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Unity Magazine - Jan 2005

Unity header-Jan 2005.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance

It's YOUR Pension

Vote for action to defend your pension rights.

In this issue you will find a ballot paper on future industrial action in respect of the attacks on your pension by the employers and the government.

The present proposals will mean that if you are under 50 you will pay more and get less out at the end.

This Branch, the biggest in the West, have for well over a year been made aware of the Governments intention to cheapen Local Government employers costs (possibly as a reaction to shrill voices of Devon 'pensioners'?) and reduce the value of our retirement pensions.

We reminded our employers and the Government that our pensions are paid for from our wages, they are topped up by our employers' contribution to offset any changes in investment returns, so that our £1 500 Million fund will always available to pay our pensions. We do have strong views about our low pay being matched by a low level of pensions (the average pension from Local Government is still about £3 200 in Devon).

Please support UNISON's view that the the Local Government Pension Scheme should not be used to further some other political agenda, by robbing us of our modest pensions expectations.

Locally after much letter writing to our MP's and through UNISON nationally we were delighted to see that protection is to be offered but only to existing staff aged 52 years and over. We had asked for all existing staff to be similarly treated but this was refused. The Branch Website has detailed information from HQ on Action to defend the Local Government Pensions Scheme.

I am afraid that only if we speak in UNISON will be have any chance of getting this put right, so please give me your views to forward to UNISON HQ by completing the pre Ballot survey on the back page of this magazine and return it to the Branch Office by 14 January 2005 in the envelope provided. This will enable the branch to indicate to HQ your strength of feeling on this matter.

Pensions meeting with Employers 11th February 2.15pm Committee suite, Devon County Hall

A meeting of the Pensions and investments committee with all staff in the county's pension scheme will be held on the 11th February at 2.15pm. Given the impeding changes to your pension scheme this is your opportunity to make your points and ask questions of the panel and your employer. Bear in mind that the pension changes are likely to affect those 50 years old and younger.

The employer is supporting the proposed changes and we want to appeal to them to exert pressures nationally for better safeguards for all staff in the scheme.

Job Evaluation - no progress with employer

The employer has not moved on the principles of protecting those staff affected in the Job Evaluation process. As an authority the County Council appears to be disregarding the National agreement with the employers.

They are also trying to tie in other conditions of service in any agreement. When will the employer abide by the agreement signed on their behalf by the national local government employers association?

Travel Claims

Yet again Devon have gone back on national agreements and failed to implement the latest rises in travel costs. This from an employer who wishes to be the 'employer of choice in the county'!

Vote 'Yes' For a Voice

In February, you'll be getting a ballot paper about UNISON's political fund. Please consider it carefully and help us carry on defending your interests by voting 'Yes'.

We have to hold this ballot - it's the law. But it's also a good opportunity to look at the work we pay for out of the political fund and recognise the importance of UNISON's public campaigns. These are some of the issues we've taken up in this way:

Does voting 'Yes' mean you will be supporting the Labour Party? Well, only if you choose to. UNISON has a unique type of political fund - it's split in two.

If you pay into the Affiliated Fund, you'll be supporting our work inside the Labour Party, lobbying for UNISON's policies to be adopted by the Party and by the Government. We've achieved a lot by this route - the National Minimum Wage, increased investment in public services and ending the two-tier workforce are a few examples.

Or you can pay into the General Fund and campaign outside the party political arena, promoting good public services, pay and pensions, and fighting against cuts and privatisation. We also need this fund to build UNISON's membership and effectiveness.

You have two further choices - to pay into both funds or to pay into neither. If we lose this ballot, no-one gets any choice!

Please vote. UNISON has a strong democratic tradition and needs to have a good turnout to demonstrate that it listens to its members. And if you support the work we do in public to support public service workers, please vote 'Yes'.

Jon Gray
UNISON Regional Office

Political Ballot starts on 11 February - closes 11 March and result announced 14 March 2005.

Devon County Recognises UNISON Learning and Development

On Friday 19 Nov at the Personnel Partnership Meeting (where UNISON staff side reps. meet with the employer and the elected members) our Partnership Learning Agreement (PLA) was signed.

This is a significant agreement which is the result of 2 years hard work between us and the County Council. It establishes a facility agreement for UNISON learning Reps and Advisors to have time off with pay to have training and to help members in the workplace to access further learning and development advice. The PLA is available on our Branch website.

In line with the National Joint Council pay agreement this year it also allows for members to have access to UNISON learning reps and advisors during work time. It is a commitment by Devon County to implement its own learning and development policy. The intention on both sides is to promote, support and develop education and training, especially in skills for life, for members who have had poor experiences of learning in their life. It is never too late to learn and if you learn with UNISON you can be assured of friendly support.

UNISON run several courses with the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) and has access to an Open College. They also run their own internal regional training programme. This includes assertiveness courses, chairing skills and many others.

If you would like to discuss training or further education for yourself then please make contact with myself or any of the Branch Learning Reps and Advisors. A list can be found on the Education page of the Branch website.

Rose Gander
Branch Education Co-ordinator
Telephone icon. 01392 468059 or email:

Young People in UNISON

You may not be aware that there is now a Young Members Officer in Devon County UNISON. Young people often feel undervalued and unable to progress in their chosen occupations without further training and qualifications. Many young people are unaware that NVQ training is free of charge between the ages of 16-24 and can help further a career and obtain a fair wage for the work they do.

A questionnaire will soon be going out to all young members to find out about their issues and what they would like from UNISON.

For any further information, contact

Lesley Harper Telephone icon. 01392 382647 or e-mail Lesley.harper@devon.gov.uk.

Life Long Learning, UNISON and You!

I have been a member of NALGO and UNISON for over 15 years and a Steward for 10 of those. I became a steward because I attended meetings where I and the Branch officials were all there was! In June I became a Lifelong Learning Adviser (ULA). My role is to encourage members and non-members alike to take up all those training opportunities out there. The Government wishes all workers to be at a certain level of skill in numeracy, literacy and ICT. Other countries in Europe are well ahead of us at the moment. Only 25% of British workers are at Basic Skill level 2, compared with over 70% in Germany and over 60% in France.

The Government has launched Learning for Life initiatives aimed at doing something about this. This is where I come in. I can find out for you where your interests (and weaknesses) lie and point you in the direction of the most appropriate training and help you with organising this training. This includes locating funding and even travelling arrangements for you. The rest is definitely up to you but if you need to negotiate time off for the course you have chosen then that is where the Union Learning Rep (ULR) comes in. Devon County Branch ULR is Rose Gander, who is also the Education co-ordinator for the Branch and David Henley. They can negotiate with management over any paid time you may need to take. My role is only advisory but I will do my best to help you in any way I can.

I was a Teacher before I became a Science Technician and Education is very close to my heart but I cannot do anything to help YOU unless you contact me. Everything will be strictly confidential; no one else will know your problems, if you have any, or why you want to pursue a course.

On another, related, note - I would ask all you members out there, 'Do you make the most of your Union subscription?' Judging by my experiences the answer has to be 'no'. UNISON is not just there as your personal Insurance in the event of trouble at work, commendable though that is, or as the negotiator of your last pay increase. There are free courses to be had just for the asking, and these are for anyone, be you male, female, a new member or one of longstanding. UNISON will help with travel costs, crèche facilities, costs of homecare for dependants, special diets and arrangements for the disabled. The booking form enables you to tailor the course to your own personal needs.

You may ask why bother to attend courses at all? The answer lies, according to the Learning and Skills Council, in the Pensions crisis. The workforce is ageing and the future pool of school leavers is set to reduce. Employers will need to help their existing employees develop, and those employees will need to update their skills to make themselves attractive to employers no matter how old they are. Get ahead of the game and let UNISON help you to gain those skills.

The TUC also provides courses that can benefit those among you ready to become 'active' and help others within UNISON reach their potential. They have certainly helped me - without the benefit of the TUC computer courses I would not be as Computer Literate as I am, at the age of 58. UNISON has helped me and they can do the same for you.

Life is not just worked, though, is it? UNISON puts on Fundays (for Women members only at the moment). You men out there put forward your ideas for Fundays of your own, and, providing they are not immoral or illegal, I'm sure that something can be arranged.

The same goes for Regional Conferences, get involved and arrange something - don't just sit and moan because UNISON appears to favour women members. I hear such moans all the time from male colleagues. Become a Steward, LLA, ULR, and make a difference. Don't let apathy win. Holidays and discounts, Welfare and training, UNISON has it all, just ask!

Jackie Roberts UNISON Learning Advisor
Teignmouth Community College.
Telephone icon. Tel: 01626 774091 or email :jackie.roberts@teignmouth.devon.sch.uk

Steward Training Programme 2005 for Exeter & Plymouth

The Organising Steward

Handling Grievances & Disciplinaries

Law for Trade Unionists

Team negotiating & Casework

Branch Induction Day

Health & Safety Rep Training

Health & Safety Stage 1:

Health & Safety Stage 2

Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety

Union Learning Reps

Computers for Trade Union Reps Beg.

Computers for Trade Unions Reps Int.

For more info: contact Rose Gander
Branch Education Co-ordinator.
Telephone icon. 01392 468059 or email:

We are also running further training for stewards that have already completed Stage 1 or are experienced stewards that would like further training:

Taunton UNISON Learning Representatives Course

This new course is the first stage training for new UNISON Learning Advisers and Representatives. The course is being offered on a residential basis, at Lyngford House, Taunton on the dates listed below:

The National Learning and Organising Services are funding the training; therefore there will be no charge to Branches for members to attend, apart from travelling expenses.

If you want to take part:

Rose Gander
Branch Education Co-ordinator
Telephone icon. 01392 468059 or email:

Bilge Rat ReturnsBilge Rat Cartoon.

Dear Readers

You may have come to believe that after years as guest of her majesty or perhaps I had ingested a large dose of Warfarin in the Coaver Club. You would be right and it would have all seen me off: None of that is true. I deny any of these and other scurrilous rumours. Read my lips - I am Back! and ready to give you those odd snippets from the more hidden corners of County Hall and from some of the other cosy nooks where DCC operates. Thanks to the Cleaning Contractor's staff help there is always some favoured hole for me to spot the goings on with my beady eyes and whisker sniffing nose. I too claim travelling and subsistence but DDS does provide me with a lift on the odd occasion in their comfortable vans; I have been on one occasion in the Chairman's limo but that's another story.

I read from my scribblings on mouldy biscuits about the continuing saga of the property function: never have I seen a more exciting to-ing and fro-ing of interested people willing to take and then untake the job of building hangars they now call schools. You would think that by now the dangled carrot of making huge profits at Local Taxpayers expense would have been taken up (but I'm glad it has not as I expect all of you to be given shares in those enterprises, at least to enhance your pay). Well? The ducting is getting on my nerves and the quality of Warfarin is not what it used to be: how can I survive on the inferior stuff? My ancestor Rattus Norvegicus would certainly have had the answer to this.

Christmas is now past I am desperately trying to eat up all the nuts and the turkey leftovers instead. Do you ever believe your colleagues when they tell you how much they enjoyed themselves over the festivities and how glad they are when at last they return to their jobs? I do, as auntie Rattie has informed me and she added that Human Resources never fail to be truthful on this point. I can scurry out looking forward to the next episode when we will nibble into the budget.

Contributions are welcome in electronic form if possible. They should be sent to the Union Office at County Hall.

The views expressed [in Unity] may not reflect the views of the Devon County UNISON Branch