Having a great time on the UNISON sponsored coach... ...are kids from Castlemilk's 'Jeely Piece' club in Troon for their annual trip to the seaside. South Ayrshire UNISON also sponsored the sandcastle competition this year in a day organised by branch member Joe Gallacher through his church. "Unfortunately the weather was not very kind but the kids still managed to get on the sand and have a great time", said Campbell Peden, branch Publicity Officer.

Call Centre work can make you sick Three quarters of UNISON members working in call centres across Scotland suffer from stress and nearly two thirds have pain in their hands, wrists or back says a survey carried out by UNISON.

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20,000 sign to back fair deal for nursery nurses

By Chris Bartter.

As we go to press we can report that UNISON's campaign for a review and regrading of Scotland's nursery nurses is stepping up a gear and the pressure exerted on councils is beginning to bear fruit.

Taking advantage of June being National Childcare month, a new set of leaflets and posters is being delivered to all local government branches and a 20,000 signature petition supporting UNISON's call for a review of the grade and structure of nursery nurses across Scotland, will be handed in to the Scottish Parliament.

Carol Ball, The Chair of UNISON's nursery nurse working group said "It is now time for us to take the arguments about nursery nurses and the invaluable job they do for young children's education direct to Scottish politicians.

"We have been effective in putting pressure on Scotland's Councils but we still need to raise our profile with the Government."

Following Cosla's rejection of a Scottish-wide regrading claim separate but identical claims were submitted to each Scottish local authority. The pressure that UNISON branches put on their employers led to a rethink at Cosla level and there is a move to enter into discussions with the trade unions on the claim.

Joe Di Paola, UNISON's Scottish Organiser for Local Government, is clear however that campaigning must intensify.

"We are providing leaflets, posters, notes for use with local media and a model letter for members and parents to send to their MSP's."

He said, "It is important that branches and nursery nurses continue and increase the campaign to ensure the pressure on politicians is kept up."

Fife Branch has organised a 'Fun Day' on 23 June and other suggestions for activities include:

• Leaflet distribution to parents and the public
• using billboard advertising, and/or taxi or bus advertising
• organise your own event for kids ensuring that local MSP's/ Councillors are invited etc.

Whatever you are doing it is important that the branch informs the local media of the story.

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Briefing exposes more PFI failures

by Chris Bartter

The campaign against the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and Private Public Partnerships (PPP) continued this month with the publication of a new PFIllusion, the briefing for Scottish UNISON Branches.

In addition, two local authorities announced plans to reject PFI as a method of financing new capital projects. PFIllusion published a further list of PFI failures including two projects where the in-house staff have had to clear up the mess!

It also refutes the claim that risk is transferred to the private sector in these deals - 'risk transfer' is only an excuse to load extra costs onto the public sector comparator.

"Across all the public services there is failure after failure." Said Dave Watson, UNISON's Scottish Organiser (Policy and Information). "In East Renfrewshire, the council is in dispute with Jarvis after a PFI school roof blew off and the council had to call in the DLO to clear up the mess. In Dundee the Baldovie waste to energy plant is in financial crisis. And there are more and more PFI chickens coming home to roost."

Risk not transferred

"The current dash for PFI schools is also going to be bad value for the taxpayer", Dave said. "All the projects we have seen add a 'Risk transfer' cost to the public sector alternative which masks the cost difference between public and private sector. But the 'Risk' doesn't get transferred.

"In all the Outline Business Cases we have seen, if the contractor goes bust or fails to deliver an adequate service, the authority picks up the tab! Some Risk!"

West Dunbartonshire and Falkirk councils have both announced publicly that they intend to take decisions not to proceed with further PFI schemes. In West Dunbartonshire this follows a wide consultation exercise that rejected PFI as a way of funding schools refurbishment.

Tom Rainey, Branch Secretary, said. "This proposal rejects the notion of PPP as being the "only game in town" and provides for a mechanism for fully exploring possible alternatives to PPP/PFI in education. We are calling on all Councillors to support the proposals contained within the motion and work with the trade unions and other interested parties in exploring and producing viable alternatives to PPP/PFI for the future of our educational services."

Falkirk, one of the Executive's 'flagship' PFI council's is also set to reject PFI for further primary school renewal, as (less publicly) Glasgow looks likely to do.

• Interest conflict?

UNISON has also highlighted the fact that a number of Scottish public authorities have appointed companies to audit their books, when those companies have substantial PFI business in Scotland. We want branches to flag up any potential conflict of interest.

"PriceWaterhouseCoopers have 22 appointments as external auditors to Scottish Public bodies", said Dave Watson. "They are also involved in 132 PFI projects across the UK. "We have no direct evidence of any conflict of interest, but with KPMG with a further 28 audit contracts and many other firms involved, it is something we are asking branches to keep an eye on."

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Lothian £5 per hour barrier breach is exported across Scotland

From a story by Lui Giacomello (Lothian Acute) - extras by Graham Young (West Lothian Health)

UNISON has won a significant victory over low pay in the NHS in Lothian. Agreement between three UNISON branches and their employers means that the minimum wage for NHS workers rose to £5 per hour for the first time.

Shortly after, this figure rose to £5.18 with the acceptance of the 2002/3 pay award. The agreement was made to try and address the major recruitment and retention problems faced in the Lothians. Information from West Lothian indicate that it is having some success.

Derek Thomson, Assistant Secretary West Lothian Health Branch said; "The previous turnover amongst the domestic UNISON members was around 17.5%. In April after this award the turnover was down to 2%. Members feel valued, and I am confident that retention will improve across the Trust."

The agreement also involved a cut to ancillary staff hours to 37.5 and the removal of pay scale points that paid less than £5 per hour.

Tom Waterson, Lothian Acute Branch Secretary said, "This is a historic deal which has taken almost two years to achieve, and must be the most significant pay rise for low-paid NHS workers in the Lothians in the last 20 years."

Mick McGahey, Lothian Primary Care Branch Secretary also signed up to the deal won after the threat of strike action by Primary Care members restarted stalled negotiations last year.

The deal is now being circulated to all UNISON's Scottish Health Branches as part of a campaign to gain a new minimum ancillary pay of £5.23 per hour, both in NHS and contracting staff. Other areas of Scotland - such as Ayrshire and Arran and Argyll and Clyde - have already started their own campaign, submitting their own claims for £5+ per hour.

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Health worker wins £85,000 compensation for back injury

By Chris Bartter

Edna Carney lost her job as a Supervisor/Driver with Glasgow Primary Care Trust, after the constant loading and unloading of heavy boxes from the Ford Transit that she drove injured her back so severely that the Trust judged her as unfit to do the job. This week she is celebrating an £85,000 compensation award thanks to UNISON.

Karie Murphy, Glasgow Health Branch Secretary said "It seems crazy in this day and age, that employers can fail to deal with an obvious job design problem which consequently makes the individual suffer.

"But this compensation shows that UNISON will not condone this and will continue challenges to prevent this unfairness. "Congratulations are also due to Thomsons Solicitors and Susanne Bradley who took the case on and fought it all the way up to the capitulation of the Trust ten minutes before the case was due to be heard at the Court of Session."

Edna Carney said "I am overjoyed at the award. As someone who has been unable to work for the past three years, and who has no idea when, if ever, I will, it will help enormously with expenses. Particularly if I have to go for an operation as seems likely.

"I would not have been able to pursue the case if it hadn't been for UNISON and for the solicitors. I would advise anyone to make sure they join their union."

The Trust failed to provide proper ramps and lifting and carrying equipment for the van and failed to recognise the need to look for alternative work for Edna when she was injured.

Susanne Bradley, the solicitor who pursued the case on Edna's behalf said "I am delighted that Edna has received decent compensation. "These things never fully compensate for the loss of a job, but hopefully both Edna will feel vindicated and the Trust will tighten up its procedures to ensure that nothing like this happens again."

This case is a hugely significant one in terms of the size of the award. To put it in context, the total for UNISONScotland Personal Injury cases in February was £137,668; March £138,764 and April £112,132. The biggest individual award was £50,000.

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Call Centre work can make you sick

By Chris Bartter

Three quarters of UNISON members working in call centres across Scotland suffer from stress and nearly two thirds have pain in their hands, wrists or back says a survey carried out by UNISON.

As call centres expand across the services from the utilities into local government and the health service, UNISON feels it is necessary to encourage best practice.

The survey, sent to 500 members randomly selected across Scotland, also identified high noise levels at work as leading to strain in speaking and listening, and software and process problems.

The survey is to draw attention to the launch of the new Call Centre Charter - Raising the Standard - which highlights six key principles to raise standards for Scotland's estimated 46,000 call centre workers.

Dave Watson UNISON's Scottish Organiser for Utilities said, "This Charter aims to develop best practice in this important industry. It recognises that while progress has been made recently, all call centres need to be brought up to the standards of the best."

The key areas that employers need to address are:

• Fair pay and conditions
• Positive approach to a work-life balance
• Better job design l Opportunity to join a trade union
• Training and development, and Health and Safety

It is clear that improvements are taking place in equipment and workstation design, and there is greater recognition of the importance of regular breaks and health checks.

Dave Watson thinks that this is because of increasing unionisation. "There is no doubt that unionisation has a positive effect on pay and conditions", he said. "Another recent survey found that salaries average £700 more in unionised call centres. Health and safety are also improving, however, as our survey shows, there is still much to do."

The Call Centre Charter is available from the P&I Team at West Campbell Street, or it is on the website at www.unison-scotland.org.uk/ briefings/callcentre.html The full survey figures are also available from the same sources.

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National Conference gets under way
Briefing service for branches

By John Stevenson

By the time this issue gets to you, 180 delegates from Scottish branches will be among almost 2,000 from around the UK in Bournemouth for UNISON's National Conference, the union's supreme policy making body.

A third of motions and amendment from Scottish Region and Scottish branches have been prioritised and we will play a key role in the main economic debate.

"What may seem at first sight a rather pedestrian agenda, includes major debates on the future funding of public services and how we campaign. This year the international trade union agenda forces its way on to the priorities", said Scottish Convenor Mike Kirby.

The full agenda was circulated to all activists with UNISON Focus. Scotland inUNISON is running a briefing service for delegates in Bournemouth and copies of this SiU will also be sent to the Conference.

For those of you at home, the Scottish Communications & Campaigns Committee will be trying to cover the main issues from a Scotland perspective daily at www.unison-scotland.org.uk/conf2002

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Marriage anywhere Act highlights poor status of Registrars

UNISON Registrars are to highlight a range of grievances in a campaign to be launched to raise their profile in the wake of the Marriage (Scotland) Act.

A delegate meeting of registrars from across Scotland flagged up problems the Act presents. The Act allows marriages to be conducted outwith registrars offices.

Primary concerns are the impact of outside working on the volume of work left in the office, the low status and consequent low salary of registrars in many authorities, and the level of training that is going to be required.

Health & Safety seems to be addressed by most employers. Aware of concerns over lone working, most have put in place measures to require two registrars to be at marriages outwith the office and have risk assessment procedures.

In some authorities registrars will do the pre-licence inspection and be involved in the granting of temporary licences to ensure that they are happy with the proposed venue.

Joe Di Paola, UNISON's Scottish Organiser (Local Government) said "Many employers are paying a ridiculously low wage for such a vital function - the public are unaware of just how badly paid registrars are. What we plan is a profile-raising campaign to highlight poor pay, increased responsibilities, and counteract some of the silly stories about weddings on top of cranes, that diminish registrars' status even further."

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UNISON campaigning on radio and stage

By Eileen Dinning and Chris Bartter

UNISON is sponsoring two major Scottish initiatives to highlight the issue of domestic abuse.

The union is sponsoring a campaign being run by Lanarkshire radio station Clan FM to provide a range of information to women about their rights and what support services are available.

UNISON is also sponsoring the creche at a major conference on domestic abuse being run by 7:84 Theatre Company as the culmination of a series of drama workshops with women whose lives have been affected by domestic abuse.

Clan FM decided to run the campaign after a series of discoveries. Over the Christmas period, they ran a story which highlighted the fact that Monklands Women's Aid had more women through their doors than any other office in Strathclyde.

They also discovered that two of the three top areas for referrals to rape crisis and the police regarding domestic abuse incidents are in North and South Lanarkshire.

It was these horrifying facts that propelled the station to launch a campaign focusing directly on the needs of women and children experiencing abuse and to provide a range of information to advise women of their rights and to signpost service provision, if needed.

Although local, there is the potential for this novel approach to go nationwide. 7:84 have been working in communities on issues that affect people there for many years.

The outreach project features a director working with women in three areas (Easterhouse, Paisley and Drumchapel) and it culminates in performances both in those areas, and in the conference which is due to take place on the 21 June in the STUC centre. Delegates places are available from 7:84 Theatre Company, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6NG or at www.hostages2fear.fsnet.co.uk

Eileen Dinning, UNISON's Scottish Women's Officer said. "UNISON is delighted to partner these innovative campaigns. UNISON has identified Domestic Abuse as a trade union issue for many years.

"We understand the impact of domestic abuse has major implications for her in the workplace. "And it is important that both employers and politicians are clearly aware of the problems and the need to address the issue seriously."

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UNISON Retired members make their mark at Pensioners Parliament

Lillie McNaughton (Strathclyde Police and Fire Branch, and STUC) and Irene Sweeney (Scottish Retired Members Secretary) joined Doreen Kean (SPF Administrator) and other members of the Scottish Pensioners Forum to meet Rodney Bickerstaffe (President NPC) and Tony Booth at the tenth Pensioners Parliament.

Held in Blackpool in May, the attendance was the largest ever. Irene Sweeney said "There were workshops on Pensions, Health and Social Care and Transport, UNISON members and other colleagues from the Pensioners Forum made key points which led to the feedback from the sessions emphasising many of the points we have been making.

"Important keynote speeches were made by Tony Booth, Rodney Bickerstaffe, Jack Jones and Claire Rayner."

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Best wishes as Denis returns to South Africa

By John Stevenson

After 17 years in Britain, Denis Goldberg, is going back to his South Africa homeland - not to retire of course, but to become an advisor to the Minister of Water and Forestry.

Denis has won enormous respect in UNISON and has become a great friend of the union, first working for the ANC in London, then setting up Community HEART - the charity working for health, education and reconstruction training in South Africa.

Born in Cape Town in 1933, he became active in the ANC-led Congress Alliance of South Africa in the 1950's, then becoming a technical officer for the underground armed wing, UmKhonto we Swize (Spear of the Nation).

He was jailed in 1964 at the Rivonia trials and while in prison he and Nelson Mandela were adopted as patrons by the United Democratic Front, an alliance of 700 anti-apartheid groups.

Denis spent 22 years in prison and joined his family in exile in Britain in 1985 on his release.

During those 22 years Denis added to his Civil Engineering degree with degrees in Public Administration, History and Geography and Library Science. Anyone who has had the pleasure to hear Denis speak - or better still, sit down and chat with him - knows that measured, quiet but incisive manner that hushes and sucks in audiences to hang on to his every word.

"I could have listened to him all night", said a UNISON member after a meeting on Palestine in Edinburgh last year.

Perhaps a measure of his commitment and courage was that he spoke at a series of meetings backing the cause of the Palestinians just after September 11, creating a much-needed dignified and thoughtful debate when there was danger of anger and retribution.

At a quiet lunch in Edinburgh several years ago, a colleague asked Denis if he was not concerned that the thousands of books he was collecting for South Africa school libraries were in English and portrayed mainly white children. After explaining that culture was hugely important, but that it was better that children had access to something rather than nothing - as well as needing English to empower themselves, Denis said with that familiar mischievous grin, "I went to a white school and ended up in the Spear of the Nation. School is only part of your socialisation, you know".

Asked whether he was able to keep in touch with old comrades in the new South Africa he recalled that Nelson Mandela once complained Denis had not been in touch. "Have you ever tried phoning the President?", responded Denis.

UNISONScotland wishes Denis all the best for the future.

Community HEART has now moved to Manchester from 31 May with ex Glasgow UNISON activist Isobel McVicar becoming President and International Representative. Contact her at Community H.E.A.R.T. 3-5 St John Street Manchester, M3 4DN 0161 254 7505 info@community-heart.org.uk

Website http://www.community-heart.org.uk/

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Morning Star rises regularly at last

Since the end of April, the Morning Star is to be stocked by every RS McColl outlet in Scotland. It is now being flown up to Scotland every day, which means that it can now be delivered to all of Scotland at the same time - for the first time for some years.

Chris Bartter, UNISON's Scottish Communications Officer says, "Please bring this to the attention of your members and ask for the paper in your local RS McColl.

"The Morning Star is the only daily paper that champions the interests of trade unionists. Given the challenges we all face, it is important the paper becomes more widely read."

Scottish columnists who write for the Star include, Bill Speirs, Cathy Jamieson MSP, John McCallion MSP, George Galloway MP, Tommy Sheridan MSP, Robin Harper MSP, Shona Robison MSP, the Rev Norman Shanks and our own Jane Carolan.

Index

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Nigel Pimm 1948 - 2002

East Ayrshire Local Government Branch; Scottish Disabled Members Committee; National Disabled Members Committee

An Appreciation by Liz Webber and Iain Montgomery SDMC

With the death of Nigel Pimm, UNISON has lost a good friend, a tremendous fighter and, on his day, a pain in the neck. He was passionate about people and concerned about injustice. He could be awkward and grumpy at times, but in your heart of hearts you knew he was usually right.

It will probably come as a surprise to many to discover that Nigel was born in England. He moved around the world as a young boy and these travels created the person we knew, we admired and we argued with.

His brother tells the story that whilst the family were in South Africa, they used to watch the baboons come up to the house and throw stones. If you threw one back, they would throw a bigger one. Anyone who negotiated with Nigel will see where he learned his techniques.

At Scottish and UK level he co-chaired UNISON's disabled members committees, helping to put disabled workers rights at the top of the agenda. He represented UNISON and the STUC at the highest level, he did it well and he always made sure people knew when things were different in Scotland. Nigel's place of birth was not an issue, he described himself as a Scot and was fiercely proud of the fact.

In Nigel's eyes everyone was equal and he treated everyone the same way. Despite having the opportunity and the ability to represent the union at all levels, he never forgot his roots in the movement.

His friend and colleague Matt McLaughlin tells that the angriest he ever saw him related to a case in which a basic grade member of staff was, he felt getting a raw deal by the employer. Even during a recent stay in hospital he identified and "held surgeries" for the UNISON members amongst the Care and Support Staff, and advised those who were not members that they should join.

Nigel was involved in driving a campaign to ensure that aeroplanes are freely accessible for the disabled. A story from Nigel's campaign against British Airways catches him well. When checking into a BA flight Nigel noticed that the initials AB had been appended to his name. Never one for being slow to speak up Nigel asked what the AB stood for and as quick as you like the check-in attendant retorted "Awkward Bastard". He saw this as one of his greatest compliments, and we wouldn't want to disagree with a compliment, would we?

Nigel will be missed in many ways. Arguments at the airport and pickets at inaccessible venues won't be the same. Getting a summons to the Standing Orders Committee (pick your conference) might not be because of surprise motions and papers "from SDMC".

But more than anything we will miss the man at the end of the phone at anytime of the day or night, always prepared to help. We'll miss the man who gave support and advice to new activists, who helped with speeches and told you how you'd done afterwards. We'll miss the e-mails that popped up and made us think, including the messages that made us think "for goodness sake Nigel" (or words to that effect).

We'll miss the man who could quote the Rule Book and Conference motions in the middle of any debate. Nigel knew that rules could be challenged - if not broken, but first you had to know the rule.

We'll miss the passion and beliefs that carried him through and won opponents over. How many of us would say "Oh No, not him again" as Nigel approached the podium? We will miss that so much.

Many of his friends and colleagues celebrated Nigel's remarkable life together on 3rd May, with tears and laughter in equal measure. It is also hoped to create a lasting memorial to Nigel's life and work. His death was far too sudden and our thoughts remain with his partner Susan and his family.

Two organisations that Nigel supported were the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the United Nations Emergency Aid Fund for the West Bank and Gaza. Donations have been made in memory of Nigel and colleagues are encouraged to support this work.

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Liz elected new chair of Disabled Members Committee

By Iain Montgomery Scottish Disabled members Committee

Liz Webber has been elected Chair of the Scottish Disabled Members Committee.

Liz is Housing Advisor to Glasgow Disabled Persons Housing Service, based at the Centre for Independent Living in Glasgow.

Currently Co-Chair of the National Disabled Members Committee and active in the women's self-organised structures of UNISON, Liz has been a campaigner for disabled rights for many years.

To support her in her work on behalf of disabled members of UNISON in Scotland, other posts were also elected: Vice-Chair is now Iain Montgomery of Scottish Children's Reporters Branch. Iain will attend National Disabled Members Committee as the second Scottish delegate and will represent SDMC at Scottish Committee.

Details of the full committee membership and their responsibilities can be found on the UNISONScotland website.

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Negotiation progress slow as campaign is planned

Attempts to negotiate with the Scottish Executive on PFI problems have been described as 'slow going despite many fine words'.

As reported last month, UNISON wants talks to eliminate the 'two-tier workforce', to retain public service workers in house in PFI schemes or to guarantee protection of pay and conditions for workers working for private contractors.

Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary said: "It is time that the Scottish Executive made progress. We recognise that there are some difficult issues for civil servants and politicians to grasp, but they have had time and UNISON members need the guarantees that they will not be exploited to deliver public services on the cheap."

UNISON is continuing its pressure on the Scottish Government, backing supportive motions in the Scottish Parliament and planning a major campaign for public services during the Scottish Parliament election campaign in 2003.

Matt Smith says "We are currently planning to campaign in the press and with the public during the run up to the next elections to promote properly resourced in-house public services. "We have already had substantial support from organisations who have commented on our draft manifesto. Now we will be looking to build on that support."

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We want to hear your news

Won any deals or cases for members? Any 'people' stories we could use? SiU is your paper, we want to hear your stories.

Your SiU contacts are:

John Stevenson (Editor)

0131 343 1991

comms@unison-edinburgh.org.uk

Chris Bartter

0141 332 0006,

chris.bartter@unison.org.uk

FAX PRESS RELEASES to 0141-331-1203