Unity Magazine - Sep 2004

Published by Devon County UNISON, Matford Lane Offices, County Hall, Exeter "Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance."

Government to push ahead with pension cuts

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, is pressing ahead with plans to lift the minimum retirement age for council staff from 50 to 55 and end the so-called "85-year rule" that allows some workers to retire on full pensions from the age of 55, based on their final salary.

The changes, which will take effect from next April, were backed at the weekend by local government employers who pointed out that councils were facing a £12 billion deficit in pension funds because of stock market falls.

The proposals enshrined in secondary regulations which are expected to go before Parliament this autumn are heavily opposed by UNISON, which blames councils for failing to make enough pension contributions in the 1970s and 80s.

The changes for council workers represent the first onslaught on final salary pensions which cover more than five million workers in the public sector. Employers suspect that similar proposals will be extended to other workers in due course.

Local councils have already appealed to Mr Prescott for extra cash in the short term to fund their pension deficits, which have already led to big increases in council tax.

Under the current town hall scheme workers can choose to retire as early as 50. Under the separate "85-year rule" staff can retire on their full pension benefits if their retirement age and years service add up to 85. So a council worker aged 55 can retire on a full pension if he or she has worked in local government for 30 years.

Under the proposed changes, 55 will be the earliest retirement age and the 85-year rule will be scrapped so that pension entitlement is reduced proportionate to how early someone retires. All new employees from next April will face a 33 per cent reduction in pensions if they choose to retire early.

Existing staff will lose only a proportion of their entitlement on the years served after 2005 if they choose to go before 65. The new scheme will still be linked to final salary.

The new scheme is designed to encourage staff to work as long as possible so that pension payouts are smaller.

UNISON said "We are opposed to any attempt to reduce pension entitlement in the public sector. This is all because employers took pension holidays in the Seventies and Eighties when the funds were in surplus."

She said that many workers were prepared to put up with low public sector wages because of comparatively generous pension arrangements. "But the average pension is still only £3,000 a year," she added. "Employers should not expect their staff to pay for their lack of judgment."

Contact from Members

Workplace representatives and branch officers very much value contact from members about workplace issues. However would members please note that the Branch is unable to accept letters and emails written anonymously. Whilst we will make every effort to keep your details confidential, should you wish us to take forward your views during our meetings with the employer; we can only do this if we have information about who you are and where you work. Without such basic information it is not possible to challenge, negotiate and support members.

How to raise concerns

If you have concerns about workplace practices there are a variety of ways you can contact the Branch. Primarily you should contact your workplace Steward, Health & Safety Rep. or UNISON Learning Rep. If you do not have one of these then contact the Branch office who will advise you.

It is not always possible to provide you with a rep. who understands your specific workplace issues in some Social Services workplaces and Schools. This is why it is so important to talk amongst yourselves and elect your own representative. UNISON provides excellent training for all reps. for which you are entitled to time off with pay to attend.

How to organise

Why not organise a meeting of members in your school, team or establishment to talk about this. Someone from the Branch would always be willing to come along and provide information about how you can get organised. Becoming involved in UNISON is not always about confrontation and aggravation. Developing your negotiation skills can lead to improved workplace conditions for everybody and improved employment opportunities for yourself.

From my experience at Joint Consultative meetings where we meet with the employer reps. they realise the benefits of good industrial relations too.

It took me a long time to become involved with UNISON and I have really enjoyed meeting so many friendly people. UNISON has about 75% female membership and there are several new women reps and branch officers. The Branch is planning an event specifically for women in N. Devon in September to coincide with DCC Diversity week beginning 20 September. More details will follow. So it would be good to meet N. Devon members who often feel a little left out of Branch affairs.

If you have ever been upset by workplace injustice or feel you may have the skills to support a colleague who is in distress please contact either myself, Ed Naylor Williams the Branch Secretary or anyone else in the Branch to talk about what is involved. However you feel you can help there is always support and a friendly face in this Branch.

Rose Gander. Branch Education Co-ordinator.
Tel: 01392 468059 or  
or contact the Branch Office

Important source of information for Teaching Support Assistants

Did you know that there is a newsletter specifically for TSA's produced by Devon Curriculum Services. It is apparently sent to all schools and you should be given an opportunity to read it on line or have a hard copy printed for you. If you do not get this then ask your Head teacher why not? You can access it at the address below. Look under Teaching Assistant.
http://www.devon.gov.uk/dcs/newlett.htm

CAREdirect Devon

Care direct is a service to help older people and their carer's stay living independently and to make more informed decisions and choices.

Care direct offers a single point of contact for information, advice and improved access to care and support at home, safety at home and keeping well. In addition a large part of our work is to ensure that people are receiving all benefit entitlements due to them and all callers are offered a free Benefits Check. To date Care direct has helped people over the age of 60 across Devon to increase their income by 6 million pounds. The extra money people receive is making a tremendous difference to their lives.

In order to provide people with reliable and accurate information the service works in partnership with The Department of Work and Pensions, District Councils, Age Concern Devon, Devon Fire & Rescue Service, Devon & Cornwall Police and Social Services to name but a few.

To date the service has received over 100,000 calls on its freephone telephone number and a recent independent evaluation of the service showed a 97% rate of customer satisfaction.

Whatever people contact us about; advisors will respond and work through the issue and are always be willing to go 'the extra mile' to find a solution to people's problems, however challenging they may be.

You can contact Care direct on Freephone 0800 444 000 - lines are open Mon-Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm. You may like to visit our website, which offers a large amount of information, is updated regularly and can be found on www.devon.gov.uk/caredirect.

Revised adoption policy for County Council employees

The County Councils Adoption Policy has bee revised to take into account the new statutory employee rights to adoption leave and pay introduced in the employment \Act 2002. This brings the policy into line with the Maternity scheme. The contractual entitlement to adopt pay for employees has been increased from 7 weeks at half pay to 12 weeks at half pay.

Better protection for work sick

Workers suffering from long-term illness, such as HIV, MS and serious cancers, are to gain new rights. Under new proposals, these conditions would be classed as disabilities as soon as they have been diagnosed. Existing disability discrimination legislation does not protect workers until their symptoms become visible. The loophole has led to complaints from workers that firms have been sacking staff once they reveal their illnesses, and before they start showing symptoms. The changes are intended to go through parliament before the general election, and would come into effect in 2005 and 2006. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates the measures would extend protection to 175,000 people, who have been diagnosed with conditions but are not showing signs of the disease. More than 5.5 million disabled people are of working age - or 16 per cent of the working population.

Have you had your lunch break?

The Eurest Lunchtime Report 2004 has revealed that UK workers are taking shorter lunch breaks than ever before, 'Workers who don't take long enough breaks risk damaging their health, and employees who don't get away from their desks at lunchtime are not going to be very productive in the afternoon. Employers need to do more to make sure that their staff are not so overburdened that they feel unable to leave the office for more than a few minutes.'

'Overworked employees who don't get to take decent breaks are not a business asset, they are positively bad for business. The government needs to get tougher with bosses who abuse working time rules.'

The Eurest report found one in five of the 2,000 workers interviewed said they never took a lunch break, while a quarter of women said they worked straight through lunch. Only 57 per cent of people said they took a break at lunchtime. Of those that do stop to eat, the average time taken is just 27 minutes. Working lunch, a study published by health education charity Developing Patient Partnerships, found that unhealthy eating patterns and snack lunches are contributing to soaring cholesterol levels.

Education

Branch Induction Day for new Representatives - Wednesday 8th September to be held in Exeter

This has proved to be a valuable day for those representatives (stewards, health & safety, learning reps., branch officers) new to the being active in the Branch. It will give you a chance to meet new and experienced representatives and find out how the branch can work for you and your members. Lunch is included and all expenses paid for. This is a great way to put faces to names and help you to feel supported and valued for all your hard work. I look forward to hearing from you.

National TUC courses

Presentation Skills

2 days 9-10 September

This course is aimed at anyone required to deliver presentations in a trade union context. It includes preparation, using a variety of visual aid equipment and structuring a presentation.

Black and Asian Workers Programme

5 days 15 - 19 November

This course is aimed at Black and Asian union reps. It will include developing an understanding of race equality, organising Black and Asian workers and networking with others involved in for developing the union.

All TUC courses will be held at the TUC National Education Centre, Crouch End, N.London.

Certificate in Industrial Relations Keele University
Starts September

This course is based on distance learning, using materials provided by the university. It includes 3 residential weekends. It is suitable for adults in full time employment and resident anywhere in Britain. No formal qualifications are necessary but applicants are interviewed at Keele. The fee is £675 which includes distance learning materials and residential accommodation. If this seems a little late for you why not contact them for more information for another year?

Apply to Mike Ironside, Course Director, Centre for Industrial Relations, Keele University, Staffs. ST5 5BG
Tel: 01782 583396. e-mail: ida09@keele.ac.uk
Website: www.keeleIR.org

Part time diploma in Trade Union Studies

UNISON is supporting a new distance learning opportunity for experienced activists, provided by Northern College.

This linked programme of study is designed to develop trade unionists' knowledge of the issues that are facing those engaged in industrial relations in the UK at the beginning of the 21st century. The programme is also designed to assist trade unionists who wish to develop their learning up to and including higher education level.

The course, which starts in September 2004, is free to a limited number of UNISON applicants and involves flexible modular options. No formal entry qualifications are needed.

Please apply as soon as possible.

Contact: Jane Pettit Tel: 020 7551 1278 or j.pettit@unison.co.uk.

Financial assistance for education 2004

UNISON members, and regions/branches on their behalf, can obtain details and application forms for financial assistance from the Open College. Each scheme runs from January to December.

Funds are now exhausted as far as book grants and open university awards are concerned. But applications are still being accepted for bursaries and flexible bursaries.

Contact: Ali Cluett Tel: 020 7551 1714, or e-mail open.college@unison.co.uk or a.cluett@unison.co.uk.

Ruth Elliott Bursary

Established in memory of Ruth Elliott who had a long career both within the TUC and COHSE with a particular focus on women's development. The bursary is available to all women members. It can be used for almost anything that has some influence on developing women members in UNISON. It is worth up to £840 in any one year and could be made up of two smaller awards. Closing date: Friday 20 August.04

Contact Rose Gander Branch Education Co-ordinator for more information .

Walk the Walk

Would you like to walk Hadrian's Wall for three days, only 45 miles? UNISON Welfare are raising money for the Bucket and Spade Appeal. To take part all you have to do is pay a registration fee and agree to raise £250 in sponsorship. You get fresh air good exercise, accommodation, food and travel to Northumberland. Contact UNISON Direct on 0845 355 0845 or email p.barker@unison.co.uk.

Health and Safety

UMISON issues the following standard guidance to members on dealing with accidents at work. If you or any member needs further advice contact UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845.

Reporting the accident

All accidents, near misses, injuries or violence at work must be recorded in the workplace accident book. If you are ill or have to take sick leave due to an accident, injury or illness at work, visit your GP. Report the accident to your UNISON branch. It is important that unsafe working practices are rectified so that other workers do not suffer.

Personal injury claims

If there is negligence by your employer, UNISON may be able to represent you (without any charge) in making a legal claim for compensation. Details of the case will be considered by the union's agent solicitors and, where appropriate, they will proceed to make a claim. If you wish your case to be considered by our solicitors, contact your UNISON representative, telephone UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845 or email the UNISON accident helpline at accidenthelpline@UNISON.co.uk.

UNISON accident benefit

Members are eligible for UNISON accident benefit where they are unable to work due to an accident in the course of their employment, an accident while travelling to work or an accident while on union business. Contact your steward, or UNISONdirect.

UNISON Welfare

UNISON Welfare may be able to offer financial assistance in the form of a grant or a loan, or to assist in providing a recuperative break or convalescence. Application forms are available from your branch welfare officer, steward or UNISONdirect.

State benefits

If you are off work and receive very little or no occupational sick pay, a range of state benefits is available

Contributions are welcome in electronic form if possible (my typing is very slow and the spelling a little erratic). They should be sent to the Union Office at County Hall.

Andy Bowman
The views expressed may not reflect the views of the Devon County UNISON Branch