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Two for one offer at Pavilion
Dancing Shoes - The George best Story
The Pavilion Theatre 13th – 17th September
SPECIAL OFFER FOR UNION MEMBERS
BUY TWO TICKETS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
Ticket offer available Tuesday – Thursday Evening and Saturday Matinee Performances (top price tickets only)
Don’t leave it too late contact the box off on 0141 332 1846 or
go to www.paviliontheatre.co.uk Quoting – UnionGeorge
Dancing Shoes tells of the turbulent and colourful life of one of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen. From his childhood days kicking a tennis ball against a gable wall on the Cregagh estate to a life of fame, fortune and controversy, this story has it all.
(posted 11/09/2011)
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Cartmail slams attack on public sector pensions
A new report claiming that axing 400,000 public sector jobs was ‘easily manageable’ is part of the anti-state agenda being orchestrated by the government, said Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail.
Ms Cartmail said that the report by the self-confessed ‘pro-market think tank’ Reform accompanies ‘the cacophony of anti-public sector rhetoric’ coming from the coalition and its right-wing allies in the media and amongst opinion formers.
She continued: ”Unfortunately, the rhetoric is turning into reality with policies designed to break-up the national education and health services.
”The continuing crude attack on public sector pensions is part of this chorus. Such attacks will hit the retirement incomes of much valued public servants, such as health visitors, teachers, and paramedics.
”The not-so-hidden agenda of organisations, like Reform, is the break-up of the 1945 welfare state for the benefit of the market-driven private sector, where good education and health provision will be the prerogative of the wealthy.
”Reform’s recommendations for abolishing national pay agreements for teachers and health staff have nothing to do with raising standards, but cutting costs to the bone – and not recognising that public sector workers deserve fair pay and conditions for their dedicated work.
”Britain and its citizens have gained enormously from the benefits of the public sector over the last 65 years, where the ethos of service for all has transcended the profit motive of a few. This ethos is being seriously eroded by the government.
”Unite is not saying that public services can’t be improved - but that dismantling them is not the answer.”
(posted 11/09/2011)
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“Invest for growth” - TUC
Speaking at a press conference in Congress House on Friday, TUC General Secretary
Brendan Barber
said:
‘A year ago we were told that everything was set for recovery. Yet here we are 12 months later facing a real prospect of a double-dip recession.
'Trying to eliminate the deficit in just four years can now be seen as nothing more than a national programme of self-harm.
'It has killed both consumer and business confidence. With the cuts already putting the brake on government investment, the net result is that almost no-one is investing. Yet without growth there is no prospect of closing the deficit gap in the short, medium or long term.
'The desperate position that the government now finds itself in is shown by the sheer irrelevance of its ideas for growth. Scrapping the 50p tax rate as many Conservatives want, or tearing up a planning system that has not stopped growth when the economy was functioning well shows just how far away from the real economy and real people they are.
'The problem is that the government has not just produced the wrong answer, they do not even understand the question.
'Our economic problems lie in the collapse of an economic model that started in the 1980s and ended with the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.
'Its central flaw was that it encouraged the rich to get richer, while those in the middle and bottom had their living standards held back. Instead they were sold credit. The result was not sustainable economic growth, but what has now been cruelly exposed as a huge debt bubble.
'Debt and the deficit are very real issues, but they are symptoms of what went wrong, not the cause.
'But you cannot cure the patient by treating symptoms alone, especially when the treatment's side effects make the root illness worse.
When even the IMF says that a root cause of the crisis was the growth in the gap between ordinary people and those at the top, making it even bigger is like trying to put out a fire with paraffin.
'We need a national investment bank and a green investment bank to drive investment. If companies and individuals are not spending the state must fill the gap. And it is a lack of demand and investment - not a lack of land - that is holding back building the houses we need at least at the moment.
'Above all we need this government - and others - to put the brake on austerity. This is the only way to restore confidence and get the economy growing again. And that means boosting the living standards of those who did least to cause the crash.
(posted 11/09/2011)
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Unite alarm over silent crisis
Two-thirds of Unite trade union members in Scotland have had their pay cut or frozen over the last year.
The poll conducted in August was undertaken due to the growing concern over the economy’s direction. Key findings were:
Married, middle-aged couples living in the suburbs with their children are disproportionately affected;
Young, single people living in small council flats in cities are disproportionately affected; and
35% of those surveyed also had their employment terms and conditions altered.
Unite Scottish Secretary, Pat Rafferty commented:
“These poll findings are extremely worrying. Not only do we have high levels of unemployment but those in work are experiencing enormous reductions in living standards. This is the largest fall since the early 1970’s.”
“It’s clear that our members are enduring a silent crisis often because they are grateful that they have a job. However, we are only going to get out of this mess through Government and businesses taking measures that fairly reward workers.”
The latest inflation data remains at 5% (Retail Prices Index including mortgages), VAT has risen to 20% and domestic gas and electricity bills have recently risen by up to 19% (e.g. Scottish Power).
(by Peter Welsh)
(posted 11/09/2011)
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Unite slams public sector pension contribution increases
A divided and inept government was accused by Unite today (Thursday 28 July) of imposing public sector pension increases before the negotiations had finished.
Unite, the largest union in the country with 250,000 members in the public sector, condemned the government’s announcement that public sector pensions would rise next year as ‘an exercise in ineptitude’ by ministers clearly divided on the future of the individual public sector schemes.
The union called on ministers to take part in ‘real and genuine negotiations on what is a difficult issue’.
Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said: ”This arbitrary announcement - while negotiations are continuing on the individual schemes - demonstrates that the government is not interested in genuine negotiations, but just in pushing through these changes.
”Despite the rabid tabloid headlines that these pensions are ‘gold plated’, the average local government pension is just £4,000-a-year and over half of female NHS employees can expect an average of £3,500-a-year – hardly a fortune after a lifetime of work.
”And this has been recognised by the right wing cabinet ministers in charge of health and education respectively, Andrew Lansley and Michael Gove, who have raised concerns about chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander’s hardline attack on public sector pensions.
”Public sector pensions were reformed by the last government with increased contributions and later retirement ages. What Danny Alexander is attempting is to push through further changes that will drive thousands of already hard-pressed public sector workers out of these schemes and, ultimately, undermine the very viability of these schemes.
”The unions are united on this issue, but the government is divided.
”This approach is like a landlord announcing rent increases and saying they are still going to apply even after they have moved you into a much smaller property.
”The increases in 2012/3 are the first of three annual increases which, in total, go far beyond offsetting any increase in the cost of the schemes.
”The government’s so-called ‘consultation’ is inappropriate because contributions are being proposed when the future structure of benefits is still under negotiation. While the 2012/3 increase might not be unreasonable if current benefits were going to be maintained, the government's intention is that they will be greatly reduced in value after the contributions have been raised.”
Unite will keep its members fully informed and consult them on the final package when it finally emerges.
Details of the proposed increases for the NHS pension scheme may be downloaded here. In theory, the proposals do not apply in Scotland, but previous changes in England have been reflected in Scotland.
(posted 28/07/2011)
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Branch election: Vice-chair
Notice is hereby given that an election for the post of Branch Vice-chair will take place at the Branch meeting to be held on Wednesday 3rd August at 6.30pm in the Campanile Hotel, 10 Tunnel Street, Glasgow G3 8HL
(posted 27/07/2011)
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Lansley letter supports unions’ view on pensions
Commenting on the letter from Andrew Lansley to Danny Alexander on public sector pensions leaked to the Daily Telegraph today (Monday 25th), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
'This is a letter that could have been written by any of the union negotiators. Mr Lansley endorses almost every point the unions have made. He confirms that the government is grabbing money from public sector workers to pay down a deficit they did nothing to create, even at a time when their pay is frozen for two years and many are facing job losses.
'Most tellingly he says the government is trying to take so much out of public sector pensions and impose so many extra costs on workers that there is a very real danger that staff will simply opt out of their pensions.
'This would have the perverse consequence of making the deficit worse, as the government will still have to pay current pensions but will get no benefit from the contributions of those who leave their schemes.'
The TUC’s Touchstone blog has a ‘dissection’ of the Lansley letter:
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2011/07/dissecting-andrew-lansleys-letter
Last week, the TUC stated that a meeting of the TUC's public service unions on Monday 18th July agreed to extend the TUC's negotiations with the government on public service pensions.
Further talks will take place centrally, and individual unions will be actively considering also 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.
The TUC has made clear to the government, in agreeing to continue negotiations, that unions have not agreed to or accepted any of the Government’s objectives or the change in indexation from RPI to CPI.
(posted 25/07/2011, updated 27/07/2011)
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Useful web addresses
Donald Sime, Branch Chair and NHS GG&C employee director, gave a well-received presentation on useful Internet resources at the July meeting of the Unite Group Representatives. The web addresses range from purely NHS ones to government departments and agencies and may be downloaded here.
(posted 25/07/2011)
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Payments to Derek Simpson
Unite the union’s annual return to the Certification Officer for 2010, submitted in conformity with legislation, includes details of payments made that year to Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretary until 23 December 2010 upon conclusion of his elected term of office.
These payments included, in addition to normal salary payments and other contractual benefits, a severance payment. The procedure leading to this payment was authorised by a meeting of the Amicus General Purposes and Finance Committee in March 2008. That meeting, which was not attended by Derek Simpson, resolved that Mr Simpson be treated in the same way as previous Joint General Secretaries of Amicus, and General Secretaries of unions which had merged into Amicus, upon leaving the employment of the union.
The payment was made in December 2010. Neither the current General Secretary of Unite, nor the Unite Executive Council, nor the national executive committee of the Amicus section were previously advised of the authorisation given by the Amicus General Purposes and Finance Committee.
The General Secretary and Executive Council of Unite regard this payment as inappropriate. No such arrangement exists in Unite going forward.
Following discussions initiated by the union, Derek Simpson has agreed to a change in the terms of the lease under which he lives in a union-owned house, to the advantage of the union, and to other alterations in his severance arrangements, likewise to the benefit of Unite. The value of these concessions, dependent on actuarial assumptions, could be as great or greater than the net sum received in severance by Derek Simpson.
(posted 25/07/2011)
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Voluntary redundancy
Branch members may be aware that NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde has put a sum of around £6 million aside to meet costs where ‘some members of staff voluntarily choose to terminate their employment with NHS GG&C’. The Board has made it clear that they will be seeking best value for money in this regard and that only staff who are in a redeployment situation or whose post is at risk will be considered. In other words, your post must be redundant but they are not willing to pay the redundancy compensation that is part of the Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions Handbook (Section 16). Unite’s advice on this clear – anyone who wishes to volunteer for redundancy should be paid the full AfC agreed rate – one month’s pay for each year of service, capped at 24 years service.
(posted 01/07/2011)
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Little progress in public sector pension talks
Reacting to the outcome of talks held Monday 27th June on pensions between unions representing public sector workers and the government, Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail, who took part in the talks, said: "In the key areas, there is still a major gap between where the unions and the government stand.
“There was a serious risk that the talks could have broken down after Danny Alexander took the decision to try to negotiate through the media. However, we continue to negotiate in good faith but remain convinced that we must make progress on pension contributions, indexation and pension age for our members to find any changes acceptable.
"The government still wants our members to pay more and work longer - it refuses to make any compromises.
"There has been no movement from the government on pension contribution increases, the link to the rising state pensions and the unions remain at odds with the government over the inflation link change from RPI to CPI.
"The government has at least acknowledged that it has not fully understood the funding basis for the local government pension scheme. We welcome that local government unions will now be holding more detailed discussions with the government.
"The unions have taken away detailed proposals from the government that we will look at and interrogate. The talks will now continue beyond June and Unite intends to work hard to try to reach a settlement which is acceptable to our members."
(posted 28/06/2011)
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June 30th Industrial Action - Unite Advice
PICKETING ADVICE
Unite members may encounter picket lines either at their place of work or during the course of their work. Given this, and the very complex legal position workers and
unions currently find themselves in, we have issued the following advice;
- It is perfectly lawful for pickets to approach workers; other employees at the place of work covered by the strike
action, lorry drivers and/or drivers of other vehicles making deliveries or collections from the workplace. It is perfectly lawful for these pickets to ask workers to stop, to communicate information
to them on the merits of their dispute and to peacefully persuade them to honour the picket by abstaining from working.
- Unfortunately, until such time as UK workers are protected by the same
democratic rights provided to others across Europe to make individual expressions of solidarity and support, attending a place of work and then refusing to cross a picket line could amount to
unauthorised industrial action and could place those members at risk of disciplinary action, even dismissal, and/or deductions from pay. It is important that our members understand these risks and
feel able to explain such risks as and when they are approached by anyone on a picket line.
- If members approach any picket line they should advise the pickets that support is given to the
dispute by Unite but as they have not been balloted for industrial action themselves they will not be able to join the strike. However, they will not undertake any work outside of their normal
contractual duties, neither will they take over the work normally conducted by those workers in dispute. If your employer demands that you do take over the work of those in dispute immediately speak
with your shop steward, the union will resist such demands and could ballot members to join the industrial action.
- If members approach or are approached by pickets and on assessing the situation
feel insecure, threatened in any way or indeed believe that their presence or continued operation in the area could endanger either themselves or others, they have the right to remove themselves from
the situation.
- If it is believed that this is the only available course of action members should leave the area and contact their employer for further guidance. If contact cannot be made with
their employer and they are not at their place of work they should return to their place of work, unless advised otherwise.
- Employees have a statutory duty under the Health and Safety at Work
Act (1974) Section 7, not to endanger themselves or others during the course of their work. This decision is one that can only be made by yourself as the individual concerned, having assessed the
situation as you see it on the ground. As above, in these circumstances you should remove yourself from the area and contact your employer for further guidance.
- Your employer has a statutory
responsibility to assess all risks to both yourself as an employee and to other who may be affected by or arising from their operations. This duty has been strengthened by Regulation 3 (3)b of the
Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) which requires employers to review risk assessments where there have been significant changes to the risks posed. Risk assessment must therefore be up to
date and relevant to the situation, in writing and provided to you on request prior to you commencing duties.
Please do what you can to support colleagues taking action on the 30th June –
stopping this attack on decent hard working people, our public services and the vulnerable that rely upon them is a fight we cannot afford to lose.
Len McCluskey,
General Secretary
(posted 27/06/2011)
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April inflation statistics
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the cost of living as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Government’s preferred measure, rose by 4.5%. The inflation rate as measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI) was 5.2%.
Individual items looked like this:
- Housing costs (excluding mortgage interest) up 6.3%
- Petrol and oil up 11.9%
- Vehicle tax and insurance up 22.4%
- Rail fares up 8.1%
- Food 4.7%
- Clothing and footwear 10.9%
- etc.
NHS pay increase this year 0%
(posted 29/05/2011)
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Annex T - Scottish letter
Following discussion at the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC), the Scottish Government Health Department has re-issued the 2010 guidance on Annex T (accelerated career progression). The covering letter and the guidance can be downloaded here
(posted 29/05/2011)
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Len McCluskey’s speech at Glasgow May Day rally
Len McCluskey, General Secretary of Unite, addressed this year’s May Day rally in Glasgow. His speech can be viewed on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-_vo_dX5iQ.
(posted 29/05/2011)
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Shift working hazards
Employees working a night shift are three times more likely to have a work-related accident than day-shift colleagues and twice as likely to have a car accident
on the way home after their shift according to a report from The Young Foundation. The study found night-shift workers to be “a vulnerable workforce, poorly
supported whose members are mainly unaware of the risks they face”. The Young Foundation’s report, Rough Nights: the growing dangers of working at night, can be downloaded here.
(posted 16/05/2011)
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May Day march Berlin
Although on holiday, some Branch members found time to participate in Berlin’s 2011 May Day march.
(posted 16/05/2011)
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Branch library update
The Branch has purchased copies of the following booklets:
- Sickness absence and sick pay - a guide for union reps (October 2010);
- Discrimination at work - a guide to the Equality Act 2010 (December 2010);
- Case law at work (January 2011).
Group representatives may borrow a copy from a senior rep (in case of difficulty, contact the Branch Secretary). A full list of available publications is available here.
(posted 16/05/2011)
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Meetings: Group Reps - change of venue and dates; Branch - change of venue
Following a decision by the STUC to more than double the cost of room hire for the monthly Group meeting, Glasgow Health Service Branch decided that holding
the Branch and Group Representatives meetings at the STUC venue no longer offered value for money. Accordingly, future Group Representatives meetings will
be held in the union’s Glasgow office at John Smith House, 145-165 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 4RZ. Unfortunately, the change of venue has meant some
of the previously agreed meeting dates have had to be changed. The updated list of meeting dates can be be viewed here, but group representatives should note
that future meetings will start at 1.30 pm and not 2.00 pm.
Future meetings of the the Branch will be held in the Campanile Hotel, 19 Tunnel Street, Glasgow, G3 8HL. The previously agreed dates and time remain unchanged.
(posted 27/04/2011, updated 09/05/2011))
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National RRP - Scottish circular
National Recruitment and Retention Premia (NRRP) are agreed national pay supplements for individual jobs, or groups of jobs, where market pressures would
make it difficult for NHS organisations to recruit or retain staff in particular jobs, UK-wide, at the normal salary.
The Hartley equal pay test case Employment Tribunal determined that the NRRP in payment to maintenance craft workers was justified until 31 March 2011, but
must cease after that date and NRRP will not be paid to new starters from 1 April 2011.
Transitional arrangements have been agreed to cover staff currently in receipt of the payments. The premia payable for maintenance craft workers (staff
requiring full electrical, plumbing or mechanical crafts qualifications) and healthcare chaplains will be withdrawn over a two year period. Current payments will be protected as follows:
• Year one: 2011/12 100 % of the payment at current value.
• Year two: 2012/13 50% of the payment at current value.
• On 1 April 2013 all payments will cease.
The Scottish circular can be downloaded here
(posted 19/04/2011)
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Unite launches mobile service
You may be aware that the union has a mobile companion - UniteYou - that updates you with information and enables you to reply with your opinions. As this is a
mobile service, the full version of this site can be visited on your mobile phone, just type in the address uniteyou.org to your phone’s browser. Text CUTS to
86888 for free to join the text message service.
It is our intention to create a Scotland specific service from April to focus on the campaigns that are of importance to our members. Could you please sign up to
the service if you haven't done so already and circulate widely through your contacts and distribution lists as the service will be a key part of our strategy to
organise, mobilise and communicate with our members here in Scotland.
Pat Rafferty
Regional Secretary
(posted 04/04/2011)
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Scottish NHS Committee pays tribute to Michael Fuller
At a special meeting of the union’s Scottish NHS Committee in Perth, tribute was paid to Regional Officer Michael Fuller who retired last month. Michael was for
many years the Regional Officer with responsibility for Glasgow Health Service Branch, as well as being the union’s lead officer for the NHS in Scotland. In the
latter capacity, he played a leading role in the introduction of partnership working as well as representing the union with distinction on numerous national
committees and bodies. The importance of partnership working in achieving advances such as paid parental leave, organisational change earnings protection, no
compulsory redundancies etc cannot be over estimated.
Michael with Sharon Duncan, chair of Unite’s Scottish NHS
Committee.
(posted 04/04/2011)
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Joint letter to Guardian on NHS pensions
Unite joined forces with a number of other NHS unions to write to the Guardian newspaper in defence of the NHS Pension scheme. The published letter can be seen on the Guardian’s website:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/31/informed-debate-on-nhs-pensions
(posted 04/04/2011)
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NHS Scotland Pay Circular 2011
With effect from 1st April, the following changes will apply:
- Pay points 1 to 15 will receive a flat rate increase of £250;
- Pay point 23 increased by 0.33%, with a consequential spreading of points at the top of Band 5 and bottom of Band 6;
- Pay point 1 not to be used in Scotland, as it’s below the Scottish Living Wage
- Annex U Trainees on a percentage of the top a particular pay band should receive a total of a £250 uplift if their salary is less than 21,000
The Scottish NHS circular can be downloaded here
(posted 04/04/2011)
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Christchurch Earthquake
Former Branch Chair Marlene Barrie was on an extended stay in Christchurch, New Zealand when the recent earthquake struck. She has sent the following message:
Thanks for all your concerns. Not able to get in touch before as power, has been off - however we are grateful to be alive and well. Power now on, but still no water or sewerage.
Using friend's e mail just to let anyone who is concerned know we are okay! House quite badly damaged, but still livable in (we think!)
Garden covered in liquifaction which is horrible stuff!
Dunkirk spirit is to the fore, and everyone helping everyone else.
We have water from an artesian well in the street which opened up seconds after the earthquake after 40 years of being blocked! Won't describe other facilites, but they are fairly primitive!
Everyone is devastated at the loss of all the people, and for the destruction of such a beautiful city.
Awra Best, Marlene
(posted 27/02/2011)
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Inflation hits 5.1% (or 4% or 2.4% or 5.1% or 3.8%)
So just what is the real inflation rate. Well, the traditional method of measuring inflation has been the Retail Price Index (RPI) and in January the 12 month inflation
rate was 5.1%. The Government’s preferred measure is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which excludes housing costs and was 4%. Another Government
measure is the RPIX, which is the RPI minus mortgage interest payments, and was 5.1% in January. Just to make matters really confusing, the Government also
publishes the CPIY (CPI minus VAT, duties, insurance premium tax, air passenger duty, stamp duty on share transactions) which stands at 2.4% and the RPIY
(RPI minus council tax, VAT, duties, vehicle excise duty, insurance tax and air passenger duty) which is 3.8%. There’s more but, unlike the Government, I
wouldn’t want to confuse you. So, I’ll just say that housing costs were up by 5.8%; petrol and oil by 15.4%; vehicle tax and insurance 26.1%; food 6.2%; clothing and footwear 9.3% etc etc.
(posted 22/02/2011)
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Official inflation data ‘misleading’
Britain’s official inflation statistics are ‘misleading’ the public as to the real amount by which prices are rising, academics have warned in a report.
The official price indices currently available for the UK are misleading the general public and are of doubtful relevance for policy purposes,’ said the report,
published in the respected journal of the International Association for Official Statistics.
The authors, Michael Ward, Derek Blade and former IMF official Carol Carson, said the measure failed to make a ‘totally unambiguous’ distinction between the
change in prices of a given bundle of goods and services, and the way in which consumers respond to such price changes. While this approach may be
standard now in most developed countries, they said, ‘this does not necessarily make it right.’ They warned that the public may lose faith in the measure due to
the gap between it and ‘their own daily shopping experience.’ They also cast doubt on its methodology, such as changing the weighting of certain goods, and
raised concerns as to the very goods on which it is based.
‘The CPI purports to measure the general increase in prices when, in fact, it leaves out major costs like housing that are of primary concern to households,’ they said.
And while mortgage interest – an important housing cost – is included in the retail price index (RPI), the former official gauge, the experts said the CPI excludes all
housing costs on the ‘curious grounds that it was not possible to reach agreement among the EU member countries on how to measure them.’
Calling the gauge ‘little more than a political convenience,’ they said it simply served as an indicator necessary to facilitate comparability with other EU states and
ensure conformity with EU policy targets.
Courtesy: Citywire
(posted 22/02/2011)
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March for the Alternative
On Saturday 26th March Unite members, along with their families and friends will be going to London to ‘March for the Alternative’. The march will send a strong
message against the cuts being pushed through by the Conservative-led coalition government.
Join us and make your voice heard. You can come with your family and friends on the Unite buses, coaches and trains going to London. The union has organised
train travel from Glasgow: if you want to attend contact Kenny Jordan at the Unite Glasgow Office: Kenny.Jordan@unitetheunion.org.
Further details of the march and rally (assemble at Victoria Embankment, London at 11.00 am on the 26th March) are available on the union’s website at: www.unitetheunion.org/marchforalternative
Unite is at the heart of a powerful, progressive coalition against the cuts, bringing together service users, charities and community groups. The union movement
and the country face the sternest test in a generation. Not only is the economy on its knees, not only is the law tilted against us, but we have a government in
power that is making spending cuts of a speed, scale and savagery never before seen. This national demonstration forms part of the campaign against these cuts.
(posted 13/02/2011)
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Additional Public Holiday
Although the unions and management at the UK NHS Staffs Council have been unable to reach agreement on the status of the additional public holiday on Friday
29th April 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Health has decided that the normal terms and conditions that apply to the usual 8 public holidays will also apply to the
additional public holiday. Nicola Sturgeon’s letter can be downloaded here.
(posted 13/02/2011)
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Extension of on-call protection
Members will be aware that the protection agreed at UK level that allows for the continuation of current systems of payment for on-call ends on 31st March 2011.
It has been agreed that within NHS Scotland the new on-call payments system will be negotiated on a Scotland-wide basis and that in order to allow the matter to
be considered in 2011-12, the Cabinet Secretary for Health has agreed that the current arrangements shall be extended and Health Boards have been so
instructed. A copy of Nicola Sturgeon’s letter can be downloaded here
(posted 13/02/2011)
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Nominations for Unite executive council
Nominations are invited for the for the Regional; NHS Sector; National Women's; and Black, Asian or Ethnic (BAEM) minority seats on the union’s executive council.
The Regional and NHS Sector have two places each for nominations, the Women's and BAEM each have one place. Nominations may be made at the February
meeting of the Branch (2nd February at 6.30 in the STUC 333 Woodlands Glasgow) - anyone wishing to be nominated must be an accountable representative of
workers and must be a member of the electoral constituency they wish to represent. This means that:
- A nominee for a Regional seat must be a member of that region
- A nominee for an Industrial Sector seat must be a member of that
Industrial Sector
- A nominee for the National Women’s Seat must be a woman
- A nominee for the national Black, Asian and ethnic minority seat must be
a person who is of Black , Asian and ethnic minority origin.
A copy of the February Branch meeting agenda may be downloaded here
(posted 13/01/2011)
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All change at the top
Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, has announced that he will step down from that office on January 31, 2011.
The move follows the election of Len McCluskey as Unite general secretary in November.
Writing to the members of Unite's governing body, the Executive Council, Tony Woodley says: "Like all of you, I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and
optimism throughout Unite following the conclusion of the election for general secretary-designate. It is clear that our whole union is now ready to move on in a
unified way under the new leadership chosen by our members.
"You will be aware that under the provisions of the union's rule book, I should remain as general secretary for a further year. I cannot be persuaded that is a
sensible course of action – it is not in the best interests of the union, or of Len himself, to have another twelve months of two-headed direction of Unite.
"It is, therefore, my intention to resign as general secretary of Unite the union as from January 31 2011. Len McCluskey will then become, in the new year, Unite’s
first and sole general secretary.
"However, I am pleased to say that I am not jumping ship – I will continue to work for the union until my normal retirement age of 65."
Announcing Tony Woodley's new role as Unite's executive officer for organising, general secretary-elect, Len McCluskey said: "Tony Woodley will be rightly
regarded as one of the defining union leaders of modern times. It was not be easy for him to make this decision but it is testimony to Tony that he believes that to
do so is in the best interests of our union.
"I am delighted to say that Tony will carry on contributing to Unite's work. His role as Unite's executive officer for organising will help this union deliver on its
pledge to stop the most vicious attacks on the lives of working people for generations."
Tony Woodley will also continue to lead on the union's attempts to settle the BA dispute. Tony was elected general secretary of the Transport and General
Workers Union in 2003 going on to become joint general secretary in the newly-formed Unite with Derek Simpson in May 2005. Derek Simpson retired from Unite on December 23rd, 2010.
(posted 04/01/2011)
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