Inside
The fight for pay in 2014
City and County of Swansea
Review We need to fight to stop the cuts The situation facing Swansea Council workers remains serious. We face the prospect of 635 whole-time equivalent (approx 1000) jobs being axed. Even if - a very big 'if' given the information provided to UNISON - there are no compulsory redundancies in this round thanks to ER/VR and some redeployments, remaining staff will still be vulnerable for the next rounds in year 2 and year 3.
Services Services also remain at risk. there has been a partial stall on the expected announcement to the closure of residential homes and daycentres - thanks to Unison campaigning. However no-one should be under any illusion that the closures are off the agenda. Any closures have been postponed, pending a potential internal review, not cancelled. Similarly other services, such as in Leisure, face closure or outsourcing - and a loss of terms and conditions. The potential cuts we face - if not fought - will result in savage cuts to our services and jobs with axing or privatising of services, sackings of staff and increased workloads for those who remain.
situation the branch has ever faced. We have fought over services before - some campaigns have been won and some lost. The branch won the ballot over the privatisation of council-housing some years ago because we connected with Council tenants, local campaigners and won the ballot, ensuring no privatisation for the Housing Department to this date.
Weaknesses The weakness in other campaigns which failed - around Earlsmoor care-home and Daniel James School - was the absence of a fight by the vast majority of the staff affected. Without the serious involvement of those affected services will not be kept. There was also the prospect of redeployment for those that still wanted a job - no such alternative for
all staff will be there in the future; the choices really will be to fight or lose our services and our jobs.
Organise The exact pattern of some cuts is not yet clear but we know it will be huge and we can prepare. The branch is opposed to privatisation, job-losses and cuts in services but this commitment in principle needs to be backed up by organisation and a willingness to fight. All workplaces and offices should elect union reps if they do not already have them, and all our reps should be organising workplaces meetings to discuss the cuts and how we can resist - not just the 'big' actions like strikes but 'smaller' actions to manage workloads, keep posts and defend services.
T
Opposition Many vulnerable people will not get the support they need after the Council recently voted for its cuts-package with no visible opposition from any councillor. As we have stated many times in this newsletter, the prospect of the cuts is the most serious
Public Service Not Private Profit
The way to fight for services and pay: UNISON Members at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) stage a 48hr strike over pay in March
March 2014
Pay 2014: Why we need to fight and what kind o The fight is on for a decent pay rise and Unison themselves into organising the strongest possible is campaigning for an £1 an hour for all members vote for action. - and for those at the bottom of the pay scale to have their pay increased to the Living Wage. The Tories, using fiddled and selective figures, are trying to persuade us that our living standards are The employers refused to even respond to our improving. They are not―and local government pay claim at a recent meeting. To add insult to workers know it only too well. injury they tried to justify this by explaining that they were waiting for the updated minimum Imposed wage rate to be announced. The government also recently insulted all NHS staff by an ‘offer’ Public sector pay has fallen by 0.4 percent over the of just 1%, with many health workers not even last year, even before inflation is taken into account. getting that. Soaring prices for food, utilities and other staple living costs have led to a major cumulative cut in the The Tories are effectively admitting that they plan to real value of our pay. condemn hundreds of thousands of care workers, cleaners, dinner ladies and other low paid local The Treasury expects inflation to increase by a government workers to yet another year of poverty staggering 17 percent over the next four years. Yet pay. UNISON, Unite and the GMB who between average pay rose by just 2.1 percent last year. In them represent 1.6 million local government local government, it didn’t rise at all for the third year workers have now lodged a formal dispute with the on the trot, meaning local government workers are employers. worse off by about 18 percent since 2010. Other public sector workers have fared almost as badly Unison has now given the employers until 1 April to with a mere 1 percent increase overall. respond or the union will begin a national branch consultation; Unite and the GMB have already said Chancellor George Osborne claims that we are all in they will consult their members over pay. If the it together, but top bosses’ pay increased by a employers refuse to budge, everyone who wants to massive 14 percent last year. Their median salary is see a fight back against low pay will need to throw £568,500. If they can’t get by on that, it was topped
up with an average £553,200 bonus government promises yet more auste they win the election next year, it has business billions by slashing the corp paid on profits and awarding income ta Britain’s biggest earners.
And in the councils the axe will fall on more jobs this year as new budgets Birmingham city council for example, job cuts were announced before Chr 2,000 jobs face the axe in Wolverhamp
Austerity
Many local government workers under will take major national strike action t employers to give us a decent pay rise pay freeze imposed by the government the cuts. UNISON general secretary D has promised coordinated strike action o year.
Thousands of UNISON members to UNISON’s national day of action ove February. Now we need to step up the p the employers and the government ov claim. We need a ballot for a serious pro strikes across local government.
UNISON is campaigning for a fair deal on pay for local government Local government workers pay has fallen by 18% in real terms since 2010. This is the result of pay freezes in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and a below inflation pay increase of 1% in 2013. On top of this decline, individual councils continue to cut pay and conditions at local level. What has happened to local government pay is not simply a story of the lowest paid workers in the public sector being squeezed hardest. Local government pay (NJC) is the lowest in the public sector – from top to bottom of the pay spine. Without a decent level of pay, local government workers are struggling to pay their household bills let alone save for major items of spending. Payday loans, handouts and food banks are becoming a way of life for many. It is unfair that people providing essential public services do not have a decent standard of living. However, it's not just the workers who are being affected, for those with families the impact can often be greater still. Pay also matters because communities depend on people being
Over on £21,000 thresho earning governm £7.65 p
in work and earning decent pay – pay that we spend where we live, which boosts local businesses and creates new jobs.
What is pay?
imposed un annual leav
Pay isn't just where you are on your pay scale. It can also include your pension contributions and sick pay, annual, parental and carers’ leave, travel and unsocial hours allowances and much more besides. UNISON negotiates your pay at national or local level. At national level, negotiations take place with employers at the national joint council (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and the Scottish national joint council.
How has local government workers' pay been hit? NJC workers in local government have seen an 18% drop in basic pay in real terms since 2010. This is a consequence of the government's pay freeze, failure to pay the promised £250 to the one million local government workers earning below £21,000 and the longer-term decline in NJC pay.
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On top of that, the Local Government Employers chose to impose an additional one-year freeze in 2010, before the rest of the public sector. They have also encouraged councils to cut pay-related conditions at local authority level. Over 60% of councils have cut car allowances and many of our members are subsidising travel for work purposes. Many councils have cut unsocial hours and overtime payments - hitting the lowest paid hard. Some councils have also cut sick pay, basic pay and redundancy pay. Others have
More than t workforce a work part-ti only two-th time worke childcare o rights are th sector.
Inflation
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of action do we need?
s. While the rity for us if handed big poration tax ax breaks to
Glasgow residential care workers have had a succession of extended strikes against pay cuts are showing us how to fight. Unison, Unite, EIS and UCU members in Higher Education struck together for 24 hours over pay on 6 February. We should be out with them when they are next on strike.
n thousands are set. In 1,000 more ristmas and pton.
Labour has pledged a tax rise for the richest. That has enraged the employers, but Labour’s Ed Balls said he will follow Tory public expenditure cuts right up until 2020. Instead of pandering to the bosses, he should be telling Labour councils to agree our pay claim in full.
rstand that it to force the e, break the t and to stop Dave Prentis over pay this
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STAND UP TO RACISM AND FASCISM No to scapegoating immigrants No to Islamophobia Yes to Diversity
Strikes We need to show that we will not accept austerity either now or from an incoming government whether Tory or Labour. The London tube workers have shown that hard hitting strike action can force even the hardest-nosed Tory led employer to back off. Every government imposed pay freeze on workers in this country has sooner or later been broken by mass strikes. That is what we need to be prepared do if we are going to reverse the decline in our living standards, beat the Tories and austerity.
Assemble 11am Clare Gardens, Riverside, Cardiff - March to City Hall for Rally
ne million NJC workers (two thirds) earn less than 0 a year. That's below the government's 'low pay' old and over £5,500 less than annual median s in the economy in 2012. Over half a million local ment workers earn less than the living wage of per hour.
npaid holidays or cut ve.
half a million local nt workers earned less 00 basic pay in 2011-12. e time, many councils are ar park charges, closing canteens and refusing to crease in professional n fees.
two thirds of the NJC are women and many ime on wages which are hirds of the equivalent fullers. There is no support for or eldercare and parental he worst of all the public
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predicted to remain at 3% 4 and increase to 3.4% in ay award below 3% will be ay cut for our members
as and electricity prices rise by 8.2% over the
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2014
coming year NJC workers earning less than £15,000 would have to spend a whole year’s pay on fulltime childcare for one child Inflation hits the lowest paid hardest: Increases in the cost of essential household items mean inflation of 41% for the lowest paid but 31% for the top 10% Many part-time workers, vulnerable households and those with dependents are forced to rely on state benefits to lift them above the poverty line When entitlement to these benefits ends, for whatever reason, the household can rapidly find itself on the poverty line.
What impact does low pay and the pay freeze have?
•
Smaller family and personal budgets, forcing a cut in people's standard of living.
➥ p4
A day of action has been called to mark the UN Anti-Racism Day on 22nd March. Across Europe the fascist and populist racist right are on the rise and encouraging hatred, fear and prejudice in a frightening wave across the continent. Britain is not immune from this and the far right is hoping for gains in the Euro elections, whilst the 'populism' of UKIP and the Tories boosts racism and scapegoats minorities for the cuts we all face. Supported by Wales TUC & 25 trade unions. Also: Julie Morgan AM - Jill Evans MEP - Sheik Zane South Wales Islamic Centre Cardiff - Derek Vaughan MEP - Rt Hon Alun Michael - Andy Richards Unite Union - Saleem Kidwai MCW - Peter Hain MP Leanne Wood AM Leader Plaid Cymru- Mubarak Ali ISoW - Pippa Bartoletti, Green Party Cymru leader - Vaughan Gething AM - Elfyn Lloyd MP - Paul Murphy MP -Jenny Rathbone AM - Huw IrrancaDavies MP - Stephen Doughty MP and many others
For coach information contact the branch office, your steward or secretary@uafwales.com
STOP THE NAZIS IN SWANSEA April 5th
The Nazi National Front are attempting to have a 'white pride' fascist rally in Swansea on April 5th. Details of the counter-protest will shortly be announced but all anti-nazis should note the date and publicise that the nazis will be opposed. The event is incitement to racial hatred - last years 'white pride' event ended with a gig in which a mock black-man was lynched (see pic) and one of the nazis was jailed for incitement to racial hatred.
pay 2014: continued from middle pages
• • Increased reliance on benefits. • Less money in the local economy. for recruitment and retention of local government •staffProblems in vital public sector work. Stress on individuals and family life.
Sports & Social 2014
Councils have increased reserves by £2.6 billion in the last year – a sum which would pay for our claim, with some to spare. The pay bill has declined by over 23% in the last two years.
Disneyland Paris (FULLY BOOKED) May 25 - Prices from £150pp West Midlands Safari Park June 14 - Prices from £8.00 Oakwood Park July 19 - Prices from £13.00 Chester Day Trip August 16 - Prices from £8.00 London Day Trip November 15 - Prices from £9.00 Children’s Christmas Party*** December 6 - Price £4.00 Bath Christmas Market December 13 - Prices from £5.00
Increased tax and National Insurance revenue from meeting our claim could be re-cycled from the Treasury to local government to pay for the £1 an hour pay increase
***Please note that you must be a Unison member for your child to be eligible to attend the Christmas Party
What is UNISON doing to win a fair deal on pay for local government workers? UNISON believes that local government workers deserve a fair deal on pay. £1 an hour for all is affordable and good for the economy
We can arrange for any of the above trips to be paid for by instalments
Local government workers spend 50 pence of every £1 they earn in their local economies. A £1 an hour increase would boost the economy across England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Booking forms are available on the Sports & Social website (www.suss.me.uk). If anyone would like further information with regards to any of the trips/events listed or about how to join Sports & Social, please contact Stuart Page at stuart.page@swansea.gov.uk or on 07854 974130.
Every £1 of public spending generates £0.9 - £1.7 of wealth according to the IMF (2012)
YOUR UNION
UNISON's call for NJC workers' pay to increase by at least £1 an hour in 2014 can be met – and must be met. Otherwise local government workers' pay will decline even further in real and relative terms – and cease to bear comparison with other public sector groups, with whom councils compete for staff and who increasingly work alongside each other.
Contact us:
A branch Labour Link Meeting is to be held 17.30pm Wednesday 2nd April 2014, Room 5, Civic Office. All those paying towards Labour Link are invited.
Unison Office, Rm 153-G, The Guildhall, Swansea 01792 635271
unison@swansea.gov.uk
Branch Secretary: Mike Davies / Asst. Secretary: Ian Alexander Unison has over 100 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) for your department below or go to your workplace steward. Alternatively please contact the branch office. Social Services Alison O'Kane - 07856 641234 Alison Davies - 07941 757853 Martin Chapman - 01792 635271 Education Pat Lopez - 07557 560097 Mark Otten - 07789 485009 Eve Morse - 07532 232873 (after 3.30 pm) Chris Bell - 07967 551025
Sports & Social website: www.suss.me.uk
Regeneration/Housing John Llewellyn - 07557 560093 Roger Owen - 07847 942458 Gower College Ron Job - 07963 454041 Resources Rhydian Prismick - 01792 635803 Housing Sallyanne Taylor - 07825 401711
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.