Category Archives: Front Page

FURTHER TALKS WITH EMPLOYERS TO RESLOVE HIGHER EDUCATION PAY DISPUTE

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UNISON has confirmed that alongside its sister trade unions UCU, Unite and EIS fresh talks will be held with the employers in an attempt to resolve the current dispute over higher education pay.

UNISON members alongside their colleagues from UCU, Unite and EIS are due to take a second day of strike action on 3 December 2013 in response to the current offer of a 1% salary increase for staff.

But all parties have agreed to use ACAS to facillitate exploratory talks on a resolution at a meeting on 26 November 2013 at the ACAS offices in London.

UNISON has expressed its disappointment that the national HE employers organisation UCEA has provocatively suggested to universities that they can choose to pay their 1% pay offer “on account” to staff, whilst the current dispute over pay remains unresolved.

UNIVERSITIES MARCH TOGETHER

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After an early start on picket lines hundreds of staff from both universities joined forces  to march around the city centre to protest about pay. Students demonstrated their solidarity by marching with university staff.

The rally made its way to Barkers Pool at midday where speakers, including Simon Renton, national president of UCU,  and Hallam UNISON Branch Secretary Dan Bye, addressed the large gathering to outline the reasons for the protest.

Police officers with the rally approximated 300 to 400 strikers were active.

PENSIONS UPDATE

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The new Local Government Pension Scheme (in our region known as the South Yorkshire Pension Scheme) comes into being on 1 April 2014.   The Public Service Pensions Act became law in April this year.   This legislation was necessary to allow the existing schemes to be changed, and the detail of how the scheme will work in included in draft regulations currently out for consultation (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-pension-scheme-2014).

For more information on the progress of the design of the new scheme, see: http://www.lgps2014.org/.

UNISON has concerns about the extension of “fair deal” protection to LGPS members, which has not yet been finalised.  “Fair deal” means that if a public service is privatised, workers are allowed to maintain membership of the LGPS.   UNISON believes that this protection was built into the agreement on reform of the LGPS and that therefore all scheme members should be covered, and is making representations to that effect.

HIGHER EDUCATION PAY CAMPAIGN – UNISON MEMBERS TO BE BALLOTED FOR INDUSTRIAL ACTION

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The UNISON Higher Education Service Group Executive (HESGE) is urging members to strike for better pay, following the employers’ refusal to improve the 1% offer.

UNISON believes that the money is available for a better pay increase, and that Higher Education employers can afford to improve on their offer.

Over the last 5 years, as a result of pay rises below the cost of living, our lowest paid members have lost the equivalent income of between £663 – £1173. UNISON believes that no employees in higher education should be paid less than the national Living Wage and that it is time for incomes for everyone in the sector to match the rising costs of living.

According to a recent freedom of information request, the median pay of the highest paid members of staff in the higher education sector (including pension contributions and other pay related elements) was £242,000 with the highest paid employee receiving over £500,000 per year! There is money available for some – we believe it should be available for all.

UNISON believes that evidence from the employer’s shows that the financial position of the higher education is healthy and  shows signs of expansion with the number of employees in the HE sector showing an increase for management, academic and support staff by over 4,000 between 1/8/11 and 1/8/12.

Although during the same period some universities have made redundancies, this is not reflected across all HEI’s and we believe that this is further evidence that the sector has the money to make an improved pay offer that fairly reflects the contribution of our members.

The HESGE believe that the only way for an improved pay offer from the employers is for members to take strike action, and show the University employers that enough is enough and that pay matters.

UNISON consulted members on whether the offer should be accepted, and the majority of those responding said they would not accept it.   Therefore the HESGE has decided to ballot members for industrial action in September.   If members vote for action, this would be likely to take place in the autumn.

Remember: your vote does count.

We will be arranging Branch meetings to allow members to discuss the pay offer and campaign for a better deal.

It is important that before the ballot we have accurate contact details for all members.  In our branch we have done a lot of work over recent years to make sure that our records are up to date. However, we know that members are constantly on the move, and so if you have changed your name, phone number, email address or postal address, please make sure you have told us.

You can update your details by emailing Jo, our branch administrator.

Or call UNISONDirect on 0845 355 0845.

Or manage your details online here: http://www.unison.org.uk/my-unison/

South Yorkshire Festival

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Come along to Wortley Hall on Saturday the 6th July for a great day out for all the Family! Enjoy lots of wonderful stalls brimming with crafts, food and gifts, falconry displays, pony rides, exotic animal handling, brass band, dancers, face painting, coconut shy, bouncy castles, rides and games.

The South Yorkshire Festival is support by the trade union movement.

Saturday 6th July 12noon – 5pm

 

Precarious lives: refugees and asylum seekers’ experiences of forced labour

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We are pleased to invite you to the launch of Precarious Lives, a report about refugees and asylum seekers’ experiences of forced labour in England.

We are especially pleased that Klara Skřivánková, Trafficking Programme Coordinator at Anti-Slavery International, Beryl Randall, Manager of the Employability Forum and Lisa Doyle, Advocacy and Influencing Manager at the Refugee Council will join us to be part of a panel to respond to the findings.

We will also hear about the launch of the Platform on Forced Labour and Asylum which will bring together academics, policy-makers and practitioners to take forward the research findings to develop strategies to tackle forced labour among refugees and asylum seekers.

The event is a chance to hear about the research findings and recommendations.

If you would like to attend please confirm your attendance by email to Hannah Lewis h.j.lewis@leeds.ac.uk by Wednesday 26th June.

We look forward to seeing you on the 2nd July, 3-5pm, Hurley House, 1 Dewsbury Rd, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS11 5DQ.

Peter Dwyer, Stuart Hodkinson, Hannah Lewis and Louise Waite

Precarious Lives research team

National Self-Organised Group Conferences

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Self-organisation is an essential part of UNISON’s work; it is one of the key ways in which we promote equality. Self-organisation brings together members from certain under-represented groups – women members, black members, disabled members and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. These groups help the union identify and challenge discrimination and build equality.

Each Self-Organised Group (SOG) has a national conference every year to bring together members from across the country. Any member of one of our branch’s SOGs is entitled to go to the relevant National Conference and it’s very easy to become a member of a SOG: you just need to express an interest!

The following SOG National Conferences are coming up and it would be great to send delegates from our branch to each.

Disabled Members’ 2013, Sat 26 – Mon 28 October, Manchester Central – link http://www.unison.org.uk/conference/disabled.asp

LGBT 2013, Fri 22 – Sun 24 November, BT Centre, Liverpool – link http://www.unison.org.uk/conference/out2008.asp

Transport and accommodation are paid for by UNISON and delegates are also given a subsistence grant to cover food costs.

If you would be interested in attending either conference or would just like some additional information please feel free to get in touch with me at r.sadler@shu.ac.uk

School Uniform Grants

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Act quick closing date 5 July 2013.

Worried about back to school costs?

Are you struggling to cope with the rising cost of living? Finding that you’re having to economise in every area of expenditure?

Help is on hand

We have set up a limited fund to help UNISON members on low income with school uniform costs by way of a one-off payment of up to £120.

To apply or find out more about other help that is available visit UNISON’s welfare charity There For You to download an application form.  This part of the site is member-only, you will have to register on the site with your membership number to access it.  If you don’t know your membership number, contact Jo, UNISON Administrator.  Alternatively you can contact our Welfare Officer Chris Deakin for an application form.

PS. If you know of other members who may need our help, please pass this on!

National Delegates Conference Report

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By Dan Bye, Branch Secretary

UNISON’s National Delegate Conference is often described as our Union’s “annual parliament”.  Delegates from Branches across the country, representing over a million members, attend to decide UNISON’s policies and priorities.

This year the conference took place between 18th-21st June, in Liverpool, and I attended as this branch’s delegate. Proceedings can seem complicated and intimidating to the first timer, but it is always interesting to listen to the debates on motions, and it doesn’t take long to get the hang of things.

Motions passed included a condemnation of the murder of Lee Rigby in Woolwich, which also expressed concern at the exploitation of the tragedy by the EDL.  Another motion pledged to resist Tory-led coalition attacks on welfare and to build an “alternative vision of welfare provision for the 21st century.  A statement of solidarity with striking Future Directions workers in Rochdale was passed: they are in dispute over huge pay cuts and attacks on their terms and conditions.    There were debates on international issues too, an important element of UNISON’s work.

Conference also approved some rule changes – these needed a two-thirds majority in order to pass.  Branches will now be required to set an annual budget, and to maintain financial records using UNISON’s national online branch accounting system (known as OLBA).   At SHU we are already doing both.  Another rule change means that in future all branch funding will be paid into branch accounts in only one bank – the trade union movement-owned Unity Trust Bank.  Again, at SHU we are already banking with Unity Trust.

Another rule change means that retired members will need to pay the appropriate UNISON subscription rate should they return to work.  If they return to work where UNISON are not organised, then they should join the appropriate union.  They could resume retired membership later.   The previous rule was unclear.

A further change amended the rules on unemployed membership.  The previous rule allowed members dismissed or made redundant to become “unemployed members” for up to two years (so long as they remained unemployed).  The new rule extends that benefit to members who leave their jobs after accepting a compromise agreement as an alternative to dismissal.

Finally, the rule on qualifying periods for legal assistance was changed.  The old rule said that you had to have been a member for 4 weeks before knowing that you needed legal assistance; the new rule simply states that you have to have been a member for 4 weeks.   This makes the situation much clearer and also makes the case for joining the Union straight away much more powerful!

If you want to read more about what happened at conference, you can do so here: http://www.unison.org.uk/about/events-and-conferences/conference-updates/

 

Cycle to Work re-launch

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We are very pleased that the University has decided to re-launch the Cycle to Work scheme.  UNISON reps have pushed for the scheme to be reinstated, for example by raising the issue in Local Information and Consultation Committees.

The scheme allows staff to buy cycling equipment through salary sacrifice and therefore tax-free.  Full details are on the link above.

This year the scheme will close on 5th July, so get your orders in by then!  The scheme will be opened again in the new year.