletter for pensions champions. "It's working really well," says area organiser Lynn Horsnett, who is one of the quartet running the hub. "It's giving a sense of co-ordination for the ballot campaign across the region and helps to keep everyone focused on getting the vote out." Ms Horsnett said that the pensions champions – at least one for each of the region's 80 branches – were trained at the regional centre. They are now being supported by organising staff in delivering briefings in workplaces. At the same time, retired members and others are volunteering at the hub phones, extending the coverage of members even further.

2011-10-12T13:38:00.001Z

12/10/2011
UNISON chief in warning over pensions value

Speaking at the union’s retired members’ conference, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, will today warn the government that anger is building from pensioners hit hard by their decision to use CPI, not RPI*, to calculate pension payments. He will also thank the union’s retired members for their strong support in the union’s campaign for decent pensions, as it gears up for the biggest industrial action in a generation over detrimental changes to public sector pensions. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “I am warning the government that pensioners are angry that their savings have been raided. Not only do they face the biggest industrial action in a generation from public sector workers, they face losing the long term support of pensioners come election time.“Retired members know how important it is to stand up for pensions rights. They know that even after a lifetime of saving, public sector pensions are not gold plated. They also know what a struggle it is for other pensioners to cope with the rising cost of living. Energy bills and the price of basics such as food and housing are on the up. These daily essentials take up the lion’s share of pensioners’ weekly budgets. “The government has made things harder for pensioners by switching from retail prices to consumer prices to calculate pension rises. From April this year, this will spark a long-term decline in the value of public and state pensions. This will push more pensioners into poverty in their retirement.”Separating the pensions facts from the right wing fiction: If closed today the LGPS could still pay all its liabilities for 20 years The Treasury gets £2bn more in NHS pension contributions than it pays out in benefits The average Local Government pension is £4,000 pa - hardly gold plated. The average NHS pension is £7,000 per annum - again hardly gold plated. Half of NHS women pensioners receive less than £3,500 per annum The bosses of Britain's largest companies have an average pension 34 times bigger than the average public sector pension*CPI – consumer prices index, RPI – retail prices index UNISON has 1.4 million members, and another 140,000 retired members.

2011-10-12T13:26:00.001Z

Unemployment figures - UNISON response

As unemployment reaches its highest level in 17 years, UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is calling on the government to ditch plan A and act quickly to get our recovery on track. The union has been campaigning for an alternative economic plan that includes taxing bank bonuses and transactions, using cash raised to protect jobs, and stimulate growth and recovery. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Here is yet more proof that this government’s policies are wrong for the economy. Our recovery is not even off the starting blocks, and the toll of job losses keeps on mounting.“Today’s figures show that young people are paying a heavy price for the bankers’ recession – the government must act to give them hope for the future. Long-term unemployed figures are also climbing – to be out of work for more than 12 months has a huge impact on people and their families. “The government must put a stop to public sector job losses – they are hitting the private sector, and our chances of recovery, hard. There are fair alternatives – such as getting the banks to pay their fair share, introducing a small (0.05%) tax on financial transactions, and raise billions that can be used to stimulate growth and recovery – and give hardworking people back some hope.”

2011-10-10T08:38:00.001Z

DCLG pensions' proposals - UNISON response

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, said today that the Department for Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) proposals for local government pensions would hit the predominantly low paid, women workforce in local government, hard. Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government, said: “These proposals would hit low paid women in local government hard – they make up the vast majority of local government workers. Their pensions are already low – average rates are £4,000 for men, dropping to just £2,600 or £50 a week for women. Changes to the accrual rates would bring down the value of their pensions even further. “We have said from the start that these drastic changes to the local government pension scheme are not necessary – it is cash rich and financially sound. The reforms already made in the last set of negotiations have made it affordable and sustainable for the long term.” Key facts about the local government scheme The local government scheme could fund all its liabilities for twenty years without a single penny more in contributions. It has funds worth £140 billion – equivalent to 12% of UK GDP, making it one of the biggest institutional investors in the world.

2011-10-07T13:00:00.000Z

Women bear brunt of Government Ministers' pension attack

Women are the biggest group to be affected by government ministers plans to change public sector pension schemes, according to new figures gathered by UNISON, the UK’s largest union. More than 3.7 million women* (6 in 10) working in public services across the UK could be affected by the plans to make them pay more, work longer and receive less pension in retirement – 320,445 of these are in the South West. After 8 months’ of talks, UNISON has decided to ballot 1.1m of its members in local government, the NHS, police support staff, the environment agency, water companies and passenger transport executives for strike action. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “We have found that women in the South West are being badly hit by the recession both as providers and as users of services. In the public sector, they face pay freezes at a time of rising inflation, job losses and now an attack on their pension entitlements. “These women are often low paid and struggling to make ends meet as prices rise and wages are cut; many are single parents. They already pay a sizeable proportion of their salaries into their pension schemes to save for their retirement. And those schemes are already sustainable and affordable. Government ministers want them to pay on average around 50% more, with no guarantee that the money will go into the pension schemes. All but the lowest paid will have to pay what is effectively a tax on public sector workers trying to save for their retirement. “I have said that we are willing to negotiate anywhere, anytime, but after 8 months of talks, we don’t seem to be making much progress. So we are asking members to vote yes to strike action in the forthcoming ballot.”Jane Carter, 37, is a receptionist for Bath and North East Somerset Council. She said: “I currently earn £16,000 a year and pay £87 per month into my pension. I am very concerned by the government’s changes as I may have to pay an extra £45 a month, work for longer and see no benefit for it. “I’ve had to make sacrifices due to a long-term medical condition and am already cutting expenditure. Prices are rising and any pensions increases forced on us by government will make life harder and wipe out my ability to save. I will therefore be voting yes in the strike ballot.”Nurses, care staff, teaching assistants, social workers and school meals workers are just some of the women who will be affected by the plans. The average pension for a woman working in local government is just £2,800 a year and in health it’s around £3,500 a year. The lowest paid already pay 5.5% in the LGPS and 5% in the NHSPS of their salaries to save for their retirement. This rises to 7.5% and 8.5% for those on higher pay. If they did not save, they would end up on means-tested benefits, at a cost to taxpayers. UNISON has more than one million members in membership.

2011-10-05T08:06:00.000Z

Climate of fear created as police jobs axed

UNISON is predicting a climate of fear caused by huge cuts to police staff, on the day of the Home Affairs speeches at Tory party conference. An Ipsos MORI survey carried out for the union in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight shows that 71% of residents believe their communities will be less safe after the cuts.Three quarters of the public surveyed (75%) are concerned that cuts on this scale will hit services, including frontline policing. The findings also indicate that two-thirds (66%) of those surveyed in Hampshire and Isle of Wight feel that these cuts to police budgets put at risk the Conservative Party’s reputation for being tough on crime.Hampshire Constabulary is facing a 20% cut to its budget. Between 2010 and 2015 the national police service will lose 16,100 police staff, 1,800 PCSOs and 16,200 police officers. Ben Priestley, UNISON’s National Officer for Police Staff, said:“The public are not fooled by the Government’s false claims about protecting frontline policing. A climate of fear is being created by these cuts to police staff. “Forensics officers, PCSOs and 999 call takers are among the police staff carrying out vital roles for community safety. The public know that if these jobs are cut there will be more pressures on the frontline and crime will soar.“If officers are forced off the beat to take over back office work, we will lose vital police presence. This is also a false economy – the cost of doing the work doubles, as officers are paid around twice a much as police staff.“The Government claims that forces must just tighten their belts and become more efficient, but the results of the survey proves that the general public have seen through this. The public realise that less spending on police will mean more crime in their community. We have the public on our side when it comes to cutting crime - it is about time the Government started listening to us and them.”

2011-10-04T21:12:00.002Z

Australia: Public Sector workers launch campaign against government cuts and campaign for union rights

More than 40,000 NSW State public employees turned out in the State capital, Sydney alone, to demonstrate the start of the State Public Unions campaign against the Conservative (Liberal) Government cuts to the State public sector, and the new State laws designed to take away public employees’ rights to bargain, and to make the Independent State Labour Court just an arm of Government Policy.
Thousands of State employees also stopped work, and came out to demonstrate in major regional centres and small towns outside Sydney.
All PSI affiliates in NSW were there in their tens of thousands. The Public Service Association of NSW, the NSW Nurses, The Australian Services Union, the Communications Electronic Plumbing Union joined their fellow Public Sector unions like the Teachers Federation, the Police Association, the Fire Brigades Union, the Rail Tram and Bus Union and the Health Services Union in a massive rally and protest march past of the NSW Parliament that took more than two hours to complete.
The unions in the public sector joined together with private sector unions like the Metal Workers, Manufacturing Workers, Security Officers Union, Childcare Workers Union, Finance Sector Union, and thousands of Federal government employees in our other PSI affiliates, like the CPSU, under the umbrella of the State Labour Council “Better Services -Better State” campaign. That is a local version or equivalent of the PSI “Quality Public Services” Campaign.
A day after the State Government added an extra 5000 job cuts, in its first Conservative State Budget, to its billions of dollars in spending cuts and a massive privatization of State Assets, state wide prison closures and privatizations, ports and transport privatisations, cuts to housing subsidies, the unions were outraged that in this public spending cut was added the plan to abolish public sector workers rights to collectively bargain.
The day before the demonstration, the NSW State Government threatened massive fines, singling- out state teachers who stopped work to protest the spending cuts and laws against workers rights. The State Government threatened to take the union to the very State Industrial Court, that it had just directed not to use its powers to fix fair wages for Public Servants, the same law against which the public service workers were protesting. This prompted many more thousands of teachers to walk out in defiance, and State Ferry workers to call a snap strike to let members join the demonstration. The city metropolitan train system was swamped by state workers flooding to get to the demonstration in the city centre of Sydney, outside the State Parliament.
Numbers across the State who demonstrated were probably close to 60,000, three times the unions’ original plans, and representing about a fifth of the whole State public workforce.
The unions were addressed at their rally by rank and file public employees who said - they had “just begun to fight”, and that the fight won’t end till their rights were restored, or, the Conservative (Liberal) Government was defeated. The rally was told, time and again, that Quality Public Services were what the public deserved and that was what the pubic unions were committed to fight for. They said - Demonstrations were just the start, but the fight will really take place in a “long game” on the ground, in Communities, and finally the Electorates.
Note: Another Conservative (Liberal) Government

2011-10-04T21:07:00.000Z

Pickles gets it wrong on trade union facility time

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, said today that Eric Pickles had got it wrong on trade union facility time. Far from costing taxpayers money, trade union involvement has a very positive impact on the workplace. Research commissioned by the Department for Business in 2007 suggested that effective and engaged union representation saves the public purse between £170m and £400m a year by improving retention, training take-up, health and safety, and dispute resolution; and as much as £3.6bn a year through general productivity gains.Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Attacking trade unions who work with employers to create an efficient, more motivated workplace is just plain daft. Workers have a right to be represented. “If trade union stewards are going to represent staff properly, they need time away from their usual jobs to do it. Public sector reps already contribute up to 100,000 unpaid hours every week. What’s more, collective bargaining saves cash. If councils or the NHS had to negotiate individually with all their staff, they would be forced to spend a fortune on consultants or mediators.“Public services are facing savage cut backs and workers have a right to have their voices heard and rightly expect their union reps to be there to help them when they need them most. “Trade union facility time makes good business sense, and any attempts to cut it will end up costing the taxpayer money.” - A report for the Department of Trade and Industry in 2007, said that the UK’s 350,000 workplace reps brought in benefits worth £476 million to £1,133 million annually.- A TUC report in December 2009 said that trade union involvement boosted productivity by making people feel listened to, and more in control of their working lives. - Reps in the public sector contribute up to 100,000 unpaid hours of their own time each week to carry out their union duties, the research showed. This is time that directly benefits public services and the people who work in them. - The DTI estimates this productivity boost is worth between £3.4 billion, and £10.2 billion to the economy.

2011-10-04T21:05:00.000Z

Tories are creating a 'smaller, less tolerant Britain'

The Tory-Lib Dem government is creating "a smaller Britain, a less tolerant country," UNISON told Labour delegates in Liverpool today. Speaking at the equalities debate, on the final day of the party's conference, Labour Link delegate Pat May said that the fight against inequality, racism and prejudice was a fight for public services."Without our Black members and migrant worker members, public services would grind to a halt," she said. Ms May spoke of the union's fight against the BNP and of the Hope Not Hate campaign. But she added that "the politics of demonising and scapegoating" migrant workers and other minorities for the problems caused by employers and the financial crisis "is not restricted to the far right. It has entered the mainstream."Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told delegates that equality had been debated on every day of the conference. She spoke in particular of the hardships felt by women under the current government, "being hit twice as hard as men by the government tax and benefit changes" as well as by the "double discrimination" of sexism and ageism. Ms Cooper told delegates that when deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman and others confronted David Cameron with the problems being faced by women, "his response was not 'sorry', but 'calm down'."He will learn that women across the country are not going to calm down, but will get angrier and angrier, louder and louder."Also referring to the prominence of the NHS on the conference agenda this week, she added: "We know that whatever our background, the NHS is the most important institutional embodiment of fairness and equality in our society."

2011-08-26T15:04:00.002Z

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.

2011-08-17T10:09:00.000Z

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.

2011-08-17T10:06:00.001Z

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."

2011-08-17T09:54:00.001Z

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.

2011-08-12T20:09:00.002Z

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.

2011-08-10T08:54:00.002Z

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."

2011-08-09T13:29:00.001Z

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.”

2011-08-05T20:51:00.002Z

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

2011-07-31T21:52:00.002Z

Public sector pension talks jeopardised by naïve playground tactics

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, today rounded on Government ministers for putting public sector pension talks in “jeopardy” by their ”naïve tactics” and apparent lack of negotiating skills. And called on them to abandon the playground games and get serious.He said: “We entered into the scheme specific talks on public sector pensions in good faith and we genuinely believe we are making progress, albeit slowly. But these talks are being put in jeopardy by the crude and naïve tactics of Government ministers who don’t seem to understand the word negotiate.“ The government must take its responsibilities seriously, and stop treating these talks like some kind of playground game.“Let’s not forget that these talks are about real people, hard-working individuals who signed up to, and pay into, a pension scheme that is supposed to cushion them against poverty in old age. Extra contributions won’t go back into the pension schemes, but straight to the Treasury to pay off the country’s deficit – effectively a tax on public sector workers to pay for the bankers’ mess. That is totally unjust. “It is totally unhelpful to the progress of these talks to release their bargaining position as though it is set in stone. If it is set in stone, then there is no point in having a single further meeting.” The union insists that any changes should be based on evidence and not political ideology. Average pension in local government is £4,000, but for women its just £2,800 (£56 a week) and in health its just £7,500, and £3,000 for women. Members of those schemes pay in between 5.5% and 7.5% of their salaries to save for their retirement. If they did not save, they would end up on means-tested benefits at a cost to taxpayers.Both the local government and the health schemes are cash rich and were renegotiated a few years ago to make them sustainable and affordable – longevity costs would be paid by the employee not the employer.The union argues that making people pay more, work longer for a smaller pension is unnecessary, unjust and unworkable. People will leave the schemes, if they become too expensive, and they will collapse.

2011-07-27T16:57:00.000Z

Southampton social care staff to strike

Over 450 UNISON and Unite members working in social care are set to strike on Wednesday 3 August as part of the continuing industrial action against pay cuts. The council had previously written to all staff informing them of their intention to sack them and rehire them on worse contracts.City-wide action so far has seen waste and recycling workers, street cleaners, library workers, Itchen toll bridge collectors, parking enforcement officers, contact supervisors (social care), vehicle mechanics, port health officers and building maintenance workers go on strike. Those on strike on Wednesday 3 August will be the whole of the safeguarding division and all of health and adult care apart from day services, home care, residential homes, meals on wheels and commissioning. Action on 3 August will begin with a rally at 11am in Guildhall Square. This will be followed at 12noon by a meeting for all social work staff. There will be picket lines at Marland House, Oakhill House, Herbert Collins House, Thomas Lewis House, Cannon Street offices and College Keep. On 4 August the City Council will be given seven days notice of areas in social work who will be on strike for a longer period. A further strike of all social work staff is planned for later in August.Strong support continues to be received by the branch from UNISON branches across the country. Regional manager Steve Brazier reported that the branch received a message of support and donation from the Shetland Islands UNISON branch as well as receiving an ongoing commitment from UNISON at a regional and national level to provide the financial resources needed to continue with the dispute. There will be a joint UNISON / Unite membership meeting on Wednesday 10 August at 12.30pm in Above Bar Church to decide the next steps in the campaign.

2011-07-26T08:36:00.000Z

Lansley's surprise support for UNISON pensions campaign

UNISON’s campaign against the government’s pensions’ proposals got surprise backing this weekend from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, after a letter he wrote to the Treasury was leaked to a national newspaper. In the letter, Andrew Lansley warns that the proposals are ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unrealistic’, and would hit women particularly hard. He reiterated one of the union’s big concerns, that putting contributions up would force people to leave the schemes and rely on benefits when they retire – storing up a massive bill for the taxpayer. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Even Tory ministers are waking up to how unjust, unreasonable and unworkable their own party’s proposals for public sector pensions are. Ever since the government came up with these plans, UNISON has been warning that people will leave the schemes if they are forced to pay more in contributions. “Health workers and local government staff already pay between five and eight percent of their salary into their pension. Stuck on a pay freeze and with inflation high, it would be impossible for many to afford more. “Paying into the pension scheme is the best way for workers to save for their retirement – the alternative is relying on means-tested benefits - at huge cost to the public purse.“The attack on pensions has nothing to do with affordability – it is based on ideology. Independent studies have shown the schemes are affordable and sustainable for the long term. In the health scheme, £2 billion more goes in than out every year. The Treasury would use any increase in revenue to plug the deficit – it will not go towards pensions.”

2011-07-25T09:44:00.002Z

Lack of private sector pensions will cost tax payer billions says UNISON

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, has called on the government to deal with the real pensions crisis - the alarming lack of private sector pension provision that will place a colossal burden onto the taxpayer. A shocking two-thirds of private sector employees – 15 million workers - are not in a workplace pension to which their employer contributes. This could mean they are forced to rely on benefit top ups paid for by the taxpayer when they retire. UNISON figures reveal that every worker locked out of saving for their retirement costs the taxpayer £15,000 – meaning a potential extra benefit bill running into hundreds of billions of pounds. The union is calling for decent pensions for all workers – in both public and private sectors. It also highlighted recent studies that have shown decisively that public sector schemes are affordable and sustainable for the long term. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “It is shocking that two thirds of private sector workers are not in a workplace pension to which their employer contributes. These companies are shirking their responsibilities to their workers, pushing the burden onto the taxpayer. For every worker locked out of saving for their retirement, the taxpayer could get stung for billions more in benefit payments. “But instead of dealing with skinflint employers, the government shamelessly uses the lack of private sector pensions as a stick to beat public sector workers with. The latest round of attacks on public sector pensions is based on myths and ideology. Research by independent experts such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) prove the schemes are affordable and sustainable for the long-term. “And the government’s plans to auto-enrole workers into the NEST scheme will not go far enough. Unless we bring all pensions up to a decent level, we are running the risk of condemning a generation of people into poverty in their retirement – and a huge burden on the taxpayer.” *The possible cost to the taxpayer is over £15,000 for each worker that reaches retirement with just the state pension to rely on. This is based on the following calculation:
• For a single person, the Guaranteed Credit element of the Pension Credit is £132.60 a week.
• According to the “Interim Life Tables” produced by National Statistics, a male aged 65 today could reasonably expect to live for another 17.5 years – i.e. to 82.5.
• The average weekly state pension in payment (i.e. Basic State Pension plus S2P etc) in 08/09 was £116 a week.
This means that if everything remained constant and a person reached SPA with no or very limited private pension savings and an “average” state pension , the cost to the taxpayer of paying Pension Credit at a rate of £16.60 a week for the next 17.5 years would be £15,106 (i.e. 16.60* 52) * 17.5.

2011-07-20T11:42:00.003Z

Government statement on pensions - UNISON response

The Government’s statement, laid in the House of Commons yesterday, outlining its position on public sector pensions is merely that - it is not a statement of the trade union side position. Our position is outlined in a letter sent to Danny Alexander, on behalf of all unions by TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, and is copied below. All the unions and professional organisations are now in their relevant scheme specific talks to make sure that our pension rights are protected. Our aim is to get a final offer so that members can see whether or not their pension schemes will be maintained or reduced. We expect these talks to be serious and any proposed changes must be based on clear evidence and not simply an excuse to find money to pay off the country’s financial deficit.The TUC will be co-ordinating the timetable and the talks will take place over the coming months and are scheduled to conclude by the end of October. In the meantime, we are accelerating our planning of future industrial action strategy so that we can move quickly and effectively, should those talks fail.Brendan Barber’s letter to Danny Alexander Dear DannyThank you for your letter of today’s date setting out the Government's view on the state of play reached in our negotiations and proposing that our discussions should continue both in the central process and by opening up scheme by scheme discussions.As your letter reports in paragraph 3 a number of areas of agreement have been identified and we have agreed language on equality impacts, participation rates and opt outs, and scheme governance and administration. A number of practical issues arising from paragraph 11 on local government need further consideration and I will write to you separately on this.As you also know however significant differences remain on key issues and at this stage to avoid any risk of misunderstanding I need to make it clear that (contrary to the introduction to paragraph 12) we have not agreed to or accepted any of the Government’s objectives as described in your letter, or the change in indexation from RPI to CPI. Nevertheless, following a meeting of our PSLG, I am able to confirm that we are prepared to continue our discussions at central level and unions individually in each sector will be actively considering participating in scheme level talks in order to fully explore all the issues and to enable unions and their members to reach a judgement on whether agreement is possible or whether more unions will enter into dispute and plan industrial action. Yours sincerely

2011-07-12T11:25:00.003Z

Shropshire Council could avoid pay cut

UNISON figures show that Shropshire Council has an alternative to sacking 6,500 of its staff and re-hiring them with a pay cut. The Conservative council has sent letters to all 6,500 of its staff saying that they will be dismissed on September 30 and re-hired the next day - if they agree to a 5.4% pay cut and changes to sick pay. Shropshire Council claims it needs to save £76m by 2013/14 and is demanding that £7m is found by workers taking a pay cut of 2.7%, from October 2011, and 2.7%, from October 2012. This is at a time when council workers have had their pay frozen for the last 2 years. The UKs largest union which is currently balloting members on industrial action has revealed an alternative approach the council should use to protect services and workers. Dave Prentis, UNISONs General Secretary, said: The council is letting hardworking council staff and the people who rely on vital local services take a hit with these cuts, when there is a viable alternative. Plans to force staff to accept another huge cut, or lose their jobs, will see many families struggle to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.Our plan would save the devastating impact of the pay cut - the council must not press on with plans to cut pay without considering our figures.UNISONs alternative budget for Shropshire: Shropshires council tax income grew by almost £1.3m this year (2011/12) - not because council tax went up but because there were more council taxpayers. However, Shropshire Council is assuming no growth in the taxbase between now and 2014/15.Shropshire is a new unitary authority and wants to equalise council tax levels downwards. UNISON has identified that it will cost £1.6m. A fairer approach would be for the council tax equalisation process to raise the same amount of money. The council thought it was going to get £1m from the New Homes Bonus. In fact it received nearly £1.8m, this and the extra money it will get from 2012 onwards, does not appear to be budgeted for.The council is assuming that it will freeze Council Tax until 2014/15. If Council Tax increased by just 1.5% per annum - less than 32p a week for 66% of council taxpayers - Shropshire would have an extra £5.5m in 2013/14.

2011-07-11T22:07:00.000Z

11/07/2011
Southampton council cuts pay while piling £4.2m into reserves

Figures released by UNISON today (11 July) reveal that Southampton City Council is claiming it is being forced to impose a pay cut on its workforce due to a lack of resources. At the same time the council is telling the Government it expects to pile more than £4m into its reserves. The council told the Government in March that it expected its reserves to have risen by £4.2m from 1 April 2011, compared with the previous year. Today council workers are striking over plans to sack staff who refuse to accept inferior jobs and pay cuts.According to the statement of accounts, the council added £2.940m to reserves in 2008/9 and £4.533m in 2009/10. A leaked council report shows that the council plans to axe a quarter of the workforce, at an expense to taxpayers of £15m. Hundreds of Southampton workers have taken action over the last six weeks, including refuse collectors and social workers in response to the planned imposition of a pay cut. From today (11 July) port health officers will join the strike. They provide health protection within Southampton Port and Oil refinery, through inspection and certification of cruise liners, containers and oil tankers. Dave Prentis, UNISON’s General Secretary, said:“The council has painted a bleak picture to employees, at the same time as giving the Government figures showing they expect the reserves to rocket. “Pay cuts and job losses will pile misery on to thousands of council workers and their families, at a time of rising inflation. It is clear that these punitive measures are just not necessary.“We are calling for the council to put a stop to these savage cuts.”Every year local authorities are required to provide detailed information to the Department of Communities and Local Government about their budgets, which estimate the levels of their reserves.UNISON has examined the 2010 and 2011 RA returns supplied by Southampton Council, which show:· Estimated unallocated financial reserves increased by £2,326,000· Estimated earmarked other financial reserves increased by £1,870,000When Southampton City Council set its budget this year (2011/12) it was based on the assumption that the unallocated financial reserves were falling – the figures suggets a different picture. (Extract from the 2011/12 Southampton City Council Budget Report - ‘The original revenue estimates for 2010/11 assumed a general draw from balances of just under £3.5m. After reflecting the revised forecast position from Month 9, this draw reduces by £1.1m, to just under £2.4m’.)

2011-07-06T21:11:00.000Z

Shropshire council sacks all staff

(06/07/2011) UNISON members in Shropshire are considering balloting for industrial action after the council sent letters to all 6,500 of its staff, sacking them and saying that it will re-hire them - if they agree to a pay cut.The council says that staff who do not agree to the moves will be dismissed without any compensation.The move came after talks between the union and the Conservative council failed to produce any agreement.UNISON spokesman Alan James told the BBC: "We are advising our members to write into the authority refusing the new contracts and do nothing with the proposals which have arrived through the letter box."We have some time on this and I think the authority has gone about this the wrong way."And he continued: "People are scared and intimidated by the tone of the letter and the way it's been delivered by the authority."

2011-05-30T12:21:00.000Z

Clegg NHS speech - UNISON response

Commenting on a speech on NHS Reforms, made by Nick Clegg at University College London Hospital today, UNISON’s head of health, Christina McAnea, said:“Nick Clegg’s attempt to reassure people that any changes to the NHS will be in the best interests of patients, has not worked. A growing number of professionals are calling for the Health and Social Care Bill to be ditched and that, we believe, is the best option. “He is completely naïve to think that more competition won’t lead to a greater role for private companies. Companies who are chomping at the bit to start raking in cash from the health service. Once they get their teeth into the NHS they will destroy it.“During this so-called listening exercise the overwhelming majority of patients and staff have put forward their fears. The Government must listen to them, rather than the hand-picked few, who are set to benefit from reforms.“If the Bill goes back to Committee stage as a result of significant changes, Parliament will have a chance to scrutinise it in much more detail. In that case, reform plans already being pushed through should be stopped, as there is clearly no legislative mandate and none likely any time soon.“We will continue campaigning against the privatisation of our NHS and this destructive Bill.”

2011-05-30T12:05:00.000Z

Sharon Shoesmith court appeal ruling- UNISON reaction

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:“This ruling will give a much-needed boost to social workers up and down the country who protect daily thousands of vulnerable children and adults. It should serve as a lesson that whipping up a campaign of vilification and hatred will never save a single child’s life. “The torture and killing of Baby Peter Connolly at the hands of his mother and carers rightly horrified and angered us all. It is right when something goes so tragically wrong that we as a society question what went wrong, how it happened and how to prevent it happening again. “But, we as a society must accept that if we are to place such enormous burdens on social workers and other child protection professionals, we must support them and make sure they have adequate resources. “Social work teams continue to operate with high turnover, high vacancy rates and high caseloads. And the situation is unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future with local authorities facing huge funding cuts.”

2011-05-18T21:15:00.000Z

Clegg challenge on Monitor - UNISON response

Commenting on Nick Clegg’s call to remove the role of economic regulator from the remit of Monitor, Christina McAnea, UNISON’s head of health, said:“Nick Clegg has echoed what UNISON has been saying all along - that collaboration, not competition, needs to be the driving force behind the NHS if we are to deliver the best care for patients. “UNISON believes this is a step in the right direction, but Mr Clegg’s demands on his Government colleagues need to go further if we are to prevent a further dismantling of the health service and private companies profiting from patients. “The Government needs to listen to the overwhelming majority of patients and staff who oppose their plans and not just listen to the hand-picked few who have taken part in their listening exercise.”

2011-05-17T15:22:00.000Z

Inflation figures- UNISON response

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is calling on the government to ditch its failed economic strategy and come up with a plan B. Today’s inflation figures mean misery for hardworking families, said the union, who are being hit from all sides by rising prices, low pay, and a pensions hike for public sector workers looming large. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “This strategy is clearly failing. The government must come up with a plan B. It’s a constant drum beat of misery for hardworking families. They are being hit with frozen pay and rising prices. Public sector workers are also facing having to pay an extra 50% for their pensions. “Today’s fractional fall in retail price inflation will not relieve the pain of family budgets. We know many low paid workers, for example care and health care assistants, already struggle with heavy debt. Many are cutting back on spending on food and things for their children – they are already at rock bottom. “Clearly we are not all in this together. Whilst public sector workers pay with their livelihoods and living standards, the bankers are still getting mega pay rises and big bonuses.”

2011-05-17T15:16:00.001Z

Hypocritical Tories still relying on PFI

A new report by UNISON, the UK’s largest union, released today (16 May), reveals that, despite heavily criticising the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in opposition, the Tories are relying on it in power.However, the credit crunch means that the business case for PFI is weaker than ever; a bad deal for the taxpayer has just got a lot worse.In practice, the Tories are not only expanding PFI, but rejecting new, cheaper funding models. On the same day that a huge PFI hospital was signed off in Liverpool, the government rejected plans for a hospital on Teeside, funded under a new procurement model.UNISON, a heavy critic of PFI under Labour and the Tories, is calling on the government to finally ditch PFI, and make projects cheaper by funding them publicly.Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:“Despite criticising PFI in opposition, the Tories have pushed it forward in power, signing off new projects worth more than £6 billion.“This is a chronic waste of public money. In the post credit crunch finance markets, the cost of borrowing has shot up, making the case for PFI weaker than ever. Projects searching for finance are now at the mercy of the banking sector, which is exploiting its monopoly position, even though PFI projects have not got any riskier. “Our analysis proves that Government borrowing from capital markets would be far more cost-effective, saving hundreds of millions on one hospital alone. And as cuts hit communities, and hospitals and schools shed jobs and wards, the case for more efficient ways of funding major public building projects gathers pace. “Tory efforts to tackle the obscene profits made by PFI companies are a sham. In practice, the government is rejecting new finance models, exchanging very short-term gain, for longer-term pain.”The reports main points:- Despite criticising PFI in opposition and in government, the coalition has a huge PFI programme in operation with a capital value of £6.9 bn, covering more than 60 projects. The cost of this will increase as the projects reach the procurement stage.- The off balance-sheet status of PFI is still the main driver, especially in the face of massive public spending cuts.- However, the case for PFI is weaker than ever. The cost of PFI has risen astronomically following the financial crisis. PFI is at the mercy of the banking sector which has exploited its near monopoly position to raise the cost of finance, despite there being no change in the risk profile of projects.- The gap between the rate at which government and the private sector can borrow has widened dramatically, shown on page 11 of the report, tracing back this gap since Jan 2008. For example, the overall rate of return projected on the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen PFI scheme is about 8.5%, compared to a current long term gilt rate of about 4%. Using the current gilt rate to discount the projected returns to investors on this scheme shows the cost of private finance currently an additional £160 million in net present cost (NPC) terms.- The case for public funding has strengthened. The report puts forward other potential models, such as gain sharing from equity sales and from maintenance over-spend as more cost efficient options. Case studies in the report include:- The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University hospital on Merseyside is one of the largest PFI projects to be tendered. The total cost of the scheme is £1.24bn and would have been £733m under conventional procurement (p10).- On the same day as the Liverpool hospital was approved, the coalition government rejected a new procurement model on Teesside. The hospital in Hartlepool would have used 91% public finance and 9% equity - the latter to take on construction risk. A much smaller PFI scheme is now being planned.

2011-05-17T15:13:00.000Z

Cameron speech on NHS reforms - UNISON response

Commenting on David Cameron’s speech on the Health and Social Care Bill, at Ealing Hospital, in London, today (16 May), Christina McAnea, Head of Health at UNISON, which represents more than 450,000 health workers, said:“David Cameron is taking the ‘national’ out of the health service and turning it into a fragmented, money-spinning operation. “The Prime Minister is using extreme examples to paint an untrue picture. He admits the NHS is providing the best service it has ever done, with reports saying it is the most efficient and equitable health system. “Cameron’s call to crack down on waste in the NHS is a smokescreen for a move to a wholesale market, which opens the NHS up to privatisation. The real waste is the time spent on the fatally flawed reforms, which will force NHS patients to the back of a very long queue.“He talks about having more choice and protecting budgets, but health workers are seeing their jobs axed and wards, services and even entire hospitals lost without any arrangements to protect continuity of patient care.“Plans to move to any willing or qualified provider will cause instability and waste and lead to less patient choice in the long term. The market approach will result in a huge hike in transaction costs and form-filling. The time that doctors and nurses should be spending on caring for patients will be diverted away to this type of administration and managers will spend more of their time making sure their practices are not anti-competitive, rather than trying to save the NHS money. “During the so-called Listening Exercise, the Prime Minister preferred the ravings of people like KPMG’s Mark Britnell, who wants to see a move away from a comprehensive service, over listening to the outcry among patients, public, staff, health experts, charities and health economists.“There is a huge risk involved in ploughing ahead with these drastic NHS changes, when we know it isn’t necessary. The Government must concentrate on dropping this deadweight Bill.”

2011-05-14T19:34:00.002Z

just Credit Union Ltd

Any one living or working in Shropshire can join just Credit Union Ltd. Many of the larger employers will now do payroll deductions this makes it incredibly easy to save and borrow and you will not miss it. just Credit Union Ltd is registered with the FSA and loans and savings are in most cases covered by free life insurance.

To join call 01743 25 23 25

2011-05-12T16:18:00.000Z

UNISON survey reveals careers meltdown

A survey by UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union, reveals a desperate picture of the careers service for young people in England heading for meltdown. A staggering 97.3% of local authorities are set to make cuts to Connexions services this year*. Some areas of the country will see their careers service close down completely, with up to 8000 advisers set to lose their jobs nationwide. The survey also shows that some local authorities are flouting their statutory duties to provide careers guidance**, with 50% rated as poor in terms of compliance with statutory duties. This spells danger for the government’s ultimate aim of establishing an All Age Careers Service by 2012, which will be hindered by a lack of transition planning, and the huge drain of expertise out of the careers service, as well trained Connexions advisers lose their jobs. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Youth unemployment has hit a record high, with more than one million young people out of work. But all across the country, the Connexions advisers with the expertise to give young people the help they need, are losing their jobs – this makes no sense.“Local authorities have a duty to provide careers services – but these cuts mean many are flouting their responsibilities to young people. The government says it wants to set up an all age careers service by 2012, but young people need help now. The all age service will ultimately suffer from this brain drain, as well-trained Connexions advisers lose their jobs in their droves.“We are calling on the government to stand by young people in their hour of greatest need, by showing their support for the Connexions service. Ministers urgently need to reveal the careers budget for schools and instruct local authorities to keep services running, pending transition to the new service.” The UNISON survey coincides with the Tory-led Education Bill, which lays plans for the all age careers service, currently making its way through parliament. Amendments to protect the careers service have been laid by MPs to be debated at Report Stage (May 11th) in the House of Commons.Key findings from UNISON Branch Survey*Is your local authority making cuts to careers services? In 2008/09 – 49.3% made cuts to careers servicesIn 2009/10 – 57.3% made cuts to careers servicesIn 2010/11 – 97.3% are making cuts to careers services **How effective is your local authority in keeping up with their statutory duty to give careers guidance? Effective – 24.4%Fair – 28.8%Poor – 50% Regional examples Connexions Cheshire & Warrington - the number of careers advisors, community advisors and youth workers in each area has been cut in half. East Sussex – the whole service is set to close in August 2011.Essex - No one-to-one advice now available. The service will play a consultancy role, with only four people to cover NEET advice for the whole of Essex. Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral – in all these areas, cuts will see the end of school careers guidance services.In Lewisham there will be no Connexions service for young people. The replacement service will only target those deemed most in need; i.e. those NEET for 20 weeks or more and only those young people in schools who are statemented.

2011-05-12T16:16:00.000Z

Survey reveals life in the NHS under the Tories

On the day that nurses and the public should be celebrating Nurses Day (12 May), a shocking survey of more that 2,000 nurses and midwives, paints a bleak picture of life in the NHS since the Tories came to power a year ago. The UNISON survey underlines the effect of uncertainty caused by the Health and Social Care Bill and the impact on the frontline of the Government’s demand for £20bn in efficiency savings.Three quarters of nursing staff said that the number of patients they have treated has gone up, at the same time as 60% reported a drop in staff numbers. This damaging scenario led to a shocking 64% reporting that safety and patient care is being undermined. Staff morale has been hit with only a quarter prepared to recommend nursing as a profession.The vast majority (78%) said that their employer was making cuts, with over a third reporting redundancies.Gail Adams, UNISON Head of Nursing, said:“The results of this damning survey are both sad and shocking. Nurses and midwives see first hand the damage that the Government’s cuts are inflicting on patient care, so it is perhaps not surprising that 65% say they have considered leaving the NHS. However, nurses are clearly angry at the impact on patients, with 57% saying they would be prepared to take industrial action if patient care is compromised.“The Health and Social Care Bill is a dangerous experiment and must be dropped. NHS staff have always been prepared to move and modernise, but this is the wrong bill, at the wrong time.“The demand for £20bn in efficiency savings is leading to more patients being cared for by less staff, with trusts forced into making front-line cuts. Some hospitals are now closing wards because of the squeeze on finances and that means patients are waiting longer. This Government is turning the clock back on patient care in the NHS.”Additional Survey results · More than a third (36%) of nurses and midwives had experienced redundancies in their organisation.· 67% said the cuts had adversely affected their health and 69% their family life.· A massive 88% said that their workload had increased in the last year.· 81% ranked caring for patients as being the best aspect of their work

2011-05-10T23:25:00.000Z

Department of Health: NHS Modernisation – Listening Exercise
UNISON response, May 2011

Executive summary

UNISON remains fundamentally opposed to the government’s plans to bring about a massive top-down structural reorganisation of the NHS that favours markets and competition over integration and cooperation. The union’s key concerns are laid out below:

· Government plans represent a move to wholesale competition. This will undermine attempts to provide more integrated care both with the NHS and between health and social care. The application of competition law means the NHS is likely to become increasingly mired in wasteful litigation.
· The NHS will become increasingly subject to European competition law, meaning that instead of devolving responsibility to the local level, government plans will permit the EU a greater say in the way the NHS is organised.
· The full-blooded market system will allow services, wards or even entire hospitals to be lost with insufficient contingency arrangements to protect continuity of care for patients.
· The regulatory system is insufficiently robust to deal with the new provider landscape.
· Changes are needed to the Department of Health’s Operating Framework to rule price competition out completely, and the regulator Monitor must be forced to toe this line.
· The move to Any Willing / Qualified Provider will lead to instability and waste. It could even lead to less choice for patients in the longer term. UNISON supports a return to the previous model in which the NHS was the “preferred provider”.
· Plans to undermine NICE and bring about “medication tourism” will increase health inequalities and threaten value for money.
· The government’s plans are riddled with conflicts of interest and undermine the accountability of the health service to patients, public and Parliament. Most significantly, the Secretary of State should not be able to abrogate responsibility for the NHS. And handing responsibility for charges to commissioning consortia opens up the prospect of more widespread charging for services or top-up fees.
· Health and Wellbeing Boards need to have greater democratic involvement and need stronger powers. The plans for local HealthWatch also need strengthening.
· Government plans for education and training will lead to a loss of strategic planning and will undermine the ability of the system to respond effectively to changing demands.
· Separating out the commissioning of pre- and post- registration courses poses a significant risks to the effective way in which workforce planning currently operates.
· There is a need for substantial extra training for those visiting health and care providers.
· There is a need to retain national workforce structures for terms and conditions, for pay and bargaining, and for training and education.
· The abolition of the private patient income cap mean that some foundation trusts will prioritise those that pay for their care over NHS patients, who will find themselves waiting longer for operations and treatment.
· Reassurances about the need for foundation trusts to reinvest their private patient income in improving NHS services have been inadequate. Plans for foundation trusts to keep separate accounts listing their private patient income and their NHS income are so far only referred to in the Bill’s supporting documents, not in the actual legislation itself.
· For social workers, the right of appeal will in future be much narrower and less responsive to the complexities of social work cases. Pursuing an appeal will become more expensive and risky. The current Care Standards Tribunal system has proved itself to be accessible, efficient and cost effective in ensuring fair outcomes for social workers.

2011-05-05T22:40:00.001Z

Interest rates held-UNISON reaction

Commenting on interest rates being held at 0.5%, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“The Bank of England has made the right decision by keeping interest rates low but inflation is hitting people hard. “The vast majority of UNISON members have not had a pay rise for two years and rising inflation is what is hitting families hard. The price of everyday goods such as food and fuel are going up and just making ends meet is a real struggle.“However, interest rates aside, the Government must re-think its damaging cuts strategy and concentrate on stimulating growth to preserve and create much needed jobs.”

2011-05-05T08:12:00.000Z

Labour: The Party of the NHS

• The National Health Service is the Labour Party’s greatest achievement. We created it, we
saved it, we value it and we will always support it.
• In 1997 the NHS was suffering from years of neglect and underfunding. With sustained
investment and reform, Labour turned it into a high-quality service for patients, at the heart of
which is a core value: care provided on the basis of need, not of ability to pay.
• Under the Tories, the NHS was neglected:
• Between 1979 and 1997, inpatient waiting lists went up by over 400,000.
• In 1997, 284,000 patients were waiting for over six months for their operations. In
1995, the Tories introduced a waiting time target of 18 months – and they failed to
meet it.
• In 1997, just 63% of people with suspected cancer were seen by a specialist within
two weeks of referral.
• In 1997, half the NHS estate was older than the NHS itself, with buildings dating from
before 1948.
• Labour brought enormous improvements to the NHS between 1997 and 2010, including:
• 89,000 more nurses and 44,000 more doctors in the NHS, helping to drive up
standards and drive down waits.
• Before 1997 it was not uncommon for patients to wait over 18 months for an
operation – by 2010 Labour guaranteed that nobody need wait more than 18 weeks
• Waiting lists fell by over 500,000 with waiting times at their lowest level since records
began.
• In 1997, 284 000 patients waited more than 6 months for an operation. By 2010 the
figure was almost zero.
• 3 million more operations carried out each year than in 1997.
• The premature mortality rate for cancer the lowest ever recorded, saving nearly 9,000
lives in 2006 compared to 1996.
• Premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases dropped by more than 40 per cent
since 1996, saving nearly 34,000 lives a year.
• The NHS delivered the largest hospital building programme in its history, with 118 new
hospital schemes opened and a further 18 under construction.
• Labour created new services to provide patients with greater convenience including
around 100 new walk-in centres and over 750 one-stop primary care centres.
• By 2010, over three quarters of GP practices offered extended opening hours for at
least one evening or weekend session a week.
• All prescriptions are now free for people being treated for cancer or the effects of
cancer, and teenage girls are offered a vaccination against cervical cancer.
• Labour delivered a guarantee of seeing a cancer specialist within two weeks if your GP
suspects you may have cancer, and guaranteed that whatever your condition, you
would not have to wait more than 18 weeks from GP referral to the start of hospital
treatment – and most waits were much shorter than this.

2011-05-03T21:00:00.001Z

Threat of statutory duty removal

Rubbish could litter our streets, bodies could pile up, vulnerable children could be left without care, strip clubs could be set up on any corner, and mouldy chops could stack up on our shelves. These are just some of the damaging things that could happen if the Tory government presses ahead with plans to cut the duties on councils that protect us all, and give us better communities. UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today publishes a list of crazy cuts that could leave communities exposed. In its submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (CLG) consultation on statutory duties, UNISON is calling on the government to protect our communities by putting a stop to its damaging plans. Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “The coalition has made some pretty crazy and dangerous decisions, but even thinking about getting rid of some of these duties is up there with the best of them. “If the Tories press ahead with their race to scrap the so-called ‘red tape’, they could see bodies pile up on the street, as nobody has responsibility for mortuaries. We could see gas safety fall and recycling schemes dry up. Unregulated taxis could prowl the streets and strip clubs set up on any corner. “Eric Pickles only needs to scratch the surface to find out that these duties protect our communities, making them safer and better places to live. Like a lot of other Tory plans, this consultation should go on the scrapheap.” Crazy cuts rundown Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/1629) Local Authorities are responsible for keeping gas safe. How many people will be put at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if this is abolished? Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 Section 7 Makes provision for the purpose of extinguishing fires and protecting life and property. Who else should do this? Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 Section 8 Makes provision for the purpose of rescuing people in the event of road traffic accidents. Fire and Rescue Services (Emergencies) (England) (Order) 2007 (SI 2007/735) made under s. 9 FRSA 2004 Makes provision for chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear emergency and urban search and rescue. Who will the public turn to if this duty is removed? Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 Section 7 Local Authorities have a duty to provide a library service. Will libraries be cut to extinction if this is abolished? Gambling Act 2005 Section 159 Councils have to licence premises for gambling activities. How would corrupt operators be stopped if this was abolished? Licensing Act 2003 Section 18 Requires local authorities to have a system for regulating premises licenses, including issuing licenses. Would we see strip clubs set up on any corner? Zoo Licensing Act 1981 Councils should ensure zoos are safe for the public to visit and have a high standard of welfare for animals. What cruel and bad practices would come into place with unregulated zoos? Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 45 A Councils have to arrange for the collection of recyclable materials. Is our care for the planet going to be dumped? Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 89 Councils currently have to keep land and highways clear of litter. Would litter start to pile up on our streets? Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1499) Councils are responsible for ensuring food labelling is accurate and out of date food is not being sold. Do we want to eat old sausages or have ingredients missed off the label? Public Health Act 1936 Councils have to provide mortuaries. Would removing this duty see bodies pile up in the street? Children Act 1989 Section 33 Councils take vulnerable children into care and look after them. Who would take over this role if this duty was scrapped? Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act 1976 Section 54 Councils licence taxi drivers. If they stopped doing this, how dangerous would it be to get into a cab? Highways Act 1980 Section 41(1A) Puts local Authorities responsible for dealing with snow and ice – who else could take this up? New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 Section 81 Councils have to tell other bodies when they (or a utility company) are digging up the road. Without this, would we see roads in constant upheaval? Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (as amended) Section 5 (1) Makes local authorities one of the authorities responsible for formulating and implementing strategies to tackle crime and disorder. Who else can create a joined-up approach? Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004) Section 9 Requires local authorities to participate in domestic homicide reviews with a view to improving policies and practice and preventing further violence and homicide. Tackling domestic violence requires a multi-agency approach – should this be optional? Juries Act 1974 Section 3 Requires electoral registration officers to provide the Lord Chancellor with copies of the electoral register from which potential jurors can be summoned. A vital cog in the wheel of justice. Crime and Disorder Act 1989 Section 39 (5) Establishes the multi-agency, multi-disciplinary ethos behind the Youth Offending Teams. Putting into practice decades of experience. Criminal Justice Act 2003 Section 325 Requires agencies to work together to manage the risks posed by offenders following their release from custody, for example to ensure that paedophiles aren’t inadvertently housed by the local authority near a school, or in an estate with many families. It is necessary to have one body – the locally accountable one – ensuring that this coordination happens – it can’t be optional. Freedom of Information Act 2000 Councils have to disclose information to the public on request. Do we want a culture of secrecy from the people we elect?

2011-05-02T16:55:00.000Z

UNISON May Day warning to government

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:The Tory/LibDem government’s first anniversary in power has been marked by the shocking news that the NHS will have to make more billions of pounds of so-called “efficiency” savings. So much for the pre-general election claim that the NHS was safe in Tory/Lib Dem hands. The path from last May is scattered with broken promises and from the casualties of this coalition government’s public spending cuts. The economy is still in intensive care, but the government’s medicine is not working.We know that worse lies ahead. After the double bank holiday feel-good factor wears off, the reality of austerity Britain will kick back in. For public sector workers and the people who rely on them; for the sick, the vulnerable, the elderly, the jobless and those seeking to better themselves through education, the future is bleak.Unless this government changes direction, it is heading for industrial turmoil on a massive scale. The government must understand that UNISON will fight tooth and nail to protect and defend public services. And UNISON will ballot one million of its members to strike to protect their pensions. This will not be a token skirmish, but a prolonged and sustained war, because this government has declared war on a huge proportion of the population.Many have the opportunity in elections this week to let the government know exactly what they think of its handling of the economy. The government would be wise to take note of that verdict.

2011-05-02T16:53:00.000Z

UNISON warns, "Cuts cost lives" - on Workers Memorial Day

On Workers Memorial Day (28 April), UNISON is warning that the number of workplace deaths will rocket, as Government cuts and job losses pile pressure on workers and lead to bosses cutting corners. Staff who keep their jobs will be expected to do more work, with bullying, lone working, manual handling, stress and violence running rife. Health and safety enforcement agencies are also being hit by huge cut backs, which will lead to failures in dodging daily dangers. The UK’s largest union is asking its members to hold a minute’s silence, to remember workers who have died, or been injured, across the UK and internationally.UNISON’s General Secretary, Dave Prentis, who will be holding a minute’s silence at midday, said: “The Government’s cuts will cost lives. Too many workers are still suffering because of workplace injuries, yet the Government is adding to the risks by piling pressure on staff and enforcement agencies. “Last year the Labour Government officially recognised Workers Memorial Day, this year the Government is cutting away at health and safety. “Staff deserve to know that they will not be at risk when they start a hard day’s work. They should not have to fear for their lives while providing vital public services. “Around 70 per cent of workplace accidents are due to the poor health and safety management. The Government must stop this figure spiraling, as we know that there is an alternative.”

2011-04-27T08:33:00.000Z

Public Accounts Committee report - UNISON response

UNISON, the UK's largest union, today reiterated its call for the Health and Social Care Bill to be pronounced DOA - dead on arrival - after a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report said it posed a real threat to patient care.The report also raises concerns about the real cost of the reforms, the systems in place to protect patients and taxpayers, and the ability of GP practices and hospitals to gain consortia or Foundation Trust status.Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said:"Another week, another report warns that the Health and Social Care Bill poses a real danger to patients. The NHS and its staff have always adapted to change, but this Bill takes a wrecking ball to the NHS as we know it."Along with many other major health organisations and patient groups, UNISON has long been warning that the Bill is the wrong prescription for the NHS. And the evidence just keeps on mounting. It's time for this bill to be shelved for good, not just temporarily be put on hold."UNISON's opposition to the titanic Health and Social Care Bill* Big cuts in health spending. These are being taken from patient care and leading to job losses - including clinical staff - across the NHS.* Opening up the NHS to private profit. Taxpayers' money destined for NHS patients will be diverted into shareholder profits.* NHS patients will be pushed to the back of the queue because the proposed Bill will take the cap off the amount hospitals can earn from private patients.* It means competition, not co-operation. The government wants to run the NHS through competition between different health providers and market forces.* It will create a huge postcode lottery. The care patients can expect will vary from place to place, increasing costs and health inequalities and hurting vulnerable people the most. No-one voted for this.* The NHS is working and public satisfaction with the NHS is at an all time high. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

2011-04-27T08:25:00.000Z

UNISON's hard hitting cuts campaign hits the high street

This week UNISON takes its anti-cuts campaign to England’s high streets, with giant billboards warning about the impact of the Government’s hard and fast public service cuts.This second phase of the union’s massive advertising campaign turns political, with a message urging people, “On 5 May, vote for the party that stands up for public services.”The giant billboards have a common theme, listing jobs that are being cut under three eye-catching headlines, “Welcome To The Big Society” “Stop Having Children” and “Don’t Get Sick”. Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“One year on, and the May elections give people the opportunity to have their say. Our billboards deliver a stark warning to voters about the danger of Government cuts on vital jobs in the public sector. “The loss of 400,000 jobs in the public sector will have a devastating impact on the country’s long-term financial recovery. With fewer public service workers such as nurses, paramedics home helps, youth workers, occupational therapists, and dinner ladies, people will suffer, as the vital services they rely on disappear.“UNISON is asking the public to vote for the party that stands up for public services.”

2011-04-24T21:55:00.001Z

Union welcomes Birmingham social care decision

(21/04/11) UNISON has welcomed the High Court ruling inghathat Birmingham City Council acted unlawfully in slashing asocial care provision across the city."This is a landmark ruling and a tremendous victory for thousands of vulnerable people across Birmingham who rely upon social care provision," commented UNISON West Midlands head of government Tony Rabaiotti."We have been saying for months that the Tory-Lib Dem council is wrong to axe social care services, that they have not listened to the concerns of service users and providers and we are delighted that the High Court has today vindicated our argument."The court ruled that the council had acted unlawfully in axing support for adults whose needs were defined as "substantial" and restricting care packages to people whose needs were assessed as "critical".This would have seen 10,000 Birmingham citizens have their social care packages reduced, while 4,100 lost out altogether, to save the council £17.5m.But Mr Justice Walker in the High Court ruled that the council had not taken equality issues into account when making the decision and ignored provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act.It is the second time this month that a court has found the council to be acting unlawfully when making cuts.Mr Rabiotti added: "Social care workers across Birmingham have been telling UNISON over the last few months that they are genuinely frightened by the proposal to so severely axe social care provision."They have been telling us that vulnerable people will simply be left to fend for themselves."He called on the council to "pause, think again and work with us to maintain quality social care provision for the people of Birmingham."

2011-03-17T15:14:00.000Z

17/03/2011
Top council staff pay - UNISON response

Commenting on figures by pressure group Taxpayers' Alliance, which show the number of council staff receiving more than £100,000 a year, Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary of UNISON, said:"The real scandal in local government is that nearly one million full-time staff (70%), earn less than £21,000 a year. "And despite being so low paid they received no pay increase last year and face another two years pay freeze, causing real hardship to them and their families. "On top of that they are even being denied the £250 promised to the low paid in the Chancellor's budget."It's clear that the gap between those at the top and the bottom is getting wider. "The Government needs to think again about its cuts policy, or create a divided nation."

2011-03-03T21:25:00.003Z

Shropshire Unison General Branch
Election of Officers 2011

There is a challenge to many of the posts this time

NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR CHANGE

NOW IS THE TIME FOR CONTINUITY

NOW IS THE TIME FOR EXPERIENCE

therefore when you receive your ballot paper,

PLEASE VOTE FOR :-

Branch Secretary: Patricia Wilson
Asst.Branch Secretary: Jimmy Greenwood
Chair: Lou Gladden
Treasurer: Chrissy Felton
Asst.Treasurer: Isla Smith
Womens Officer: Cherill Knott
Young Members Officer: Sheridan Buckley
Environmental Officer: Dennis Rowley
Education Officer: Jimmy Greenwood
Welfare Officer: Patricia Wilson

DO NOT WASTE YOUR VOTE X

2011-03-03T21:20:00.000Z

Keep up pressure on health bill

Commenting on Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley’s u-turn on introducing price competition into the NHS, Karen Jennings, Head of Health for UNISON said: “In a remarkable u-turn Andrew Lansley has publically stated that price competition is not now a part of the Government’s plans for the NHS – a victory for common sense. “UNISON wants this promise delivered, by making sure that NHS guidance reflects the policy change. The Government should have the operating framework amended to make it clear that there should be no price competition. “If price competition is indeed no longer Government policy, it needs to ensure that loopholes aren’t exploited that would bring in the tendering of clinical services. “However, the public should not breathe a sigh of relief too early. Despite this u- turn the Health and Social Care Bill will undermine the NHS. The whole direction that Andrew Lansley is taking will give a boost to private health companies at the expense of local NHS hospitals.”

2011-03-03T21:13:00.001Z

Workers need fair deal on pensions
now more than ever

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, calling for the Fair Deal pensions’ arrangements, that give low paid staff security in retirement. to be retained Commenting on the launch by the Treasury of the consultation on the Fair Deal pensions policy for staff transferred out of the public sector, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“It is vital that we retain Fair Deal to protect some of the lowest paid workers in the land from facing poverty in retirement.“The Government’s clear political agenda is to privatise more and more public services. They should not use this consultation to sweeten the deal for private companies, bidding to take over public services.“Diluting Fair Deal would leave TUPE transferred staff at the pensions mercy of private contractors. The financial implications would also end any chance of a successful in-house bid.“In the longer term, cutting the pensions of workers transferred to private companies will not save the state a penny. Taxpayers will be left to pick up the multi-billion pound benefits bill later on down ” the line.“The consultation must not be a paper exercise. Cutting Fair Deal should not be a done deal.

2011-03-03T21:10:00.000Z

Safety for social workers - surely
that's not too much to ask?

“I’ve been spat at, punched, shouted at, and had my car broken into. One of my colleagues has been followed home and had to call the police. This is just some of the shocking treatment that I regularly face as a social worker. It’s a tough enough job as it is, and I often feel like my employers feel like these kind of incidents are just part of the job.” “It’s time to put a stop to the violence and focus on making social work a safer job. To do that we need to make people at the top, sit up and take notice” - that is the message coming from UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, today (4 February). The union has written to key stakeholders in social work highlighting the violence facing social workers, demanding a safe working environment and calling for high risk practices like lone working to be tackled. The letter is the latest in the union and Community Care’s ten week campaign to highlight what social workers need. Helga Pile, UNISON national officer for social work, said: “Any job dealing with the public has a higher rate of attacks or abuse – but social workers can be exposed to particularly dangerous and volatile situations on a daily basis. It is a tragedy that social workers have been killed by clients. Staff should not have to live in fear of danger when they go to work. “The effects of threats, abuse and violent incidents take their toll and can be devastating, not only for the social worker, but for their co-workers and families. It’s also bad news for employers, as it leads to staff taking time off or even leaving their jobs – the loss of an experienced social worker is a real problem for councils as there is a chronic shortage. “You cannot deal with violence effectively, without knowing the extent of the problem. We need a national system for monitoring violent incidents in social care, so that trends can be identified and risk hotspots tackled. And employers must do their bit by working to evaluate risks and drive them down to a minimum. Some are not even doing the basics like providing mobile phones, deploying staff in pairs on high risk visits, and responding to threats against staff. It’s not good enough to sit back and say it’s all part of the job. And we need strong deterrents, such as more prosecutions and greater penalties for those found guilty of attacking social workers.”A UNISON social worker from England said: “I get daily verbal threats over the phone, I’m threatened with violence, face to face, every 2 weeks. I‘ve had threats made, not just against myself, but to my family and children, I have had my car vandalised on several occasions. I have been locked in a house, and had items thrown at me that have hit me. I’ve even been threatened with needles. All from parents and children who I am working to help.”

2011-03-02T20:17:00.000Z

Government puts safety of blood products in jeopardy

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is warning the government that proposals to privatise key parts of the NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) puts the safety of blood products at risk. In a strongly worded letter to Minister of State for Health, Simon Burns, the union is calling for assurances that this vital service will be protected from privatisation and profit making. Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said: “Putting the profit motive into blood collection is abhorrent. It is not possible to hive off parts of it to the private sector and pretend that this is a profit free service dedicated solely to saving lives. “It changes the core value of the NHS Blood and Transport Service based on volunteers and charities, giving voluntarily. The fact that NHSBT can call on donors when supplies are low or in local or national emergencies, or on charities to help in the collection of stem cells and organs should not be underestimated – it saves lives.“The NHSBT relies on a long-standing national consensus that people give blood and organs to save lives. If there is any sense that peoples’ giving will result in other peoples’ profit then the whole system is severely compromised and could break down.”The union is calling on the Government to give assurances that the privatisation will be shelved, ahead of a meeting of NHSBT staff from across the country on 9 March. The union is warning that failure to provide these assurances will lead to widespread opposition from staff and the public.

2011-02-21T21:18:00.000Z

Shapps must keep promise on funds for homeless, elderly and victims of domestic violence

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today challenged Housing and Local Government Minister Grant Shapps, to honour his pledge made in the House of Commons, not to cut the Supporting People grant by more than 1%. The grant helps support more than 1 million people, funding women’s refuges that provide a haven for victims of domestic abuse, helping rough sleepers, and people with mental health problems. It also funds sheltered wardens and community alarms. Last week in the House of Commons, Liverpool (Walton) MP Steve Rotheram, asked “If I can prove that it (the cut to the Liverpool Supporting People grant) is 30%, will the Minister give us back the other 29% so that we only suffer a 1% cut?” Grant Shapps replied “I take him up on his challenge.”The union is today publishing evidence that Liverpool’s Supporting People grant has been cut by 30%, together with a list of more than 60 other councils also facing cuts of more than 1%. Camden council has lost more than 60%. The union is challenging Grant Shapps to give all these councils back the difference so they can keep these services to vulnerable people running. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “All over the country, Supporting People grants fund women’s refuges; providing a haven for victims of domestic abuse. They help keep people who have fallen on hard times from sleeping rough, and give people with mental health problems a roof over their heads. More than 800,000 elderly people rely on services funded through Supporting People. Drastic cuts will mean shelters shut, and beds lost, pushing vulnerable people onto the streets or leaving them without the help they need. “In the House of Commons, Grant Shapps said that this grant had been protected, so the average cut was just 1%. But our evidence taken from his own Department’s website, proves many councils have been hit much harder. Grant Shapps promised to give Liverpool back the difference if he saw evidence that it’s grant had been cut by more than 1%. Here is that proof in black and white. “We challenge Grant Shapps to stand by his word, to give Liverpool back the money that has been taken from them, and to do the same for the 61 other councils hit hard. Either Grant Shapps didn’t know what was going on in his department, or he didn’t care about some of the most needy and vulnerable people in our society. This is his opportunity to put things right.” UNISON evidence shows that:One council (Camden) faces a cut of more than 60%Seven councils (West Berkshire, York, Rochdale, Nottingham, Bournemouth, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire face cuts of between 40% and 50%, Eight councils (Newcastle upon Tyne, St Helens, Isle of Wight, Bristol, Manchester, Halton, Leeds and Liverpool) face a cut of between 30% and 40%, Seven councils face a cut of between 20% and 30%Twenty Two councils face a cut of between 10% and 20%10 councils face cuts of more than £5m (Camden £18.470m; Manchester £12.613m; Liverpool £11.167m; Leeds £10.614m; Nottingham £9.942m; Bristol £9.275m; Gloucestershire £8.601m; Oxfordshire £6.627m; Rochdale £6.587m; Newcastle upon Tyne £6.527m)

2011-02-21T21:13:00.001Z

Cameron sell off- UNISON response

Commenting on plans announced by David Cameron to open public services up to private companies, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said: Not content with breaking apart our NHS and our schools, the Tories are now turning their wrecking ball onto the entire public sector. The Tories want to turn the clock back to a time when private companies ran schools, hospitals and other council services. The state was forced to step in when the market failed to give people equal access to decent services. Taking vital services out of the public sector will see a postcode lottery develop. Huge transaction costs and a tsunami of bureaucracy will waste billions. As private companies seek to eke out profits they will strip our services to their bare bones. This is not about modernisation - it is about privatisation, creating an open market for the Tories friends in big business to make billions out of our public services.

2011-02-04T22:22:00.000Z

CND adds support to TUC march against the cuts

(03/02/11) CND has added its voice to the thousands supporting the TUC march and rally on 26 March against the government cuts."Government cuts are an £81bn assault on the welfare state. Jobs, houses and pensions are all under attack as the government slashes public services," CND chair Kate Hudson said. "Cameron and Clegg are cutting welfare but leaving big-ticket defence projects virtually untouched. "We didn't make this crisis and we don't want our money spent on weapons that can kill millions of people. "Our money must be spent on jobs, pensions, education and health – we must improve the lives of the British people without threatening the lives of others."The march will bring together trade unions, community groups, political organisations and anyone concerned about the pace and scale of government cuts.Ms Hudson said: "CND wholeheartedly supports the TUC demonstration on 26 March and urges all its members and supporters to participate."March for public services on 26 March

2011-02-03T23:18:00.003Z

http://www.shropshirefightsback.org.uk

SHROPSHIRE AGAINST THE CUTS

Join the March - 19th February 2011 From Shirehall to the Square in Shrewsbury Assemble at 11:00 am Shirehall Car Park

2011-01-24T19:08:00.000Z

Con-demned jobs: Cuts that wreck recovery

UNISON today (24 January) warned that savage public sector job cuts are threatening whole communities and wrecking recovery.The UK’s largest union is publishing a snapshot of “Con-demned jobs” covering just the last 6 weeks, to show that growing numbers of workers are being consigned to already lengthy dole queues, along with the services they provide. Staff at the Heart of England NHS Trust are being hit with the loss of 1,600 jobs and the latest cuts added from local councils include 1,200 in Hampshire, 1,000 in Norfolk and 400 in East Sussex County Councils, where social service departments are being targeted.The careers service has also fallen victim to the cuts, with 8,000 jobs going by 31 March this year. The union is predicting that half the workforce could now be axed - with cuts ranging from 25% to 90% in some areas - leaving young people without the help and advice they need.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“This dossier of Con-demned jobs makes very grim reading. Behind every statistic there are families desperate to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and the dignity of a decent job.“With unemployment up to 2.5m, the coalition cuts are blighting lives and wrecking the country’s chances of recovery. Sacking workers and closing down essential services will not put the economy back on its feet.“The union is calling for an alternative political vision, to boost economic recovery and keep Britain working. Money can and should be raised from the bankers who continue to rake in their bonuses. Having brought the country to its knees by their financial dealing, they are happy to ignore a Government on its knees and powerless to stop the bonus culture.“The latest figures show record levels of unemployment for 16 to 24 year olds, with 1 in 5 (951,000) unable to find work. Getting the right help can make or break the future of young people desperately trying to find their feet, as well as workers made redundant struggling to retrain. “Cutting 8.000 jobs from the careers service will add to their difficulty. The hikes in tuition fees, education cuts and record unemployment means that many young people don’t know which way to turn and now they will have one less place to turn to.”The union says that the figures nail the lie that the NHS is being ring-fenced by the Government. The £20bn that is being demanded in efficiency savings is already being translated into job losses. Good patient care depends on having the right numbers with the right level of skills on the wards. This is one of the key lessons to come out of the Inquiry into the death toll at Mid Staffordshire Hospital Foundation Trust.

2011-01-21T22:04:00.002Z

UNISON calls for an end to excessive hours in social work

In the second week of a ten-week long campaign, UNISON, the UK’s largest union, and Community Care magazine, have written to key stakeholders in social work, calling on them to make sure social workers can get time off in lieu (TOIL) or be paid for working additional hours. A recent survey* showed that 64% of social workers worked extra hours, and in another survey** social workers reported that they did an average of 1.9 hours per week in overtime without pay or TOIL. 39% said they had to work additional hours at short notice either most days or every week. Many social workers can’t claim it back or have TOIL because they’re too busy, or their managers won’t let them. This does nothing to help morale, and contributes to already high rates of social worker burn out, making it near on impossible for social workers to practice safely and effectively. Helga Pile, UNISON national officer for social work, said: “Heavy caseloads and high vacancy rates mean many social workers have little choice but to work late. And the stats back it up – 64% work extra hours. It’s not as if they can say ‘sorry, I’ve got to go’, when it hits five o’clock if a vulnerable child is depending on them. “But social workers can’t keep picking up the slack. This constant overloading is not sustainable. Lots of people in the profession are facing burnout. They are hit with the impossible dilemma of trying to balance their heavy workload, with the needs of their own families. Many simply give up on the idea of having a life of their own.“If they have to work extra hours, social workers should be paid or given time off in lieu. This will force employers to stop exploiting their goodwill, and start managing workloads properly. “This week we have written to key stakeholders in social work calling on them to make it a priority. It’s only right that social workers get the opportunity to rest and recuperate, so they can carry on doing one of the toughest jobs going.”UNISON is campaigning for minimum conditions to give social workers what they need to practice safely and effectively. Together with Community Care, the union has developed the Social Work Contract, which outlines ten key points, one of which is giving social workers TOIL (time off in lieu) or pay for working additional hours. Each week, the union is writing to Tim Loughton, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Children and Families, Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services, Sharon Hodgson MP, Labour Shadow Minister for Children and Families, and Emily Thornberry MP, Labour Shadow Care Services Minster, highlighting one part of the social work contract. The union has also launched an online petition on the contract, and is calling on members of the public, parents and social workers to add their voice to the call for action. Hundreds of social workers have already signed. Add your support here: http://www.unison.co.uk/asppresspack/%3CA%20HREF=">http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/714/061/796/ <http://www.unison.co.uk/asppresspack/%3CA%20HREF=">http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/714/061/796/>

2011-01-20T21:33:00.000Z

UNISON slams growing toll of council job cuts

Commenting on today’s shocking news that 1,200 workers at Hampshire, 1,000 in Norfolk and up to 400 at East Sussex County Councils, face joining the 2.5 million unemployed, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“The Government’s cuts are taking a terrible toll on council workers and services. It is a disgrace that 2,600 more council workers are being added to growing dole queues as unemployment hits 2.5m. “The job losses are a bitter blow to families who face inflation hikes, soaring prices and the prospect of their mortgages going through the roof, when interest rates rise. This Government is robbing communities of hope for the future and vital services that people depend on.“In Hampshire, children and adult services look likely to be hardest hit by these huge cuts - how will vulnerable people who rely on these vital services cope with such a strained service? We know that workers there only found out about the job losses through word of mouth. Bosses should have the decency to tell workers the truth.“There are alternatives. The government should come clean on the real impact of their savage cuts agenda.”

2011-01-20T21:14:00.002Z

Policy Committee in its deliberations on interest
rates since November 2009.

The sentiments now
are that interest rates will have to rise from their historic
low of 0.5% to put the squeeze on inflation.
% increase on a year earlier
RPI except mortgage interest payments
Five of the 14 groups that make up the RPI posted
an increase of the overall rise of 4.8% or more.
The clothing and footwear group’s 10.3% rise included
double digit percentage rises on women’s,
men’s, and children’s clothing of 13.8%, 11.1% and
11.7% respectively. Meanwhile, the motoring expenditure
group’s 9.1% rise included a 29.1% rise
Inflation rise piles on
the misery
Inflation has risen and will almost certainly rise
further as the VAT rise to 20% and fuel duty rises
will impact on next month’s figures for January. As
it was, higher fuel prices and dearer food had the
greatest impact on the rise for December.
Under the Retail Prices Index (RPI), the rate of
inflation was 4.8% in December against 4.7% the
previous month.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the
alarming rise in inflation will “make a tough year
for workers even harder to bear” and that “fuelling
inflation with a VAT hike will hit workers in
their wage packets”. The VAT rise is “bad for
working families and damaging for the economy
too,” Barber said.
Under the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), inflation
was up to 3.7% from 3.3% the previous month. The
rate is at its highest for eight months. This measure
does not include housing costs and is the measure
used by the coalition to update state benefits and
public sector pensions.
The CPI figure has been above the 2.0% target set
by the Treasury for the Bank of England's Monetary

in tax and insurance and a 12.6% rise in petrol and
oil prices. And the 4.3% rise in fares, included a
7.3% rise in rail fares.
Food prices rose by an average of 5.9%, but there
were substantial rises in butter (24.0%), tea (11.3%)
and lamb (11.8%).
The fuel and light group only showed an overall
rise of 2.8%, but “oil and other fuel” prices racked
up a 44.0% rise.
4.8% or more % Less than 4.8% %
Clothing & footwear 10.3 Fares etc 4.3
Motoring expenditure 9.1 Personal goods & services 3.9
Tobacco 8.4 Alcoholic drink 3.7
Food 5.9 Catering 3.4
Leisure services 4.8 Household goods 3.3
Household services 3.2
Housing 2.8
Fuel & light 2.8
Leisure goods 0.6
www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cpi0111.pdf
www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/cpibrief0111.pdf
www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/a-to-i-dec-2010.pdf
www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-19007-f0.cfm

2011-01-14T23:09:00.001Z

Government cuts score direct hit on Manchester with 2,000 jobs lost

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today laid the blame for the “tragic loss” of 2,000 jobs at Manchester Council, at the door of the Government. The union is shocked by the targeting of such a deprived area, and said that the impact of job losses on services and the local economy will be devastating.Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:“The shockwaves of 2,000 job losses will spread across the City of Manchester and beyond. It is a tragic loss to workers who will have to break the news to their families that they are losing their jobs. It is also a bitter blow to communities who will lose services they rely on and will hit local businesses and trade".“The Government’s cuts have been targeted at some of the most deprived areas in the country and Manchester is clearly in the firing line. The council had been working with UNISON to try to lessen the impact of budget cuts, but the Local Government finance settlement in December, was the final straw. It was the toughest in living memory and has forced the council into font-loading the cuts".“We will continue to work with the council but the people of Manchester face the grim reality of longer dole queues".

2011-01-10T21:48:00.002Z

Rail fare rises funding
fat cat pensions

Rail passengers paying fare rises of up to 13%
are funding gold-plated pensions for private rail
bosses, the white collar rail union TSSA has said.
The pensions bonanza — which sees First Group’s
Sir Moir Lockhead retire on £325,000 a year this
March — comes as passengers face three years of
increases of RPI inflation plus 3% from 2012 on top
of the present increases.
“The rewards at the private rail companies expose
the myth that these huge fare increases are directly
linked to future rail investment,” said TSSA general
secretary Gerry Doherty.
“Rail privatisation is a gravy train. The private
companies take all the profits and the passengers
take all the pain.”
As well as Lockhead, Southeastern boss Keith Ludeman
retires this summer on a pension of £200,000
a year. Meanwhile at Arriva, David Martin, who
banked nearly £5 million when the firm was taken
over by Deutsche Bahn, will pick up £366,000 a year
when he retires.
“These huge rewards are being paid on the back
of passengers who are paying the highest fares in
Europe,” added Doherty.
Ray O’Toole “retired” from National Express’
board last May, but continues as an employee of
the group. He opted out of the group’s final salary
scheme in April 2006 by which time he was entitled
to a pension of £38,200 a year on retirement
in 2015. However since then the group has been
paying a pension supplement to him equivalent
to 44% of basic salary and over £800,000 has been
paid to him to sort out a rather handsome pension
in retirement.
Stagecoach is involved in a number of franchises,
including South West Trains. Chief executive Brian
Souter, according to the group’s 2010 annual report,
has accrued a pension worth at least £348,000 a year
for when he retires in four years time.

2011-01-07T23:47:00.001Z

Travel expenses and minimum wage

A change to the minimum wage regulations came
into force on the 1 January after a legal challenge
from a company failed.
The change to the regulations prevents employers
from treating travel expenses as part of the wage
paid to workers.
Recruitment group Cordant, which employs around
30,000 people in the UK and Ireland, unsuccessfully
challenged the amendment to the National
Minimum Wage Regulations 1999, which came into
force on New Year’s Day.
The regulations now provide that any payments
to workers for travelling expenses under section
338 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions)
Volume 73 Issue 1 Fact Service 3
Act 2003 cannot count as part of the national
minimum wage.
Giving judgment in R (on the application of Cordant
Group) v Secretary of State for Business [2010]
EWHC 3442 (Admin), Mr Justice Kenneth Parker
described the challenge as “an attack on the economic
merits of regulatory reform affecting the
labour market in the guise of a common law and
legal equality case”.
He said he could “discern no arguable basis”
why the amendment, which brought “substantial
benefit” to low-paid workers and was in the public
interest, should not be implemented as planned.
Unions have welcomed the changes. Mary Maguire,
head of press and broadcasting for the public sector
trade union UNISON, said it would prevent bad
employers from exploiting workers.
She said: “It’s good news that the courts have come
down on the side of low paid workers. Employers
should not be allowed to get around their legal
obligations in this way.
“UNISON fought for years to get a statutory national
minimum wage established that would help stop
exploitation by bad employers by providing a pay
floor. Despite the fact that it is still too low, it is
incredible that employers are still trying to get
round it.”

2011-01-05T21:02:00.002Z

UNISON secures £27,398,985 compensation for personal injuries in 2010

Assaults, car crashes, back injuries and slips at work are among the cases UNISON has won £27,398,985 worth of compensation for in 2010.The UK's largest public sector union has handled 3,893 cases to help members receive justice for the pain and suffering caused by personal injuries.UNISON's General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:"A lot of these injuries could and should have been prevented. These jobs are not dangerous - nursery workers, dental technicians and dinner ladies - but, because employers have been negligent, some UNISON members have lost their health, families, confidence and careers."Employers have a duty of care and where they fail, workers and their families deserve compensation for the pain and suffering caused by personal injuries."Last year UNISON secured £28million for workplace injuries but, one year on, and it's clear some employers have still not learnt their lesson and introduced safer working practices. "Public sector workers already face pay freezes, job and service cuts, with worse to come. They deserve to be able to do a hard day's work in a safe environment."

Breakdown of compensation by region:
Eastern - 204 cases - £1,482,492.60 compensation
East Midlands - 345 cases - £2,600,048.30 compensation
Greater London - 239 cases - £2,752,227.50 compensation
Northern - 463 cases - £2,746,031.80 compensation
Northern Ireland - 143 cases - £559,509.72 compensation
North West - 519 cases - £3,155,907.60 compensation
Scotland - 224 cases - 1,602,762.20 compensation
South East - 196 cases - £1,952,433.30 compensation
South West - 186 cases - £2,443,894.50 compensation
Wales - 382 cases - £2,754,931.80 compensation
West Midlands - 428 cases - £2,025,836.40 compensation
Yorkshire and Humberside - 564 - £3,322,913.90 compensatio
Examples of compensation cases for UNISON members:

2010-12-31T13:40:00.001Z

30/12/2010
Economic vandalism:

Not voted for by the people not in the interests of this country
Working people in the UK can help stop the Conservative-led coalition from taking a wrecking ball to the fabric of daily life.That is the New Year's message to some 3.5 million workers across both the public and private sectors from their unions, the GMB, Unison and Unite, who say that the government's dangerous prescription of economic deflation and historically high cuts will not revive the economy but will instead bring it to its knees. The landmark joint message sees the three unions - the biggest in the UK - pledge that in 2011 they will inspire and support resistance to the cuts across the UK. They also vow to make the Spring elections the first referendum on the government's austerity programme.Such is the level of concern about the real intent behind the cuts - recasting the state so that the private sector can sweep in, allied to the fear that harsh cuts will cause endemic inequality across society and plunge a new generation into unemployment - that the unions have vowed to work tirelessly together throughout 2011 to pursue a sound economic alternative. The unions are furious that the government is using the cover of coalition and a whipped-up fear over the deficit to terrify people into acceptance of what is little more than the rolling back of social provision. Pointing to the mounting dissent among economic experts over the government's approach, they say there is no programme for growth but only polices which will lead to a devastating contraction in the UK economy at a time when the global economy is still exhibiting deeply worrying signs of recession.The unions say it is high time that the truth was told about the government's reckless policies. January will see the three embark on a programme of promoting an economic alternative to their members urging them to get active in both opposing cuts and making their voices heard at the May election, the first chance for large parts of country to vote on the government's cuts programme.Central to the unions' message will be the push for an economic policy based on:* Growth - and a clear programme for job creation* Investment to get the unemployed back to work* Maintaining universal, quality public services - and safeguarding them from costly private providers * A fair taxation policy, including closing tax avoidance loopholes and a transaction tax which will generate billions for the economy* Abandonment of welfare upheaval which will plunge families and communities into poverty * Regulation of the economy to restore trust and confidencePaul Kenny General Secretary of GMB said: "The deficit is not Labour's deficit, it's the bankers' deficit. The Labour Government had to borrow to save the UK economy from collapse due to the irresponsible actions of the bankers, a policy supported by the Conservatives in opposition."The banks' actions in pouring billions of pounds into risky and complex investments came unstuck and left tax payers and elected governments with a mess to clear up. This cost the UK £850 billion, a recession where we lost 6% of national output, two and half million unemployed, pay freezes, inflation rising and where taxation revenues fell suddenly."Unions had warned of the dangers of under-regulated financial sector and the banks now need regulating so it doesn't happen again. This is also the view of Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England."Dave Prentis General Secretary of UNISON said: "It's clear that the Government is ideologically driven to massacre public services and bring the misery of unemployment and poverty to millions. This is a recipe for social turmoil on a scale not seen since the 80's. A whole generation of young people betrayed, facing a bleak future."Local Government is particularly hard hit by the cuts. 70,000 jobs have gone in the last months of 2010 and hundreds of thousands more will follow in 2011. This spells disaster for local communities and for people who need those services. The Big Society spin won't pick up the pieces of broken Britain's lost jobs and dashed hopes. "We need a Government that will keep Britain working by investing in our economy, our services and our future."Len McCluskey, General Secretary-designate of Unite said: "It is possible to pull the UK economy out of recession without the misery of mass unemployment. This government is ripping a huge hole in the economy by contracting spending and throwing one and a half million people on the dole. But where is the Plan B? Where will the new jobs come from? Certainly not from a private sector which is reeling from the global downturn."We know all too well how this government can swing the axe; what we need to see more of is can they actually step up to the job of creating employment. Strategic investments can reap rewards far beyond the original outlay - for instance, a £6bn investment in affordable social housing would build 100,000 new homes and create 750,000 new jobs in construction and the manufacturing supply chain. This makes more economic sense than paying people to sit on the dole."Economic activism means not sitting on your hands. It is the duty of our government to actively support job creation. Roll your sleeves up, support investment, unlock the capital funds held in the banks and start creating the jobs needed to replace the million or so you have destroyed."The three unions will be taking the message about the truth about the deficit and the Conservative-led government's approach to its members in the coming weeks, focusing on:A fair economy:· Fair taxes must be part of any solution. Systematically, companies and rich individuals have been avoiding more and more tax which means government squeezes greater amounts from working people.· End to indirect taxes like VAT which hit the low paid proportionally harder.· Regulation of the banking system to bring transparency; Government to use its controlling stake in UK banks to stop job cuts, excess pay and bonuses· A transaction tax on City dealings, including trade in stocks, shares, currencies and derivatives · A just welfare state which does not force people further into poverty and social exclusion Saving the NHS:· The massive top-down £80 billion re-organisation of the NHS in England to break it into small local commissioning units tasked with employing private companies to find other private health providers to submit the cheapest bid for public health services. · The down-grading of NICE will also see drug price rise and access to them severely curtailed. · GP consortia will see the return of the postcode lottery. · The scrapping of waiting lists will cause undoubted misery for countless people in need of treatment. · These policies are all designed to ensure the private sector and overseas private health companies exert control over access to health services - however the service is still being funded by the UK taxpayer.Good education for all:· Free Schools and Academies in England will force schools to compete in a local market. In some areas, e.g. Wandsworth, they are prepared to spend tens of millions of pounds to promote this vision even when there are surplus places in some schools and existing schools in need of repair. · The English student tuition fee hike to a maximum of £9,000 a year is not being introduced to deal with the current deficit, as it will bite after 2014 by which point the Chancellor claims the deficit will have been aid down, but to create a financial market place for colleges, courses and students.· The end result will be students from wealthy families going to elite universities and, if not deterred by the debts, other students seeking out cheaper courses at cheaper colleges in cheaper locations. Social mobility will be thrown into reverse.Economic activism· Investment to put UK manufacturing at the forefront of economic development,· Support to expand low carbon sustainable industries. · Reversal of the decision to block a £80m loan to Sheffield Forgemasters.· The urgent establishment of a Strategic Investment Fund, alongside the promised Green Investment Bank. · Energy pricing policies which recognise the needs of industry.· Public procurement processes to ensure maximum benefit for UK manufacturing.

2010-12-22T19:11:00.000Z

Flintshire Council overpayment - UNISON response

Commenting on the overpayment of staff by Flintshire County Council, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:“The council say they have no money and are having to cut jobs and services, but this whole pay debacle shows they have no handle on their finances. “This is not the fault of hardworking staff and they must not pay the price for the council’s mistake. “Some staff have been overpaid over a number of years by up to £8,000, which is a huge amount for one person earning a low wage to repay, while other low paid staff have been underpaid. “We have put forward our recommendations to the Audit Committee and are supporting our members by dealing with this on a case-by-case basis.”

2010-12-16T23:10:00.000Z

'Independent' consultants and Ministers should get their facts right on local government pensions

UNISON, the UK’s biggest union, with more than 600,000 members working in local councils, today called on consultants and government ministers to get their facts right on local government pensions. The call follows a claim by John Balfe, so-called “independent” pensions consultant, that the scheme’s liabilities had increased to £100 billion. The Communities and Local Government Minister, Eric Pickles, managed to muddy the waters even more by unsubstantiated claims that ‘town hall pensions are now costing over £300 a year to every household paying council tax."Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “Another week, another attack on the local government pension scheme. These so-called independent pensions consultants and government ministers should get their facts right before they resort to crude scare-mongering.“Eric Pickles is plain wrong. Less than 6% of council tax payments fund pensions. More than 50% is made up of employee contributions and investment returns.“The local government pension scheme is in good shape, and is a vital way of allowing mainly low paid workers to save for their retirement. A report out this year confirmed that the scheme could cover all its liabilities for the next twenty years, without a single penny more in contributions. What’s more, the scheme invests hundreds of billions in UK stocks and shares every year – a huge boost to our economy. “With pensions, its vital to take a long term view. It is totally misleading to take an assessment of the schemes liabilities now and make claims for the future that don’t stack-up. All investments have taken a knock thanks to the financial crisis, but given time they will recover.” Key facts on the local government pension scheme: - The average local government pension is £4,000 per year, for women this drops to just £2,600, or less than £40 per week.- After intense negotiations, a new pensions agreement in local government was introduced in 2008, setting out terms that include workers paying 6.4% of their salary into the scheme. - Local councils get most of their revenue from business rates and from central government grants. In reality, less than 6% of council taxpayers’ rates goes towards funding the pension scheme. More than 50% of the cost is met by employee contributions and investment returns.- Research in 2006 showed that if the LGPS did not exist - based only on current pensioners – it would cost the taxpayer £2bn a year in increased means tested benefits and loss of tax revenue. It would also fuel increased take up of NHS and council care services. - Often overlooked is the huge investment power of the LGPS fund. In 2008 the total value of combined assets in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, were £143 billion - 60% of which was invested in equities or shares, in UK and global stock markets. In the same year, more than £1 billion was invested in each of the top four FTSE companies. If the scheme were to close, and this investment was withdrawn, it would have a huge impact on the UK economy. - The LGPS is in better shape than a most other schemes. Even in the depths of the recession, investments provided nearly £3bn for the LGPS in England, accounting for nearly one third (27%) of the scheme’s overall income. Year on year, the scheme takes billions more in contributions and investments returns than it pays out in benefits. Last year, income from member contributions to the scheme in England alone increased by 15% - outstripping expenditure by £6 billion.- An Audit Commission report in 2010 stated that the LGPS could pay out all pensions due for the next 20 years without any further contributions.

2010-12-13T22:39:00.001Z

"Miserable Monday" spells danger for local communities warns UNISON

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, dubbed today “Miserable Monday”, after some of the largest cuts to council budgets in history were revealed in the Localism Bill. The union said that the scale of cuts spelled real danger for local communities. It warned that the increased freedom for local councils was simply a way for the government to push the burden of responsibility for making cuts onto councils. Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “Today is “Miserable Monday” for councils, set to be hit with some of the largest budget cuts in history. This means a grim Christmas for thousands of council workers who are facing the prospect of losing their jobs next year. “Eric Pickles may talk about local authorities doing more with less, but the public should not be fooled; this is not possible. Cuts on this scale cannot be painless. Vital local services such as libraries and day centres, are already shutting their doors. Charges for others, such as home care for the elderly, and meals on wheels are on the up. After today’s announcement, this pattern will only gather pace. “The coalition is trying to rip the plaster off quickly, by front-loading the cuts. This spells real danger for services this year, and is a blatant attempt to get the pain out of the way long before the next election. But the scale of the cuts means that communities will be feeling the pain for years to come. “The new powers being given to councils may sound appealing, but they are simply a way for the government to wash its hands of taking tough decisions. Some services will be easy targets, with local authorities cherry picking only the easiest or cheapest services to provide. This will see local people who rely on difficult to provide, or expensive services, missing out on the support they need. “Meanwhile, the Bankers are still in line for their massive Christmas bonuses. Why are hardworking families paying the price for a recession they did not cause? There are real alternatives the government could and should have taken forward, that would have safeguarded jobs and recovery, and built a fairer future.”

2010-12-07T18:23:00.000Z

UNISON members glowing mad over tuition fee hike join protest

UNISON members will be among those waving 9,000 glow sticks to symbolise government plans to hike up university tuition fees to £9,000, as part of student protests across the country tomorrow and Thursday.University staff, student nurses and other public sector workers, will join students in taking a stand against the savage plans during a series of regional rallies on the 8 December. On Thursday (9 December), UNISON members will be lobbying their MPs at Parliament, before a rally at the Victoria Embankment at 3pm. As it turns dark, the protestors will be waving the glow sticks.Christina McAnea, UNISON’s Head of Education, said:“It is a disgrace that poorer children will be put off from going to university, as higher education becomes the preserve of the rich.“Lib Dem MPs voting on the tuition fees on Thursday must dig deep into their consciences and stand by their pre-election pledge to vote against increasing tuition fees.“At the same time as hiking up fees, the government is cutting university jobs and services, withdrawing education loans, axing means-tested grants and making huge cuts to further education. The government is dealing out blows to students from all angles, but we will be backing them in their fightback.”

2010-11-29T13:54:00.000Z

29/11/2010
Survey reveals Probation Service being pushed to breaking point

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector union, today warned that the probation service is being pushed to breaking point, by a toxic cocktail of staff cuts and increased workloads. These spell danger for the government’s so-called “rehabilitation revolution”, which will see more offenders put on probation to take the prison population down. The survey of staff in the sector by the union found 69% of respondents already suffering from staff cuts, with 80% saying that workloads have increased in the last year. 74% said that stress levels had risen, whilst 69% said morale had decreased. 68% of staff said they felt less secure in their jobs than they did last year. Staff also raised concerns over management, with 46% saying they did not feel supported. The union said that plans to privatise parts of the service could see private companies making money out of offenders’ doing community payback work. The union warned these moves could spark a race to the bottom on service quality and terms and conditions for staff. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “The probation service is instrumental in delivering community justice, rehabilitating offenders, and protecting the communities where offenders live and work. It is deeply worrying that the service is already under severe pressure, with staff reporting an increase in stress and workloads, but a reduction in numbers, leading to a collapse in morale. Worrying numbers of staff said they did not feel supported by their managers. “The worry is that an already tough job is set to get even tougher. The Ministry of Justice has been hit with savage cuts. If these cuts fall on the probation service, it will buckle under the strain. At the same time as cutting, the government is set to launch a “rehabilitation revolution”. This will see more offenders placed into the community. Who will be making sure these offenders and the communities where they live and work are safe?“The government is pressing ahead with plans to privatise parts of the service, including community payback work. This will take vital lifeblood away from Probation Trusts, and see private companies making money out of offenders’ hard work. It is highly unlikely that privatisation will lead to cost savings, but it is certain to lead to a lower quality service, and a race to the bottom for staff terms and conditions. “Our survey shows a clear link between staffing cuts and rising stress levels. And now the government’s plans are set to make matters worse by piling on the pressure. There is only so far the service can be stretched before it reaches breaking point. The government should take another look at its plans and take into account the risk they pose to offenders and to communities.” Key findings from the survey: - 80% of respondents said their workload had increased over the past year, with staff in Wales, the South West, and the North East most likely to report an increase. - 52% said they would not recommend their job. - Job security is a major concern – 68% felt less secure in their job compared with a year ago.- 69% said staff numbers in their area had already decreased over the previous year, with staff in Wales, the South West, Greater London and Eastern England more likely to report a decrease in staff numbers over the previous year. - 69% said morale had decreased in the past year. - 74% said stress levels had increased over the past year – staff in the North East, South West, Wales and Eastern England were more likely to report an increase. - 46% said they did not feel supported by their manager. - 79% said they had undergone training in the past year, with 32% saying their training lasted between 1 and 2 days. 46% said their training lasted between 3 and 6 days. - The three regions which stuck out in terms of workload pressure, stress and morale were Wales, the South West and the North East. UNISON represents 5000 members in the probation service, and more than 1000 were sampled in this survey.

2010-11-19T23:21:00.000Z

Capita sacrificing services to protect profits- UNISON response

UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, today (19 November) accused the government of helping Capita, a public sector contractor, to cut services in a bid to protect company profits.The union warned that the government’s plans to increase privatisation of public services could spark a race to the bottom, as private companies seek to protect profits at all costs. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Here we have the government hand in glove with a private company, plotting how to cut services to protect profits. UNISON has long been warning that profits come before people when vital local services are privatised, but now the government is making it even easier for their friends in private industry to sacrifice services to line their own pockets. “As public spending cuts bite, margins will be ever tighter. This could spark a dangerous race to the bottom on services, and pay and conditions for staff. Coupled with the government drive to boost private involvement in public services, this is a recipe for disaster. It is the elderly, the sick and the vulnerable who rely on local services who will pay the ultimate price.”

2010-11-17T22:59:00.000Z

Conservatives using Co-operatives as a Trojan horse

UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, today accused the government of using the co-operative ideal as a Trojan horse, to disguise their drastic cuts to public services.With budgets axed, the union is warning that breaking up public services, under the guise of turning them into co-operatives, would not deliver improvements. UNISON accused the Government of simply washing its hands of its responsibility to care for the most vulnerable in society, children, the poor and the elderly.Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:“The coalition is simply using the co –operative ideal as a Trojan horse to disguise the effects of their drastic spending cuts on public services. Pushing responsibility onto staff to try and do more with less money, is setting them up to fail. The Government is simply washing its hands of its responsibility to provide services to the most vulnerable in society.“In today’s unstable financial environment, small co-ops and mutuals will be highly vulnerable to take over by big business, which could quickly start to dominate the market. This backdoor privatisation suits the Tories down to the ground.“The public should not be fooled by the Government’s Damascene conversion to co-operatives and social enterprises. I can’t see them advocating them across the private sector.”The union also pointed out that some of the original pilots in children’s social work had failed and staff voted with their feet. One even shut down after children, parents and foster carers were not properly consulted.”

2010-11-16T22:18:00.002Z

Personal budgets could lead to personal hell, says UNISON

UNISON has warned that vulnerable people could be stuck in a personal hell as plans to move 1 million people on to personal budgets in the form of direct payments coincide with council cuts, shutting services and tightening eligibility. The warning follows the announcement by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow today (16 November) of personal budgets for all, and Government targets for even greater privatisation of social care.The UK’s largest public sector union is concerned that the long-standing funding deficit in social care will spiral, as austerity cuts bite. Stripping away vital local authority services will leave people struggling to manage their own care and stranded without choice or support.Helga Pile, UNISON’s National Officer for Social Care, said:“The move to making personal budgets in the form of direct payments at a time of cuts will leave vulnerable people with little choice or support.“The public should not be fooled by dressing up cuts as a chance to give more power to citizens. Tell that to hard-pressed families worried sick about elderly and vulnerable relatives who cannot get any help in the home. “It’s easy to sit in Whitehall and say councils shouldn’t cut eligibility at the same time you are forcing through record cuts in council spending. Many people will now not even be eligible for a personal budget, let alone any care services, and elderly people with conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes face losing home support, even if they are unable to carry out basic personal care.“The care system is a nightmare for families to navigate. Without the option of directly provided services, people may not know whether the budget they are allocated is fair and councils could freeze people’s budgets, or start cutting them as the funding squeeze tightens. It’s no accident that the Government has slipped in a policy change to put the emphasis on ‘cash for care’ rather than the other more supported options that personal budgets can offer. This makes it easier to make cuts by stealth, and put the onus on people to ration their own care.“Day centres, meals on wheels and reliable homecare are among the vital services being removed. Trained, qualified staff are being replaced by cheaper workers. We have huge concerns over where the workers are going to come from to work for the minimum wage on casual contracts.“Evidence shows that moving to ‘cash for care’ can have a hugely damaging impact on older people’s wellbeing, but this is ignored. Evidence proves the damaging effect on quality of care of privatisation to the lowest bidder, but this is ignored. Far from promoting choice, the government is changing the policy on personal budgets to make it one size fits all, without proper debate or consultation.”

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2010-11-16T21:48:00.000Z

Quality public services build sustainable economies, and democratic, just societies.

In tough economic times, social programs provide essential supports for both economies and societies. Investing in public services is the most effective way to create new jobs. Without them, the private sector cannot function. Democracy and universal access are linked to fair and accountable taxation. The growing gap between rich and poor in many countries can be explained in large measure by the fact that governments are taxing less and, correspondingly, spending less on social services. The economic crisis is providing more excuses for cutting public funding, at a time when citizens need public services such as education, unemployment, welfare, and health benefits the most. Public Services International and our affiliates are standing up to the attacks on public services, around the world.
Please see the following links for examples of these inspiring campaigns. Tell us your suggestions for more links and resources by emailing communications@world-psi.org

2010-11-16T09:34:00.000Z

The UK Trades Union Congress

Has published a new report entitled Where the money goes: How we benefit from public services. It estimates the value of the public services from which households benefit, according to different income groups and regions. On average, each household in the UK receives the cash equivalent of £21,400 in services and benefits each year. The report also shows that the planned spending cuts will hit the poorest thirteen times harder than the richest.

2010-11-16T09:26:00.000Z

Public sector pensions - UNISON comment

Commenting on Treasury plans to consult on the discount rate used in public sector pension schemes, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, said:"Changing the discount rate would cause more problems than it would solve. On average, public sector workers pay 6% of their salary into their pension schemes. The Government is now talking about adding an extra 3% on top. This could price many low paid workers out of saving towards their retirement.“If public sector workers are forced to opt out, this will undermine the future viability of the pension schemes. Workers will stop saving and rely on state benefits when they retire, leaving the taxpayer to pick up the bill.“It is time the government turned their attention to the private sector, where two thirds of employers don’t provide a single penny towards their employees’ pensions.”