City of Stoke On Trent Branch  - What's Hot - Latest News

BRANCH
VACANCIES

Did you know?  - Unison Success Stories
  

 

We Are Coming On TV!!
(4/10/04) UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis today unveiled the union’s latest plans to use TV advertising to reach out to potential members. The ads will be broadcast at peak times with the first ad shown on 6 October in the middle of Coronation Street and Channel 4 News. They will continue until Sunday 24 October on ITV 1, Channel 4, Channel 5 and satellite across the UK – a total of 3,000 spots. The union hopes that the new advertisement will build on the success of the trail-blazing ‘ants and bear’ TV ad used when the union was first created.

Prentis said the advert has a powerful message about the strength of trade unions. “UNISON's membership has consolidated and started to grow steadily, but we need to recruit 145,000 members each year just to stand still,” he said. “Last year we recruited 148,755 new members, that's 407 a day – an enormous achievement, but one we want to build on. That means thinking of new and innovative ways of reaching out to potential members. "Television is a very effective way of bringing the message directly into peoples' homes that, with UNISON behind them, they are not only protected at work, but their voice will be heard where and when it counts."

The ad features a woman walking through the streets to the offices of her boss and as she walks she is joined by more and more workers to the background track of One sung by Harry Nilsson. She walks into her boss's office, he looks up, ignores her, she coughs and the whole snake of people coughs with her, the room shakes, he stops what he is doing and pays attention. The message is simple: one is a lonely number, but with UNISON you are one in a million as you get the strength of a union behind you.
UNISON's advertising has two objectives: to drive recruitment and raise the profile of the union among key decision-makers, existing members and potential members.  It will be supplemented by national newspaper advertising. The budget comes from the union's general political fund, used for campaigning.

Stills from the ad will appear in national newspapers and in the specialist press. Advertising poster sites have been booked and regions, branches, UNISONdirect and the union nationally, are gearing up to recruit as many new members as possible. Posters, leaflets and postcards have been produced to promote the ad in workplaces across the UK.   

This branch will also be organising a recruitment campaign this autumn on the back of the promotion. Watch this space for more details!!

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Pensioner Poverty

Click here to read the latest news on the pensions time bomb.

Religious discrimination loophole closed

(29/9/04) The prime minister has announced new laws to combat discrimination on the grounds of religion. The measures will put an end to religious discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities, services and premises. This will finally close a loophole that has meant people of most faiths are protected against discrimination on the basis of colour, race, nationality or national or ethnic origin, but are not protected against discrimination on the basis of religion.

UNISON’s Simon Watson welcomed the announcement. “Prejudice must be stamped out in all parts of our society, and [these] proposals as a real step forward in opposing religious discrimination,” he said. “Public sector workers are on the front line of providing many essential services and will get extra backing to make sure these services are equally available to all.” Currently Jews and Sikhs are afforded protection, which has emerged from case law, while members of other religions are not.

Home secretary David Blunkett said the new measures would ensure fair and equal protection for all faiths.“While some religious groups may be afforded a higher degree of protection from discrimination because they can also be defined by ethnic origin, this is not true for others,” he said.

Last year saw the implementation of EU regulations against religious discrimination in employment and training.

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Long-hours culture threatens sanctity of weekend

7/9/04) The traditional weekend is under threat, with only one in five workers getting a free Saturday and Sunday, according to a new survey.
Employment agency Payroll Portfolio and employment law specialist Peninsula found that people are working the extra hours either because it was not possible to finish work on time or they are chasing promotion or extra money from overtime.

Family outings are put on hold as people take work home with them to finish or go back into offices or factories to work extra shifts, even staying late on both Saturday and Sunday nights.

UNISON policy officer Ross Hendry said the survey underlined the problems of high stress and heavy workload faced by employees.

"While we support the government's work-life balance campaign and are working with the TUC to end the UK's opt-out of the Working Time Directive, this survey reminds us that there is still a real problem around 'unofficial' overtime and unrealistic targets that our members have to meet," he said.

He added that today's public sector is increasingly providing a round-the-clock service, seven days a week, in response to the public's needs and expectations.

"We are making sure that, while services meet this demand, employers are also sensitive to the needs of their workforce.

"That is why we are always looking to work with employers to ensure work-life balance issues are addressed. That is why public-service employers who work with their UNISON branch can be caring employers of choice."

This survey comes out at the same time as the Equal Opportunities Commission is launching a major new investigation into flexible and part-time work.

It wants to find out why flexible working is not more widespread and what the obstacles are to people taking up flexible working.

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UNISON WELCOMES TUC CALL FOR MORE BANK HOLIDAYS

28/09/04 - Unison welcomed today's call from the TUC for more bank holidays for British Workers.  The TUC is calling on the government to introduce three new bank holidays to bring the UK into line with the European average of 11. Unison policy officer Ross Hendry said the union had been encouraged by a commitment at the Labour Policy Forum earlier this year to ensure that bank holidays are added to employees holidays. Currently, employers can include bank holidays in an employee's annual leave.   So, if a worker gets 20 days holiday under the 1998 Working Time Directive, an employer can include bank holidays in that 20 days. 
Hendry said that, hopefully, the TUC campaign will mean that "we can build on that commitment to bring us up to the European averge". In an online TUC survey, more than 40% of those who took part would like another break during the October half-term. Business leaders group, the Confederation of British Industry said extra breaks would hurt the economy, but the TUC says that there would be "no impact" on the economy, since retail and tourism industries would receive a boost. In addition, increased holidays may help to bring about a reduction in work related stress, which the TUC says costs the UK £4.4 billion every year.

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PUBLIC SECTOR NO LONGER A "JOB FOR LIFE"

(1/9/04) An increasing number of jobseekers have no preference between working in the public or private sectors, according to a new survey. Recruitment agency Select Appointment found that 39% of respondents had no preference between the sectors and two thirds of respondents said they no longer regard a career in the public sector as a 'job for life'.
The agency concluded that people now take jobs on their individual merit rather than basing a decision on which sector the job is in.

But UNISON policy officer Ross Hendry believes the public sector still has a lot more to offer employees.

"Despite this research there is plenty of evidence to prove that employees in a unionised workplace get a far better work-life balance than in the non-unionised private sector. "People still look to the public sector to be in the vanguard of the campaign for work-life balance and how best to treat employees. "And people do not choose to work in the public sector just for monetary reasons, but because they want to be of value to society."

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THE WAY FORWARD FOR CITY OWNED HOUSING - COUNCIL HOUSING STOCK - OPTIONS APPRAISAL

As you may be aware the City Council is currently appraising the options for the future of its Council Stock as directed by Central Government Regulations.

A steering group has been set up to ultimately recommend a solution to the City Council, comprising of tenant representatives, consultants, elected members and trade unions.

The Group is currently undergoing a capacity building exercise so that it can make an informed decision about the 4 options to be considered (Retention, Transferral, Arms Length Management Organisation or Private Finance Initiative).

If you require further information please team mail Dave Thacker or E-mail at [email protected]

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Local Government Pension Scheme Under Threat

Read about  how the Local Government Pension Scheme is under threat and support Unison's campaign to save it.  Click here.

A series of changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme have been floated by ministers and by the employers. Whilst UNISON is willing to talk about reforming the scheme, we are not ready to let damaging changes - based on political judgments about the future cost of the scheme to employers - to be forced through.  Copies of the document setting out our response to protect the Local Government Pension Scheme are available by clicking here.

We expect ministers to take the comments submitted by Unison and other bodies very seriously. We would expect the final regulations to be published in the Autumn of 2004 so this is the right time for you to approach your MP to urge them to tell ministers that reducing the benefits of the Local Government Pension Scheme will cause real anger.

For the latest news and developments on the campaign click here. 

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Workers Sacrifice Personal Lives For Jobs
02/08/04 - Nearly 75% of the total working population say that they regularly work over and above their contracted hours of work, with more than one in three putting in more than 40 hours a week, according to a survey released today.  More...

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Workers for sale If you learned about slavery at school, you’ll have heard how, centuries ago, African slaves were kidnapped and transported across the Atlantic to face brutal lives under white ‘masters’ and how William Wilberforce helped abolish slavery in Britain in 1807. But if you thought that was the end of the story, you were wrong. The shocking truth is that slavery is still alive and well and happening in a city near you.  Click here to download this shocking report.

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Developing The Role of School Support Staff
 Unison has produced a question and answer guide on the National Agreement on Remodelling The School Workforce. A printed downloaded copy is available by visiting our downloads page. 

Information includes tasks no longer undertaken by teachers, new posts for support staff and much more.


What is Unison doing

A timetable detailing the three phases of the National Agreement is available here. 
Latest survey also shows improvement in position of staff.

Unison and the School Workforce Agreement - "The Facts"
English Secondary Schools Could Have Own Nurses - click here

Nearly one in seven education workers has been assaulted

(7/9/04) 15% of the 11 million employees in Europe’s education sector, from teachers and cooks to administrative staff, have suffered physical or verbal abuse at work, usually at the hands of students and parents says a new report from the European Agency for Occupational Safety and Health. Education must also contend with dangerous substances in laboratories, sports injuries, work-related stress and slips on litter-strewn floors. The agency has issued advice to help other staff in Europe's education sector minimise the risk of violence and other health hazards.

Each year more than half a million staff in the sector have to take time off work due to work-related accidents and illness, accounting for 40% of all absenteeism, with most staying away for more than six days on average.

Accidents are the most common problem, especially ‘slips and trips’, but pulmonary health problems are also high on the list, with the education sector reporting the third highest incidence rate after mining and quarrying.

UNISON national health and safety officer Hope Daley welcomed the report because it highlights the prevalence of not only violence in the education sector but the wide range of health and safety hazards faced by members at work. “We want employers in the sector to do more to develop strong prevention measures to eliminate or reduce such incidents and we are willing to work in partnership with them to do so,” she said.

“Our members want to go to work without the fear of injury or ill health caused by work and we will continue our fight to ensure their health and safety is at the top of the curriculum.”

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BRANCH OFFICER VACANCIES

Fancy Being A Steward?

There is always room for additional stewards.  On appointment you will be contacted about the Union Reps I training course which is available locally which will ensure you have a good grounding in the basics and you will also be put on the branch mailing list which means you  will receive all the latest information including the branch newsletter and invitations to meetings. Additional support and advice is also available from your Convenor and the Branch Office.   

What does a steward do?

  1. Be the first line of general service to members
  2. Recruit and maintain membership, and ensure that membership records are kept up to date
  3. Investigate and act upon any complaint or difficulty and represent members in discussions and negotiations with managers, where appropriate
  4. Refer any difficult problems to, or seek advice from the Convenor
  5. Observe all agreements to which the union is party, and take reasonable steps to ensure that members are aware of agreements and observe them
  6. Keep members informed of all relevant industrial relations and trade union issues
  7. Liaise with other stewards and health and safety representatives in the service group
  8. Attend appropriate training courses organised by Unison
  9. Represent members at service group and branch committee meetings
  10. Also hold the post of health and safety representative unless this duty is declined in writing to the branch secretary

For an informal no obligation chat, contact the Branch Secretary on 01782 232263 or contact your Convenor.

Are you looking for a non confrontational role within the branch that really helps people? 

If the answer is yes, then why not think about the opportunities available as a Lifelong Learning Representative or Advisor which entails encouraging and helping members to increase their skills/qualifications?   

Lifelong learning means education in the widest sense, so that people can contribute more effectively, as individuals, in their workplace, within the trade union and in a larger societal context.

Central Government is encouraging education and training through its agenda for lifelong learning through legislation and financial support.

To facilitate this, the latest Employment Act, in force from September 2002, has given Lifelong Learning Advisors (LLA) and Union Learning Representatives statutory rights similar to those enjoyed by stewards and Health and Safety Representatives.  

A LLA is more likely to be a member who has recently completed a learning programme, whilst ULRs will probably be existing Stewards who wish to develop learning in their own workplace.

Unison is currently developing a training programme to equip LLA's with the skills and knowledge to enable them to undertake the job. 

This is an initiative that may help to offer a new route into trade union activity, this is particularly important as UNISON is under represented by activists who are women, part time or low paid.  

For an informal, no obligation chat on the post contact Janet Richmond-Slack on  01782 233953

Are You Aged Under 26? If so then why not consider being our Young Members Officer

  1. Make contact with young members and non-members to encourage interest in the union.
  2. Liaise with other branch officers and the branch committee on issues affecting young people.

For an informal, no obligation chat contact Colin Walton on 01782 232263

Black Members Officer

My role is to:

  1. Advise the branch and branch committee in respect of matters relating to black members issues.
  2. Advise the branch officers and committee on the development and monitoring of any action plan to achieve fair representation in conjunction with the equality officer.
  3. Advise and where appropriate represent individual black members in
    liaison with the appropriate Convenor.  

For an informal, no obligation chat please contact the Branch Secretary
on 01782 232263 

Education Secretary

 

 

The role is to:
  1. Promote trade union education within the branch.
  2. Ensures that all stewards and health and safety representatives have access to relevant training.
  3. Liaise with Regional Education Officers.
  4. Organise regular meetings, at least two annual of Union Learning Representatives and Lifelong Learning Advisors, and to co-ordinate their ongoing activities.
For an informal, no obligation chat please contact the Branch Secretary on 01782 232263 

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Did You Know


Unison was born in 1993 out of NALGO, NUPE and COHSE. Within a year it had posted its first success - the first ever stress at work claim.  More than 1,000 cases a year are now referred to the union.  Since then Unison has: 

  • Secured over £35 million in compensation to its members for personal injury settlements in the past year alone

  • UNISON achieved a £4 million settlement of an equal pay claim for over 1,500 school meals workers employed by the former Cleveland County Council
  • UNISON has made a number of submissions to the Low Pay Commission (LPC), pushing for a £5 an hour minimum wage. As a result of UNISON’s work, the LPC is now a permanent body and its scope has been widened to examine all aspects of poverty pay
  • UNISON was the key player in ensuring the government increased the value of the Basic State Pension in real terms for the first time in 20 years. UNISON’s delegation to the Labour Party also successfully argued for the restoration of the link to earnings
  • UNISON is the country’s first carbon neutral trade union, thanks to its policy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its partnership with Future Forests and the planting of thousands of trees across the UK
  • UNISON has campaigned hard for increased funding for the NHS and the government is now implementing real terms increases of six per cent for the next three years
  • UNISON has been invited by the Home Office to join the influential Police Reform Steering Forum, developing radical proposals to improve UK policing
  • UNISON’s helpline for members and stewards, UNlSON direct (0845 355 0845), handled some 51,800 calls last year. A year on year rise of 228 per cent