Category: National

National Campaigns

“Industrial action looms as employers offer is yet another pay cut for School staff and Council workers.” Term Time Pay version.

Austerity, Local, National, News, Schools, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

Last year the employer made a lump sum payment in London which equated to £2,229, which still worked out as another pay cut for all members. This is important to note as we are still in the worst Cost of Living Crisis in 75 years and there are no signs of any improvement on the horizon.

This year the Trade Unions submitted a claim for RPI plus 2% which works out at 12.7% across all grades.

The Employer has responded with the same amount as last year which is £2,229 to those workers up to spinal column 42 and 3.8% to those above (which impacts Grades K and L).

This is another Pay Cut for our members. Last year when we consulted Barnet UNISON members over the same offer 89% voted to reject and demand an industrial strike ballot. We had the highest turnout of UNISON votes across UNISON members in other London Councils.

We are now waiting to hear what UNISON National negotiators have to say about the offer.

In the meantime, we want as many of our members to view the employers offer and understand the difference between the Employer’s offer and UNISON’s demand.

The table below provides details of the employers offer including a comparison with the UNISON claim for 12.7%.

To help UNISON members understand the offer and how it compares with UNISON’s demand please find below an explanation of the table above.

Column A = Lists Barnet Council Grades. If you don’t know your grade contact your line manager.

Column B & C = These columns provide the detail of the bottom and top of the current grade.

Column D & E = These columns provide the detail as to how the current grade changes when the employers’ offer is applied.

Column F & G = These columns show in percentages what the employers’ offer means to each grade.

Column H & I = These columns represent the increase to the grade if the UNISON proposal was implemented. As you can see it is higher than the

employers’ offer.

Column J & K = These columns provide the actual financial loss for each grade when the employers’ offer is compared with the Trade Unions’ claim for 12.7%.

Column L & M = These columns provide the actual percentage pay cut for each grade when the employers’ offer is compared with the Trade Unions’ claim for 12.7%.

* This table uses LBB Council’s Term Time pay formula. Not all schools use this formula so you may have to check what formula your school uses to calculate your pay

Any questions please email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

End.

“Industrial action looms as employers offer is yet another pay cut for School staff and Council workers.”

Austerity, Local, National, News, Report, UNISON Campaign

Last year the employer made a lump sum payment in London which equated to £2,229, which still worked out as another pay cut for all members. This is important to note as we are still in the worst Cost of Living Crisis in 75 years and there are no signs of any improvement on the horizon.

This year the Trade Unions submitted a claim for RPI plus 2% which works out at 12.7% across all grades.

The Employer has responded with the same amount as last year which is £2,229 to those workers up to spinal column 42 and 3.8% to those above (which impacts Grades K and L).

This is another Pay Cut for our members. Last year when we consulted Barnet UNISON members over the same offer 89% voted to reject and demand an industrial strike ballot. We had the highest turnout of UNISON votes across UNISON members in other London Councils.

We are now waiting to hear what UNISON National negotiators have to say about the offer.

In the meantime, we want as many of our members to view the employers offer and understand the difference between the Employer’s offer and UNISON’s demand.

The table below provides details of the employers offer including a comparison with the UNISON claim for 12.7%

To help UNISON members understand the offer and how it compares with UNISON’s demand please find below an explanation of the table above.

Column A = Lists Barnet Council Grades. If you don’t know your grade contact your line manager.

Column B & C = These columns provide the detail of the bottom and top of the current grade.

Column D & E = These columns provide the detail as to how the current grade changes when the employers’ offer is applied.

Column F & G = These columns show in percentages what the employers’ offer means to each grade.

Column H & I = These columns represent the increase to the grade if the UNISON proposal was implemented. As you can see it is higher than the

employers’ offer.

Column J & K = These columns provide the actual financial loss for each grade when the employers’ offer is compared with the Trade Unions’ claim for 12.7%.

Column L & M = These columns provide the actual percentage pay cut for each grade when the employers’ offer is compared with the Trade Unions’ claim for 12.7%.

 

Any questions please email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

 

End. 

Injuries at work – your rights explained

Health and Safety, Local, National, News, Report, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

Injuries at work – your rights explained

Gerard Stilliard, head of personal injury claims at Thompsons Solicitors, outlines how you can access legal support if you have been injured at work.

The best employers recognise that proper health and safety is vital and take steps to ensure they keep their employees as safe as possible in the workplace.

At Thompsons, we see first-hand the devastating impact on workers and their families when health and safety is compromised – usually when management is under pressure to cut costs. That is why, as a proud partner of UNISON, we work with your union to actively promote the benefits of union membership and support you and your families with legal claims.

Your employer’s ‘duty of care’

Your employer owes you a duty of care, to protect your health, safety and welfare while at work. This include providing a safe work environment. They should:

  • Follow health and safety legislation
  • Conduct adequate risk assessments
  • Provide you with health and safety training
  • Supply sufficient PPE
  • Ensure equipment is in safe working order and regularly maintained
  • Reduce risk as much as reasonably possible.

If your employer has failed in their duty of care, and you have been injured at work as a result, you may be able to bring a compensation claim.

Making a compensation claim

The law requires employers to avoid risks entirely if this is possible and, if not, to minimise the risk of injury at work to the lowest level ‘reasonably practicable’.

Where employers fail in their obligation to protect you, UNISON and Thompsons will support your injury claim all the way to trial if necessary, but most cases settle well before they reach the doors of the court.

Giving you the best chance of success

To ensure your compensation claim for an accident at work is as strong as possible, you should try to:

  • Report the accident and your injuries to your employer
  • Record the accident in your workplace accident book
  • Take photographs of the place where the accident happened
  • Photograph any visible injuries
  • Find out the names and contact details for any witnesses
  • Keep a record of any visits to the doctors and treatments received, including receipts for any injury-related expenses.

The UNISON Legal Service gives you access to independent specialist legal advice from lawyers who are experts in their field. Using the union legal service is not only free, ensuring you receive 100% of any compensation awarded, it also increases the chances of your claim succeeding, because your lawyers can work with your local and national union representatives. You won’t get that level of compensation or support from any other law firm.

Here’s how our specialist teams can help

You can contact our experts for free advice and representation on:

 

Members’ families are also covered for:

  • Personal injury away from work, on holiday or on the roads
  • Special terms for medical negligence and wills.

 

Accessing support from Thompsons Solicitors

Thompsons Solicitors has been standing with unions and fighting for workers’ rights for more than 100 years.

Since we started in 1921, we have always refused to act for employers or insurers, only ever acting for the injured and mistreated. Every year, we secure millions of pounds in compensation for union members injured or mistreated by their employer.

For more information, visit Thompsons Solicitors’ website or call us directly on 0800 0 224 224.

UNISON submit National Council and School Pay offer alongside GMB and Unite

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, Membership, National, News, Report, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

“UNISON is campaigning for a decent NJC pay increase for 2023, which will affect members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We are asking for a pay increase of RPI + 2%. 

The Treasury’s annual forecast for RPI for 2023 is currently 10.7%, so the increase we are asking for would amount to 12.7%. 

This would ensure that council and school workers are able to afford basic necessities without having to go from the front line to the breadline.”

For more details, please click link to UNISON National website below

https://bit.ly/3HFiGjg

 

Insourcing win at Barnet council

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Health and Safety, Housing, Libraries, Local, National, News, Recruitment, Report, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

Insourcing win at Barnet council

Over 300 staff in a variety of services like trading standards, environmental health and other regulatory services, will now be transferred back in-house

Staff at Barnet council are due to be transferred back to council employment thanks to a decade-long campaign by UNISON.

The 330 affected workers are currently employed by outsourcing multinational conglomerate, Capita, and are being brought back in house after the council was used as a test case for the outsourcing of local government services.

The staff who work under a joint venture called ‘Capita Re’ in a variety of areas like trading standards, environmental health, planning highways and other regulatory services, will be TUPE transferred back in house on 1 April this year.

In 2012, much of the service provision at the council was outsourced to Capita on decade-long contracts by the Conservative-controlled council, with the intervening 10 years marred by several controversies including a multi-million-pound fraud and contracts running vastly over budget.

Barnet’s UNISON branch has campaigned for services to be brought back in-house since the contracts were initially handed to Capita and there have already been major in-sourcing successes at the council.

In May last year, Labour won control of the council after 20 years of Conservative leadership and, though the contracts had already been due to end next year, the new council has fast-tracked plans by six months to bring some services back in house.

John Burgess, Barnet local government branch secretary, said: “This is good news for staff, good news for residents and good news for the services. I welcome the decision and look forward to welcoming back all the services back into Barnet Council where they all belong.

“For a decade, our branch has campaigned for local government services at Barnet to be brought back in-house and, while we are happy that this latest has been fast tracked, there are still many issues to address for our members who are being TUPE’d.

“These include workplace inequalities such as staff being paid differently for the same role. Barnet UNISON is already seeking discussions with the council about harmonisation of the terms and conditions of the TUPE’d workforce.

“During the worst cost of living crisis in 75 years it is imperative that our branch does it best to look after the interests of our members transferring back into the council.”

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2023/01/insourcing-win-at-barnet-council/

 

Emergency Barnet UNISON schools members meeting and advice

Austerity, Health and Safety, Local, National, News, Schools, Solidarity, Trades Dispute, UNISON Campaign

Dear Member

Early this week the National Education Union (NEU) announced that they have successfully completed a strike ballot for industrial action.

The NEU have announced the strike dates which will impact on Barnet Schools:

  1. Wednesday 1 February (England and Wales)
  2. Thursday 2 March (London, South East, South West)
  3. Wednesday 15 March (England and Wales)
  4. Thursday 16 March (England and Wales)

Our branch has already begun to receive communications from our members working in Barnet Schools as to what this means for them.

Today, Thursday 19 January 2023, we have received advice from UNISON National Advice.

Now that we have the advice we have decided to call an emergency Barnet UNISON schools meeting at which we will have speakers from the NEU. We have UNISON speakers ready to take questions on how we are going to support our members on these strike days.

The Barnet UNISON meeting is on Thursday 26 January 6-7 pm please click on the link below to join the meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85006232648?pwd=TC9lUWpWUWUyOTY1WjM3STBxQTk1Zz09

Meeting ID: 850 0623 2648

Passcode: 960864

Below is the UNISON advice to our members. We have highlighted in bold and underlined some key parts of the advice.

 “UNISON Advice

UNISON respects the rights of other trade unions to take industrial action and supports the other unions’ strike action. We urge members to support legal protests and rallies organised by NEU that take place outside your contracted hours of work.

However, UNISON members in schools and sixth form colleges have not been balloted for strike action or action short of strike action on this occasion and are therefore advised to continue with their normal duties and responsibilities.  UNISON members should not take on any additional responsibilities being given to them directly as a result of other unions’ industrial action.

Support staff should not be expected to provide cover for, or take classes, where this would normally be done by teachers who are taking action. Staff should not be moved from the duties they would normally have carried out in order to cover work and frustrate the industrial action of colleagues. This includes any staff employed as either HLTAs or Cover Supervisors. In Cymru/Wales, in workplaces where NEU members who are support staff are taking strike action, UNISON members should not be moved to cover those colleagues’ duties either.  Members who are under pressure to provide cover for striking colleagues should contact their UNISON rep, branch or region for further advice and support.

Members are reminded that due to industrial relations legislation only those employees who have been involved in a legal ballot are allowed to take industrial action.

HLTAs and Cover Supervisors

Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTAs) should only do ‘Specified Work’ with the support and/or supervision of a Qualified Teacher. Cover Supervisors supervise students who are working to a lesson prepared by a Qualified Teacher, usually a classroom teacher. If you are in either of these roles you should not be expected to take whole classes on the day of a strike if the teacher that normally supervises, supports or prepares your work is on strike.

DfE Guidance on Industrial Action in Schools (England only)

The DfE have updated and recirculated their guidance on industrial action in schools. The guidance is non-statutory, this means that schools are not obliged to follow the guidance.

Handling strike action in schools – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The advice makes clear that for maintained schools the decision on whether to close a school or not is the responsibility of the headteacher, and for academies it rests with the Trust. However, this decision is usually delegated to the headteacher.

The guidance is aimed at headteachers advising them on ways that they can try and keep their school open. This includes guidance on the recent government legislation allowing agency staff to cover strike action. UNISON is currently challenging the legality of this legislation and it is not accepted by many agencies. If you are aware of any instances of agency staff being brought in to cover striking colleagues, please report this to your regional office.

The guidance also suggests that schools can use some of the emergency measures introduced during the Covid pandemic to keep schools open, including asking staff to provide remote learning. We do not that accept this would fall within the definition of normal work for support staff and they should not be called on to deliver remote learning on strike days.”

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Barnet UNISON office on email to contactus@barnetunison.org.uk or ring and leave a message on 0208 359 2088.

I look forward to seeing you all at our UNISON schools meeting next week on Thursday 26 January 2023.

 

Best wishes

John Burgess

Branch Secretary

Barnet UNISON

 

 

Branch Meeting on National Pay for next year (2023)

Anti - Racism, Austerity, Local, National, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

National Pay 2023 consultation is starting soon.  

Join the discussion about next year’s pay claim with two great speakers

Glen Williams Chair of UNISON’s Local Government Service Group Executive

Amerit Rait UNISON Vice President and Greater London NEC rep and NHS worker.

Time: 8 December 2022 6 pm.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86029142908?pwd=RUtxczhwNnlhTVdGQTVPa0pTRFNQdz09

 

 

 

 

 

ADVICE ON BACKPAY AND UNIVERSAL CREDIT

Austerity, Local, National, News, Solidarity, UNISON Campaign

Dear Branch Secretary

UNIVERSAL CREDIT AND BACKPAY

 

We have received a number of queries about the impact of the backdated pay award on members in receipt of Universal Credit.

 

UNISON’s position is that all backpay from 1 April 2022 is money owed to local authority and other employees covered by the NJC, and should be paid to them as soon as possible. However, where requested, we ask employers to engage sympathetically with employees who are in receipt of Universal Credit if they need to arrange for back-pay to be staggered. This should only be done if requested by the employee and will be to minimise any future reduction of Universal Credit payments. Such arrangements may vary from individual to individual and paying the back-pay over a couple of months should only be implemented at the request of an employee.

 

This guidance covers two key areas:

 

  • What should members do if their Universal Credit payments fall or stop as a result of the backpay? This guidance gives initial advice and signposts helpful links.
  • Does the size of the backpay mean some members would be better off asking for their backpay to be staggered? Our advice is that this is generally not the case and that branches should ensure all backpay is paid as soon as possible. In circumstances where two members of the same household are in receipt of Universal Credit and EACH receive full back pay, the individuals concerned should use the online benefits calculator at https://unison.entitledto.co.uk to check how they are affected. They may wish to consider whether they need to request that the employer staggers back pay for one or both employees.

 

Universal Credit and backpay  

 

Some UNISON members covered by the 2022 NJC pay settlement for England, Wales and Northern Ireland will also be in receipt of Universal Credit.

 

The 2022 NJC pay award will result in a reduction in the amount of Universal Credit received as earnings will rise. This is because Universal Credit is reduced by 55p for every extra £1 someone earns (after income tax and national insurance).

 

The 2022/23 pay award is for a consolidated pay increase of £1,925 on all NJC pay points. The pay rise will not be paid as a one-off lump sum, as it is consolidated into basic pay it will be spread across twelve months. Please remember that pay is pro-rata for part-time/term time only employees.

 

The 2022 NJC pay settlement is backdated to April 2022 which means that employers will also be making a one-off payment of back pay. It is expected that the backpay is likely to be be paid in either November or December, depending on the arrangements made by each employer.

 

This means that the amount of take-home pay will be significantly higher in the month in which back-pay is paid.

 

As Universal Credit is based on individual members’ own personal circumstances, UNISON does not know exactly how individual members may be affected.

 

The backpay will be included in the Universal Credit award calculation made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the relevant assessment period for that individual and it will reduce the amount of UC received in the following month. For example, if backpay is included in the November calculation, the UC payment in December will be affected. (The assessment period begins on one day in the month and ends a month later – for example 27th of the month to 26th of the following month.)

 

All members on Universal Credit will see a reduction in their UC in the month following the period that includes their one-off back pay because their earnings have increased. If members see their payment stop altogether then those members need to renew their UC claims immediately.

 

How do members renew their UC claims?

 

Universal Credit payments do not start again automatically. If members’ UC payments stop, they must start up their claim again. They should do this as soon as they can, to be sure they do not miss out. Branches should advise members to look out for any changes to their UC payment, and if it falls to zero, they should advise them as follows:

 

  • If your claim does close because of the increased and backdated award you will see a message on your Universal Credit Journal telling you about this.
  • If your Universal Credit payments stop because you have had additional pay, the UC payments will not automatically start again. You must start up your claim again. You should do this as soon as you can to make sure you do not miss out.
  • To reclaim, log into your Universal Credit Journal and follow the advice about how to ‘Reclaim’. You will have to answer a few simple questions.
  • If you have problems re-starting your claim, you should contact your Work Coach in the first instance.
  • Further help can be obtained from Jobcentre Plus staff.
  • An overview of Universal Credit can be found at www.gov.uk/universal-credit or you can call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

 

Staggered payment and the ‘surplus earnings rule’

 

The Universal Credit rules state:

‘If you earn more than £2,500 over the amount you can earn before you receive no Universal Credit payment, you are said to have surplus earnings. These surplus earnings will be taken into account in the next monthly assessment period. This may reduce the amount of Universal Credit you receive, or perhaps mean that you don’t get any Universal Credit payment that month.’

We have been asked whether members can avoid or minimize the reductions in their Universal Credit payments, by asking their employer to spread the backpay owed to them over several months.

 

Universal Credit is calculated using household income so it is possible that two members of the same household will each receive back pay in the same month.

 

UNISON’s advice is that if only one member of the household will get the NJC back pay then members should not need to make this request. At an individual level, the amount of backpay will not be so large that payment of it in one month will make things worse than they would be if the backpay were staggered.

 

If, however two members of the same household who are in receipt of Universal Credit are going to receive the backdated pay award, the member/s should be advised to check how they might be affected by completing UNISON’s online benefits calculator at https://unison.entitledto.co.uk/

 

To find out what the impact might be they can change their monthly income amount on the calculator to reflect the month in which they will receive the backdated payment to see what impact this will have on their Universal Credit in the following month.

 

For reference: The 2022 NJC pay settlement gives members £1,925 (based on full time hours) over the year. So, the extra pay for an individual, including backpay, will definitely be less than £2,500 over the amount that would reduce Universal Credit to Zero.

 

If backpay is included in the November pay packet, a member will receive 8 months’ worth of pay – a maximum £1,284 if working full-time hours. This amounts to £2,568 if there are two members of the same household who both work full-time.

 

If backpay is included in the December pay packet, a member will receive 9 months’ worth of pay – maximum £1,443.75 if working full-time hours. This amounts to £2,887.50 if there are two members of the same household who both work full-time.

 

Please remember that these amounts will be subject to the normal deductions (tax, National Insurance, pensions so the net increase will be lower).

 

In many cases the backpayment of the NJC pay rise will not bring employees over the earnings limit that would reduce Universal Credit payments to zero. Households where two earners will both get back pay and who currently receive LESS than £300 per month in Universal Credit should particularly be advised to check. Remember you can use UNISON’s online benefits calculator at https://unison.entitledto.co.uk/. (If you have any queries about the results please email thereforyou@unison.co.uk)

 

If it seems that having the backpayment staggered over a couple of months would prevent the Universal Credit threshold being passed, then please ask your employer to stagger backpay.

 

Please remember: As Universal Credit is based on a number of variables it is worth seeking advice if you are concerned about the impact of the pay rise on your Universal Credit payment and entitlement.

 With kind regards

Helen Reynolds                  Sean Fox

Regional Head of Local Government      Chair of Regional Local Government Committee

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