Inside

Public Service Not Private Profit July 2016

ReviewCity and County of Swansea

Museum Strike:All-out actionbrings victory

EU Vote:the crisisand theLessonsNazi kills

Jo Cox MP

Members are invited to express an interest for the following City & County of Swansea Unison BranchOfficer positions:Convenor Young Members Officer Benefits Officer Welfare Officer Equalities Officer

These are voluntary positions and are therefore not salaried but they do attract a small honorarium for workconducted outside normal working hours. Some posts may be allowed facility time.Please contact the Unison Office (see back page) for job descriptions and further details

Take an active part in UNISON!

Local government workers are experiencing unprecedentedpressure and stress in the workplace – and government cutsare to blame, says a report recently published from UNISON.

The report – Under Pressure, Underfunded andUndervalued – is based on a survey of more than 2,000 localcouncil staff, including teaching assistants, social workers,librarians and carers who look after people in their ownhomes.

Morale

The findings highlight how staff morale and workingconditions have suffered as a result of government cost-cutting, with more than half a million jobs in local governmentaxed since 2010.

Three quarters (75%) of council workers said workload andpressure have increased in the last 12 months, nearly twothirds (63%) believe morale has declined and nearly threequarters (73%) report rising stress levels.Three in five (60%) respondents said theyareworkingbeyondtheir contracted hours with nearly a quarter (23%) doingunpaid overtime.

Shortages

A key reason for staff shortages is that employers are failingto replace workers when they leave, according to more thanone in five (21%) respondents.

Nearly two thirds (63%)of local governmentworkerswho tookpart in the survey have experienced a job review orreorganisation at work that has led to cuts both in staffing andresources in some cases.

Bullying

Under Pressure, Underfunded and Undervalued also revealsthat bullying in the workplace is a major issue for localgovernment staff. Three in five respondents (60%)have facedat least one formof abuse such as violence, verbal or physicalthreats, and bullying or harassment.

This abuse is most common from people using services butmanagers too are to blame as cash-strapped councils comeunder increasing pressure, says UNISON.

Harassment

Seventeen per cent of respondents had witnessedharassment from employers and 13 per cent been victims.

UNISON’s head of local government HeatherWakefield said:“Council staff are being worked into the ground because ofgovernment cutbacks.

“If you neglect the people who empty our bins, who supportour children and care for our vulnerable relatives then youneglect the services we all depend upon. Everyone suffers ifthose on the front line are so stressed and undermined theycannot do their jobs properly.”

Hammered by Tory Cuts

Under Pressure, Underfunded and Undervalued can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/28QWORF

No to austerity...

An issue we can't afford to park

An anti-migrant poster unveiled by NigelFarage has been reported to the policewith a complaint that it incites racial hatredand breaches UK race laws. Dave Prentis,General Secretary of Unison, has writtento the Metropolitan police about the poster,which shows a queue of mostly non-whitemigrants and refugees with the slogan“Breaking point: the EU has failed us all.”

Prentis described the Ukip poster as a“blatant attempt to incite racial hatred”. Hesaid: “This is scaremongering in its mostextreme and vile form…To pretend thatmigration to the UK is only about peoplewho are not white is to peddle the racismthat has no place in a modern, caringsociety. That’s why Unison hascomplained about this blatant attempt toincite racial hatred and breach UK racelaws.”

As many members will be aware car parking at both the Civic Centreand theGuildhall is a very pressing issue.Many of ourmembers havecome to uswith concerns about safety, caring responsibilities and theunfair way in which passes are being distributed.

Overflow

It appears that both sites do not currently have the parking provisionnecessary with those working in theGuildhall expected to park on thestreet or at the Recreation Ground and those in the Civic beingexpected to make do parking in overflow car parks as far away asTrawler Road.

Evidence

In order to try to build a wealth of evidence to combat these issuesUnison decided to launch a petition in order to allow all members toexpress their concerns around car parking. Some of the things havethat become apparent from this include:

Employees having to spend a large amount of time during the daymoving cars (especially at the Guildhall) meaning that they arehaving to take time out of their working day. This appears to beboth inefficient and timewastingand is affecting someemployees’ability to plan their working day.

Increasing frustration from employees who are having to use carparks such as Trawler Road, especially those who have beencaught in showers whilst walking to the Civic. There have evenbeen cases of files being ruined in particularly heavy showerswhen employees are having to carry these from their cars.

The current plans do not make allowances for those with caringresponsibilities.Whilst this may appear to some not seem to havemuch of an effect on most employees, if someone has to walk forfifteenminutes to reach their carbefore theycangohome toattendto the person that they care for then this could cause disruptionand also safety concerns especially for those who care for elderlyrelatives.

Worries about employee safety especially from those who arebased in the West Car Park in the Civic Centre or those who areexpected tomake their way to theRecreationGround late at night.Manyemployeeshavestated that they see this asa risk especiallyin light of the attack in the West Car Park in 2013. Many of thepromises that were made then are seen as not having beenfollowed through on with the car park still seen as very dark andunsafe.

With these concerns having been raised we now call upon theauthority to rethink their parking strategy. Drastic change is needednot just for the convenience of employees but also for their safety.Action has already been taken through the form of two lunch timeprotests but further action may have to be taken if this is not resolvedeffectively.

Action

We are still running the survey and would appreciate if you are ableto fill it in in order to add to the wealth of evidence that we have:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CCSparking

horror. Coximmigration a

Witnesses saThomas Maithe attack.

Britain First ismembers of t(BNP). In couto traitors, fre

His languagedeputy leade

At the time of going to press, the vote over EU membership haLackof spaceand the rapidly-changingeventsmeanan in-depth

However it seems clear that Britain’s rulers face seismic poliLeave vote. David Cameron departed just hours after the refeshould mourn him after he headed up the most brutal austerity

ChancellorGeorgeOsborne emerged fromhiding soon after thestock markets that “our economy is as about as strong as it coubig slump in share prices.

The Brexiteer Tories are also discovering that European statesthem.Their promises, suchasmoremoney for theNHS,havedis

The Tory leadership contest will divide them even more shindependence referendum is on the agenda. A general electionearly in 2017. These blows to the establishment reinforce one ais marked by inertia, paralysis and drift and is in a genuine cris

It is important in this current crisis - whichever way we votinto gloom. It is also a chance to unite together, break theresist cuts and resist the racism that characterised much

Ordinary people can shape how the crisis unfolds. We havthe outcome, not spectators of manoeuvres at the top of s

Whichever sidehadwon the referendum,wewouldhavestill facewe still need to resist and fight for a decent future.

Please support the national demonstration against austerity anhttp://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/emergency_demo_16j

How do we resto the crisis?

TORIES MUST GO

NO MORE AUSTERITY

NO TO RACISM

Emergency DeSaturday 16t

Assem12pm, BBC HQ,

London WOrganis

The People'sStand Up T

Contact the branch

The people have spoken, and theyhave made a clear call for change –and a different relationship withEurope.

We will be working in the comingweeks and months to hold the leavecampaigners to the promises they’vemade – that there will be more moneyfor the NHS, and that our rights atwork will remain intact.

But this also has to be a time for ourcountry to heal. At its best thecampaign has enabled genuinedebate and discussion in our homes,workplaces and communities aboutthe future of the economy and thekind of country we want to live in.

At its worst, the campaign has beentypified by hatred, vitriol andmisinformation that have done a hugedisservice to our democracy andvalues.

Over the coming weeks and months,all political leaders must think abouthow to address the issues thatpeople in our communities care mostabout – falling incomes, insecurejobs, unaffordable housing and thehuge challenges facing our publicservices after more than half adecade of cuts.

Dave Prentis

The murderof Labour MP,and UNISONmember, JoCox has led towidespreadshock and

had spoken out in favour ofand in defence of refugees.

ay that her suspected attacker,ir, shouted “Britain First” during

s a Nazi party founded by formerthe fascist British National Partyurt,Mair gavehis nameas “Deatheedom for Britain”.

e echoed that of Britain First’ser Jayda Fransen during the

London election campaign. She talked ofpoliticians guilty of “ruining our country...Wewill not rest until every traitor is punished fortheir crimes against our country. And bypunished, I mean good old fashioned Britishjustice at the end of a rope!”

It isn’t yet completely clear why Cox waskilled. But it is clear thatMair had connectionswith Nazi organisations.

And it is clear that the killing took place in thecontext of relentless racism against migrantsand refugees. This racism was ratcheted inthe European Union (EU) referendumcampaign. But politicians and right wing ragswere spouting it well before that.

They have consistently encouraged ordinarypeople to fear and hate refugees, and blamemigrants for all of their problems.

Striking workers at National Museum Wales -supportedbyUNISONandmanyothers - havevotedto end their dispute after forcing concessions fromthere employers in their fight over weekend pay.

PCS union members voted by 78 percent on an 81percent turnout to end their all-out strike after morethan eight weeks. They had been striking indefinitelysince 28 April against attempts to scrap weekendpremiumpayments—amovewhich could cost someworkers as much as £3,000 a year.

All-out get results

The deal strikers have got from bosses is a clearimprovement on previous offers—and shows thatall-out action gets results. Managers have agreed topay workers compensation buyouts equal to fiveyears of weekend payments.Workers have the option to take this as a lump sum,spread out over five years, or over four years withpension contribution deductions.

The deal also means no worker will have to workmore than 50 percent of weekends in a year.

Many strikers see the result as a victory. PCSassistant branch secretary Geraint Parfitt said, “Itwas accepted almost unanimously. I’m quiteimpressed. For a branchof just over 200members toachieve this, it shows that if we can do it, anyone cando it”.

The fight to save the premiums had lasted for morethan two years. But it was only when the workerslaunched their all-out strike this year that the Welshfirst minster, Labour’s Carwyn Jones, stepped in tobroker a deal.

Strikers determination

Welsh ministers had previously tried to keep thedispute at arm’s length despite the fact that themuseums are publicly funded. But there are alsoproblems with the deal—and some strikers wereunhappy with it.

But the deal is testament to the strikers’determination to stay out so long. And Geraintthanked their supporters for the solidarity that’shelped strikers keep going.

He said, “We’ve been all over the country talking topeople to raise support.

“I’m happy to go anywhere and tell people whatwe’ve done. And if anyone wants us to support themwhen they fight, I’m happy to go out and showsolidarity”.

ad just been announced.hanalysis is not possible.

tical questions after theerendum result. No oney since the 1930s.

e EU vote to reassure theuld be”. The result was a

s won’t make life easy forsappearedwithout trace.

harply. Another Scottishn is possible this year oranother. The governmentsis.

ted - not to be plungede austerity consensus,of the EU campaigns.

ve to be participants insociety.

edcutsandausterity and

nd racism:july

“

“

spond

emonstrationth July 2016mblePortland Place,

W1A 1AAsed bys Assembly &To Racismch office for details

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.

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

Contact us: Unison Office, Rm 153-G, The Guildhall, Swansea01792 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) or Contact for your department below or go to your workplace steward. Alternatively pleasecontact the branch office.

Branch Secretary: Mike Davies / Asst. Secretary: Andrea Thomas

YOURUNION

YOURUNION

••

SENIOR STEWARD SOCIAL SERVICESALISON DAVIES 01792 636351 / 07941757853FINANCE CONTACTRHYDIAN PRISMICK 01792 635803 / 07835757517SENIOR STEWARD REGENERATION(OUTDOOR LEISURE)JOHN LLEWELLYN 07920560208SENIOR STEWARD REGENERATION(INDOOR LEISURE)ROGER OWEN 07847942458

SENIOR STEWARDS ENVIRONMENTIAN ALEXANDER 07584505793PAUL WATKINS (CLYDACH) 07572153750PAT LOPEZ (CAVE ST) 07557560097MARK OTTEN 07789485009EDUCATION CONTACTJOHN AUSTIN 07796275039HOUSING CONTACTSSALLYANNE TAYLOR 07825401711

•

•

•

•

•

•

Unison School Uniform GrantsWhat are UNISON There for You School Uniform Grants?In addition to our normal range of services and in response tothe growing difficulties many members on low income face, aprogramme has been put in place that will assist our mostvulnerable members with the cost of purchasing schooluniforms.How much are the Grants?They are one-off grants of £40.00 per school age child, up to atotal of £120.00Am I eligible?To be eligible you must be:

A member who has paid 4 weeks subscriptions before thelaunch date of this programme (23/5/16)

Have a total net annual household income of £18,000 orless. [Note:By household income we mean net earningsafter tax, national insurance, pension deductions of you,your partner and any other adults living in the property.

Please also refer to next bullet point:

The following is not included as income for the purpose ofthis specific grants programme: Disability Living Allowance,Personal Independence Payments, Child Benefit and thechildcare cost element only of Working Tax Credit

Responsible for meeting household bills and struggling topay themFinancially responsible for the child/children.Not eligible for funding for uniform costs from your LocalAuthority

Is there anything else that may affect my entitlement toapply?

Members and their partners must not have combinedsavings or, a rolling bank balance of more than £800.00.Savings of any other adults in the household do not applyYou must not have received financial assistance fromUNISON There for You during the previous six months

Applications are limited to one per householdEnsure you send all requested paperwork with the form orthe application cannot be accepted

How do I apply?To apply for a School Uniform Grant simply:

Print out and complete the short 2-page application form.Download from our website www.unison.org/thereforyou

Contact Unison Direct on 0800 0857 857 for a form to beposted to you

Provide us with evidence of your entire household incomeby sending copies of you and your partner (if applicable)last month’s payslip(s). Also last full month’s bankstatements for all bank accounts held by you and yourpartner (if applicable)

Submit the form along with the completed short survey by15 July 2016. Post your application including all supportingpaperwork to: UNISON Welfare, UNISON Centre, 130Euston Road, London NW1 2AY.

Where can I go for further help or advice?There is a limited amount of funding in the school uniform grantsprogramme and once it has been exhausted no further awardsfor the year can be made. However if you are facing unforeseenhardship it may be possible for you to apply to our generalgrants programme. We will let you know if this applies to you.For further information, please see our web pages atwww.unison.org/thereforyou, contact your Branch WelfareOfficer or the There for You Support Team on 020 7121 5620or email thereforyou@unison.co.uk. If you are experiencingdifficulty with credit card and other consumer debts, please referto our additional information at https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/debtline-support/, or contactour Debtline direct on 0800 389 3302.•

••

•••

•