Inside
Swansea Lagoon: Tories love nukes not tidal
The NHS at 70: campaigning against the private vultures
World's No.1 racist: No to Trump & Nazi Robinson
City and County of Swansea
Review Watch out for your T&C's! Cash-strapped Swansea Council now employs more than 6,000 fewer workers than it did five years ago, and they wonder why stress at work is going through the roof and there is now a three-month waiting list for Occupational Health appointments. For example, our ex-cleaning members who are now working for the NHS, report they didn’t want to leave but the reductions in their contracted hours meant many who were in receipt of tax credits were forced to leave the Authority! Our members might have changed employers but they didn’t change unions. Our school staff report that redundancies, and ER/VR is forced upon them, and the loss of services seems to be the norm as the schools tell us they are hard pressed to deliver services on their allocated budgets. The Authority has offered all schools the option of charging their staff for parking and to retain the revenues! We are confident each Swansea resident living near a school will contact their elected members when our members are forced to park on the streets around their place of work News on T&Cs Reviews Discussions have commenced on Terms and Conditions (T&C's), with the ‘million-pound’ sickness bill top of the agenda. Reward schemes for not being unwell - and increased Disciplinary procedures are being looked at. Unlike other trade-unions, UNISON has 100% opposed a p2
So…you want to change Union?
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The Branch has had a number of queries recently about members changing Union. If you’re moving to UNISON, but paying Union subs to another Union through your pay, please email the Service Centre Helpdesk using: ServiceCentreHelpdesk@swansea.gov.uk and join UNISON by using the following link: https://join.unison.org.uk www.ccsunison.org.uk Public Service Not Private Profit
01792 635271
Outsourcing
Council decision 'a disgrace' UNISON members have called the decision by Swansea Council to out-source some Leisure services 'a disgrace' from a Council that says it supports public-sector workers. UNISON called on Swansea Labour Councillors to stop the outsourcing of leisure services, and bring back the LC to Council control. Chris Cooze, UNISON Branch Secretary said prior to the decision: “the Labour Council Cabinet will be meeting on Thursday 21st June to consider how leisure centres and other services will be run in the future. We believe the Cabinet are likely to decide to outsource. We do not believe outsourcing is the answer to budget cuts and austerity. There are many examples of public services outsourced on the premise that someone else can run it better and cheaper, only for it to fail with the public sector picking up the pieces. Austerity Following the collapse of Carillion and the public purse having to bail out, once again, an international conglomerate, it is time for all outsourced services, leisure trusts, arms length organisations and management companies to be brought back into the public sector. p2
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'Swansea Unison' July 2018
Leisure: continued from front page
T&C's: continued from front page
At Swansea our Unison members went on strike when our IT services were outsourced, this initiative cost the authority millions only to see the service brought back in house.
proposal to give ‘bonus’ pay to staff who are not sick in a year. This discriminates against members who are genuinely sick, or who struggle to work with long-term health problems, and risks making more staff unwell when sick colleagues feel pressured to continue working.
We now have an opportunity to campaign to bring the jewel in the leisure crown back in house, The Swansea Leisure Centre, billed as the most visited leisure venue in Wales before it was outsourced. Up and down the country, councils are bringing services back in house. In Blackpool, the waste contract with Onyx is being brought back in house by 2019 and the London borough of Redbridge sees the Ames contract being brought back in house. Swansea is a fantastic place to live and work, and our members take real pride in the services they provide. The Council is a key employer in Swansea, and we need to maintain quality services and jobs. The Council should be bringing services back in house and not outsourcing. The contract with the LC will be up soon. It’s one of Wales biggest attractions and should be added to the Council’s other leisure and cultural facilities.” We know that when jobs and services are outsourced, it is the workforce that pays the price. Whilst the transferred staff will have certain protections, the new staff will end up on lesser terms and conditions. UNISON opposes all outsourcing, not just because of the impact on staff, but also due to our experience that services often suffer in the long term. UNISON will continue to represent old and new members in Leisure and to get the best possible terms and conditions for ALL our members, whatever their employer.
Our view is our current T&C are being ‘reviewed’ as a result of austerity cuts that have knocked us to rock bottom. It is a disgrace for a Labour council to wish to force a draconian stealth-wage reductions by removing or reducing professional fees payments; tool allowances; sleeping in allowances and the over-subscription of car-parking spaces by three times the number of actual spaces - and don’t forget there is no reduction for non-usage. Staff have been facing greater workload pressures. The resulting increased workplace stress puts the morale of the workforce at risk and poses a long-term threat to members’ ability to provide a consistent quality of service. The following will be a pattern that could result from the effect of these changes. • Increasing demands on the service; • Reductions in staffing; • Staff feeling greater stress; • Staff suffering falling morale; The impact of these pressures shows itself in rising sickness absence, and higher staff turnover. Therefore eroding T&C’s is a blight by the employers ensuring there is little reward for the staff even though their dedication, skill and hard work continues to maintain the high quality of life for the individuals that staff support. UNISON will continue to fight for the best deal for our members. Ultimately however it is by staff joining UNISON and acting collectively that will maintain what we have.
To ha
Unison Swansea condemns the dec Tory led Uk Government not to give th the Swansea Lagoon at a cost of 1.3 b We now learn that the Government ha long-standing policy of refusing to subs power with the announcement that it is making up to £5bn of taxpayers' mone support Hitachi's investment in the pro power station at Wylfa and the announ runway in Heathrow at a cost of 10 bill
This announcement is even more extra that Hinckley Point is already £1.5bn o behind schedule just two years into co the Welsh Government, offer of £200 m substantial stake or loan from the Wels Tidal Lagoon Swansea can match Hinc should be no reason to say no! If it is g nuclear in England, it should be good e and Wales. Electrification
Coupled with the Government's decisio support the electrification of the GWR UNISON and many others are left won this latest failure to commit to the tidal is yet another example of the governm
UNISON wrote to our members in Leisure before the outsourcing: 'Dear Unison Member The Labour Cabinet, at its meeting on Thursday 21st June will be deciding whether to outsource leisure centres, and consider how other leisure services will be run in the future. Outsourcing would mean your job being transferred to another employer. We have been assured your terms and conditions, including pensions, will be protected for the life of the contract. We have asked a number of detailed questions about how this would work in practise and are waiting for a response. UNISON is opposed to outsourcing for many reasons, including the impact on jobs, terms and conditions and the actual service you provide. We have been arguing against outsourcing from day one, at the same time as seeking to maximise the protection of jobs and terms and conditions in case jobs are transferred. We understood that once the Council were at the point where they had a
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UNISON condemns racist Trump and Nazi Tommy Robinson The General Secretary of UNISON, Dave Prentis, has signed a major statement along with many other trade union leaders, condemning the threat of far-right racist and nazi organisations. UNISON supports national and local protests against Trump and the nazi Tommy Robinson.
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It can be viewed here https://bit.ly/2IEnkO1 and reads:
ories halt renewable energy but are appy to nuke and tarmac the planet
cision of the e go ahead with billion pounds. as abandoned its sidise nuclear s considering ey available to oposed Nuclear ncement of third ion.
indifference towards major infrastructure projects outside of London and the South East. So much for spreading the benefits of economic growth across the whole of the country. These two major projects would have had a combined 2 billion pounds investment not just in Swansea but across South Wales, which would have created employment, training opportunities, had a positive impact on tourism on our carbon footprint and would have made Wales the lead in tidal lagoon technology
aordinary given over budget and onstruction. With million offer a sh Government. ckley then there good enough for enough for tidal
Hendry
on not to to Swansea, ndering whether lagoon project ment's
We leave you with Hendry's unambiguous message: "The more evidence I have seen, the more persuaded I have become that tidal lagoons do have an important role to play and there should be a government strategy in place to help this happen."
Unison fully supports the Hendry Review of the tidal lagoon proposal makes compelling arguments for the government to take a longer, strategic view of the potential benefits of establishing a supportive policy context for the development of tidal lagoons in the UK and, crucially, the export of the associated technology and expertise to other parts of the world. Supporting the development of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon as a 'pathfinder' project would demonstrate the government's commitment to such a strategy.
rt which set out the pros and cons of the different options, and before a decision was made, we would be able to analyse the options and mmendations to make sure our members best interests were idered.
hasn’t happened. We were given 8 working days’ notice that the sion was going to be made on the 21st. We do not know who potential employer is, or how all the different options stacked up against each r. We were told the only way we could get that information was by ng a legal document which would prevent us from saying anything ut this process in the public domain. That would include what we could o you. Clearly we could not agree to that.
tated above, we have asked a number of questions in respect of the ntial transfer and protections for staff. We will be arranging meetings eet with members as soon as possible.
e meantime, we encourage you to contact your local councillor to let m know how you feel about your job being transferred to a different loyer.'
The 15,000-strong violent far-right protest to 'free Tommy Robinson' on Saturday 9 June has raised major questions for all those who value our diversity. The racist right are using Robinson to reorganise. Nazi salutes and Islamophobia were at the centre of the mobilisation. This is the first serious attempt since the collapse of the English Defence League (EDL) to develop a racist street movement and give it a political form. It is supported internationally by notorious figures including from the US and the Dutch Islamophobic right. It is absolutely vital that all who oppose this come together in a united mass movement powerful enough to drive these new developments on the far-right back. Donald Trump has played a major role in galvanising the racist right. We will take to the streets for the Together Against Trump demonstration coinciding with his visit on 13 July. And when Robinson’s supporters take to the streets again on 14 July, we will protest against them too. Wherever the far right’s support grows so does racism and violence. Let’s come together to defend our multicultural society from those who spread hatred and division.
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Swansea Lagoon:
https://www.change.org/p/we-must-unite-to-halt-therise-of-the-far-right http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk
You can download the statement here: https://tinyurl.com/y7gdradt to use in your workplace and please come on the demonstrations against Trump on the 13th and the nazi Tommy Robinson on the 14th. See our Events on Facebook at 'Swansea Unison' or contact the branch office.
Q&A to the Leader
UNISON in Action for All!
The leader of the council Cllr Rob Stewart has agreed to take part in an addition to the unison newspaper to answer a couple of questions from Unison Members. If you have any questions or suggestions, this is your opportunity. You can forward any questions or observations to question4theleader@gmail.com All questions can be asked in confidence if you prefer.
Q. 'With the decrease changes in a number of different benefits by the Tory led Uk central Government, what strategies is the council putting in place to tackle poverty?'
A. 'Our Tackling Poverty Strategy is designed to
UNISON members locally have been active campaigning in many events in recent months. The demonstration in London of the 70th Anniversary of the NHS (top); the celebration of Womens' Suffrage in Cardiff (left) and Swansea's LGBT Pride (above). See UNISON's national website for more information on our fight for the NHS and our campaigns for equality.
Another great reason to join UNISON!
YOUR UNION
UNISON Cymru Wales' lawyers, Thompsons, won ÂŁ48,000 for members in personal injury settlements in April 2018 alone. Legal support didn't cost these UNISON members a penny. Advice, support and help when you need it.
help us respond to the challenge of these changes to benefits. All cabinet members, directors and heads of service are responsible for activities supporting poverty reduction and we will deliver a range of activities - what follows is just a snapshot. We have undertaken research to give us a clearer idea on the impact the changes will have in Swansea and we will continue this so we have a picture of any developing trends. This will help us plan and deliver employability and lifelong learning activities to help people develop skills and find employment. We are extending and improving our Welfare benefits advice service, we will work with our partners to address any gaps in the help available and we are offering training to all staff who are providing services to the public. We will develop a service with a single point of entry to make assistance easier and more accessible to support more workless or poorly employed people in Swansea. Via the Poverty Partnership we are taking action to address holiday hunger among school pupils and to reduce inequalities. Some of our own council staff, particularly those working part-time, could be affected and like the rest of the public we are regularly updating them on the benefit changes and directing them to advice and support.'
Contact us: Unison Office, Rm 153-G, The Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE
01792 635271
unison@swansea.gov.uk Branch Secretary: Chris Cooze
Unison has many trained union reps throughout the council, schools and FE colleges. We will advise, support and represent you collectively and individually on issues from sickness, disciplinaries to legal matters inside and outside the workplace. If you need advice or representation please contact the Senior Steward(s) or Contact for your department below or go to your workplace steward. Alternatively please contact the branch office.
www.ccsunison.org.uk
SENIOR STEWARD SOCIAL SERVICES ALISON DAVIES 01792 636351 / 07941757853 SIMON JONES 637559/ 07858411470 DAVID WHITE 635180/ 07870465697 SENIOR STEWARDS ENVIRONMENT IAN ALEXANDER 07584505793 MARK OTTEN 07789485009 EDUCATION JOHN AUSTIN 07796275039
www.unison.co.uk
This newsletter is produced by the City and County of Swansea Unison Branch. Any letters, comments or suggestions for articles should be posted to the branch address or emailed to Unison@swansea.gov.uk. Correspondence is not guaranteed to be published and contents may not necessarily reflect Unison policy.