South Tyneside Issue 4 oct 2017

South Tyneside Local GOVERNMENT BRANCH Visit our new website at www.unison-southtyneside.org.uk

24 October 2017

South Tyneside Council calls for the immediate end of public sector pay restraint- Motion Agreed South Tyneside Council notes that: * NJC basic pay has fallen by 21% since 2010 in real terms * NJC workers had a three year pay freeze from 2010-2012 * Local terms and conditions of many NJC employees have also been cut, impacting on their overall earnings * NJC pay is the lowest in the public sector * Job evaluated pay structures are being squeezed and distorted by bottom-loaded NJC pay settlements needed to reflect the increased National Living Wage and the Foundation Living Wage * There are growing equal and fair pay risks resulting from this situation The council therefore supports the NJC pay claim for 2018, submitted by UNISON, GMB and Unite on behalf of council and school workers and calls for the immediate end of public sector pay restraint. NJC pay cannot be allowed to fall further behind other parts of the public sector. This council also welcomes joint review of the NJC pay spine to remedy the turbulence caused by bottom-loaded pay settlements.

The council also notes the drastic ongoing cuts to local government funding and calls on the Government to provide additional funding to fund a decent pay rise for NJC employees and the pay spine review.

The council therefore resolves to: * Call immediately on the LGA to make urgent representations to Government to fund the NJC claim and the pay spine review and notify then of their action in this regard * Write to the Prime Minister and Chancellor supporting the NJC pay claim and seeking additional funding to fund a decent pay rise and the pay spine review * Meet with local NJC union representatives to convey support for the pay claim and the pay spine review.

A note of thanks to South Tyneside Council for supporting this important motion to end the public sector pay restraints for our members.

Printed and Published by Unison South Tyneside Local Government, 27 Westoe Road, South Shields, Tyne & Wear Tel (0191) 4544167 Email: office.admin@unison-southtyneside.org.uk

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FE Pay Claim: union writes to college heads asking for a decent pay rise.

UNISON has written to all college principals urging them to make a decent pay offer to further education staff in England and to make sure that national pay recommendations are implemented.

FE workers’ real pay has failed by 21.5% since 2009 – and that’s if colleges have fully have implemented every recommended pay rises since then.

But many colleges have not implemented pay rises for a number of years, meaning that pay has fallen even more sharply and members are finding it hard to make ends meet.

As UNISON continues its Pay Up Now! campaign and the pressure grows on the government to end the public sector pay cap, the union is urging FE colleges must look to ensure that their staff have a fair and decent pay rise this year – and that it is implemented in colleges across England.

UNISON points out that a strong and well motivated further education workforce is more important than ever when there is an increasing focus on delivering high quality apprenticeships, and the need to address skills and training in the wider UK workforce, The union is calling on colleges to tackle low pay in the sector and to use the living wage foundation pay rates as the minimum rate of pay.

FE (England) Pay Consultation 2017 FE Digital Ballot - The ballot will be run from 26 October to 17 November 2017. This means that members will be sent a series of emails and text messages with a link so that they can vote online.

Every member who has an email address on their RMS record will be sent an email with a link to the online balloting system. Members can then vote online and will only be able to vote once.

UNISON South Tyneside Local Government are proud sponsors of South Shields Football Club and we now have a banner displayed at Mariners Park.

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SHOPPING TRIP This year we have again filled 2 coaches for our Christmas Trip which this year is going to Liverpool, we are always interested to hear where you would like to go. We would like to do a trip during the year so suggestions will be well received in the branch.

WASPI’s Thanks to the WASPI women for coming to our meeting and explaining how to lodge a formal grievance, hopefully most of you will have lodged your 1st letter by now. We will hold a 2nd meeting soon for anyone who didn’t attend the first meeting and also for the people who will be ready to lodge stage 3 letters.

BT South Tyneside As you are aware the announcement came that BT are to transfer back into the council as of 1st October 2018, we will be holding drop in sessions throughout the year to try and help with any questions and query’s you may have.

SHOE BOX APPEAL We are again doing the Shoe Box appeal for the young homeless and are asking for help to fill them. We are asking for donations of toiletries, sweets, hats, scarfs, gloves, socks and anything else to try and make the day special for them.

STARS IN OUR SCHOOLS Once again UNISON are recognising the Stars in our Schools with a week dedicated to showing them we care, be it TA’s, Cleaners/ Caretakers, SA’s , school crossing patrol or office. Whatever your role our schools can’t manage without you.

The Branch Officers and Staff would like to say a big thank you to all who donated to our local food bank. Christmas is a particularly difficult time of year and the donations are gratefully received. The Branch will continue to collect any donations people wish to make.

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