UNISON has ‘grave concerns’ over Edinburgh budget cuts

UNISON, the biggest union representing workers at The City of Edinburgh Council, has issued a statement announcing “grave concerns” about service cuts highlighted in the draft budget proposals produced by the council.

“While we have some sympathy for the cuts being forced on the council by Westminster and Holyrood, our members have grave concerns that the proposals would see a scathing reduction in all the essential services the council provides, and as a result will affect every Edinburgh resident”, said Tom Connolly, UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch service conditions officer.

Pensions ballot - come and hear the facts

The branch has set up meetings on 15 and 29 October for members to get the facts about the pensions ballot starting on 16 October. UNISON is recommending you accept the new Local Government Pension Scheme proposals.

Tuesday 15 Oct 5pm - 7pm European Room
Tuesday 29 Oct 6pm - 8pm Business Centre
both at City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh

Eric MacLennan, branch pensions champion, and senior branch officers will be at the meetings to explain the proposals for the new 2015 scheme and the negotiations that led up to them.

Ballot papers will be sent out to members who are conditioned to the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme on 16 October. The closing date for the ballot is 10am on 7 November 2013. Any member who has not received a ballot paper should contact UNISON Direct on 0845 355 0845.

Each member will get a ballot paper with a recommendation that they vote to Accept the current proposals. There will also be an explanatory leaflet that outlines the proposals. A copy of the leaflet is on the website at www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk along with the draft Heads of Agreement and other materials.

Edinburgh welcomes Denis Goldberg to the Edinburgh World Justice Festival 2013

Come and be inspired by Denis Goldberg and many others during Edinburgh World Justice Festival - a fortnight's programme of events that will inform you, challenge you, encourage you, network you and take you on a walk around scandalous Edinburgh.

     Denis Goldberg, who was sentenced at the same time as Nelson Mandela for his part in the struggle against apartheid, will be the keynote speaker at the opening event 'World Justice and Austerity' on 12th October, from 11am at the Grassmarket Centre, 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QA.

   This will be followed by an exciting programme of events from 12th - 26th October which will introduce you to the ideas and organisations working for a fair and just world. There will be free events on topics as diverse as Burma's transition to democracy, women and war in Iraq and Afghanistan, scandals in global finance, radical voices, the arms trade and people's health.
   For full details to go www.ewjf.org.uk - you can also find us (and like us!) on facebook and follow on twitter @edworldjustice   See below for more about Denis Goldberg.

UNISON deplores SDL festival march

UNISON is aghast at the decision of the City of Edinburgh Council to grant permission for a far-right organisation, The Scottish Defence League, to march through the streets of our capital city on Saturday.

It is an absolutely abhorrent decision, the effects of which are amplified by the timing of the march - right in the middle of the Festival. It beggars belief that whilst on one hand we welcome millions of people of different race, colour, sexual orientation and religion to our city whilst on the other hand we allow a far right organisation that prejudices against the very people to which we extend our hospitality.

The SDL would have us believe that they march for improved rights for our squaddies. A noble calling that would, if that were the only reason for the march, would attract the support of many. In fact, UNISON represents many men and women in their day jobs who give their services to the armed forces territorial and reserves. The reality of the situation, however, is much darker and a lot less savoury.

The SDL, through many of their far-right blogs and social media space, have said that their march intends to "highlight islamic problems" such as terrorism and child grooming. I need only draw attention to Anders Brevik, the IRA, UVF and ETA to show that any insinuation of terrorism being an "islamic" problem is nonsense. For child grooming, I would draw attention to the recent cases of Jimmy Saville, Stuart Hall and also to the horrific case of Ian Huntly.

It is unacceptable that any vile message of hate towards any section of society is allowed to take place on our streets. It is especially abhorrent in the middle of an international and multicultural festival.

UNISON would therefore urge any person wishes to oppose this disgraceful march to attend a counter demonstration that starts at 12pm on the 17th August in Chambers Street.

We can only hope that such a catastrophic failure in common sense does not take place in the future.

UNISON members reflect the wide diversity of cultures in our society. As such our banner will be proudly at the counter-demonstration.  We hope to see you there.

UNISON statement on Edinburgh Chief Exec's second job

UNISON trusts that the decision to allow its Chief Executive Sue Bruce to take up a second job with an energy company will herald a new approach by the council to all of its staff.

In particular, we look forward to a more sympathetic approach to time off for staff doing unpaid trade union duties, and to staff on low pay who have no choice except to take a second job just to make ends meet.

When front line staff are pushed to the limit covering for staff shortages, it is not a good message that the Chief Executive has enough time to take on a second job.

Justifications that this will help bring lessons from the private sector will not wash with UNISON members. They see how privatised services up and down the country cut costs by cutting wages and quality of service. That is efficient for shareholders but not for those who rely on the services.

Public services have little to learn from the private sector but a lot to learn from their own employees who deliver the services. That is where the Chief Executive's energies should be channeled.

The Labour party and trade union link

From Dave Prentis' Blog: UNISON has always given its members the choice of opting in to its affiliated political fund, that gives them a say in the democratic processes of the Labour Party, or of opting in to the General Political Fund, independent of any political party. Our processes are democratic and transparent. UNISON has never operated the arrangement whereby we pay Labour Party membership fees for new members.

Trade unions are a vital and intrinsic part of the Labour Party and, together, we have helped ordinary working men and women have a say in the democratic processes of this country and a say in Labour Party policy.

However, UNISON believes that the current debate about the relationship between Labour and the unions, played out so publicly in the media, is an unforgiveable diversion from the real issues that this country faces.

There are 2.5 million people out of work, young people without a future, families having to rely on food banks and payday loan sharks to make ends meet, and massive cuts to our public services. And our members have seen the value of their pay cut by up to 16% as a result of years of pay freezes.

Those are the issues that matter to people. UNISON will continue to fight to protect and defend its members from attack and to help the most vulnerable in our society. We expect the Labour Party to do the same.

See also http://www.unison.org.uk/content/conBlogPost/25

UNISON Scotland: Union announces Scotland wide strike ballot of council workers

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