Pensions victory

UNISON's relentless campaigning to preserve a vital retirement protection has paid off.

In an announcement to parliament today, local government minister Phil Woolas promised to consult on extending the full 'rule of 85' protection when the new local government pension scheme is rolled out next year.

The government had initially planned to dump the rule - which allows workers to retire on an unreduced pension if their combined age and years of service total 85 or over - in 2016.

Now, however, there is another chance for the union to argue it should be retained until 2020, which would bring workers in the LGPS in England and Wales into line with their colleagues in Scotland.

UNISON is welcoming the move as a major breakthrough, claiming “the constant lobbying and pressure has paid off”.

Regional secretary Gill Hale said: "Our campaign has delivered many improvements to the new pension scheme… attributable to delivering effective industrial action, hard work and successful campaigning of our branches and negotiators for over two years.”

UNISON's annual local government conference opens in Brighton this Sunday, when delegates will meet to consider the LGPS and its provisions.

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UNISON gears up for equality duty

Gender equality is about improving the working lives of both men and women, delegates were reminded yesterday.

The gender equality duty, introduced in April , places a statutory duty on all public authorities to eliminate sex discrimination and promote equality.

Crucially, the code of practice on the duty refers to consultation with, and involvement of trade unions – identifying 13 employment priorities that are longstanding items on the equality bargaining agenda.

UNISON is in an ideal position to influence its implementation, since the union’s members can participate in the consultation process both as service users and service providers.

Sharon Foster of the national women’s conference told delegates: “You can use this duty to change your working lives for the better.”

Conference called on the NEC and other relevant bodies to:

• ensure that all branches and service groups are aware of the potential of the duty;
• make sure tall branches make use of the guidance and training available on taking part in the consultation process;
• work with regions to share best practice;
• lobby the government to ensure proper funding for the monitoring and enforcement of the duty.

The NEC’s June Nelson spoke of the breadth of the gender equality duty.

“It is not just about providing crèches and greater maternity leave, but issues that affect all members, both male and female,” she said.

“It could be used to open up job opportunities for both men and women, that will encourage more men into caring professions and more women into senior posts. It is about flexibility arrangements for men who are tired of the 24:7 culture, and a new opportunity to put in place strategies to close the gender pay gap.”

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International voice

UNISON has proven to be a powerful voice for workers not only for Britain but all over the world, conference heard today.

"When you speak, governments listen," said this afternoon's guest speaker, Annie Geron, general secretary of PSLink, UNISON's sister union in the Philippines.

She praised the union for its condemnation of the corrupt political regime in her country which has let extra-judicial killings go unpunished.

"Every week someone is killed," she said. "Every day, the government treats it as business as usual."

Appealing to the union to continue to speak up for the ordinary people of the Philippines, Ms Geron said: "You are the largest union of the public sector; you have power and influence in this country - please continue creating the pressure on the Arroyo government to take decisive action to stop the killings and to respect human rights.

"Please don't underestimate what these petition letters can do," she urged. "They do save lives."

In the Philippines, as in the UK, trade unions are waging war against the privatisation of public services. But in a country where corruption is already rife, privatisation only opens the door wider to corruption, Ms Geron said.

"And when corruption is pervasive, public services suffer."

Ms Geron also thanked the union for championing the rights of migrant workers, and hailed its contribution to the development of an ethical recruitment framework.

Education and health were suffering because of an exodus of teachers and healthworkers from the Philippines, she said. "The Philippines is the number one exporter of nurses in the world," and the past four years have seen a 61% decrease in the number of doctors.

All over the country, hospitals are closing because of a lack of skilled health professionals, she said, blaming "relentless and unethical recruitment by developed countries" who were poaching skilled professionals without offering any compensation.

"Keep migrant workers on the union agenda," she urged.

"Finally, I thank UNISON for your invaluable contribution to empowering workers in developing countries. Together, let's wage war against poverty, against rights violations, and let's win the fight to keep public services in public hands."

UNISON news.
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Racism embedded in British institutions

Racism remains “embedded” in Britain’s institutions and daily life. Baroness Howells told conference today.

The Labour peer, who has worked tirelessly for race equality, addressed delegates immediately after they voted to continue the union’s campaign against the BNP.

A descendant of an enslaved African, Baroness Howells spoke about the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade by the UK parliament. She commented that “Britain was very, very good at slavery, just as it was great at colonialism.”

There had been many positive steps forward in the past 200 years, she said, including the Race Relations Act and the current government’s commitment to community cohesion and social inclusion.

“But I would argue that emotions retain their depth and strength, because the racism that flourished then, lingers on, remaining embedded in our institutions and daily life.”

The fact that the killers of Stephen Lawrence were known, but still free, was one terrible example of that fact, she said. The baroness is a trustee of the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.

She told conference that, to mark the bicentenary, she would like to see an institute founded that would reflect on the lessons learned from that part of Britain’s history.

“I would also like there to be a symbolic legacy – a statue of the unknown slave, just as we have a tomb of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey,” she said.

“We do not worship that warrior, rather we revere him for his sacrifice. Similarly with the statue we would recognise the humanity of the slave, and recoil in horror at his transformation into disposable property.”

UNISON news.
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=3443

UNISON pledges support for Palestine

UNISON delegates today agreed to support a campaign of sustained pressure to end Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

The union was discussing its position after a turbulent few weeks for the Palestinians, which have involved intense fighting between factions, the sacking of the Hamas prime minister and resumption of US and EC diplomatic ties.

Proposing the motion, Tracy Morgan of Wolverhampton General branch said that Palestinians were “living on tenterhooks” and that a renewed campaign would give them “a sense of hope”.

Some delegates were concerned that the move was too extreme and would penalise Israelis.

But Ms Morgan assured them that the intention was not to discriminate against the Israeli people themselves.

“The occupation needs to end so that everyone can live together. And I believe that Israelis and Palestinians do want to live together.”

The motion urges Israel to respect the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and to establish a state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with its capital in Jerusalem.

Conference called on the NEC to:

• continue to work with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others, as appropriate;
• continue to develop capacity building projects with the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU);
• call upon the UK government to end the arms trade with Israel;
• produce UNISON material on Palestine to build knowledge among members;
• consider inviting a PGFTU delegation to the regions.

UNISON news.
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=3414

Government faces united fight on pay.

The prospect of nurses, dinner ladies, teachers, police and posties all sharing a picket line moved a step closer today.

Delegates at the union’s national conference in Brighton this morning voted unanimously for a motion demanding the government abandon its 2% public sector pay freeze.

The move commits UNISON to mounting a vigorous campaign for fair pay across the public sector, which could involve lawful strike action.

Action will be coordinated with other public sector unions.

“Our members have been insulted,” said NEC member Jane Carolan, introducing the debate. “If this government truly wants 21st century public services, then it will have to pay 21st century pay rates.

“But unions cannot fight these battles alone,” she added. “This composite commits us to a united front, to work with the PCS, the GMB, NUT, UCU, CWU, Unite and other trade unions.”

The government had not treated workers with respect, said UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis, stressing that it is important to unite to co-ordinate the fight back.

“This year, the government and the employers have miscalculated,” he said. “They have rewarded the delivery of first-class public services with a kick in the teeth.

“We won’t have it. We will work with our sister unions. We are prepared to fight. We are prepared to strike. We will coordinate action locally and nationally, and we will win.”

Merv Butler, for South Tyneside local government branch, said branches would gain strength in seeing us coordinate action across other unions.

Public-sector workers were angry, conference said. A united campaign would harness that anger. “This provides us with an opportunity to unite on a scale that we have not seen for years. Grab that opportunity.”

“This motion is absolutely crucial,” said Northern region rep Claire Williams. “It’s about what we put into action in our branches when we go away from here. Let’s be clear, regions have a key role to play in organising action, bringing health and local government workers together with police workers and through other trade unions. This is about defending our pay but also our public services.”

Jane Carolan stressed delegates should return to their branches and talk to members to prepare for a ballot on strike action. “You are this union’s leaders – take the lead,” she urged them. “Go back to your branches and prepare them for the battle ahead.

“It’s time to use our trade union principles: educate, agitate, organise and mobilise. Our cause is just, we can win.”

UNISON news.
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=3440

Trade Union : An introduction

What is a trade union?

A trade union is an organized group of workers. Its main objective is to look after and advance the interests of its members.

A union often discusses agreements with company on reimburse and conditions. It may also offer legal and financial advice, illness remuneration and education facilities to its members.

Trade union appreciation

Employers which recognize any union, will discuss with those union(s) over members' pay and conditions.

Many acknowledgment agreements are reached voluntarily. If agreement can't be reached and the organization employs more than 20 people, a union may apply for statutory recognition. To do so, it must first ask for recognition from the manager in writing.

Collective negotiation.

If a union is formally recognized by an employer, it can negotiate with the employer over terms and conditions. This is known as 'collective bargaining'.

For collective negotiation to work, unions and employers need to agree on how the arrangement is to operate. They might, for example, make agreements providing for the deduction of union subscriptions from members' wages, who is to represent workers in negotiations and how often meetings will take place.

Both these agreements on procedure and agreements between employers and unions changing the terms applying to workers (for example, a pay increase) are called 'collective agreements'. Your contract of employment will probably set out which collective agreements cover you. It's possible that a union may negotiate on your behalf even if you're not a member.

Joining a trade union

Why join a union?

Some workers join a trade union because they believe that a union can:

• negotiate better pay
• negotiate better working conditions, such as more holidays or improved health and safety
• provide training for new skills
• give general advice and support

Union members have the right to be attended to a discipline or grievance hearing by a trade union representative (although trade unions are not compelled to provide this). All employees, in spite of whether they are union members or not, are entitled to be accompanied by a work colleague.

Recognized unions also have rights to consultation where redundancies or a transfer of business are proposed.

There is a regular donation cost for union membership. Different rates may apply to trainees and part-timers. Unions will not normally help with problems which pre-date membership.

How to join

If you want to join a recognized union in your workplace, you could approach a representative for information, for example, the shop steward. Otherwise, contact the TUC to find out which union is relevant to you.

Trade union-related rights

The law gives you the right to join a trade union wherever you work. This right applies whether a union has been renowned or not.

You're protected from being disadvantaged for being a union member. Specifically trade union membership is an unlawful reason for:

• reject you employment
• dismissing you
• selecting you for redundancy

The law gives you the right not to join a trade union. The same protection applies to you as it does to union members. In particular, employers are no longer permitted to operate a 'closed shop' (that is, make all workers join the employer's preferred union).

An employer can't deduct payments from you, for example, to a union or charity, in lieu of union association exclusive of your permission.

Trade union activities

When a union is recognized by an employer, members have the right to time off at an appropriate time to take part in trade union activities. These may include:

• voting in ballots on industrial action
• voting in union elections
• meeting to discuss urgent matters
• attending the annual conference

You don’t have the right to be paid for any time spent taking industrial action.