Solidarity to Durham TAs on Saturday 25 March, 2017, a small delegation from Barnet UNISON will be marching with the iconic Durham Teaching Assistants who have organised an inspiration grassroots fight back in response to a 23% pay cut.
Other trade union branches from across the country will be travelling to Durham as an act of solidarity.
“I am so proud of our branch who have effectively been working round the clock for the last 9 years and to finally have discovered the antidote to this vicious and harmful virus will bring hope to others. I know from bitter personal experience that “outsourcingitus” is very contagious and damaging to the health and wellbeing of members and to the services this virus feeds off. As many know we had a serious outbreak between 2012- 2014 where a large number of staff were affected as were residents. We intensified our efforts and at one point the branch nearly disappeared completely, incredibly we are still here despite all the odds; which I believe is all down to the dedicated and hardworking Unison reps. Finally I must point out that we are still in the early stages of creating a vaccine, but if anyone out there would like to take part in our trials please do not hesitate to contact the branch. Solidarity.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Special screening of BAFTA winning ‘I, Daniel Blake’ with a Q & A Ken Loach. 28 February 2017
27 February 2017
‘Hunger is being used as a weapon,’ says veteran director, calling for public rage over situation he says is worse than when he made Cathy Come Home in 1966” (Ken Loach)
“2.8 MILLION disabled people are in deep poverty (< 50% of median income).” Source: New Policy Institute
“Austerity has been targeted at disabled people nine times more than the general population and severely disabled people have been targeted 19 times more than the general population.” Source: Centre for Welfare Reform
“After the 2016 Budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility found that, ‘the government is on track by 2020-21 to spend the lowest amount on welfare, as a percentage of GDP, in 30 years.’ Source: BBC
“90,000 disabled people will lose their mobility cars under welfare reform.” Source Fullfact.org
Barnet UNISON branch is proud to be able to host this special event which is being supported by the following community campaigns: Barnet Trades Council, Barnet Alliance for Public Services, Housing Action Barnet, Our West Hendon campaign, Barnet Momentum.
“This film is quite rightly being recognised as a urgent wake up call for all of us. Austerity has delivered brutal cuts to our much loved public services and is hastening the break-up of the NHS. Some political commentators pedal the view that employment is up, but at the same time they conveniently neglect to mention that employment rights are being destroyed through the casualisation of the workforce such a zero hours contracts, and home carers are often not paid for travelling time to clients. I hope all of our members and Barnet residents find time to watch this film. We need everyone to get active in their communities and join the call for the end of Austerity.” John Burgess Branch Secretary Barnet UNISON.
The film is being screened at the iconic community Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley on Tuesday 28 February 2017. A short Q & A will take place with Ken Loach and Paula Peters from DPAC interviewed by Aditya Chakrabortty, the senior economics commentator for the Guardian.
See attached flyer for details.
Notes to Editors.
Contact details: John Burgess Barnet UNISON on or 020 8359 2088 or email: john.burgess@barnetunison.org.uk
DPAC http://dpac.uk.net/
Ken Loach http://www.sixteenfilms.co.uk/
Support our School Staff members
This Branch Executive Committee notes:
1. This statement which came out 13 December 2016:
“State schools in England will have to find £3bn in savings by 2019-20, says the public spending watchdog. Schools face 8% budget cuts and about 60% of secondary schools already have deficits, warns a funding analysis from the National Audit Office (NAO).”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38301843
2. Our branch has received an unusually large number of requests from schools seeking consultation over redundancies.
3. The cuts budget is a national agenda which being fought at a local level.
4. School support staff are often a significant proportion (30-50%) of the membership of UNISON local government branches.
5. The formation of a new Education trade union which will bring teachers and school support staff into one union.
6. The disputes by Derby City and Durham UNISON teaching assistants against the imposition of pay cuts through term-time only contracts.
7. The impressive public support those teaching assistants have received for their strike action.
This BEC believes:
1. School support staff are particularly vulnerable to redundancies but there is then a knock-on effect for the rest of the school when jobs are cut.
2. The scale of the problem, the speed of the consultations and the general lack of confidence amongst school support staff means it is incredibly difficult to organise effective, or any resistance to cuts in posts at individual schools as a result of the overall cut in the schools budget.
3. The cuts budget is a national agenda which should be fought at a national level.
4. The issue of term-time only pay should be made into a national dispute.
5. Fighting cuts and defending public services is popular with the public.
This BEC resolves:
1. To continue supporting and encouraging all and any colleagues fighting job losses and pay cuts on a local level.
2. To call on UNISON to seek a way of registering a lawful national dispute over the School Budget cuts and begin the mobilisation of all of our members working in schools for a strike ballot.
3. To call on UNISON to seek urgent talks with sister unions to attempt to coordinate joint national strike action over the School Budget Cuts.
4. To send this motion to National Local Government conference 2017.
As part of 8‑14 Feb 2017 Heartunions week of action
Barnet UNISON is publishing our calendar of action we have organised for our members and the community we serve.
A big thanks to all of our UNISON reps, officers and our admin for all the work they have done and continue to do for our members.
20 February “1 Day Without Us”
“We want to demonstrate our solidarity for our migrant colleagues”
“By wearing a purple or green ribbon. You can also just wear something green or purple.”
“By taking solidarity selfies of you and your workmates on 20th February”
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017.02.02-One-day-without-us-flyer.pdf #20Feb #1DayWithoutUs #BarnetUNISON
25 February “Sing Your Heart out 4 NHS”
“Join Barnet UNISON members and our fantastic Barnet residents in a musical message of solidarity for the NHS.”
We can now see what six years of austerity policies has had on the NHS which only recently was described by the Red Cross as a “humanitarian crisis”.
“Listen to Yannis Gourtsoyannis one of the Junior Doctors strikers talk first-hand about the NHS crisis”
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017.01.09-Rock-Against-Austerity-flyer-1.pdf #NHS #BarnetUNISON
28 February “I Daniel Blake” – Phoenix Cinema – East Finchley
“We are absolutely delighted that our long-time supporter Ken Loach has agreed to join a Q & A with DPAC’s Paula Peters, who will be interviewed by Aditya Chakraborrty senior economics commentator for the Guardian.”
#IDanielBlake #BarnetUNISON
4 March – National “Save Our NHS” demo – Barnet UNISON
https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2017/01/25/barnet-unison-supports-nhs-workers-join-us-4marchnhs/ #NHS #BarnetUNISON
7 March Barnet UNISON AGM – Fighting Apartheid to Fighting Austerity
“I am deeply honoured to have as our grassroots speaker Paul Joseph. Paul born in South Africa, became a political activist in the anti-apartheid movement working closely with Nelson Mandela with whom he was good friends. We are all facing deeply troubling times both in the workplace and our homes and our communities. I strongly recommend our members to make time to attend our AGM and listen to Paul tell his story. Hopefully he will be able to give us some advice as to what we all can do and remain positive in these troubling times.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.
#PaulJoseph #Mandela #BarnetUNISON
18 March – United Nations “Stand Up to Racism” demo Barnet UNISON
Join the Barnet UNISON banner on what is becoming a seminal demonstration in wake of recent events across the globe.
http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/national-demo-refugees-migrants-welcome-stand-racism-islamophobia-anti-semitism/ #StandUptoRacism #BarnetUNISON
Saturday 25 March “Join the Durham Teaching Assistants in Durham”
#ValueUs #FightingBack #BarnetUNISON
Unified Pay Update
New contracts
Last term Barnet Council employees received their new contracts. Most staff had no issues so they signed their contract. There were a smaller group of workers who had issues. For these staff UNISON advised that they did not need to sign until the appeal/issue had been resolved. In some cases some staff signed even though they had an outstanding issue. In which case once their appeal was resolved they received an updated contract. It is important that members keep a copy of their new contracts somewhere secure.
School staff:
I have been informed that Barnet Council are about to issue new contracts for all their employees (excluding teachers) in schools
It is really important that if UNISON members do have any issues or concerns they contact the Barnet UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
On Monday and Tuesday we have Louis Smyth specifically to deal with UNISON school member issues and Nadia Joseph on Wednesday.
Myth
“If I don’t sign the contract I will be made redundant”
No, no no. This is not correct. If you feel any pressure or are uncertain what to do then please contact your local rep or the unison office.
Sick Pay Scheme
In the new contract there is mention of a potential change which could see some staff having pay deducted if they are off sick. It is important to note that this is an ‘if.’ UNISON are already in negotiations about a new sickness policy, until we have reached an agreement the current sickness scheme is in place. It is worth noting that the original Council proposals was to withdraw from the current sick pay scheme for example end the 6 months full pay, 6 months half pay if you were seriously ill
Nursery Nurse group appeal
In the negotiations with the council there was an agreement that discussion about the 3.4% would continue after implementation. I can report that I am in the process of putting together an appeal for the Nursery Nurses with the support of some of our members. A meeting whereby I will be giving feedback on what I am proposing is being held
52 Week Teaching Assistants group appeal
I am meeting with the Council negotiating team to discuss a proposal which I hope I will be able to discuss with members shortly.
Individual Appeals
I have a list of members who have individual appeals. It is very important that members provide the UNISON office with all documentation, and arrange for a 1:1 meeting with me in order that I can best able to provide you with support. I have been supporting non schools members for the last five months and this process has worked well.
*** If you have sent in an appeal and have not notified UNISON, we will not be able to help. It is very important that you notify the branch if you want the support.
Stage 1 appeals
These meetings are not meant to be stressful for members. They an opportunity for a discussion with the employer, employee and their UNISON rep. In the many other Stage 1 meetings for non-school staff, management have been very supportive of any of their staff who are facing a loss in pay. I have found that the approach taken for non-schools staff has been largely positive for staff. The solution to the loss in pay can often be resolved by exploring a number of different approaches.
I would hope that UNISON members working in schools would expect that they should have the same treatment.
This is why when UNISON members working in schools contact the branch for support, they will be offered a 1:1 meeting with me. I need to listen and then advise, before we go into the Stage 1 meeting.
Faith schools
A number of faith schools are adopting Unified Pay collective agreement. It is important that members make sure they keep our office informed if they have any issues or concerns.
It is really important that if UNISON members do have any issues or concerns they contact the Barnet UNISON office on 0208 359 2088 or email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
The Durham TA Lions are calling on the grassroots movement to join them in solidarity in Durham on Saturday 25 March.
Their fight is our fight.
Barnet UNISON will not turn our backs on them.
We will not leave them behind, we look forward to renewing our previous solidarity experience with them at the Durham Miners Gala last year.
The Durham & Derby TAs and Kinsley 3 are disputes we must win.
These workers are showing the rest of us what you can do even in the face of such brutality.
Now it’s our turn.
We will be taking our banner to Durham
Solidarity “Lions of Durham”.
Fighting Apartheid to Fighting Austerity
“I am deeply honoured to have as our grassroots speaker Paul Joseph. Paul born in South Africa, became a political activist in the anti-apartheid movement working closely with Nelson Mandela with whom he was good friends. We are all facing deeply troubling times both in the workplace and our homes and our communities. I strongly recommend our members to make time to attend our AGM and listen to Paul tell his story. Hopefully he will be able to give us some advice as to what we all can do and remain positive in these troubling times.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.
For more details about Paul please download our flyer here 2017.02.02 AGM leaflet
Join the Barnet UNISON banner on what is becoming a seminal demonstration in wake of recent events across the globe.