HOUSING
DAI DAVIES
Member of Parliament for Blaenau Gwent
PLEASE REPLY TO-
Constituency Office, 24 James Street, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent NP23 63G
Tel: 01495 304569 Fax: 01495 306908
Our Ref DD
Yvette Cooper
Mister of State for Housing and Planning
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU
11th July 2007
Dear Minister,
I am writing following the Prime Ministers Legislative Programme Statement and the content of the programme relating to affordable housing.
I support the principle of shared equity and a review of the number of years a mortgage can be taken over. The main problem I have is that in Constituencies like mine with an average combined household income of twenty thousand pounds, the average house price is one hundred and ten thousand pounds.
Please can you confirm, or otherwise, that the Government is considering the Unison Trade Union campaign for the fourth option of providing affordable homes which would allow Local Authorities to borrow money and obtain grants to repair existing housing stock and build new Council owned houses.
I would be grateful for any information you can provide on this issue.
Yours sincerely
Dai Davies MP
Please contact: Joanne Thomas, Office Manager.
Tel: Ebbw Vale (01495) 304569 Fax 01495) 306908
e-mail: daviesdc@parliament.uk
EQUAL PAY
DAI DAVIES
Member of Parliament for Blaenau Gwent
PLEASE REPLY TO-
Constituency Office, 24 James Street, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent NP23 6JG
Tel: 01495304569 Fax: 01495306908
Our Ref DD
Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP
Secretary of State for Communities
And Local Government
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SWIE 5DU
11 July2007
Dear Secretary of State,
I am writing following a Lobby of Parliament by the Unison Trade Union concerning the long running campaign for equal pay for women.
It is unacceptable in the twenty first century for men and women carrying out same or similar work to be in receipt of differing rates of pay.
This situation needs the intervention of Central Government to provide the mechanism and funds for the eradication of this unjust and unfair practice.
I would be grateful for any information you can provide on this issue.
Yours sincerely
Dai Davies MP
Please contact: Joanne Thomas. Office Manager.
Tel: Ebbw Vale (01495) 304569 Fax 01495) 306908
e-mail: daviesdc@parliament.uk
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Friday, 18 May 2007
Win A Toyota Auris
WIN a brand new
Toyota Auris
Imagine winning a brand new car. If you enter our Free Prize Draw today, that’s exactly what could happen.
HOW TO ENTER
Simply complete the details on this entry form and hand it in to a Britannia representative or your local Britannia branch. For details on your nearest branch, visit www.britannia.co.uk/winacar or call 0808 156 7200*. Alternatively, you can post the form to:
Affinity Dept.
CO98
Britannia Building Society
Leek
Staffordshire Moorlands
ST13 5RG.
Special deals for UNISON members
If you don’t already have a Britannia mortgage, why not ask your local branch about our great remortgage deals? Also as a member of UNISON you will receive 150 cashback on completion of your Britannia mortgage.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE
Britannia undertakes to comply with the Banking Code. Copies of which are available upon request.
Free Prize Draw Rules
1. Prize draw to win a Toyota Auris, 1.4 D-4D Diesel / 1NT 90ps
2. Toyota Auris specification;
Black exterior, front and rear power windows, air conditioning, front fog lamps, colour keyed power outer mirrors and door handles, grade specification interior trim, radio CD with MP3 player and 6 speakers, centre console with lid and 1 rear cup holder, leather gear shift knob and steering wheel with audio switches, 16-inch alloy wheels with locking wheelnuts.
3. The car has a 3 year or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first) warranty. 12 months road fund licence is included. For the first year of ownership the car includes free membership of Club Toyota, which provides vital services such as RAC membership as well as valuable discounts on holidays and leisure pursuits. There will be delivery mileage on the clock and a minimum amount of fuel.
4. The prize-winner will be responsible for obtaining their own insurance.
5. The car will be delivered to the winner at a UK address.
6. This prize draw is open to all UK residents who are members of UNISON aged 18 or over.
7. All entries must be received by 31st December 2007 and must be submitted on the form opposite. We accept no liability for any entries lost in the post. Proof of posting is not proof of entry.
8. The draw will take place on Monday 14th January 2008 by an independent party.
9. The winner will be notified by post within 7 days of the draw. For details of the winner send a SAE to Union Prize Draw, Affinity Dept, Britannia Building Society, Britannia House, Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands, ST13 5RG within 4 weeks of the closing date. The winner’s name and county will be forwarded by post.
10. The promoter reserves the right to amend or withdraw the promotion as necessary due to circumstances beyond their control.
11. Entry to the prize draw is not open to employees of Britannia Building Society and their families, its subsidiaries, agents or anyone professionally connected with the prize draw.
12. Only one entry per person
13. No correspondence will be entered into.
14. Entry into the prize draw is deemed to be acceptance of the rules.
15. The winner may be requested to take part in publicity associated with the prize draw.
16. No purchase necessary.
17. No cash alternative will be offered.
Entry Form
Simply complete the form below in block capitals.
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Contact Telephone Number:
Email:
Which Union are you a member of?
Do you have a mortgage? Yes
No
If yes, who is your mortgage with at the moment?
How many years does your Mortgage have left to run?
Are you on a fixed rate Mortgage? Yes No
If yes when does the fixed rate period expire?
I would like further information to see if Britannia can save me money on my mortgage
Do you have savings? Yes No
I would like further information to see if Britannia can make my savings grow
What’s the best time to contact you?
Day(s):
Time: am/pm/eve
A member of Britannia Building Society staff will aim to contact you within 28 days.
Signature
Date
I consent to my personal data and Union membership details being held by Britannia. My personal details will only be used in connection with the Prize Draw, or to contact me if I have requested information but will not be used for marketing purposes. The information will be used for market research, developing goods and services, statistical and business analysis, account administration and creating and maintaining a customer profile.
ASD REF:
Toyota Auris
Imagine winning a brand new car. If you enter our Free Prize Draw today, that’s exactly what could happen.
HOW TO ENTER
Simply complete the details on this entry form and hand it in to a Britannia representative or your local Britannia branch. For details on your nearest branch, visit www.britannia.co.uk/winacar or call 0808 156 7200*. Alternatively, you can post the form to:
Affinity Dept.
CO98
Britannia Building Society
Leek
Staffordshire Moorlands
ST13 5RG.
Special deals for UNISON members
If you don’t already have a Britannia mortgage, why not ask your local branch about our great remortgage deals? Also as a member of UNISON you will receive 150 cashback on completion of your Britannia mortgage.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE
Britannia undertakes to comply with the Banking Code. Copies of which are available upon request.
Free Prize Draw Rules
1. Prize draw to win a Toyota Auris, 1.4 D-4D Diesel / 1NT 90ps
2. Toyota Auris specification;
Black exterior, front and rear power windows, air conditioning, front fog lamps, colour keyed power outer mirrors and door handles, grade specification interior trim, radio CD with MP3 player and 6 speakers, centre console with lid and 1 rear cup holder, leather gear shift knob and steering wheel with audio switches, 16-inch alloy wheels with locking wheelnuts.
3. The car has a 3 year or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first) warranty. 12 months road fund licence is included. For the first year of ownership the car includes free membership of Club Toyota, which provides vital services such as RAC membership as well as valuable discounts on holidays and leisure pursuits. There will be delivery mileage on the clock and a minimum amount of fuel.
4. The prize-winner will be responsible for obtaining their own insurance.
5. The car will be delivered to the winner at a UK address.
6. This prize draw is open to all UK residents who are members of UNISON aged 18 or over.
7. All entries must be received by 31st December 2007 and must be submitted on the form opposite. We accept no liability for any entries lost in the post. Proof of posting is not proof of entry.
8. The draw will take place on Monday 14th January 2008 by an independent party.
9. The winner will be notified by post within 7 days of the draw. For details of the winner send a SAE to Union Prize Draw, Affinity Dept, Britannia Building Society, Britannia House, Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands, ST13 5RG within 4 weeks of the closing date. The winner’s name and county will be forwarded by post.
10. The promoter reserves the right to amend or withdraw the promotion as necessary due to circumstances beyond their control.
11. Entry to the prize draw is not open to employees of Britannia Building Society and their families, its subsidiaries, agents or anyone professionally connected with the prize draw.
12. Only one entry per person
13. No correspondence will be entered into.
14. Entry into the prize draw is deemed to be acceptance of the rules.
15. The winner may be requested to take part in publicity associated with the prize draw.
16. No purchase necessary.
17. No cash alternative will be offered.
Entry Form
Simply complete the form below in block capitals.
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Contact Telephone Number:
Email:
Which Union are you a member of?
Do you have a mortgage? Yes
No
If yes, who is your mortgage with at the moment?
How many years does your Mortgage have left to run?
Are you on a fixed rate Mortgage? Yes No
If yes when does the fixed rate period expire?
I would like further information to see if Britannia can save me money on my mortgage
Do you have savings? Yes No
I would like further information to see if Britannia can make my savings grow
What’s the best time to contact you?
Day(s):
Time: am/pm/eve
A member of Britannia Building Society staff will aim to contact you within 28 days.
Signature
Date
I consent to my personal data and Union membership details being held by Britannia. My personal details will only be used in connection with the Prize Draw, or to contact me if I have requested information but will not be used for marketing purposes. The information will be used for market research, developing goods and services, statistical and business analysis, account administration and creating and maintaining a customer profile.
ASD REF:
Friday, 11 May 2007
Latest on Pay 2007/8
Pay Claim:
Not much too update but employers side are to meet today Friday 11th May 2007. Resulting from this meeting they should have something for the Joint Secretaries meeting scheduled for Wednesday 16th May 2007.
The next meeting of the NJC Executive is Monday 21st May 2007 and all will be reported to the NJC Committee meeting on Tuesday 22nd May 2007.
Branch secretary will be attending this NJC Committee and will post an update asap thereafter.
Not much too update but employers side are to meet today Friday 11th May 2007. Resulting from this meeting they should have something for the Joint Secretaries meeting scheduled for Wednesday 16th May 2007.
The next meeting of the NJC Executive is Monday 21st May 2007 and all will be reported to the NJC Committee meeting on Tuesday 22nd May 2007.
Branch secretary will be attending this NJC Committee and will post an update asap thereafter.
NJC Car Allowances 2007/8
NJC CAR ALLOWANCES 2007/08
It has been agreed by the technical advisers that the rates of Car Allowances be revised with effect from 1 April 2007. The new rates are set out below:
451 - 999cc 1000- 1199cc
Essential Users
Lump sum per annum £726 £819
per mile first 8,500 32.0p 34.6p
per mile after8,500 12.1p 12.1p
Casual Users
per mile first 8,500 40.5p 44.2p
per mile after 8,500 12.1p 12.1p
NB: These allowances are based on a price of 88.25p per litre (401.2p per gallon) for unleaded petrol (based on actual pump prices in the first two weeks of January [as surveyed by the Automobile Association on behalf of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders] in accordance with the jointly agreed formula for calculating the allowances each year).
It has been agreed by the technical advisers that the rates of Car Allowances be revised with effect from 1 April 2007. The new rates are set out below:
451 - 999cc 1000- 1199cc
Essential Users
Lump sum per annum £726 £819
per mile first 8,500 32.0p 34.6p
per mile after8,500 12.1p 12.1p
Casual Users
per mile first 8,500 40.5p 44.2p
per mile after 8,500 12.1p 12.1p
NB: These allowances are based on a price of 88.25p per litre (401.2p per gallon) for unleaded petrol (based on actual pump prices in the first two weeks of January [as surveyed by the Automobile Association on behalf of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders] in accordance with the jointly agreed formula for calculating the allowances each year).
Thursday, 12 April 2007
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY LATEST
Employers offer a paltry 2% pay offer during what branch secretary Rob Evans described at the most hostile NJC meeting he has ever attended.
On 20th March the trade unions dismissed the offer as “insulting and demeaning” and “not good enough to consult on”. The employers accepted that the unions would not put the offer to the membership and were visibly shaken by the attack from the floor. They did however ask for further talks and agreed to take the unions rejection back to local authorities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UNISON Head of Local Government Heather Wakefield said: “This is effectively a pay cut. With today’s inflation rates going up to 4.6% and living costs rising much faster than council workers pay, millions of workers are being pushed closer to the breadline. This is a paltry pay award which will drive down the morale of staff further. Make no mistake about it our members are extremely angry.” “Our members are angry. 70% of employers have failed to complete on pay and grading reviews promised by the end of this month. In addition the review of the local government pension scheme has yet to be completed.”
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWS LETTER
On 20th March the trade unions dismissed the offer as “insulting and demeaning” and “not good enough to consult on”. The employers accepted that the unions would not put the offer to the membership and were visibly shaken by the attack from the floor. They did however ask for further talks and agreed to take the unions rejection back to local authorities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
UNISON Head of Local Government Heather Wakefield said: “This is effectively a pay cut. With today’s inflation rates going up to 4.6% and living costs rising much faster than council workers pay, millions of workers are being pushed closer to the breadline. This is a paltry pay award which will drive down the morale of staff further. Make no mistake about it our members are extremely angry.” “Our members are angry. 70% of employers have failed to complete on pay and grading reviews promised by the end of this month. In addition the review of the local government pension scheme has yet to be completed.”
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWS LETTER
£1.7M RECOVERED FOR INJURED UNISON MEMBERS IN 2006
The great news is that UNISON Cymru/Wales members and their families benefited from compensation of nearly 1.7 million pounds in 2006 as a result of successful personal injury claims brought by Thompsons Solicitors, UNISON’s lawyers.
The total damages won for members and their families was £1,699 449.
What was surprising though, was that this significant amount of compensation was recovered on fewer cases than the previous 12 months. So whilst it is great news that we are securing so much compensation, there may be other members, or their families, who are missing out on what they are entitled to.
A lot is written in the press about a so called compensation culture. But that is a myth. Personal injury claims in Wales are falling every year. We hope that genuinely injured people, including UNISON members, are not being put off claiming because of the nonsense that is being written about a claims culture.
We know from our statistics that per head of membership population, a smaller percentage of UNISON members pursue claims compared with the percentage of the overall general population that pursue claims. It is unlikely that UNISON members get injured less often, and so members are either not accessing the specialist advice they need, or they are chancing their case with a jack-of-all-trades lawyer or even an unregulated claims company.
UNISON members should remember that if someone else’s negligence causes them or their loved ones injury, and it is possible to prove that this negligence was the cause of that injury, then it is their right to claim damages.
UNISON’s legal service, provided by specialist personal injury lawyers Thompsons, is totally free to members injured at or away from work, and to friends and family members injured away from work, whether or not the claim is successful. Use it.
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWSLETTER
The total damages won for members and their families was £1,699 449.
What was surprising though, was that this significant amount of compensation was recovered on fewer cases than the previous 12 months. So whilst it is great news that we are securing so much compensation, there may be other members, or their families, who are missing out on what they are entitled to.
A lot is written in the press about a so called compensation culture. But that is a myth. Personal injury claims in Wales are falling every year. We hope that genuinely injured people, including UNISON members, are not being put off claiming because of the nonsense that is being written about a claims culture.
We know from our statistics that per head of membership population, a smaller percentage of UNISON members pursue claims compared with the percentage of the overall general population that pursue claims. It is unlikely that UNISON members get injured less often, and so members are either not accessing the specialist advice they need, or they are chancing their case with a jack-of-all-trades lawyer or even an unregulated claims company.
UNISON members should remember that if someone else’s negligence causes them or their loved ones injury, and it is possible to prove that this negligence was the cause of that injury, then it is their right to claim damages.
UNISON’s legal service, provided by specialist personal injury lawyers Thompsons, is totally free to members injured at or away from work, and to friends and family members injured away from work, whether or not the claim is successful. Use it.
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWSLETTER
FLEXI TIME
UNISON recently welcomed a government minister's call for everybody to have access to flexible working.
Children's minister Beverley Hughes made the call in an essay for the Institute for Public Policy Research, published as part of a collection called Politics for a New Generation: The Progressive Movement - by leading Labour figures to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 1997 general election.
With flexible working largely available to be taken up by working mothers, it has come to be seen as reinforcing the glass ceiling, making it harder for women to gain promotion.
UNISON has campaigned for universal flexible working for some years. "It is the only way to stop flexible working from being seen as a 'mummy track'," commented policy officer Michelle Singleton. "It's a win-win policy which reduces absenteeism and boosts employee morale"
Ms Hughes' call for flexible working to be available to all, not just parents of young children, has not been raised within government though not in the department for Trade and Industry, the Department for Work and Pensions, or the Department for Education and Skills, where Ms Hughes is a minister.
A spokesperson for the DTI told UNISON: "There is nothing in the pipeline to do with what the minister is saying."However, the Work and Families Act is coming into force and so there will be an extension of maternity Leave to nine months by April, extending to 12 months by the end of the Parliament." The DTI also pointed out that flexible working rights will be extended to carers in April, benefiting up to 2.8 million people.
Ending Long Hours Culture, Low Pay and Investing in Childcare is Answer to Damning UNICEF Survey. Low pay, the long hours culture and the lack of accessible quality childcare are key factors in the UK coming bottom of the UNICEF league table on children’s well-being, said UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today.
Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, representing 1.4m members said: “This is a truly shocking report highlighting the plight of our nation’s children. It cannot be a coincidence that at the same time as being bottom of the league table, we have the longest working hours in Europe. When you combine this with the huge problems caused by low pay, particularly among “traditional” women’s jobs, you have a dangerous cocktail. There is a real problem caused by the increasing disparity between the rich and affluent and the poor and powerless, made worse by the kind of indecent bonuses paid out to some city workers.”“The Government must make investment in childcare a spending priority. The way to tackle the growing inequalities in society is to provide support for families and low paid workers, and to ensure quality childcare is sustainable. All the evidence shows that investing in childcare pays long-term dividends, in terms of employment, earnings and life chances.”
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWS LETTER
Children's minister Beverley Hughes made the call in an essay for the Institute for Public Policy Research, published as part of a collection called Politics for a New Generation: The Progressive Movement - by leading Labour figures to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 1997 general election.
With flexible working largely available to be taken up by working mothers, it has come to be seen as reinforcing the glass ceiling, making it harder for women to gain promotion.
UNISON has campaigned for universal flexible working for some years. "It is the only way to stop flexible working from being seen as a 'mummy track'," commented policy officer Michelle Singleton. "It's a win-win policy which reduces absenteeism and boosts employee morale"
Ms Hughes' call for flexible working to be available to all, not just parents of young children, has not been raised within government though not in the department for Trade and Industry, the Department for Work and Pensions, or the Department for Education and Skills, where Ms Hughes is a minister.
A spokesperson for the DTI told UNISON: "There is nothing in the pipeline to do with what the minister is saying."However, the Work and Families Act is coming into force and so there will be an extension of maternity Leave to nine months by April, extending to 12 months by the end of the Parliament." The DTI also pointed out that flexible working rights will be extended to carers in April, benefiting up to 2.8 million people.
Ending Long Hours Culture, Low Pay and Investing in Childcare is Answer to Damning UNICEF Survey. Low pay, the long hours culture and the lack of accessible quality childcare are key factors in the UK coming bottom of the UNICEF league table on children’s well-being, said UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today.
Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, representing 1.4m members said: “This is a truly shocking report highlighting the plight of our nation’s children. It cannot be a coincidence that at the same time as being bottom of the league table, we have the longest working hours in Europe. When you combine this with the huge problems caused by low pay, particularly among “traditional” women’s jobs, you have a dangerous cocktail. There is a real problem caused by the increasing disparity between the rich and affluent and the poor and powerless, made worse by the kind of indecent bonuses paid out to some city workers.”“The Government must make investment in childcare a spending priority. The way to tackle the growing inequalities in society is to provide support for families and low paid workers, and to ensure quality childcare is sustainable. All the evidence shows that investing in childcare pays long-term dividends, in terms of employment, earnings and life chances.”
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWS LETTER
HAVE A HEART: GIVE US FAIR PAY
'Have a heart - give us fair pay' was the message when local government unions handed in their 2007-8 pay claim on Valentine's Day.
At the end of January, the Retail Price Index was 4.2%. In December, it had topped 4.4% - the highest figure since 1991.
"Big increases in energy, transport and housing costs over the past year have eaten further into our members' pay," commented UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis. "Local government members' pay has slipped back against the private and other sectors," he said, adding that Treasury talk of restricting public-sector pay awards to 2% or less was "unrealistic".The claim from UNISON, the T&G and the GMB is on behalf of 1.3 million workers, more than 60% of whom earn just £15,825 or less a year - around £8,000 less than the national average. Seventy-five percent of these are women.
The claim itself calls for: any deal to be for one year only; to ensure a £6.30 underpin on the minimum hourly rate; the greater of 5% or £1,000; an increase in annual leave of 1 day for all employees; an increase in basic annual leave entitlement to 25 days per year as the minimum entitlement for all employees; a reduction in the standard working week to 35 hours, without loss of pay; an increase in the night shift allowance over three years from time and a third, to time and a half, to time and three quarters, to double time in the final year; an increase in the sleep-in allowance to £60.
Scottish local government pay rates are due to increase on 1 April 2007 as part of a deal agreed in June 2006.
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWS LETTER
At the end of January, the Retail Price Index was 4.2%. In December, it had topped 4.4% - the highest figure since 1991.
"Big increases in energy, transport and housing costs over the past year have eaten further into our members' pay," commented UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis. "Local government members' pay has slipped back against the private and other sectors," he said, adding that Treasury talk of restricting public-sector pay awards to 2% or less was "unrealistic".The claim from UNISON, the T&G and the GMB is on behalf of 1.3 million workers, more than 60% of whom earn just £15,825 or less a year - around £8,000 less than the national average. Seventy-five percent of these are women.
The claim itself calls for: any deal to be for one year only; to ensure a £6.30 underpin on the minimum hourly rate; the greater of 5% or £1,000; an increase in annual leave of 1 day for all employees; an increase in basic annual leave entitlement to 25 days per year as the minimum entitlement for all employees; a reduction in the standard working week to 35 hours, without loss of pay; an increase in the night shift allowance over three years from time and a third, to time and a half, to time and three quarters, to double time in the final year; an increase in the sleep-in allowance to £60.
Scottish local government pay rates are due to increase on 1 April 2007 as part of a deal agreed in June 2006.
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWS LETTER
JOANS COLUMN (BRANCH EQUALITIES OFFICER)
On the seventh anniversary of the tragic death of child abuse victim Victoria Climbie, the UK’s largest union UNISON has called on the Government and local councils to urgently resolve the very same issues which contributed to the terrible case.
UNISON National Secretary for Local Government Heather Wakefield said:“We remain concerned that the overwhelming workload, recruitment and retention problems, and also a high dependence on agency staff, has not improved the situation in many areas.
“The Government’s recent review of the social care workforce, ‘Options for Excellence’, noted that stress caused by poor management and high caseloads continues to push people to leave the sector.”
UNISON, which represents some 300,000 social care services workers, is gravely concerned that some 69 per cent of councils in England have difficulty recruiting sufficient children’s social workers (alarmingly up from 48 per cent in 2001). Moreover half of councils have difficulties retaining these staff (up from 30 per cent in 2001).
Just as worrying is that the vacancy rate for children’s social work posts has not improved – 12 per cent of all posts are still vacant, and annual turnover of staff is 11 per cent, double that of the wider economy.
There is also a high level of use of agency staff, in social care. Overall six per cent of all social care staff are agency staff and that rises to a staggering 21 per cent in London. A third of the agency staff working in social care are deployed to fill children’s social work posts.
The death of Victoria Climbie, killed aged eight in 2000, led to an inquiry chaired by Lord Laming, which made more than a hundred recommendations. Lord Laming’s inquiry found that many workers involved in the case admitted to being overwhelmed by workloads and downtrodden by low pay, which contributed to poor communications between and inside different public authorities
NB: TAKEN FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWSLETTER
UNISON National Secretary for Local Government Heather Wakefield said:“We remain concerned that the overwhelming workload, recruitment and retention problems, and also a high dependence on agency staff, has not improved the situation in many areas.
“The Government’s recent review of the social care workforce, ‘Options for Excellence’, noted that stress caused by poor management and high caseloads continues to push people to leave the sector.”
UNISON, which represents some 300,000 social care services workers, is gravely concerned that some 69 per cent of councils in England have difficulty recruiting sufficient children’s social workers (alarmingly up from 48 per cent in 2001). Moreover half of councils have difficulties retaining these staff (up from 30 per cent in 2001).
Just as worrying is that the vacancy rate for children’s social work posts has not improved – 12 per cent of all posts are still vacant, and annual turnover of staff is 11 per cent, double that of the wider economy.
There is also a high level of use of agency staff, in social care. Overall six per cent of all social care staff are agency staff and that rises to a staggering 21 per cent in London. A third of the agency staff working in social care are deployed to fill children’s social work posts.
The death of Victoria Climbie, killed aged eight in 2000, led to an inquiry chaired by Lord Laming, which made more than a hundred recommendations. Lord Laming’s inquiry found that many workers involved in the case admitted to being overwhelmed by workloads and downtrodden by low pay, which contributed to poor communications between and inside different public authorities
NB: TAKEN FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWSLETTER
THE HAYDEN REPORT
UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, has welcomed the cap on election spending proposed in the Hayden Report, calling it a much needed brake on all parties.
Keith Sonnet, Deputy General Secretary of UNISON, said:“The review into funding for political parties is needed to restore public confidence following the post election revelations about loans to individual parties. “The last election saw a massive increase in cross party spending which fuelled a loans race to fund it. The public do not want to see American style electioneering where the biggest budget can buy votes, so a cap on election spending is welcome. “We will look carefully at the proposals to limit donations and its impact on our members’ affiliation to the Labour Party. UNISON has always been open and transparent in its affiliation fees and its donations to Labour. Our members can choose to pay an affiliation fee by joining the affiliated fund or not to affiliate by joining the general fund. The choice is down to the members themselves and our affiliation fees to the Labour Party are reflected directly by the contributions of those who wish to affiliate.”
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWSLETTER
Keith Sonnet, Deputy General Secretary of UNISON, said:“The review into funding for political parties is needed to restore public confidence following the post election revelations about loans to individual parties. “The last election saw a massive increase in cross party spending which fuelled a loans race to fund it. The public do not want to see American style electioneering where the biggest budget can buy votes, so a cap on election spending is welcome. “We will look carefully at the proposals to limit donations and its impact on our members’ affiliation to the Labour Party. UNISON has always been open and transparent in its affiliation fees and its donations to Labour. Our members can choose to pay an affiliation fee by joining the affiliated fund or not to affiliate by joining the general fund. The choice is down to the members themselves and our affiliation fees to the Labour Party are reflected directly by the contributions of those who wish to affiliate.”
NB: FROM APRIL ISSUE OF BRANCH NEWSLETTER
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Branch secretary Rob Evans expressed his disappointment with the attendance, or rather lack of it, at this year’s Annual General Meeting.
“The meeting was barely quorate” said Rob “and with such vital issues facing us all it beggars belief that we cannot turn out in strength at least once a year.
“There are very real threats to our jobs and services ahead and if we are to protect them we must show solidarity at every opportunity.
This year will see us enter the realm of Shared Services, finalise Job Evaluation and the consequences thereon, never mind the back pay issue for Equal Pay claimants, resoling the Pension dispute and more than likely a ballot forcouncil tenants on the solution to meeting the Wales Quality Housing Standard.
“To fail on any of these issues is unthinkable” added Rob. “To fail on more than one could lead to grave consequences indeed. Members have heard a lot of doom and gloom in recent years and to be fair not a lot has happened to jobs and services. However, everyone should recognise this has been down to the co-operation between unions and the council and this should not be underestimated. It is not ‘cry wolf’ again, we are where we are and everyone should know that the pressure is really on this time.”
NB: FROM LATEST ISUE OF BRANCH MAGAZINE
“The meeting was barely quorate” said Rob “and with such vital issues facing us all it beggars belief that we cannot turn out in strength at least once a year.
“There are very real threats to our jobs and services ahead and if we are to protect them we must show solidarity at every opportunity.
This year will see us enter the realm of Shared Services, finalise Job Evaluation and the consequences thereon, never mind the back pay issue for Equal Pay claimants, resoling the Pension dispute and more than likely a ballot forcouncil tenants on the solution to meeting the Wales Quality Housing Standard.
“To fail on any of these issues is unthinkable” added Rob. “To fail on more than one could lead to grave consequences indeed. Members have heard a lot of doom and gloom in recent years and to be fair not a lot has happened to jobs and services. However, everyone should recognise this has been down to the co-operation between unions and the council and this should not be underestimated. It is not ‘cry wolf’ again, we are where we are and everyone should know that the pressure is really on this time.”
NB: FROM LATEST ISUE OF BRANCH MAGAZINE
SPECIAL CONFERENCE REPORT
Branch delegates Rob Evans, Jill Bird & Ken Jones joined representatives of UNISON’s local government members to attend the much sought after Special Conference on the Local Government Pension Scheme. The furore of recent months when branches throughout the country called for the conference to express their dissatisfaction with the national negotiators was well diluted, so much so that delegates ended up welcoming "substantial improvements" in government proposals for the new pension scheme and called for continued talks, with a ballot of members on acceptance as soon as negotiations are completed.
As Jean Geldart, chair of the union's local government service group executive reminded delegates gathered in Alexandra Palace, north London, "three years ago, the government declared war on public-service pensions schemes”.
But now, conference agreed, extensive negotiations and a campaign including industrial action, had led to proposals which include:
a guaranteed final salary scheme; an improved accrual rate – from 1/80th to 1/60th of final salary for every year worked; pensions for unmarried partners; improved death-in-service benefits.
The conference also welcomed negotiators' success in removing unacceptable" proposals on redundancy and benefits for scheme members’ children who are left without parents, thanks to the "hard work and successful campaigning of our branches, regions and senior negotiators over two years".In particular, delegates welcomed proposed improvements for low paid women and part-time workers. As Wendy Nichols of North Yorkshire noted, "three-quarters of LGPS members are women and half of those are part time" – and keeping a final salary scheme with improved accrual rates is a victory for them.While recognising the progress made, the conference called on negotiations to continue – in particular around:contribution rates for part-time workers and those currently on a protected 5% rate; provision for people retiring on ill-health grounds; protection for those formerly covered by the 'rule of 85' which allowed some members to retire at 60 with an unreduced pension.
As soon as negotiations are completed, members will be balloted on whether they accept the proposals or, if not, whether they are prepared to take "substantial and escalating industrial action".The conference further called for a full equality impact assessment under the Disability Discrimination Act to ensure that the new LGPS met the needs of disabled workers with "dignity and respect".
The consultation period closes very soon and a decision will be taken at national level as soon as possible thereafter.
NB: THIS ARTICLE IS FROM THE APRIL ISSUE OF THE BRANCH NEWSLETTER
WELCOME TO THE BLAENAU GWENT UNISON BLOG
Welcome to the blog of Blaenau Gwent branch of UNISON. What is a blog? Well, it’s short for ‘web log’ and it is intended to act an online diary of sorts. This particular blog will be used for publishing news stories relevant to the branch and announcing forthcoming events that will be of interest to members. Please feel free to leave comments and let us know what you think.
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