ACAS Awards further Pay Increase

It's 0.3%!

Following submissions from both the employers side and the trades unions ACAS have awarded a further 0.3% increase for the year 2008/2009. This brings the award up to 2.75% plus £100 on the bottom 3 pay points. ACAShave recognised that NJC employees are amongst the lowest paid in the public sector and that the award is 'affordable and justifiable'.

We will now ask Cardiff County Council when the increase and back pay will be making their way into members' pay packets.

Mark

UNISON joins campaign against Royal Mail Privatisation

UNISON Genereal Secretaray Dave Prentis has joined with the leaders of the affiliated trade unions to warn, in a letter to the Guardian, that the government must honour its pledges and keep the post office public.The letter says:

'At Warwick University, in the summer of 2008, the affiliated trade unions collectively participated in a series of policy discussions with representatives of the Labour party and Downing Street. The purpose and outcome of those discussions was to reach a policy agreement that was satisfactory to all participants.Within that Warwick agreement was a clear commitment to maintaining Royal Mail in the public sector: "We have set out a vision of a wholly publicly owned, integrated Royal Mail group in good health providing customers with an excellent service and its employees with rewarding employment."This commitment was agreed by all affiliated trade unions in the belief that it guaranteed the future of Royal Mail as "wholly publicly owned". This was our belief in the summer, and it was the belief of the 2008 Labour party conference, which voted to support this policy.We are deeply concerned that the Labour party now appears to be willing to break that commitment by adopting the recommendations of the Hooper report. Its proposals to bring in a "strategic partner", via an exchange of equity, clearly constitutes the part privatisation of Royal Mail.The affiliated trade unions believe that the part-privatisation of Royal Mail is electorally unpopular, politically unwise and damaging to the concept of universal service provision. Furthermore, to break a pledge so recently made undermines the legitimacy of our policy process and raises questions about the validity of other agreements reached.We are unanimous in our opposition to the proposed privatisation of Royal Mail, and ask that the government reconsiders its response before it becomes a dividing line within our movement., TSSA Lord Mandelson introduced plans to part-privatise the Royal Mail on Thursday, 26th February. '

John McDonnell - Labour MP, said:

“Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson should not underestimate the opposition that this will unleash among MPs, trade unions, postal workers and communities. This is a privatisation beyond what even Thatcher proposed.”

Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary, said:

“There is still no convincing argument for privatisation. Any private stake in Royal Mail will take money out of the business for private profits and lead to a reduction in services and rise in consumer prices.

"Privatisation will also trigger thousands more jobs losses at a time when the government should be leading on job retention.

"The British public does not want its postal service to be flogged off. It's also clear that there's no support among Labour MPs for this move, which is why Lord Mandelson introduced it in the House of Lords.

Read the CWU response to the Hooper Report in full. Download the CWU NW region briefing and 10 good reasons briefing.

Ask your MP to sign EDM 428 ‘Royal Mail’. Over 100 Labour MPs have now signed. Download the model motion and get it passed in your party or trade union branch.

Find out more details from the CWU website: Keep the Post Public!. Find out details of the National March & Rally in Wolverhampton on 14th March 2009.

Shool Support Staff- If you want a 'Voice' join UNISON

Friday afternoon I visited a school and discussed the issue of UNISON members who have apparently left to join another 'union'.

They have joined a 'union' called 'Voice'. School Support Staff are ,of course, entitled to join any trade union they wish and whatever union they join is secondary to the main point, that all staff should be in a trade union.

But staff need to be aware of some of the follwing points:

• UNISON is by far the biggest trade union representing all School Support Staff, from Teaching Assistants and Technicians to Catering Staff, Cleaners and Caretakers.
• In Cardiff County UNISON represents one thousand members, giving us great strength in negotiations, to secure a better deal for Support Staff members.
• UNISON sits on the National Joint Council which negotiates pay, terms and conditions for schools staff- 'Voice' has no place on the NJC.
• UNISON is leading the trades unions in direct negotiation with the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly in negotiating a new agreement to give schools support staff similar terms and conditions to teachers- 'Voice' has no place at this table.
• 'Voice' is not a recognised Trade Union in Cardiff County and therefore has no negotiation rights.

In addition, UNISON, as a locally recognised trade union has its subscriptions deducted directly from your pay, on a monthly basis- 'Voice' is not recognised and so cannot have this facility- staff in Cardiff who have joined 'Voice' have to pay their fees for the whole year up front!

When approached by someone to join a trade union- you need to know that the trade union you join and give your hard earned money to actually has a voice - is recognised by your employer and can play a part in negotiating your pay, terms and conditions. Stay with a genuine trade union which really can and does work for you- join UNISON.

Mark Turner

Branch Secretary