Edinburgh joins 20,000 on There Is A Better Way march

UNISON Edinburgh has produced a short photo montage video of the branch on the rally on 23 October. See it here http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/publicworks/video/index.html

20,000 march in Edinburgh against the cuts

Expectations were high for the Edinburgh demo on 23 October. All the signs were that people were building for it. But even then, the turnout exceeded expectations, such is the widespread anger against the unfairness and savagery of the cuts. The anger at a government that “blames the excesses of the privileged on the poor”.

Colourful and lively, over 20,000 people marched along iconic Princes Street with one clear message. There is a better way. See full report and photos at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/betterway.html

Unions' fury as Edinburgh Council reneges on pay protection promise

The joint unions representing Edinburgh Council staff have condemned the Council for reneging on its promises to staff about three-year pay protection if they lost out under ‘Modernising Pay’.

"You can't cut half-a-million jobs and think services and people using them won't suffer,"

"You can't cut half-a-million jobs and think services and people using them won't suffer," Kisten Hey tells today's Scotsman newspaper. Spending review: Case study: In the firing line - people whose lives will be affected by the changes http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/spendingreview/Spending-review-Case-study-In.6591996.jp

ABM privatisation roadshows

Come and find out more about the Council's ABM privatisation programme....

Tuesday 26 October City Chambers
Dunedin Room 2-4pm
Wednesday 27 October Chesser House
Canteen 4.30pm
Thursday 28 October Waverley Court
Canteen 3pm - 4.30pm.
Launch of the Manifesto Friday 29 October:
City Chambers, Main Council Chamber 12pm - 2pm.

• Do you work in one of the ABM privatisation
• programme locations and work groups?
• Do you provide services for vulnerable groups?
• Do you want to know more about the
• outsourcing and privatisation plans?

No matter where you work, come along and....

• Get a briefing on ABM and what it means
• Get your questions answered
• Make your views known

Check out the website for full details http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/

Thousands rally against cuts at Westminster

Thousands rally against cuts at Westminster Thousands of public sector workers have packed Central Hall to capacity with standing-room only as they protest against the coalition government's plans for huge cuts in public spending. Messages from the rally are giving us updates on events.

Demo 20 October: There is a Better Way

The Edinburgh Anti-Cuts Alliance is holding a demo on Wednesday 20 October at 5.30 at the Mound Precinct in protest at the cuts in the Comprehensive Spending Review that day in parliament. All members are urged to attend.

October 23 - Tell them There is a Better Way

There is Better Way and UNISON is urging all members to turn out on 23 October - in Edinburgh - for a national demonstration for decent public services, public and private sector jobs, fair taxation and a living wage. The cuts are politically, not financially based. They risk even more recession.
Use the leaflets and posters on this link and see more on the truth about the crisis at...
 http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/publicworks/index.html

Investing in quality public services - the best alternative to austerity cuts‏

Investing in quality public services - the best alternative to austerity cuts‏ - an excellent paper by David Hall of the University of Greenwich on ‘why we need public spending’. http://www.qpsconference.org/sites/default/files/PSIRU_Report_final_11-10-2010.pdf

UNISON Scotland: UNISON response to Hutton report on pensions

UNISON Scotland: UNISON response to Hutton report on pensions: "07/10/2010 Dave Prentis Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, has responded to the Hutton report on pensions published today.

Decent Work Day - today and every day‏

Decent Work Day - today and every day‏ Today trade unions across the world are mobilising to tackle the global economic and employment crisis and demand fundamental reform of the world economy. Events can be followed on a dedicated website: http://www.wddw.org/

UNISON Scotland: Anger on pay but members decide to defend services...

UNISON Scotland: Anger on pay but members decide to defend services...: "Members in local government are angry about pay and worried that the imposed pay cut will hit the low paid the hardest. However, their prior..."

Check out the website for full details http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/

27 October National Inspection Day. Be a Health and Safety Rep

HEALTH AND SAFETY: 27 October 2010 is National Inspection  Day. Click here for more details and how to become a Health and Safety Rep
Check out the website for full details http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/

UNISON Scotland: STUC slams Chancellor’s Tory Conference speech

UNISON Scotland: STUC slams Chancellor’s Tory Conference speech: "October 4th 2010 Commenting after George Osborne had delivered his speech to the Conservative Party Conference, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:“It is hugely unfortunate that the Chancellor has used this occasion to shamelessly repeat every distortion used to justify Coalition policy. The implications for growth and employment across Scotland and the UK are dire. read more at http://www.stuc.org.uk/news/784/stuc-on-chancellor-s-conference-speech

An air of madness in being asked where the axe should fall

Edinburgh Council cuts meetings: "Like many in the hall, I began to question the wisdom of this whole exercise. Cutting jobs on this scale – at a time of recession or near recession – is just what a government is not supposed to do, according to conventional economic theory", writes John Knox on Caledonian Mercury. http://politics.caledonianmercury.com/2010/10/01/an-air-of-madness-in-being-asked-where-the-axe-should-fall/