Thousands in Edinburgh demand peace for Gaza

Thousands turned out on in Edinburgh on Saturday to demand an end to the killing in Gaza. The Edinburgh UNISON banner was there as the rally at the Mound moved along Princes Street for a minute's silence and ended at Bute House, the First Minister's official residence.
  

Edinburgh UNISON banner - Tom Connolly

Hundreds also gathered in Aberdeen in the fourth consecutive week of demonstrations in the city. More than 60,000 also rallied in London. Malcolm Chisholm MSP and Aamer Anwar were among the speakers at the Edinburgh rally.

Listening to members

The Branch has set up plans to communicate better with members over the next few months with drop in surgeries, more branch newsletters and better use of the website. See the website for more details http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/workingforyou/index.html

NORMAL PAY FOR HOLIDAYS CLAIMS

A decision by the European Court of Justice could mean employees who normally get paid enhancements like overtime, shifts and commission - but not when they are on holiday - might be able to make a claim for back money.

It is not clear how many members may be affected (Edinburgh Council has stated that all employees regularly receiving working time payments like shift allowance also get those in with their holiday pay). However the Branch is writing to all the all of the employers where we have members as follows:-

Solidarity with local government and schools strikers

#J10strike A great speech by UNISON's Sue Glithero in Manchester today outlines why our colleagues in England, Northern Ireland and Wales have been on strike today. She said: "We are the 600 different job types in local government and school support providing cradle to grave services - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Often unseen. But increasingly doing far, far more work to plug the growing holes. For much, much less reward.

"We are also the lowest paid workers in the entire public sector. That’s who we are.

"We are proud of our jobs. Proud of our public services. And we are proud of our union and our sister unions for taking a stand on low pay."

Read her full speech at http://unisonactive.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/we-are-long-overdue-fair-pay-rise-and.html

Scottish Local Government branch secretaries will meet on 24 July to plan th next steps afer a big majority vote by Scottish members for an action ballot.

UNISON Edinburgh website not updating

We cannot update the  branch website at the moment. Please check the blog at http://unisonedinburgh.blogspot.co.uk/ or facebook and twitter for updates until the problem is sorted by our service provider. We will issue further updates on the blog as we get them.

Edinburgh Mayday: Unions must give hope - Owen Jones

A great turnout at Edinburgh's Mayday march and rally today heard Owen Jones call on the labour movement to give people hope and defend the NHS, the welfare state and all that was won by 'struggle and sacrifice' in our history.

"We need to give hope to those who get up in the morning to go to work to earn their poverty. We should say that if you are in work the least you can expect is a living wage", he told the packed rally at the Pleasance theatre.

The money is there. Governments can always find billions for war, to bomb and to kill but they tell the disabled they can't afford for them to have a so-called spare room. They demonise those on benefits by talking up the £1.2 billion wrongly claimed, and doing nothing about the £25 billion lost in tax avoidance to the richest.

Free viewing of The Spirit of '45 tonight 6pm Edinburgh City Chambers

To celebrate May Day (International Workers Day) the joint trade unions have organised a special showing of the acclaimed Ken Loach documentary ‘The Spirit Of 45’. We will also be marking 30 years since the Miners' Strike and 10 years since the Nursery Nurses' strike. Following the screening there will be snacks and refreshments and a group discussion and feedback. The objective of the evening will be to build a campaign around ‘Pride in our public services’.