ReviewCity and County of Swansea

Inside

Public Service Not Private Profit July 2012➥next page

"e have to be brave, we have to be bold,

we have to be strong. And together we'llsmash this pay freeze." That was themessage from Dave Prentis when headdressed the union's national delegateconference in Bournemouth last month.

The general secretary told delegates thatafter an incredible and tough year for theunion, "the issue of pay will be our battleground", adding that it "will explode".

With members struggling as the cost of foodand fuel soar through the roof, they cannotafford to have their pay frozen for yet more

years to come. A recent Unison survey gave"a depressing glimpse of breadline Britain,"hesaid. "Threequartersof peopleare forcedto cut spending on food. One in four saythey're struggling to survive."

Mr Prentis told delegates that it was "our job,as leaders, as trade unionists, to raise themup - to showourmemberswhat they're reallyworth, to give them the courage to fight,because they are struggling."

He was damning of the "Tory posh boys",deriding David Cameron for the forgetful'Camnesia' of his performance at theLeveson Inquiry and for his 'in this together'

message to Rebekah Brooks."I say this to Cameron and Osborne: youmay have fluffed your lines at Leveson ƒ butthis union will wage a fight against you thatyou will never forget."

And pledging to battle privatisation, he saidUNISONwould "fight topreserve thewelfarestate, fight for better care for the elderly, fordisabled people, for libraries, parks andopen spaces, decent schools - and somuchmore."

And to loud applause, he added that theseservices "are not yours to sell off or giveaway. They represent the fair society that

Sports &Social

2012 - 2013

UNISON Conference ReportNational TUCDemonstration:all out for

October 20th

Whywe need afight formore pay

W

continued from front page UNISON Confere

rd

I was lucky enough to be selected to attend Conferenceas the single, low-paid woman delegate again. It was aprivilege to listen to fellow activists from all over Britainwho were prepared to stand up and speak about causesthat were close to their hearts and that they felt shouldbe shared and debated.The main debate at Conference was the debate onPensions. Everyone is in agreement that to work longer,pay more and get less is unacceptable. Several membersof the Retired UNISON Members Committee went up tothe podium to say that they could not have possiblycontinued working until they were 68 and that they weregrateful that they were already retired and they were allin support of our motion to fight for a fair retirementage. In France they have actually reduced the retirementage to 60 to enable young people to find employment. InBritain youth unemployment stands at over 1 million andthis will obviously rise as people have to work longerbefore they retire, this will lead to further problemswith a disillusioned generation dependent on benefits.

Many UNISON branches called for another strike, butthe general opinion of Welsh delegates was that a strikewould not be widely supported in Wales because no-onecan afford to lose a days pay, but we realise that a strikewith all Unions involved would be the best way to showthe ConDems how we are united in defending our pensionsand Public Services. There will be a ballot at the end ofJuly giving every member the chance to say what theythink of the latest offer the Government have made.Please make sure that you vote.

The TUC march on 20th October in Londoand buses will be organised by Swansea bthat would like to take part. I will definitwould urge you to do the same. Another htopic was the cuts in Public Services. Schare becoming Academies despite oppositand parents, services are being privatiseService, Police and Fire Brigade. It is obvthat a private firm will not be running a sother reason than to make money, thus cand using less staff. This will lead to redpaid workers especially in the caring proffrightening to think how Tory policies coPublic Services, it is compared to Robin Htaking from the poor to give to the rich,justified.

The most awe inspiring event of the Confguest speaker Neville Lawrence, the fathLawrence the black teenager murdered icrime in 1993. Neville cried as he explainhappened to his family that fateful nightwaited for Stephen to return home, keepwarm in the oven, until a neighbour and hand told them Stephen had been attackeStephen died in hospital and the killers edespite boasting about what they had dowhen 2 of them were convicted by DNA ewill continue to fight until the other menUNISON were the first Union to offer aLawrence family as the media did not shoat first. The Lawrences’ now fund projec

Oxford Day Trip 18th August - Prices from £3

Ffos Las September 16th - Prices from £10

London Day Trip November 17th - Prices from £9

Children's Christmas Party December 1st - Price £4

Bath Christmas Market December 6th - Prices from £5

Disneyland Paris 26th - 29th May 2013 - Prices vary

Further information and booking forms available from StuartPage stuart.page@swansea.gov.uk or telephone 07854

974130 or you can visit www.suss.me.uk

Sports & Social 2012 - 2013

Membership of the Sports & Social Section currently costs 20p perweek, deductible from your salary. Members of the Section receivepreference and subsidies on various Sports & Social events. Youcan also opt to be included in the Sports & Social circulation list,whereby you will be the first to receive information on forthcomingtrips and activities. If you are not already a member, you can

contact Stuart Page via the details above

those who went before us foughtfor and they are the legacy weleave to future generations".

But Mr Prentis also had strongwords for the Labour leadership,"disproving the theory that twoEds are better than one." He toldEd Miliband and Ed Balls to stopsupportingConDempay freezes.

The speech covered wideground, with Mr Prentis alsoshowing that he had beenlistening to activists' demands byannouncing the start of a new,direct legal advice hotline andother measures. He remindeddelegates of the union's recordon equalities and sent "amessage to the bigots", that theunion will keep fighting until itachieved "true equality" for all,including gay marriage. It was aspeech characterised by adetermination that UNISON willfight against the injustices beingheaped onworking people by theConDem government. Anddelegates responded with asense of commitment to thestruggle ahead.

A follow-up survey of UNISON members from ayear ago shines a harsh light onto the growinghuman cost of the Government’s austerity agendaon public sector workers and their families.

One year on from the original, the latest surveyreveals that almost half (47%) say their householdincome has fallen with one in four describing theirfinancial situation as “struggling to survive” or“difficult”. Three quarters say concerns over theirfinancial situation have increased in the last year.

More worrying still, a shocking 73% have reducedtheir spending on food with three out of four havinghad no pay increase and 12% reporting a pay cut.

The union is calling on the Government to “wake-up” to the damage being caused by its no hope,

cuts policies aeconomic reco

Dave Prentis,

“Our survey shmeasures arefamilies of UNlast year, but tworse.

“The Governmits cuts policieThe more jobmembers haveshops and bus“While the Govricher and rich

ence Report by EveMorseon was also raisedbranch for anyonetely be going andhotly debatedhools in Englandion from staffed in the Healthvious to everyoneservice for anycutting cornersdundancies of lowfession. It isould decimate ourHood in reverse,this cannot be

ference was theher of Stephenn a race hatened whatt when theyping his dinnerhis son knockeded by a gang.escaped justiceone until last yearevidence. Nevillen are convicted.assistance to theow much interestcts to help young

people get an education and keep them off the streetsand into employment. I have to admit that I cried withNeville Lawrence when he described how he waited forhis son to come home on that fateful night not realisingthat he was being attacked by 5 or 6 men and fighting forhis life.

Stopping the BNP, EDL and other fascist supportersbecoming UNISON members was debated. Delegatesvoted to remove any active supporters who are currentlymembers of UNISON and to prevent fascists fromjoining. Their policies are not welcomed by anyone and wewill not accept their views in our Union. You may haveseen in the media last week that Anders Breivik whokilled 77 people in Norway last July has been describedas a politically motivated anti-Muslim militant. There is noroom in society for these ideals.

Another interesting guest was Paul Kenny, President ofthe TUC and General Secretary of the GMB. He pledgedthat all the Unions would work together to fight PublicSector Cuts and fight for fair pensions. Paul and severalother speakers said that the Labour Party would have tostart changing if it wanted to count on the continuedsupport of the Unions. He said they often do not criticiseConDem policies when they should do. He also said that asthe biggest Union people look to UNISON to lead the wayand be at the forefront of campaigning.

An important issue that was discussed was the genderpay gap, Councils are reducing men’s pay to the same aswomen’s instead of raising women’s pay to a fair amount.

Hence we are not keeping up with the rate of inflation!Most of us are only 2 pay cheques away from disaster.Delegates voted to campaign for a living wage. Childpoverty was discussed and it was obvious to all that dueto unemployment and benefit cuts that families aresuffering. UNISON will monitor the implementation ofthe Child Poverty Act with an aim to end child poverty inthe UK by 2020.

I was particularly interested in listening to the speakerssupporting the motion to ‘Stop Disability Hate Crime’.Several speakers mentioned a case about a young manwith a learning-disability called Malcolm who wascontinuously bullied by local youths. The bullying almostended in tragedy when they wrapped cling-film aroundhim from head to toe to attach him to a lamppost andthen threw things at him. Fortunately a PCSO was on herrounds, saw him and released him before he suffocated.How can such things happen in this day and age?Conference voted overwhelmingly to raise awareness ofdisability hate crime, lobby government to give the policeand CPS more powers to take meaningful action againstperpetrators and provide guidance so branches cansupport members who experience this crime.

I came away from the Conference really enthusiasticabout continuing to support UNISON and all its membersin their fight for fairness and equality for all. It isamazing to think that there are 1.3million members inUNISON and we are all striving for the same things – afair wage, a fair pension and equality for ALL ourmembers. I am very proud to be a UNISON member!

and move to a plan for growth andovery.

General Secretary of UNISON, said:

hows that the Government’s austeritybiting deep into the incomes and

NISON members. Times were toughthis year they have got a whole lot

ment should wake-up to the damagees are inflicting on working people.cuts and the less money oure to spend, the harder it is for localsinesses to survive.vernment’s friends in the City gether, the rest of the country is

struggling to make ends meet. Only last week welearnt bosses in the FTSE 100 enjoyed 10% payrises last year taking average earnings to £3.7m,despite an overall drop performance. This is moremoney in one year that most workers earn in alifetime.

“It’s time for Osborne to draw up Plan B. What theeconomy needs is a kick- start that will get peopleback into work and confident enough to spend. Theunemployment figures out this week will makedepressing reading for many. That is especiallytrue for parents with young people finishing school,college or university and looking for work. TheGovernment should be offering hope and a brightfuture for our young, not a place in the dole queue.

UNISON survey – key facts

1 in 4 experienced an effective redundancysituation at work through redundancy,redeployment or having to apply for their own jobs.

75% said concerns over their financial situationhave increased in the last year.

93% had seen increases in their outgoings butjust 15% had an increase in household income.

On average members’ personal debts werearound £4000 but more than 1 in 5 (22%) reportedpersonal debts of £10,000 or more.

45% had cut back on physical exercise or sportsexpenditure and nearly one in three (31%) had cutback on health treatment such as visits to theopticians or prescriptions.

27% had increased credit card borrowing.

Almost 1 in 5 had one or more child in full-timeeducation who had been entitled to, but had nowlost, the Educational Maintenance Allowance.

88% had reduced spending on social activities,on socialising with family members (71%) and onpersonal items 83%.

In March 2011 a survey by UNISON and PCSshowed that Government cuts and the pay freezewere already taking a toll. UNISON has gone backto some of the original respondents. Of the 2420contacted 1,044 filled in the new survey. Followingthe survey 15 UNISON members from all over thecountry, in different jobs, ages and gender wereinterviewed face to face. The survey report sets outtheir stories in detail telling us more about the day-to-day challenges facing UNISON members.

LGPS 2014After months of negotiations, the proposals forthe LGPS from 2014 have been signed off byministers for consultation. UNISON has has aseries of branch meetings for members to letyou know exactly what is being proposed from2014 so that you can have your say.UNISON will be consulting you about theproposals in a postal ballot from the end of July.Please take time to read the proposals and tovote on them in the postal ballot.

http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/lgps.asp

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 addressor emailed to Unison@swansea.gov.uk. Correspondence is not guaranteed to be published and contents may not necessarily reflect Unison policy.

YOURUNION

Spor ts & Socia l websi te : www.suss.me.uk www.unison.co.uk

Contact us: Unison Office The Guildhall Swansea SA1 4PE01792 635271 unison@swansea.gov.uk

Unison has over 100 trained union reps throughout the council, schools andFEcolleges.Wewill advise,support and represent you collectively and individually on issues from sickness, disciplinaries to legalmatters insideandoutside theworkplace. If youneedadviceor representationpleasecontact theSeniorSteward(s) for your department below or go to your workplace steward. Alternatively please contact thebranch office.

Branch Secretary: Mike Davies / Asst. Secretary: Ian Alexander

EnvironmentIan Alexander - 07584 505793Tony Dearden - 07971 121533Pat Lopez - 07584 505792Social ServicesAlison Bell - 07941 757853Bill Williams - 07557 560092ResourcesGareth Parry - 07584 341240

EducationChris Bell - 07967 551025Karen Verallo - 07771 922985Regeneration/HousingJohn Llewellyn - 07557 560093Roger Owen - 07941819229Gower CollegeRon Job - 07963 454041

PAY CUTS...PENSION CUTS...PRIVATISATION...ATTACKS ON WORKING CONDUTS...LONGER WAITING LISTS...SERVICE CUTS...FOOD PRICE RISES...BENEFITUTS...SCHOOL CLOSURES...JOB LOSSES...PAY FREEZE...RECESSION...HOUSINGAILOUTS...PAY CUTS...PENSION CUTS...PRIVATISATION...ATTACKS ON WORKONDITIONS...UNEMPLOYMENT...NHS CUTS...LONGER WAITING LISTS...SERVICISES...BENEFIT CUTS...TAX CREDIT CUTS...SCHOOL CLOSURES...JOB LOSSES..REEZE...RECESSION...HOUSING CRISIS...BANKERS BAILOUTS...PAY CUTS...PENUTS...PRIVATISATION...ATTACKS ON WORKING CONDITIONS...UNEMPLOYMENSTS...SERVICE CUTS...FOOD PRICE RISES...BENEFIT CUTS...TAX CREDIT CUTSOSSES...PAY FREEZE...RECESSION...HOUSING CRISIS...BANKERS BAILOUTS...PUTS...PRIVATISATION...ATTACKS ON WORKING CONDITIONS...UNEMPLOYMENSTS...SERVICE CUTS...FOOD PRICE RISES...BENEFIT CUTS...TAX CREDIT CUTS

No amount of cajolery,“

“and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burninghatred for the Tory Party. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.

Nye Bevan, 1948

For details of coaches to the demonstration contact the Unison office on 635271

�������� ��� ��������������� ������ ������ ����������� � ���� ��� ��������