22/06/2010
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, today accused the Government of declaring war on public services and public service workers with the most draconian budget in decades.
He said: “This budget signals that the battle for Britain’s public services has begun with the Government declaring war. Public sector workers will be shocked and angry that they are the innocent victims of job cuts and pay freezes.
“Freezing public sector pay when inflation is running at 5.1% and VAT is going up, will mean a real cut in living standards for millions of ordinary workers and their families - already struggling to pay rising bills.
“Nurses, social workers, midwives, paramedics, police community support officers, housing and environmental officers who provide vital public services, are amongst those who will be hit hardest by the two year pay freeze. And for local government workers this comes on top of this year’s freeze.
“A 25% cut in departmental public spending will decimate our public services. The budget will do nothing to restore confidence or kick-start the recovery, but will push local economies into the ground, raising the spectre of breadline Britain.
“They haven’t even bothered to consider any other option but slash and burn. What of the bankers who caused the recession and the super-rich who evade tax? They must be breathing a sigh of relief that they got away so lightly. The bank tax levy is a poor substitute for a serious ‘Robin Hood” tax on financial transactions. It is a missed opportunity to raise £30bn which would have made a significant dent in the country’s deficit.
“Throwing tens of thousands of public sector workers on the dole will cost the country billions in lost tax revenue as well as piling billions onto the benefits bill.
“The Chancellor dreams of a private sector recovery but how can that be on the back of brutal cuts to public services workers. Local businesses, shops, hairdressers, restaurants will go to the wall as spending dries up. No amount of fiscal stimulus will do any good if they have no customers
“Vital services that the poor, the sick and the vulnerable rely on, are in the firing line. There is no compassion in this coalition.
“Freezing council tax is a useless gesture saving people pennies but cutting tens of millions from council budgets, trhreatening jobs, losing services and undermining the local economy.
“Raising VAT affects the poor the most as they spend a higher proportion of their meagre incomes on goods and services.
“Meanwhile major utility companies spend money sponsoring sporting events whilst attacking pay and conditions – that cannot be fair.”
Adding 500,000 public service workers to the dole between now and 2015 – which the CIPD says would be the likely effect of Osborne’s spending plans – will cost around £10 billion in lost tax and increased benefit payments. This would almost entirely cancel out the reduction in the pay bill, as well as dealing a massive blow to local economies and communities.
UNISON’s Save Our Services alternative budget:
£4.7bn could be raised every year by introducing a 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000
£10bn could be raised every year by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax avoidance by corporations and ‘non-domiciled’ residents
£14.9bn could be raised every year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000
£30bn could be raised every year by introducing a Major Financial Transactions Tax on UK financial institutions – the Robin Hood Tax
At least £1.5bn could be raised this year by bringing back the windfall tax on bankers’ bonuses.
£4bn could be saved this year by cancelling Trident, the project could cost as much as £100bn.
£500m could be saved every year by eradicating healthcare acquired infections from the NHS – the extra cleaners would cost half this.
£495m could be saved every year by adopting measures to improve the health and well-being of NHS staff, thereby reducing sickness absence
£1bn could be saved every year by halving the local government agency bill, as has been achieved by high performing councils
£5bn could be raised every year with an Empty Property Tax on vacant dwellings. This only exaggerates housing shortages and harms neighbourhoods.
£2.8bn could be saved every year by ending the central government use of private consultants who bring little discernable benefit
£3bn could be saved in user fees and interest charges every year if PFI schemes were replaced with conventional public procurement
Total – 77.895bn.
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Monday 21 June 2010
UNISON Initial Response to Proposals to restructure ENABLE Scotland’s National Office
Please find below a copy of UNISON’s initial response to the proposed changes at National Office. This response was written following consultation with our members at National Office and emailed to Lorraine Davidson and Peter Scott on 16th June 2010. We are keen to expand our organisation at head office and will be arranging a drop in session soon for staff to come along to.
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UNISON welcomes the chance to feed in comments about the proposed restructuring of ENABLE Scotland’s National Office. We would though express our disappointment that the notification given to UNISON was very short, which meant we were not able to attend the consultation meetings. Going forward we would hope that as the recognised trade union adequate time is afforded for consultation. Since the notification was received we have begun the process of consultation with our members. This paper represents UNISON’s initial response.
On the substantive proposals there is a sense amongst the members that an opportunity has been missed to engage staff at the formulation stage of the shaping of the new structure to meet the needs of the organisation. If time had been invested to consult staff on what the structure needs to be to meet the challenges ahead there would be a greater buy in at this stage.
Similarly in this vein, whilst it is welcome that there was an indication in Lorraine’s letter to UNISON of 1 June that there would not be redundancies directly associated with the restructure this was not conveyed to staff when the paper was initially issued to them. This combined with the direction to staff to ask for information of managers who themselves were not in possession of this significant information caused unnecessary anxiety amongst staff. We would ask that more consideration is given to communication going forward.
UNISON appreciates the financial pressures ENABLE Scotland operates under and indeed our members have endured the pain of a pay freeze and cuts to the sickness policy. We also note the increasing drive in social policy towards personalisation. Whilst no one would argue against people who have learning disabilities getting more choice and control over their lives rather than just being passive recipients of services, our members have expressed concern that many people who have learning disabilities will not want the added responsibilities associated with becoming purchasers and commissioners. Additionally unless personalisation is properly resourced there is a danger it will push down pay and standards in the sector. We hope ENABLE Scotland will continue to be a quality provider and seek to maintain and improve terms and conditions by not entering in a race to the lowest common denominator.
On the specific areas we would make the following comments:
Practice Development – ENABLE Scotland strives for high standards across its services and our members deliver these time after time. There is a concern that removing this team could undermine the focus and drive in this area.
Operations Department – we seek assurance there will be a suitable posts for everyone.
Training & Quality – We would want to see a continuing and explicit commitment to a highly trained workforce. Something ENABLE Scotland has done well at in the past.
Head of Corporate Support – it is unclear how the new post will relate to existing posts in the organisation. Furthermore at a time when finances are so tight what cost/benefit analysis of this new post has been carried out?
Overall we are worried about an increase in workload for staff that remain in the new structure and thus we seek info on what specific work will no longer be done or what will be done in different ways that will be more efficient?
Members are also asking about what is happening with the 6th floor of the office and how this impacts on matters and would welcome an update on this.
Additionally whilst roles are being restructured in National Office there is also a desire that the physical space is looked at again and that consideration is given to the return of a discreet staff room.
Members have also asked the question how can they access minutes from the meetings of the Joint Board of ENABLE Scotland. Are these open to staff to see? If not we would formally request that they are.
The above represents our initial views on the proposals. We would seek from ENABLE Scotland a timetable for further dialogue and a timetable for implementation. We look forward to hearing from you on the next stages.
.................................................................................................................................................................
UNISON welcomes the chance to feed in comments about the proposed restructuring of ENABLE Scotland’s National Office. We would though express our disappointment that the notification given to UNISON was very short, which meant we were not able to attend the consultation meetings. Going forward we would hope that as the recognised trade union adequate time is afforded for consultation. Since the notification was received we have begun the process of consultation with our members. This paper represents UNISON’s initial response.
On the substantive proposals there is a sense amongst the members that an opportunity has been missed to engage staff at the formulation stage of the shaping of the new structure to meet the needs of the organisation. If time had been invested to consult staff on what the structure needs to be to meet the challenges ahead there would be a greater buy in at this stage.
Similarly in this vein, whilst it is welcome that there was an indication in Lorraine’s letter to UNISON of 1 June that there would not be redundancies directly associated with the restructure this was not conveyed to staff when the paper was initially issued to them. This combined with the direction to staff to ask for information of managers who themselves were not in possession of this significant information caused unnecessary anxiety amongst staff. We would ask that more consideration is given to communication going forward.
UNISON appreciates the financial pressures ENABLE Scotland operates under and indeed our members have endured the pain of a pay freeze and cuts to the sickness policy. We also note the increasing drive in social policy towards personalisation. Whilst no one would argue against people who have learning disabilities getting more choice and control over their lives rather than just being passive recipients of services, our members have expressed concern that many people who have learning disabilities will not want the added responsibilities associated with becoming purchasers and commissioners. Additionally unless personalisation is properly resourced there is a danger it will push down pay and standards in the sector. We hope ENABLE Scotland will continue to be a quality provider and seek to maintain and improve terms and conditions by not entering in a race to the lowest common denominator.
On the specific areas we would make the following comments:
Practice Development – ENABLE Scotland strives for high standards across its services and our members deliver these time after time. There is a concern that removing this team could undermine the focus and drive in this area.
Operations Department – we seek assurance there will be a suitable posts for everyone.
Training & Quality – We would want to see a continuing and explicit commitment to a highly trained workforce. Something ENABLE Scotland has done well at in the past.
Head of Corporate Support – it is unclear how the new post will relate to existing posts in the organisation. Furthermore at a time when finances are so tight what cost/benefit analysis of this new post has been carried out?
Overall we are worried about an increase in workload for staff that remain in the new structure and thus we seek info on what specific work will no longer be done or what will be done in different ways that will be more efficient?
Members are also asking about what is happening with the 6th floor of the office and how this impacts on matters and would welcome an update on this.
Additionally whilst roles are being restructured in National Office there is also a desire that the physical space is looked at again and that consideration is given to the return of a discreet staff room.
Members have also asked the question how can they access minutes from the meetings of the Joint Board of ENABLE Scotland. Are these open to staff to see? If not we would formally request that they are.
The above represents our initial views on the proposals. We would seek from ENABLE Scotland a timetable for further dialogue and a timetable for implementation. We look forward to hearing from you on the next stages.
Monday 14 June 2010
Defend Glasgow Services - Oppose Tory/Lib Dem cuts! 12.15pm - 22nd June 2010
The newly elected Tory/ Lib dem coalition is wasting no time in announcing attacks on public sector spending and its our jobs and the vital services that we provide that are due for the axe!
This financial crisis is not of our making and is the biggest con trick for years – use public money to bail out the banks then bankers and politicians announce that the public sector must pay with cuts in jobs and services.
We reject the government and media campaign that places the blame for the crisis at the door of public sector workers/ public sector services.
We reject the idea ‘private good/ public bad’.
We need a united campaign of service providers and service users to fight cuts described as “worse than during Thatcher’s time”.
Get organised. Come to the lunch time demonstration
Join our All Glasgow Campaign!
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Defend Glasgow Services Campaign
The DGS campaign unites public sector trades unions, public services workers and community organisations. Glasgow City Council and its Arms Length Organisations intend to make significant cuts to services over the next three years. Grants to community organisations are also being slashed. The citizens of Glasgow should not be asked to pay for the bail out of the banks and the mistakes of greedy bankers.
Campaign co-ordinated by UNISON Glasgow Branch,
Tel 0141.552.7069
This financial crisis is not of our making and is the biggest con trick for years – use public money to bail out the banks then bankers and politicians announce that the public sector must pay with cuts in jobs and services.
We reject the government and media campaign that places the blame for the crisis at the door of public sector workers/ public sector services.
We reject the idea ‘private good/ public bad’.
We need a united campaign of service providers and service users to fight cuts described as “worse than during Thatcher’s time”.
Get organised. Come to the lunch time demonstration
Join our All Glasgow Campaign!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defend Glasgow Services Campaign
The DGS campaign unites public sector trades unions, public services workers and community organisations. Glasgow City Council and its Arms Length Organisations intend to make significant cuts to services over the next three years. Grants to community organisations are also being slashed. The citizens of Glasgow should not be asked to pay for the bail out of the banks and the mistakes of greedy bankers.
Campaign co-ordinated by UNISON Glasgow Branch,
Tel 0141.552.7069
Thursday 10 June 2010
Meeting for Enable Head Office Staff - Friday 11th June 2010
Come along to UNISON House between 12.30 and 1.30 on Friday 11th June 2010 to discuss the proposed changes for National Office.
Also find out more about UNISON
You can join on the day.
All welcome.
Tuesday 8 June 2010
UNISON response to David Cameron's speech
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, responding to David Cameron’s speech today (6th June 2010)on the economy, said: “This was a chilling attack on the public sector, public sector workers, the poor, to the sick and the vulnerable and a warning that their way of life will change. There was nothing in this speech that told the rich, the banking and financial sector or the city speculators that their privileged way of life will change.
“With breathtaking gall, David Cameron is spinning a myth about a hard-done-by private sector. The Tories and their friends in big business seem to forget the tens of billions of pounds of profit made by the private sector out of public sector contracts.
“And Cameron is trying to fool the public into believing that cutting public spending, quickly and deeply, has nothing to do with political priorities or decisions. I don’t think people will be fooled.
“It is a complete nonsense to claim that you can cut tens of billions of pounds from public spending and still protect ‘front-line’ services. And throwing public sector workers on the dole does not make sense – that will have a drastic impact on local economies. For every £1 a public sector worker earns, nearly 70p is spent in local shops, cafes, hairdressers and businesses.
“Of course we have to manage the deficit, but there are other ways of reducing it and that includes making those who caused the crisis pay a bit more, and by tackling tax avoidance and evasion.
“Cutting deeply and quickly risks plunging the country back into recession – public services are too precious to be turned into a political football.”
“With breathtaking gall, David Cameron is spinning a myth about a hard-done-by private sector. The Tories and their friends in big business seem to forget the tens of billions of pounds of profit made by the private sector out of public sector contracts.
“And Cameron is trying to fool the public into believing that cutting public spending, quickly and deeply, has nothing to do with political priorities or decisions. I don’t think people will be fooled.
“It is a complete nonsense to claim that you can cut tens of billions of pounds from public spending and still protect ‘front-line’ services. And throwing public sector workers on the dole does not make sense – that will have a drastic impact on local economies. For every £1 a public sector worker earns, nearly 70p is spent in local shops, cafes, hairdressers and businesses.
“Of course we have to manage the deficit, but there are other ways of reducing it and that includes making those who caused the crisis pay a bit more, and by tackling tax avoidance and evasion.
“Cutting deeply and quickly risks plunging the country back into recession – public services are too precious to be turned into a political football.”
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