March Against Austerity
City and County of Swansea
Review We can resist...
The general election result was a bitter blow for public sector workers. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said Tory plans could mean cuts of more than 5 percent in 2016-17 and in 2017-18. This would be “twice the size of any year’s cuts” during Cameron’s first term. Iain Duncan Smith is back as Work and Pensions Secretary, ready to unleash £12 billion worth of cuts to welfare spending. This is the man who said it was “ridiculous” to blame the government for the fact that almost a million people in Britain are forced to use food banks to feed themselves. He wants to limit child benefit to the first two children affecting a million families. The Tories are looking to cut a staggering £30 billion worth of public spending. Documents leaked
days before the election revealed some of the proposals the DWP was considering. These include abolishing statutory maternity pay, stopping young people under 25 claiming incapacity or housing benefit, and taking carers’ allowance away from 40 per- cent of those who claim it. The Tories also plan to ban strikes if they aren’t backed by 40 percent of those entitled to vote, denying workers’ the right to take action on a simple majority. Yet they received only 37 percent of votes cast in the election. Whatever the lessons of the election simply waiting another five years to try and get a Labour victory is not an option. Miliband failed, but the Labour leadership was also committed to
making cuts. There is no sign that a new leader is going to change course, despite the SNP doing so well partly because they opposed austerity. Thankfully large protests have taken place across Britain, and more are planned. Over 1,000 marched through Cardiff (twice) and Sheffield recently. 4000 people filled the streets of Bristol on Wednesday of last week. Sixth form students organised the protest under the banner Bristol Against Austerity. “We were angry about the result and wanted to something. We thought that we’d get a couple of hundred people, mainly our school friends.” they said, “We never expected 4,000 people to come.”We need the same in Swansea on June 13th and London on June 20th. Don’t mourn after the election; resist.
Sign up now! https://www.facebook.com/events/937018809676612/
Join the march and rally against austerity 13th June 12.30pm - Swansea Guildhall to Castle Square This is a march to show the Tory Government that the people of Swansea and West Wales are against the savage austerity cuts they are imposing on us all. Supported by Swansea Peoples Assembly, UNISON, PCS and many other individuals and organisations.
June 20th People's Assembly
LONDON March against Austerity http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk - Coach tickets 07506 362540
Public Service Not Private Profit
May 2015
Unison Special Conference votes to re-start pay campaign Hundreds of Unison delegates voted
to restart their pay campaign on March 24th, overturning the position of our union’s leadership. Delegates at a special one-day conference - which was forced on our leadership by branches under Unison rules - voted by two to one to restart the fight for a decent pay rise for 2015-2016. Around 750 branch delegates in the hall in Westminster, central London, witnessed the union leadership being heavily criticised for its role in suspending strikes over pay in England and Wales last October. Despite Tory claims that workers are better off, anger at poverty wages has made many local government workers still determined to fight. Delegates attacked the ending of the pay campaign on the basis of a proposal - not even a concrete offer cobbled together between union leaders and Labour Party council leaders. They also argued that the consultation that followed was rushed and inadequate. Rotten The rotten two-year deal that emerged was little better than the 1 percent pay offer that members had overwhelmingly rejected and which left many worse off. Where branches fought for rejection of the deal they mostly won the argument. This is where the groundswell came from that forced the special conference, only the second in the union’s history. A leadership motion that whitewashed its mishandling of the dispute only passed after it was amended. The revision aimed to ensure future pay deals are subject to widespread consultation with union members. It was a bad start to the day for the leadership and signalled the deep anger among rank and file members against the sell-out on local government pay.
11% pay rise The first speaker from the floor was Jo Cardwell from Islington in London and was one the best received of the whole day. To huge applause she said, “Those MPs over the road are supposed to be worth an 11% pay rise. It makes me angry to have to tell members in my branch the employers think they are only worth 1 percent.” The argument that members didn’t want to fight didn’t wash with delegates. The debate became about what kind of leadership we need. The mood of opposition was clear early in the day and gave many the confidence to keep pushing the argument to restart the fight. This was despite every trick in the book being used to try and time out the most important debate—to reopen the pay campaign. Desparate Almost every motion opposed by the top table was passed. Those supporting the leadership appeared desperate at times, with one speaker even arguing the union would lose members if it submitted a pay claim this year. This argument is ridiculous. In moving the motion to reopen pay talks, Manchester delegate Evelyn Doyle argued that opposition to doing so was “spurious, negative and defeatist”. Paula Barker, also from Manchester, backed the argument and insisted it “makes no sense” to wait another year to fight over pay. George Binette from Camden in London said members should “show we’re not passive supporters of Labour and we want to stand up to austerity”. The union leaders’ strategy to give a Labour government, if elected, a year’s grace against any new local government pay claims was roundly rejected by conference delegates. But as delegate Jon Woods argued we are looking for more from union leaders than doing a “Grand Old Duke of York”. Instead, he said, “We want the leadership to march us up the top of the hill, stay there, dig in and fight.”
Cuts attack
How wou
If your child, or a child in you expect a teacher to teach th ('Education Other Than At S
Swansea
teachers of pupils no mainstream school have been for to take industrial action in respons the Local Authority’s attempt to s the service leaving some of the c most vulnerable children with adequate provision according to teaching unions.
Members of both the NASUWT NUT took strike action on Tues 19th and Wednesday 20 of which was the beginning o campaign to protect the EOT service in Swansea. The pu affected include those with so emotional and behavioural difficul physical and/or mental health iss th
Proposals have been developed Swansea LA following a serio flawed review of the service. Yet proposals do not even address the recommendations of the review.
The proposed cut, of nearly roughly 44% of staff provision devastating, leaving many vulner children, especially those with me health problems, at serious ris losing out on any chance of acceptable education. Failure to consult
Neil Butler, NASUWT Nati Executive Member for Mid and So West Wales including Swansea s
“I am disgusted by the LA's bla disregard for the deep and ser flaws in their procedures. This sav cut will be a terrible blow for the m vulnerable children in the Swan community.”
There is general alarm and disma the LA's shambolic communica with EOTAS staff, unions headteachers. There is also a damaging effect on morale of pupils naturally wonderi their part of the service will stil running next year. There has bee
the vulnerable
uld you feel if it was your child?
ur family, was too physically or mentally unwell to be at school and had to be educated at home, you'd hem, wouldn't you? If Swansea councillors have their way they won't be. Teachers in the EOTAS School') service have been forced to strike to protect cuts to vulnerable children.
ot in rced se to slash city’s hout o the
amongst many teachers, of trust and confidence in this senior manager, to the extent that a collective grievance involving 24 members of staff has been filed. Instability The instability, deep anxiety and damaged trust and confidence in the service is not helped by the fact that accountability has been weakened by a high turnover of responsible officers.
and sday May of a TAS upils ocial, lties, ues.
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onal outh said:
atant rious vage most nsea
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Teachers in the NASUWT and NUT are striking to save jobs and services - teaching assistants in UNISON in the same service will be consulted about joining them
meaningful consultation despite a substantial volume of written responses, highlighting irregularities, inconsistencies and serious concerns
“
months. Yet the LA will not wait, which begs the question ‘how effective is the scrutiny panel?’ Clearly Swansea council doesn’t rate it if it makes its
The proposed cut is leaving many vulnerable children...at serious risk of losing out on any chance of an acceptable education
for the welfare of pupils and staff including a document submitted by six unions.
decision without evidence.”
looking
at
Support Eastside Foodbank the
A Culture of Fear Not one submission has received a reply. The review interrupted an ongoing formal Scrutiny Process, panelled by Swansea City Councillors, which, whilst now continuing again, is being ignored. The Scrutiny Panel is scheduled to issue a final report after examining key issues such as provision for mental health pupils, and collecting input from schools in Swansea over the next few
“The Unions were open with Arwyn Thomas back in October, informing him of our indicative ballots and members' deep concern at an apparent betrayal of trust, upon our realisation that we had been falsely led to believe in March 2014 that EOTAS would undergo a truly INDEPENDENT review. It is distressing indeed that now in May 2015 teachers have been left with no other option but to strike to defend the most vulnerable and in the public interest, to expose the seriously flawed procedures of Swansea LA.”
“
d by ously t the e key
Helen Johns, NASUWT Swansea Assistant Secretary said:
Teachers are also aggrieved at a 'culture of fear' that they believe exists within the EOTAS service. Unions and stakeholders are particularly perturbed by the lack of independence and impartiality shown by the council when reviewing Eotas in breach of the LA's own policy. This at the time when there had long been a crisis and complete breakdown
Bonymaen Foodbank is asking people to come forward to help it meet an increasing demand for provisions. It tries to provide families in need with basic supplies, but is now in need of new donations. It takes donations of nonperishable items such as cereal, soup, pasta sauces, tea bags, and tinned goods, as well as items such as nappies and cleaning products. Anyone who can help should contact Councillor Paul Lloyd or Chris Cooze via the Unison Office
UNISON has secured agreement that Neath Port Talbot Council will make good the wages of staff who were employed by Alpha Care to undertake home care on behalf of the council. This followed the company going into receivership leaving many of the home-carers unpaid of several weeks wages. UNISON brought to the NPT Councils attention that former employees of Alpha / Bryce Care who transferred to the employ of Seren / Care Direct / Deluxe Care / Walsingham on the 2nd April 2015. This left the home carers not being paid by Alpha Care for March 2015. The council have asked these new contractors to ascertain what sums are due and pay these to the individual employees as part of their normal payroll process. The NPT council have agreed to make good the money. Whilst their neigbouring council has rightly paid the people who provide a service to the most vulnerable, it remains to be seen if Swansea Council will follow suit. Eddie Gabrielsen UNISON Regional Organiser has said “When these private homecare companies go bankrupt there is chaos, not only is there uncertainty for those who are being cared for, but also the workforce carry on caring but often no one seems to care if the home carers are to be paid, this is why we welcome that NPT council are taking steps to ensure these workers get paid wages owed.
YOUR UNION
We also know that this Alpha care carried out work for the City and County of Swansea Council where the problem we believe still exists, but Swansea council has not engaged with UNISON meaningfully to resolve the situation and we call on them to do so urgently.�
Contact us:
save breakfast clubs!
Will Swansea cough up for care for older people?
Breakfast clubs were introduced in Wales in 2004 with the aim of providing breakfast in school to improve the diet, health and concentration of children in a bid to raise the standards of learning and attainment. Swansea Council are proposing to fund only 30 minutes per day for this provision from the end of May 2015. This would result in a loss of jobs and have an adverse impact on parents who have irregular or unsocial working patterns. Many rely upon this provision; particularly at a time when child poverty is projected to rise. Furthermore many schools have indicated that they would be unable to provide this service in only 30 minutes which would result in the service being withdrawn altogether. UNISON members will bear the brunt of this attack as it is run by support staff who provide a safe, secure environment and work hard to provide a positive start to our children's everyday learning. We are asking that as many as possible sign the UNISON petition. You can find the link to the UNISON petition at: http://chn.ge/1RhqE10
Unison Office, Rm 153-G, The Guildhall, Swansea 01792 635271
unison@swansea.gov.uk
Branch Secretary: Mike Davies / Asst. Secretary: Andrea Thomas 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.