Blog: Fighting for that radical Labour government our members need

Today I’m in York, where I’ve been addressing our union’s annual Labour Link Forum. It’s always a great event to attend, to hear passionate, politically active and motivated UNISON activists talk about how we are taking our union’s politics into the Labour Party.

Our union has always been affiliated to the Labour Party. I have been a member of the Labour Party for over 40 years. I know what an incredible difference Labour governments can make to the lives of our members. But we must always remember that our union is not a fan club for the Labour Party – Our relationship is founded on truth, honesty and of course friendship. And the very best friends are those who are honest enough to say when they disagree, as well as give wholehearted support when that support is justified.

So from Brexit to privatisation and social care to local government funding – I know that our Labour Link will remain vital in fighting for our union’s politics within Labour. Influencing, convincing and fighting for that radical Labour government our members need.

It’s not just Labour people I’ve been speaking to this week though. Yesterday I was in Bournemouth as a keynote speaker at the Local Government Association’s annual conference. It was a great opportunity to speak to local government leaders about our union’s vision for local government. As the biggest local government union in the country, we will always fight for local services – and for the funding that’s needed to provide them. After a decade of austerity, local services are at breaking point – so my challenge to local councillors was for them to join with us, whatever party they’re part of, in the battle for the funding for jobs, pay and services.

In the coming months, our new Local Service Champions campaign will be a huge priority for our union – building towards October 17th, our first Local Service Champions Day. I hope that getting behind the UK’s forgotten army of local government workers is something everyone in our union can get behind – and that councillors and local employers will get behind those workers too.

The article Blog: Fighting for that radical Labour government our members need first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2019/07/blog-fighting-radical-labour-government-members-need/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/186075809247

Local government services aren’t optional, but the bedrock of a caring society

Addressing the Local Government Association annual conference in Bournemouth today (Thursday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“UNISON is passionate about local government and the half a million council workers it represents – many of them women.

“But local government is all too often forgotten despite the vast range of jobs and the sheer scale of support council workers provide to communities up and down the UK. They really are the country’s forgotten army.

“That’s why UNISON has just launched its local service champions campaign to celebrate the work of the council staff who support each and every one of us from cradle to grave.

“Whether it’s the births, deaths and marriages registrar or the grave digger, the care worker or the caretaker, the youth worker or the park keeper, the housing officer, food safety officer or the refuse collector – local government touches everyone’s lives every single hour of every single day.

“And these are not optional services, but critical ones that provide the bedrock of a civilised and a caring society. A bedrock that’s been so easily ignored by politicians.

“So it’s no surprise that in the ‘splash the cash’ battle between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, where millions have been promised – for the NHS, the armed forces, fisheries and farming – that not a single penny has been promised, not a single mention made of local government. That says it all for me.

“Being a local councillor isn’t easy at the best of times, especially when local government has been hit hardest of all by austerity. Austerity has always been a political choice. It’s an error that’s caused untold, long-lasting damage to the very fabric of our communities.

“I know it’s been tough for councillors who’ve had to make the most difficult
decisions about jobs, services and funding.

“There is no easy fix for local government, if there was we’d have found it by now. But the most pressing concern is easily social care. The sector is in crisis and the elderly, vulnerable and those with the greatest needs are being badly let down.

“From 15-minute visits to no training for staff, and some of the worst employment conditions I have witnessed in years, care workers juggle the complex demands of those they care for.

“Many do so without payment for their travel and others have seen their pay for sleep-in shifts cuts. And yet it’s possible to earn more on the till in Tesco than racing from one client to the next. It’s no wonder so many care workers are always tired and exhausted, left feeling guilty that there’s simply no time to care.

“But ensuring decent care, decent conditions and better pay is only half the problem. Funding and the hidden structure behind many care companies – based on short-term property portfolios, not the longevity of provision – is quite simply a ticking timebomb for the nation’s future.

“Privatisation and outsourcing is a failed, expensive experiment that keeps evolving without any improvement to services. Councils of every political persuasion have done it – some for purely ideological reasons, others couched in the language of cost savings.

“But even when funding is stretched, privatisation is still a false economy. It means worse services that are unaccountable to local councillors, with cost savings – if in fact there are any – gained at the expense of the very workforce needed to deliver that service.

“Privatisation fails the workforce and your communities. UNISON wants to see an end to privatisation in all public services, especially local government. And of course better funding.

“Local government has been starved of cash, with its funding from central government slashed in half since 2010. Councils are at breaking point, with many running out of reserves. The chaos that erupted in Northamptonshire could be replicated ten times over.

“Northamptonshire has become a byword for local government failure. It’s also a salutary warning to those who believe that an extreme low council tax and a high level of outsourcing works. It doesn’t.

“It means a council now having to be broken up at a staggering cost of £44 million, swallowing up other councils who’ve done nothing wrong. It is a warning, a flashing red light on the dashboard of local government that surely says that the time has come to do things differently.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Local government services aren’t optional, but the bedrock of a caring society first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2019/07/local-government-services-arent-optional-bedrock-caring-society/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/186051199887

Ministers must act now to stop social care crisis getting even worse

Commenting on the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee report on the adult social care sector, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“With yet another report calling for a significant spending boost for social care, the government must listen and get a grip.

“But it is not just about funding. We also have to be able to find workers prepared to take on the challenge of delivering complex care when they could earn more stacking supermarket shelves.

“A long-awaited green paper has now been delayed six times, despite the ongoing crisis in the sector. Action is needed now before the situation gets any worse.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article Ministers must act now to stop social care crisis getting even worse first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2019/07/ministers-must-act-now-stop-social-care-crisis-getting-even-worse/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/186046977982

Newly elected NEC gets down to business

UNISON’s new national executive council got down to planning for the future today when it held its first business meeting since the union’s national conference a fortnight ago.

Events since conference had been dominated by “the Tory leadership kicking each other to bits,” noted general secretary Dave Prentis.

He noted that the two contenders for the leadership had promised £64bn in hand-outs to rich. But if that money was available, he asked “why have we had austerity for such a long time? Why are vulnerable people suffering? Why are the elderly suffering?”

And Mr Prentis noted that there had not been a single comment on local government, which had seen a 50% cut in money. “They do not even mention what our local communities and local community services are going through.”

With more and more councils facing the risk of going bankrupt, as has happened with Conservative controlled Northamptonshire county, he declared, “this is a big issue for our union.”

And, he told the meeting, it’s one he will be raising tomorrow when he speaks to the Local Government Association conference in Bournemouth.

The NEC called on branches across the union to mobilise for the 29 September protest and march at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

Find out more about the march

Another big issues dominating discussion is Brexit. Although UNISON had a very clear idea of the Brexit deal that would protect members’ jobs and interests – including a customs union and single market – that has fallen by the wayside, said Mr Prentis, and the realistic prospect now is either a no deal or bad Tory deal Brexit.

“If this is the case, then it is only right we go back to the people,” he said. And while UNISON wants a general election, that is not in the union’s gift, he noted: especially under the Fixed Term Parliaments act.

The NEC also agreed UNISON’s nominations for the TUC general council: Josie Bird, Davena Ranking, Chris Tansley, Dave Prentis, Liz Snape, Roger McKenzie and Gloria Mills.

And it nominated James Anthony to the TUC general purposes committee.

In addition, the meeting elected members to the various NEC strategic committees: policy and campaigns; development and organisation; international; industrial action; finance and resource management; staffing and services to members. Relevant members also elected NEC representatives to the Labour Link and Campaign Fund national committees.

The article Newly elected NEC gets down to business first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2019/07/nec-july/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/186030216547

School staff win living wage

School caterers and cleaners in Cheshire West are being paid at least £9 an hour after UNISON successfully negotiate a pay rise meaning the lowest paid staff receive the living wage from the beginning of this month.

The deal has been struck with Edsential – a community interest company owned by Cheshire West and Wirral councils, which provides support services across the education sector in the two council areas.

Company staff in the Wirral were already receiving at least £9 an hour due to top-up payments.

But it is not just the lowest paid workers who will receive a pay rise under the deal negotiated by UNSION.

School support staff across grades one to five will receive a pay rise ranging from 2%-7.4% with an average pay rise of just under 5%.

“West Cheshire UNISON are delighted that Edsential have agreed the pay rise and the positive result is testament to the hard work of our branch in negotiating this agreement,” said branch secretary Teresa Connally.

“We have applied pressure over the years to ensure that all staff were paid the living wage and now that persistence has been rewarded. We endeavour to do our upmost for all members.”

Download a UNISON guide to bargaining for the living wage

The Living Wage Foundation

 

The article School staff win living wage first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2019/07/schools-living-wage/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/186023764227

Local government SGE by-election

By-elections are be held for two vacant seats on the local government service group executive: the Eastern female seat and the Greater London female seat.

The nomination period opens on Monday 15 July and closes at 5pm on Friday 23 August 2019. Election procedures, nomination and other forms can be downloaded from elections webpage using the link below.

Download the procedures the forms

For any other election enquiries, contact the member liaison unit at the UNISON Centre. Telephone 020 7121 5399, email elections@unison.co.uk

The article Local government SGE by-election first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2019/07/sge-by-election-2/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/185999703482

Blog: Respect Your Youth

I’m proud that UNISON has made 2019 the year of the young worker. All too often we hear that young people aren’t interested in trade unionism, yet our union has repeatedly shown that when we reach out to young workers, and take their concerns and their issues on board, they can become passionate trade unionists.

That’s why it was so good to see UNISON Cymru Wales – who have a strong track record organising young workers, making good progress with their #RespectYourYouth Charter.

UNISON young members were at the Senedd last week to witness Careers Wales and Cardiff Council signing up to become the first two employers in Wales to adopt the Charter, and were joined by UNISON member and First Minister Mark Drakeford who encouraged other employers and politicians to follow suit.

This is especially important as Wales has one of the highest levels of youth unemployment in the UK. So it’s great to see the needs of young workers being taken on board, fought for and winning the support of employers.

As we continue to grow as a union, getting young members more involved will continue to be a priority – the #RespectYourYouth Charter launched in Wales is a great example of how our union can do that.

The article Blog: Respect Your Youth first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2019/07/blog-respect-youth/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/185983066077