All the union news that's fit to blog...
#STUC16 No worker should accept violence as part of their job. Whether they work in schools, colleges or other public and public facing services, staff should be able to work without fear of threat, abuse or intimidation. See all STUC reports on the website.
That was the clear message from delegates to the STUC as they backed a NASUWT call for proper resources from the Scottish Government toRead more…
#stuc16 Trade unionists line up for a ‘just transition’ on Climate Day at the UNISON Scotland and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland Fringe Meeting at the STUC Congress in Dundee today. See also the SCCS Holyrood Election Online Debate, 7-8.30pm tonight. It will see the five political parties represented in the current Scottish Parliament questioned on their climate policies and plans for the nextRead more…
#STUC2016 UNISON Scotland convener Lilian Macer won STUC Congress support for UNISON’s call for a campaign against the repeal of the Human Rights Act. See all STUC reports here
The motion condemned the UK Government for its many direct and indirect attacks on human rights, including the Trade Union Bill, the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act and its failure to implement its equality andRead more…
#STUC2016 UNISON’s Rakiya Suleiman has called on trade unions to unite in fighting the Anti-Union Bill and defend rights won over decades, ‘involving sacrifices and hardships that we find difficult to imagine.’
See all STUC reports on the website
She said: “Our movement did not arise out of a spirit of benevolence and partnership on the part of employers. The rights we have were won overRead more…
NOTE TO PICTURE DESKS: Photocall 12.30pm Monday. Details below.Embargo: 00:01 Monday 18 April Trade unions call for a low carbon Scotland Trade unions are today (Monday 18 April) calling for strong action on climate change, with policies to support workers affected in the switch to a low carbon economy.
On ‘Climate Day’, ahead of a Holyrood election online debate, trade unions say there must beRead more…
Ten ways to strengthen Scotland’s services: Manifesto for the Scottish election
‘We want to see a Parliament using the powers at its disposal in order to enhance our public services to create a fairer and sustainable Scotland,’ Mike Kirby, Scottish Secretary and Lilian Macer, Scottish Convener;
– Full rundown on UNISON Scotland’s manifesto,
– Defend the principles that underlie public servicesRead more…
Tackling Scotland’s “disgraceful” fuel poverty scandal must be a top priority and will help fight climate change, UNISON said today.
New figures from the Existing Homes Alliance show that 62% of Scottish homes are “unhealthily cold”. The public services union works with the EHA, Energy Action Scotland, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and others in calling for a Warm Homes Act.
UNISON’s 2016Read more…
Fourth report from a delegation to Palestine and Israel by Sam Macartney, UNISON Scotland International Chair: Day 5: Went to Hebron and was not surprised by the number of Israeli solders surrounding this city.
A few hundred Israeli settlers have live in Hebron since 1982. There have always been some issues but this has increased dramatically over the last 20 years. Ever since Israel’sRead more…
Fourth report from a delegation to Palestine and Israel by Sam Macartney, UNISON Scotland International Chair: Day 4 Jerusalem: Two scheduled meetings for today and a chance to see the illegal settlements which the Israeli government are helping to build and saying their not.
Furniture tossed on the street
UN you need to see a good optician. Illegal settlements spring up in East Jerusalem atRead more…
Third report from a delegation to Palestine and Israel by Sam Macartney, UNISON Scotland International Chair: Early start this morning to beat the traffic and the check points, yes there is wall to wall check points – makes a few people feel safe but many others living under occupation.
Sam Macartney at the Yasser Arafat memorial
Reached Ramallah, and it felt good to be in a Palestinian cityRead more…
Second report from a delegation to Palestine and Israel by Sam Macartney, UNISON Scotland International Chair: Day 3: Met with the UN representative this morning, (Rodger Dalton) also at the meeting was Lord Warner Labour peer, and two forgettable Tory MPs. They were getting to travel to Gaza while groups with a real interest an agenda are barerd.
Meeting with Kavla Oved workers’ rightsRead more…
There are still places on the courses for new branch officers being held in Glasgow from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 April.
The courses are aimed at newly elected officers or those who want to understand more about a particular role.
It may also be useful for those who have not done training for a while as most of the material has been revised and updated and they can share their experience withRead more…
Sam Macartney, UNISON Scotland International Chair, reports from a delegation to Palestine and Israel: Day one arrived Tel Aviv. As expected I was pulled in by Israeli security, thankfully only questioned for 20 minutes then released. It seems my reputation precedes me!
Another Israeli checkpoint, Jerusalem
On the drive to Jerusalem Noel our driver pointed out the security the PalestineRead more…
UNISON and Global Justice Now are holding a free community screening this Friday of the climate film This Changes Everything.
Join us from 5.30pm for the 6pm prompt screening on Friday 8 April at UNISON Scotland, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX. All welcome. Hosted by our International Committee and Green Network, working with Global Justice Now.
Inspired by the Naomi Klein bestsellingRead more…
There is still availability in some UNISON courses coming up – ERA Refresher, Organising Stewards, Mental Health at Work and Writing and Editing Skills. If you are interested, see more here and contact your branch to apply.
ERA Refresher – Glasgow (residential) – 6 – 8 May 2016
This course is for any stewards/branch officers who have not undertaken any training in the last 5 years. It is notRead more…
Caseworker
UNISON Grade 5 starting at £34,864
35 hours a week to be worked flexibly
Applications are invited for a post of Caseworker to work with Branch Officers and stewards providing a representation service to members of the UNISON branch.
UNISON South Lanarkshire has 6000 members working in the local council, Leisure and Culture Trust, further education and the community, voluntary andRead more…
UNISON is calling for fine words and promises to increase childcare to be backed by extra resources for children, parents and the workforce, in its Early Learning and Childcare Manifesto 2016.
Currently Scotland’s childcare provision is patchy, complex and expensive. We need a radical overhaul of childcare provision to ensure that it provides what families actually want: an affordable, safeRead more…
Since the establishment of Police Scotland police staff have borne the brunt of a process of centralisation, budget cuts and politically driven targets. This process has been bad for policing, bad for communities and bad for staff. UNISON Scotland calls for policing in Scotland to be properly resourced with a balanced workforce responsive to locally determined priorities.
The new ChiefRead more…
IPPR report confirms UNISON’s view that falling real terms pay has had a considerable negative effect on the economy.
The IPPR report which is published today (23 March 2016) confirms that, pay in Scotland has fallen in real-terms by 12%, with private sector pay falling further than public sector pay. It also confirms that had pay risen in line with expectations, the Scottish economy would be £Read more…
UNISON and Global Justice Now are holding a free community screening of the climate film This Changes Everything next month.
And the union is supporting Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s Climate Day #AskClimateQ Holyrood election online evening debate on 18 April, as well as holding a joint fringe with SCCS at the STUC Congress in Dundee that lunchtime.
Yesterday the UK Committee on ClimateRead more…