Middlesex University UNISON Branch - Strike 4th Oct

Middlesex University UNISON Branch members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of Industrial action in the face of compulsory redundancies at the University.

UNISON members at Middlesex University will now join their UCU colleagues in a day of co-ordinated industrial action on Tuesday 4th October.

UNISON members have stood firm in the face of a rolling programme of restructures, losing colleagues to "voluntary" redundancies and the stress and uncertainty of their jobs being deleted, having to apply for other posts, redeployment pools and compulsory redundancy. Those left face increased workloads, stress, potential future outsourcing and changes to their working patterns.

UNISON members have stood united and said loud and clear

Enough is Enough

UNISON believes that these severe and drastic cuts represent a serious risk to the University, cutting too fast and too deep; potentially damaging key areas of the University business. Middlesex University appears to be adopting a "more with less" policy without adequately explaining how already overstretched staff will continue to provide the "student experience" that the University relies on in their marketing.

UNISON members at Middlesex University will take industrial action not because it is an end in itself. We will take this action as a statement of intent. UNISON will continue to defend our jobs and student services at Middlesex University.

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PLEASE send messages of support to:

UNISON1@mdx.ac.uk

http://mdxbranchlines.blogspot.com/

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UNISON Scotland WILL Strike over Pensions!

It's good to see Friday's announcement of a dispute over the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme on the UNISON Scotland website (http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/pensions/).

This shows us (thank f!) that UNISON Scotland Local Government are firmly back on board with the rest of the movement in defence of pensions after what appeared to be a slight wobble.

Our Scottish Regional Secretary was quoted in the media, on Thursday, as lifting the threat of industrial action in Scottish local government (http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/news/politics/swinney-counts-cost-as-budget-backlash-begins-1.1125169) following the announcement by the Scottish Finance Minister on Wednesday that the Scottish Government will leave decisions on contributions to the Local Government Pension Schemes to those schemes (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/09/22135416/7).

This was apparently based on a blog post that he wrote that has now been removed.

If we were only in dispute about the issue of increased pension contributions (which are really a pensions tax) - you perhaps could understand why the possibility that Scottish local authorities might agree to no increase would justify such an announcement - but it isn't just a contribution increase, there's the retirement age, the rpi/cpi change making our pensions worth 15% less and of course the longer term negotiations on pensions that haven't even started yet!

Wednesday's announcement from the Scottish Finance Minister had nothing to say about the proposed increase in retirement age, nor the switch to CPI for uprating.

Whoever said that the threat of industrial action in Scottish local government should be lifted made a very serious mistake indeed - and I am extremely glad that this was pointed out to them by our national union.

In a letter that went out on Friday
UNISON notified the Scottish local government employers that we are indeed in dispute, so hopefully any damage from this brief and foolish error can now be repaired.

Comrades on the Scottish Local Government Committee need to ensure, at their meeting on Tuesday, that they continue to stand alongside other Scottish public servants, as well as their local Government colleagues in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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Pensions strike - build for action on and after N30

Discussing on Saturday with fellow activists what we need to do to defend our pensions, it was clear that our number one priority must be to maximise the turnout - and the "YES" vote - in the coming ballot.

Floorwalking, leafletting, workplace meetings and branch meetings are needed everywhere - as is an LGPS pensions calculator to accompany the NHS pensions calculator on our website (http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/reckoner.asp).

The first and most important task we face is to secure first the vote and then the turnout on strike on 30 November.

This work will inevitably take up the majority of our time and attention - and branches should be offering support and assistance to other local branches who may require this.

However, at our branch meetings in particular we need to be considering our views about the future strategy from 1 December on, both in relation to the tactics of industrial action and to negotiations with the Government. Not least because one of the first questions members ask is what happens next.

I don't think it's good enough that our union leaders do not plan to meet to consider further action, after the 30 November strike, until 5 December.

Given the probable Parliamentary timetable (regs laid in january!) to legislate to force through the "contributions increase" which is really a tax on membership of a public sector pension scheme, we need to plan further action - and possibly more than just another single day - after "N30" and before Xmas.

Since teachers will be reluctant to strike in the last week of term, a meeting of union leaders on 1 December would be essential if we are to have enough time to notify the employers of the next day of action, we could for example following the huge success that I believe Nov 30th will be by writing to employers saying we will have a further 2 days strike on say the 10th and 11th of December. (Any financial deduction for those strike days wouldn't come out of members wages until January)

We need to follow our leaders into this battle to defend our pensions - but with most of unison's decision making meetings where we could vote on strategy/motions being turned into pensions briefings. (Yes we need to do all we can to maximise pensions vote and action but surely could manage keep with democratic decision making meetings at the same time?) We needto find alternative ways of giving our members and branches views to those leading this dispute.

At branch meetings we need to express our views about where this dispute needs to be led after 30 November and ensure these are forwarded to our national officers.

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UNISON - Special Local Government Conf

Hello all we only have 4 weeks left to get branches covering 25% of LG membership to agree a motion for the special conference.

The timing of this couldn't be better as the conference would be in January when we would need to make decisions around the strategy of the dispute after the strike action on November 30th and before the regulations are laid in parliament.

Please pass this motion (or a version there of as long as it includes this paragraph "We request a Special Local Government Service Group Conference to discuss the current situation of the Local Government Pension Scheme in accordance with Rule D.3.4.11." and notify H.wakefield@unison.co.uk d.prentis@unison.co.uk with a copy to me by October 25th.

Thanks
Mj

Motion Calling for Special LG Conference

This Branch believes it is essential to ensure that decisions around the strategy and negotiations of our Pension dispute are made within the lay leadership of our union and the properly constituted structures.

We therefore agree to pass the resolution below and to Instruct the Branch Secretary and Chair to refer this to The National Head of Local Government and the General Secretary immediately

The resolution is

"We request a Special Local Government Service Group Conference to discuss the current situation of the Local Government Pension Scheme in accordance with Rule D.3.4.11."

The reason for this measure is that we feel that too many important issues in relation to the current pension situation are unresolved.

Whilst working for a huge turnout in the ballot and a huge Yes vote it also has to be acknowledged that there has been no decision in relation to how to deal with any proposed settlement of the Dispute and whether any such settlement is debated at a Service Group Conference prior to being put to members. Neither has there been any discussion or broad based decision on the nature and tactics of any strike action to be employed, and against the background of UNISON not taking strike action alongside the PCS, NUT and ATL in June, the question of the broadest possible campaign across public sector trade unions is clearly crucial."

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UNISON to ballot for strike action on pensions

 

Speaking at TUC conference in London today, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said that the union will send notice to 9,000 employers that it will ballot its 1.1 million members for industrial action over pensions.

Dave Prentis said:

"UNISON represents one million public services workers and the campaigns we are fighting aren't just about pensions. They aren't just about jobs and pay, they are about the kind of society we leave to our children. They're about protecting and passing on the rights our grandparents fought for the welfare state, universal public services. They're about breaking a political consensus that says the market know best. We stand for ordinary people serving the public.

"Caring, educating, making our communities safer, cleaner, healthier. Ordinary people who had nothing to do with this financial crisis yet now being made to pay the price. A Coalition taking away their pay, privatising their jobs. Daily rounds of redundancies. And yet on top of all this. They now want to take away our pensions, the pensions our members worked for. The pensions our members saved for. Every week of their working lives. Not for a life of luxury. But for some basic security in retirement. Putting away a little each week for dignity so they didn't have to rely on benefits in old age.

"No gold plated pension, just enough to get by. An average pension in local govt just 59. Congress,our members are no militants. Striking is the last thing they want to do. And no -we didn't ask for this conflict. We've spent 8 months looking for agreement. Always willing to talk. To modernise the schemes-to be realistic. It's been less than four years ago that we agreed to close our health pension scheme to new members. New schemes brought in recognising that people were living longer -we did it. A new local government scheme capable of investing £3 billion pounds a year in our economy- because it is cash rich.. we did that...

"But now not satisfied with that. This Coalition wants its pound of flesh. They are intent on re-opening the protected schemes. Demanding hundreds and thousands of workers, mainly women work 6 even 11 years longer to get their pension. They are intent on closing new schemes just coming in, the ink barely dry. Yet bringing in new "new schemes" with far worse benefits. They are intent on stopping our members who are privatised taking their pensions with them. Cut off completely from their pension scheme. Locked out.

"And to add insult to injury. They are intent on imposing a tax on all public service workers who save for their pensions. A staggering 50% increase in their contributions. But Congress- not a single penny to go into the schemes. All of it-every single penny to be syphoned off by the Treasury to pay for the deficit created by the failure of the banking system.

"An unprecedented attack on ordinary working people. An audacious and devious means to pay for the greed of others. So Congress we've had enough... We've been patient,we've cooperated. But there comes a time when we say enough is enough. Because if we don't they'll be back for more... and more and more,,,

"So today..... Congress, I want to make it clear to this coalition that we will negotiate any time, anyplace, anywhere but if they impose change by dictat. We will take industrial action. And today Brendan Barber has convened a meeting of all public service unions to look at united co-ordinated industrial action if those talks fail. And in moving to industrial action I commit UNISON to work as one with out sister unions the GMB and UNITE. And today as General Secretary of UNISON I give formal notice to 9,000 employers that we are balloting for industrial action.

"A ballot unprecedented in scale will cover over a million workers in health, local government, school, FE, higher education, police, the voluntary sector and the environment and the private sector. It's a decision we don't take lightly. And the stakes are high. Higher than ever before. But Congress of one thing I'm certain. Now is the time to make our stand. And it will be hard. We'll be vilified, attacked. Set against each other. Public versus private ,divide and rule. The oldest trick in the book. But if we're serious. We must stay strong, united. All of us shoulder to shoulder. No gesture politics ,no hollow rhetoric.

"Our members looks to us all to lead. To work together, To run the public and political campaigns needed to win their case. It's crucial. And we'll accept none of the emotional blackmail from politicians of any colour. If this coalition is so worried about the people who use our services. They shouldn't be closing them down. If they're so worried about disruption. They shouldn't be privatising them. If they're so worried about the old, the sick or the young. Stop shutting down care homes and start getting our young people into work and giving them a future.

"So Congress. The fight of our lives may be an overused cliché. But make no mistake Congress

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-THIS IS IT...

"We will take the fight to them. Congress this is no time for despair. No time to look back. Let us go forward. Confidant in our cause. A clear message from this Congress. We are determined. We are united. We are determined. Fighting for what is right. Fighting for our members.

"HANDS OFF OUR PENSIONS."

ENDS

 

Regards
Marsha-Jane

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Barnet unison strike tomorrow - council impose a 'lock out'

Please send Barnet members a message of solidarity and if you can attend the Lobby at 5.30 tomorrow! john.burgess[at]barnetunison.org.uk

 
This morning UNISON members have all received a letter from the Council threatening staff that if they take strike action tomorrow they will be deducted a full day's pay regardless whether they work until 1pm. Furthermore I am hearing that staff are being told that there will be managers on the gates of NLBP to check staff in. If staff do not sign a register stating they will not be taking half day strike action they will be sent home.
 
The Council is trying to impose what used to be called a 'Lock out!'
 
As a UNISON member it was agreed by all that you would take half a day and therefore lose half a day's pay. That is what most reasonable employers would have deducted under these circumstances. However the Councils actions are neither proportionate and reasonable.
 
The lateness at which the Council have given this letter demonstrates they fear that UNISON members will all walk out tomorrow.
 
I can confirm UNISON will make up the cost of any financial loss up until 1pm on Tuesday 13 September.
 
Messages of support are flooding in from the community and other trade unions.
"John
As a Barnet resident and public sector employee I wanted to send a quick email to express my support for you and your members and the proposed "Barnet Independence Day" action on Tuesday. As someone who has experienced being outsourced but who was then fortunate enough to get back into the public sector, my experience tells me that it would be inconceivable for a contractor to take over delivery on the scale intended by the London Borough of Barnet without there being both a degradation of services and in the terms of conditions for staff who are transferred; this is how private companies make their profit from such contracts.
 
Hopefully your campaign will open a few more Barnet residents eyes to what is going on and more importantly, to what we might end up with in Barnet in terms of a service from our local authority. I wish you and Barnet Unison all the best and will try and join you at the Town Hall for at least part of the rally on Tuesday evening."
 
I have recently had a message of support from the PCS union. They recently won a battle with their employer who was seeking to transfer their jobs out of the country. Members all voted to take strike action and they won. To read the full article click here
 
We anticipate members will be angry and confused and have booked the Oak Room, Building 4, 12 – 2pm
 
Tomorrow is your chance to make your voice heard loud and clear.
 
Best wishes
John Burgess
Branch Secretary.
Barnet UNISON
www.barnetunison.me.uk

Standing up for staff
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