UNISON BAIRNS CHRISTMAS PARTY

Get your names in for this years party!

ACTION ON PAY

The Local Government Pay Ballot, which closed at lunchtime on 29 September 2014, has delivered a Yes vote for industrial action on the basis of 53.5% to 46.5%. UNISON Scotland's Local Government Committee will meet in Glasgow on Friday 3rd October to discuss the way forward and a full update with follow then.

SUPPORT STAFF IN SCHOOLS SURVEY

Dear Colleagues,

*Biggest ever survey of school support staff*

UNISON is carrying out the biggest ever survey of school support staff, including both UNISON members and non-members. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete online and can be completed anonymously. Please pass the survey onto your contacts at schools and encourage them to have their say.

The web address is www.surveymonkey.com/s/StarsInOurSchools.

Alternatively members can use the enclosed  paper copy of the suvey which can be printed out and handed to staff who may not have ready access to a computer in the workplace. Please arrange for completed paper copies to be posted to Joanna Coates, UNISON Centre, London NW1 2AY by Monday 20 October.

Valuing Maternity

Valuing Maternity

Every year around half of the pregnant women in the workforce will experience discrimination.  In 2006, the EOC found that 30,000 pregnant women were forced out of their jobs after becoming pregnant. Since the recession, research suggests that number is now more like 60,000.   The excellent “Valuing Maternity” campaign, supported by UNISON, campaigns for maternity rights and against the discrimination that many pregnant women face.  It provides information and support.  You can find out more at www.valuingmaternity.org.

It’s important to get the message out about the scale of problems that pregnant women face from bad employers.  We’re encouraging staff in the community and voluntary sector to highlight this by contacting the Valuing Maternity campaign at campaigns@maternityaction.org.uk (this can be anonymous), or by using the twitter hashtag #WhenIHadMyBaby.

You can find out more about your rights at “the facts” - www.valuingmaternity.org/the-facts.

SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS

‘Survival guide’ for social workers

UNISON and Community Care magazine have produced a digital ‘Survival guide’ aimed particularly at new social workers.  The guide contains some simple information on the importance of social workers getting organised in UNISON, supervision, continuing professional development, stress, health and safety and raising concerns. It also contains a recruitment advert at the back.

This can be given to members and used as resource for recruiting social workers as they come in to your employer.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/social-work-survival-guide/

Personal Learning Plans

UNISON Personal Learning Grants

For PAs  and community-based Care Staff

We know how difficult it is to afford career development training due to huge increases in course fees and the withdrawal by many employers of financial support for career development.    

To help you get on at work and develop your career, UNISON is piloting Personal Learning Grants with members working in community-based care. 
Ten awards of £300 each are offered. The grants can be used towards course fees and costs including course books, travel, and residential session costs, so you can apply even if you already receive a grant or a loan for fees.

These bursaries cover a wide range of subjects.  They can be used for study on any general non-vocational course or any vocational course relevant to working in public services, including public services delivered by private contractors.    

When allocating these awards, we will give preference to members with few or no qualifications.  We are also keen to hear from members who are active in their branch.  However applications are welcomed from all community-based care staff members.

To Apply

Complete the application form overleaf and send it to the address below to arrive by 29 August 2014.  We will consider all applications on that date so that grant criteria can be applied fairly and let all applicants know the outcome very shortly after that date.

Bursaries Administrator,                                  Tel:  020 7121 5116
UNISON Learning & Organising Services,
130 Euston Road,                                               email: 
London NW1 2AY                                               LearningAndOrganising@unison.co.uk

In addition to the conditions mentioned above, the following also apply for receipt of a learning grant:

1)     You must be a member of UNISON for at least 4 weeks prior to applying for an award, have no arrears of subscriptions, and continue to pay membership subscriptions during the time you are supported by an award.

2)     Each member can receive one learning grant only in each calendar year, up to a maximum of four grants. 

3)     Grants will be made at the discretion of the NEC Development & Organising Committee.

HOLIDAY PAY

Background

On 22 May 2014, UNISON member Joe Lock was successful in his claim, Lock v British Gas. The Court of

Justice of the European Union (CJEU) found that a worker’s 20 days statutory annual leave pay should include commission payments if these were part of normal pay.

The Employment Tribunal will decide how UK law will now be interpreted in light of this decision. It is likely that whatever decision is reached by the Employment Tribunal will be appealed through the higher courts, so it may be a long time before any payments are received.

If members are regularly paid payments for time or activities at work that are not paid when they take annual leave (e.g. commission payments, other supplements, bonuses or overtime payments) then there may be entitlement to increased holiday pay in future and back pay.

Branch Action

We have written to all the employers, where we have members, and asked what they intend to do in relation to unpaid holiday pay in respect of additional payments during working time.

[STATE IF AND WHAT RESPONSE THE BRANCH HAS HAD FROM EMPLOYERS]

On a national level UNISON is collating responses from employers and will then decide a strategy on how best to pursue claims.

What you need to do

If you think you may have a claim, contact the branch office. This will allow us to keep you up to date on your employer’s response and on UNISON’s strategy. You should ensure that you keep your contact details up to date. The easiest and quickest means of contact is through email. Don’t worry if you don’t have an email address as we will still write out to members if required.

You should contact the branch immediately if:

·         Your employer stops making the payments for commission, other supplements, bonuses or over-time pay;

·         The employer starts paying any unpaid commission, other supplements, bonuses or overtime pay during annual leave.

·         You leave employment or change jobs.

Time Limits

Employment Tribunal claims for unpaid holiday pay must be made within 3 months of the latest underpayment.

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Turn2us - Be Aware

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CALENDAR COMPETITION 2015

Would you like workers all over Shetland to see your photos?  Following the success of last years competition your pictures could appear on the local branch calendar for 2015.  You can send us photographs taken in Shetland, or in any part of the world you have visited, but all submissions must be from UNISON members.  Please send images in hard copy or digitally with your name, contact details, membership number and category entered on the back.  The categories for entries are:

1. Place of Work

Images of any places of work.  This category can include imaginative images of any element of a workplace, here in Shetland or overseas.

2. Wildlife

Could include any wildlife-related image.

3. Landscape

This category might include any landscape, outdoor scene, natural image or sunset.

4. Urban landscape

Pictures of urban places.

5. Rural Landscape

Images of rural landscapes.

6. Our community

Pictures which use the theme of community and what that means to people.

7. Weather

This category includes any image of weather.

8. Architectural Design and Building

Images which capture stunning architecture or building design.

9. Hobbies

Could include any images associated with hobbies, or activities you do in your spare time

10. Portrait

Pictures of people from all walks of life.

11. Black and White

Images in black and white, with any subject, composition or style considered.

12. Trees

In our final category, we’re looking for images of trees.  American Giant Redwoods or Willows in Waas can be submitted.

Images should be sent to:

kaila.mcculloch@shetland.gov.uk

Photographic Competition

UNISON Local Services Branch

18-20 Alexandra Buildings

The Esplanade

LERWICK 

ZE1 0LL

The closing date is Friday 29^th August 2014.  We can’t return photos, unfortunately, so remember to keep a copy for yourself.  We’ll let you know in early September if your picture has been chosen.

PAY BALLOT

Colleagues
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY
The consultative ballot on pay will commence next week. Ballot dates are 9th June – 7th July. All members should receive a ballot paper, ballot insert and a pre paid return envelope. A helpline for those who have not received a ballot paper will be notified to branches later next week. The question being asked on the ballot paper is ‘ are you prepared to reject the actions of the employer and pursue a vote for industrial action in support of an improved offer ‘. As previously stated this is a consultative ballot, however it is extremely important that we encourage all members to participate.

REMINDER - BRANCH AGM

Dear UNISON member

The annual general meeting of your branch is in Islesburgh Community Centre, this Friday (14 March) at 12 noon.

We are lucky this year to have Mike Kirby, UNISON’s Scottish secretary, as our main speaker. Mike is Scotland’s top full time official in UNISON. He took over as Scottish Secretary in December 2010 after serving as Scottish Convener - Scotland’s lead lay activist - since the merger that created UNISON. He was president of the Scottish Trade Union Congress in 2011/12.

Lynne Duncan, our regional officer, based in Aberdeen, will also be present.

There will be the usual buffet following the meeting and a gift for all those who attend.  I hope you make every attempt to come to along, to hear what has been going on and what might be happening from now on.

We are always on the lookout for new stewards and officials – do consider getting active in UNISON. The more active members we have, the more of a difference the union can make. Training is always available.

Best wishes

Brian Smith

Branch Chair

BRANCH AGM UPDATE

The branch are delighted to announce that Mike Kirby, Scottish Secretary, will be speaking at this years meeting. Mike is Scotland’s top full time official. He took over as Scottish Secretary in December 2010 after serving as Scottish Convener - Scotland’s lead lay activist - since the merger that created UNISON. Mike was also for many years one of Scotland’s lay Regional reps to National Conference. He was 2011/12 STUC President.

Our fabulous Regional Officer, Lynne Duncan shall also be attending. Lynne's support to the branch is crucial in helping reps and officers support our members in the issues that affect them during their working lives.

BRANCH AGM

This years Branch AGM will be held in Room 16, Islesburgh Community Centre at  on Friday 14th March 2014 at 12pm and will be followed by a buffet lunch.  A small gift will be presented to all those who attend.

 

Management have granted time off to attend so please give line managers ample notice of your wish to attend.

 

As always we would love to hear from anyone who is interested in participating in the branch, whether it be a workplace contact or a branch officer.  Our national campaign states 'we are worth it', so help us spread the message.

 

If you have anything you would like to see on the agenda please get in touch.

 

We look forward to seeing you there.

 

Kind regards

 

 

Tracey Leith

Branch Secretary

Shetland Local Services Branch

unisonslg@btconnect.com

01595 696668