Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Big Con
Francis Maude Cabinet Office Minister caught out live on the Today Programme BBC Radio Four
The Big Con
They want your Pension to pay off their mates in the Financial Sector
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Future of Barnet Council - Star Trek version??
It is important you get involved, make sure you come along to this series of Barnet UNISON meetings.
DOUBLE CLICK ON THE IMAGE IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY IN VIEWING THE IMAGE
Friday, August 08, 2008
The Barnet UNISON Young Members Community
If you are interested in getting involved and are a UNISON member aged 28 or younger, then please come to our first meeting on 26th August at the UNISON office at North London Business Park, Building 4 at 6.30pm. Ask at the reception for us and we will come down to meet you on the evening. Refreshments will be provided!
Send me an email to express your interest in the Barnet Young Members Community to: ben.ritchie@barnetunison.org.uk
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Latest Fremantle care workers strike...
Congratulations from all of us in York City branch on the solid strike action by your Fremantle Care members to win back their proper terms and conditions. Your continuing campaign is an inspiration to all of us up and down the country working for a better deal for Care workers and against privatisation and low pay. Keep us posted and let us know anything we can do to help. Yours in solidarity,
Ben Drake
Branch Secretary, York City UNISON
"the weather may have been against us but justice was on the side of the pickets and I was proud to stand alongside 100% of the Unison members on shift, all of whom had walked out."
Jon Rogers NEC delegate
“A leading social landlord like Catalyst should be setting an example as one of best employers in London. Sadly that is not the case for their Care Home workers. As a result of the London living wage campaign over 5000 low paid workers are now being treated much better by other leading employers, who have recognised the business case for fair pay and conditions of work in efficient companies.”
Rev Paul Nicolson, Trustee, London Citizens
Our Branch sends solidarity greetings to our sisters and brothers at Freemantle.
Your continuing willingness to struggle is an example to the rest of the union. Your campaign is exactly what the union needs to be concentrating its resources and support on.
A victory for you will be a huge boost for workers nationwide.
"Struggle - Solidarity - Socialism"
Onay Kasab
Branch Secretary
GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE FREMANTLE STRIKERS ON 7TH AUGUST 2008.
Waltham Forest UNISON sends fraternal greetings and wishes you all the best in your struggle against the penny pinching, profiteering bosses of Freemantle.
We would love to be with you but troubles in our own branch require our attention.
Yours in solidarity
Dave Knight
Branch Secretary
Dear John
On behalf of Hammersmith and Fulham UNISON Local Government, we would like you to extend our best wishes to the Fremantle workers. We wish them the best of luck in their action tomorrow. Our branch will continue to support Barnet and the Fremantle workers fight for a fair and just outcome. Your campaign is vital for us all and highlights the issues workers face from the privatisation of public services.
Best Regards to you all.
Yours in Unity
Noreen Morris
Branch Secretary
UNISON Hammersmith and Fulham
John,
Please can you give solidarity greetings from Hackney Unison to all Fremantle workers who for over 12 months have with stood a barrage of attacks from their management, and have been forced to take strike action to defend themselves.
If there is any further support we can give please contact our branch.
We will be having a Branch Committee on Thursday 14 August 10-00am to 12-30pm at 302 Mare Street Hackney E8 1HA.
We would be happy to invite a speaker and hopefully make a donation towards your strike fund.
Brian Debus
Chair Hackney Unison
John
I am really sorry but I will be on holiday with my family next week. Please could you pass on a message of solidarity from me to everyone engaged in the dispute.
I will try and get the info around.
Let me know how I can help when I get back.
Thanks
John McDonnell MP
TO ALL THE FREMANTLE CARE WORKERS
Congratulations on the re-launch of your campaign and your continuing fight to defend your terms and conditions. You are an inspiration to us all. Sorry I can't be with you on 7 August. Good luck and very best wishes.
Yours in solidarity
Phil O'Reilly
Branch Secretary, Brent Unison
Dear John
On behalf of Hammersmith and Fulham UNISON Local Government, we would like you to extend our best wishes to the Fremantle workers. We wish them the best of luck in their action tomorrow. Our branch will continue to support Barnet and the Fremantle workers fight for a fair and just outcome. Your campaign is vital for us all and highlights the issues workers face from the privatisation of public services.
Best Regards to you all.
Yours in Unity
Noreen Morris
Branch Secretary
UNISON Hammersmith and Fulham
John
Unfortunately I will be away on the 7th but would really appreciate if you could convey the support and solidarity of our members her in Haringey to the Fremantle workers. Their sustained and determined campaign over the last couple of years has been an inspiration to many low paid workers. We experienced the effects of privatisation in our residential care homes in the mid 1990's and a similarly ruthless employer masquerading as a "not for profit charity" Thankfully our workers have since been taken back in house but we are still having to undo the damage caused by the years in the private sector to peoples wages and conditions
Regards
Sean Fox
Branch Secretary Haringey
Greetings and Solidarity to the Fremantle Workers.
I have attended one of your meetings and have been impressed by your determination and strength. Your struggle for decent pay and working conditions is our struggle.You are a shining example of trade union unity in action. An injury to one is an injury to all.
Bahir Laattoe
Barnet Teachers Association, National Union of Teachers
Dear John
Please convey our warmest solidarity to the UNISON members taking part in continuing industrial action against Fremantle on Thursday. Our branch has supported this campaign all along - not just out of pure union solidarity (which is important), but because we know this will be the future for our members working in social care if employers are allowed to get away with it. We have many members working in residential and home care who are currently awaiting the results of various tendering processes and the TUPE transfers that will follow. They are watching the Fremantle dispute very closely and will take on board any lessons learned. Good luck and best wishes in this battle - the overall war against privatisation is far from over.
Comradely yours
Paul Couchman
UNISON (Surrey County)
Branch Secretary
CAMDEN BRANCH OF unison BRINGS SOLIDARITY GREETINGS TO TODAYS PROTEST.
Our branch recognise the huge contribution Fremantle workers have made in raising the profile of low paid privatised workers, and your campaign has been inspirational to thousands of workers in similar positions.
We bring our full support to your strike protest today and pledge our full support to any future days of action that will help you with this essential dispute.
Yours in solidarity
Phoebe Watkins
Convenor Adult Social Care – UNISON
for Camden UNISON
I’ve come today from Tower Hamlets UNISON to offer our continuing support for your struggle.
Fremantle workers continue to be an inspiration to everyone who values workers rights, public services and care for the elderly in particular.
It is a scandal that people like you who provide dedicated care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society face such savage cuts in your living standards,
Keep up the fight
John McLoughlin
Branch Secretary
Fuel bills UP 15 % and rising, Petrol UP 22% and rising, Milk UP 17% and rising, bread UP 9 % and rising, mortgages UP 8 % and rising…….these were the figures UNISON was using in our campaign for fair pay. The day after our successful strike I saw a report on the news predicting Gas bills to leap up to 60% by the end of the Year!
Our Council is consulting on the future of the Council work force, I know our members are watching with unease as they see former council workers experiencing such horrendous treatment at the hands of a partner of the Council. Many are worried that their service could be next.
So it was good to see the support from our members for what is the beginning of much more substantial strike action across the residential and day care settings in the London Borough of Barnet.
This dispute can end, it just needs Catalyst Housing, Fremantle and Barnet Council to get together and DO THE RIGHT THING…….
John Burgess
Branch Secretary
Barnet UNISON
Monday, August 04, 2008
Fremantle Care workers campaign relaunch...........
Early in 2008 Fremantle care workers had a meeting for members to discuss the future of the campaign. The message from members was clear …..
“We want back what was stolen!”
The Fremantle Stewards Committee were mandated in the meeting to meet with Fremantle to try and reach a negotiated settlement. Unfortunately Fremantle were very clear, they were not prepared to talk about what was stolen. They believe they have already made enough concessions. (their original proposals were to reduce the hourly rate and increase the working week to 39 hours a week instead of 36 along on top of what they stole from our members last year). In effect everything they gained from Single Status was to be removed at the stroke of a pen!
Firstly, and it can not be understated the sheer loss in income our members have had to endure has proved devastating. Over the last twelve months the numbers of staff working 60 hours a week either for Fremantle or with a second and sometimes a third employer has increased. The introduction by Fremantle of a 56 hour ‘waiver’ is evidence of the scale of the problem. We are understandably concerned about the number of hours staff are working. However we do not know how widespread this practice is which is why we have written to Fremantle, unfortunately we have not had a reply.
Is it right that care staff should have to work 56 hours or more to earn a living wage in London? Radio Four’s Jon Manel recently reported on care for the Elderly. The government last month launched a consultation on how to fund social care. Whatever is decided surely those who must carry out the direct provision of care to the most vulnerable must be well trained and receive a living wage. It is not politicians, commissioners, service providers (well not until they find themselves in a residential or nursing home) who pay the penalty for undermining the provision of social care it is the service users and carers.
It is not just the loss in pay that accounts for why our members do not want to give up hope. It is the knowledge that if they give up their struggle they know that their Pension forecast will drop permanently. Leaving them with the added worry of how they will cope when they retire. This is something Fremantle have not really understood, instead they take refuge behind mind games with our members, accusing the branch ‘of promoting its own views’.
Such poor analysis of this campaign does note bode well, particularly in the context of future challenges facing Fremantle in Barnet. We know that this contract has led to a dispute with Barnet Council. Last year the claim was £8.672 million as it has not been resolved the claim must surely have gone above £10 million. Only three of the planned five new homes have been built. Whatever is going on behind closed doors what is certain is that the contract will surely be re-negotiated. Will the new contract bring an increase in funding for Fremantle? If not will Fremantle come back to our members for more?
No wonder our members are angry and don’t want to give up. UNISON policy is quite clear, organise to resist privatisation and defend our members against attacks on their terms and conditions. Barnet UNISON stands proudly with our member working for Fremantle and will continue to do so as long as they need our help.
Nurserymans Road, New Southgate, London N11 1EQ
2. Meadowside,
60 Holden Road, North Finchley, Barnet, London N12 7DY
3. Rosa Freedman, 17 Claremont Way, Cricklewood,
London NW2 1AJ
4. Merrivale,90 East Road, Burnt Oak, Edgware, Middx, HA8 0BT
5. Dell Field Court,1 Etchingham Park Road, Finchley,
London N3 2DY
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Phil, Michelle and Wendy UNISON Schools members supporting the Strike
Just like TA's around the country they work well beyond their contracted hours because they love the kids and they love the job. But they have to pay bills like everyone else. They just want a Fair Wage.
"The offer from the Government is derisory , its a pay cut, what does 20p an hour mean to me?" (one of the teaching assistants)
Tales from the Picket Line
Dan is a UNISON member working in Refuse as a Refuse loader/driver. Dan was our only UNISON member in Refuse until yesterday. On the first day of the strike he showed tremendous courage by taking action when his colleagues in the GMB went into work. (The GMB accepted the 2.45% offer). It would have been easy for Dan to go into work, BUT he felt he had to back his Union.
“What do I pay my subs for? I want to belong to a Union that fights to get the best deal for its members!” (Dan)
UNISON will be in talks with the National Employers and we may here news sometime over the summer. We heard at the rally in central London that the NUT and PCS were going to be balloting for further strike action in the Autumn, so if we are asked to take further strike action is could mean we may have other Trade Unions on the Picket line with us!
John - UNISON rep on Strike
John is Branch Secretary for Barnet UNISON
Angus - UNISON Officer on Strike
Angus is Assistant Branch Secretary (JOB SHARE) for Environmental Services
Paul Coles - GMB Convenor Brent & Hendon Branch
Julie - UNISON member on Strike
Julie is a security collection officer
Kofi - UNISON member on Strike
Kofi is a Civil Enforcement Officer (Parking Attendant)
Dan - UNISON member on Strike
Its about doing the right thing……………I can’t afford to keep taking pay cuts!"
On a serious note. I would like to add that While i couldn't afford the strike i new that it was the right thing to do. Every day I struggle with the latest bills. While this strike will have an impact on my pocket over the next month, I ask the ones that did decide to cross the picket line this. "are you prepared to continue to struggle over the next 3 years"? As inflation increases our pockets are set to only get lighter. Life will always be a struggle when it comes to money. Enless you get lucky, It does not mean that you have to stuggle to the point that you have nothing at the end of it. Lets back our union. Unison really proved to me yesterday that my montly payment was worth every penny. To everyone that striked- "Our loss of 2 days pay will hurt us at different levels, Some may be worse off than others, all i can say is this. Its been worth it and i hope the ones that crossed the picket line will look up to us and maybe join us next time.
Daniel Stringer
Dan is a Refuse Loader Driver working for Barnet Council.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
UNISON Calling...................!
On the 16, 17 July it is important that each and every UNISON member working for the Council supports the strike action.
This is a crucial moment for local government pay negotiations. For the past eight years YOUR Pay has consistently fallen below inflation, if we don’t make a stand now we will have another 3 years of Pay cuts.
Some members have asked why 2.45% Pay Offer when it is widely know the National Employers have budgeted for a 2.5% Award. The answer is simple, the National Employer is looking to squeeze every single drop out of the workforce.
Be clear, every member who crosses the Picket Line will be recorded in the Government Statistics as a supporter of the National Employers and more importantly as supporting the 2.45% Pay Offer.
Sometimes we have to make sacrifices, remember the Pension Strike?
If we had not taken action it is highly unlikely we would still have a Final Salary Pension.
On Wednesday evening everyone will be looking for the press reports on the BBC.
Make sure you are part of the news by supporting the strike and joining the march in central London.
We have a branch meeting on
Tuesday 15 July at 12.30 in room 6, Building 2 NLBP.
Come along with a friend or colleague to hear what you can do
John Burgess
Branch Secretary
