Unison Emergency Local Government conf on pay set for Tues 24 March, London

The date was announced just before christmas eve, so apologies for not posting this sooner.

We now have the opportunity (that our national local government conference in June failed to allow us) to discuss a serious strategy for our pay dispute including:
- the nature of industrial action,
- the question on the ballot paper, 
- the resourcing of such a dispute (strike pay, strike fund)
- how decisions are made
- how we coordinate with other unions and sectors
- what has gone wrong in the last few years. 

This is a real opportunity to raise the issue of how we ensure our "member-led" union lives up to that name. How we can ensure that full time officers, are led by us, not because we don't trust them, or they are not capable, but because ordinary low paid, members facing the reality of cuts, pay freezes, and austerity are the only and the best people who can understand what action our members are willing to take. 

But also this is a crucial time for the survival of local government and wider issues than just pay, we need to use this opportunity to get together activists from as many branches (and cross union if possible) to discuss, why it is that members in some branches overwhelmingly rejected this deal and in some others overwhelmly accepted it. We need to discuss why some workers have more confidence in taking strike action and others felt the less so. Lets not waste this opportunity. 

Please comment below with any thoughts. 

From Unison's website

A special conference of UNISON's local government group convened to debate the 2014-16 NJC pay proposals; the decision to cancel strike action on 14 October; the future pay consultation protocols in respect of local government pay claims; the best means to secure a decent pay increase for local government members and consider all motions from branches and regions concerning the above.

http://www.unison.org.uk/about/events-and-conferences/national-conferences/special-local-government-conference-2015/

How do we save Local Government? We need to start by some frank talking

As the National Audit offices announces that councils will have faced 37% cuts under this government and the LGA points out when hundreds of thousands of front line local government workers already know that we are buckling under the strain of these cuts.

This contribution from Jon Rogers is a useful starting point:

http://www.jonrogers1963.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/the-labour-movement-and-future-of-local.html

UNISON Local Government Branches prepare for special conference

Branches representing over 30% of UNISON’s Local Government membership have backed the call for a special conference to discuss how we were saddled with such a rotten pay deal.

Meeting on Wednesday 26 November the Local Government SGE referred the Conference to the National Executive on Wednesday 3 December to agree financing it.  The Standing Orders Committee will meet on Thursday 4 December to agree the timetable.

It is only the second time in UNISON’s history that branches have succeeded in requisitioning a Special Conference (the first was on the pensions dispute in 2007).

This shows the level of anger at the failed leadership that has led to a deal that further cuts in real pay, as does the fact that the call for the Conference came from Manchester branch, historically seen as very loyal to UNISON’s leadership. Branches need to be considering what motions to submit to the Conference.

Majority vote to accept the deal, but Unison Special Local Gov Conference has called by 25% of branches

All unions have voted to accept the offer.

In Unison ust under two-thirds voted to accept the deal, which unfortunately was quite likely since:
- action was called off by all three unions
- some union leaderships were already pushing acceptance, but even Unison who held off at first, then didnt recommend rejection despite it being no better than initial offer
- pressure from regions and full timers made it difficult for branches to organise rejection.

But key branches / regions in Unison rejected in North West and London. And GMB and Unite branches in South East and North West were also opposing the deal.

Heather Wakefield from Unison has confirmed that threshold of 25% of branches for special Conference has been reached so  Unison's Local Gov Exec will meet on Wednesday and they will make a recommendation to the NEC to get it organised.


Watch this space for more info.


See below the motion submitted by Manchester Local Government Branch and a list of some of the branches who supported it:


‘Dear Heather
I am writing on behalf of our Branch to requisition a Special Local Government Service Group Conference.
In accordance with UNISON Rule D3.4.11 on xx.xx.xx date our Branch / Branch Executive agreed to call for the requisition of a Special Local Government Service Group Conference to consider the following business:

• The 2014-2016 NJC Pay Proposals.
• The decision to cancel strike action on 14th October.
• The future Pay Consultation protocols in respect of Local Government pay claims.
• The best means to secure a decent pay increase for Local Government members and to receive and consider all motions from Branches and Regions concerning the above.’

For a Conference to be called Branches representing 25% of the service group membership need to support that requisition within two calendar months.
It appears that target is on the brink of being achieved within one month if it has not already done so.
Clearly some Branches may have also submitted the requisition without letting us know, but the following Branches have indicated to Manchester Branch that they have submitted the requisition:
Blackpool
Birmingham
Bolton
Brighton
Bristol
Bury
Cambridgeshire County
Camden
Cheshire East
Cheshire West
Coventry
Dorset
East Ayrshire
Fareham
Glasgow City
Hackney
Halton
Haringey
Havering
Hounslow
Hull
Hyndburn
Islington
Kensington and Chelsea
Knowsley
Lambeth
Lancashire County
Liverpool
Manchester
Nottingham City
Nottinghamshire County
Oldham
Portsmouth City
Rochdale
Salford
Sandwell
Sefton
Southampton
Southend-on-Sea
Surrey County
Tameside
Tower Hamlets
West Sussex
Warrington
Wirrall
Wolverhampton

Longest fall in UK wages since records begain. Another reason to vote no to 1%

Brighton GMB reject the pay proposals

http://gmb-brighton.tumblr.com/

It's not just UNISON activists and branches who are seeing through the shamefully inadequate pay proposals which have emerged from the national pay "negotiations".

The link above is to a temporary blog from Brighton's GMB Branch (a flagship branch for their trade union with a reputation for robust defence of members' interests which has spread far beyond Sussex).

Brighton GMB set out, clearly and coherently, why the pay proposals should be rejected. (I should add that I am quite certain that my friends and comrades in the local UNISON branch agree with them!)

Cross posted from Jon’s Union Blog.

How to support the call for a Special UNISON Local Government Conference

Manchester UNISON have submitted a requisition for a special conference. For the conference to take place it requires branches representing 25% of the Service Group to issue the same or similar requisition. There is a time limit on the process, branches should follow these steps by the end of November.

If your branch want to support Manchester's call for a Special Local Government Service Group Conference, follow these steps.

Pass this motion:

Requisition for a Special Local Government Conference

This Branch [Committee] agrees to call for the requisition of a Special Local Government Service Group Conference to consider the following business:

· The 2014-2016 NJC Pay Proposals.

· The decision to cancel strike action on 14th October.

· The future Pay Consultation protocols in respect of Local Government pay claims.

· The best means to secure a decent pay increase for Local Government members and to receive and consider all motions from Branches and Regions concerning the above.

We instruct Branch officers to submit this requisition appropriately as soon as possible.

Send this email:

If your branch agrees to pass the motion, then send this email to Heather Wakefield, Head of the Local Government Service Group at h.wakefield@unison.co.uk

Dear Heather

I am writing on behalf of our Branch to requisition a Special Local Government Service Group Conference.

In accordance with UNISON Rule D3.4.11 on xx.xx.xx date our Branch / Branch Executive agreed unanimously to call for the requisition of a Special Local Government Service Group Conference to consider the following business:
The 2014-2016 NJC Pay Proposals.
The decision to cancel strike action on 14th October.
The future Pay Consultation protocols in respect of Local Government pay claims.
The best means to secure a decent pay increase for Local Government members and to receive and consider all motions from Branches and Regions concerning the above.



Manchester request you let them know at  unison@manchester.gov.uk telling them your branch name and service group membership as of 1st January 2014.