Lay edited bi-monthly bulletin for 5,000 activists in Scotland

Feb/March 2007 No 65 (Next issue April 2007 - STUC Special)

Campaign for public services, environment and anti-racism
UNISON gears up for council and parliament elections. The forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary and Local Government elections will see a UNISON campaign which will concentrate on the work our members do in delivering public services.

Help UNISON put the environment on the election agenda
Can you help UNISON Scotland to promote environmental policies during the Scottish election campaign by having your efforts featured in a mini manifesto highlighting the excellent work our members do?

Sharing public services may threaten public accountability
UNISON's Scottish Council has warned that the Scottish Executive's 'shared services agenda' may take services away from local control.

'Pseudo-charity' threat to Glasgow's culture and leisure services
Outsourcing Glasgow's Cultural and Leisure is likely to prove an election issue. Glasgow City Council is proposing to transfer nearly 2,500 staff working in Glasgow's libraries, museums, leisure centres, swimming pools and other sports facilities, and arts development to a private charitable trust, in order to avoid paying tax and business rates.

It's time to 'Get Equal!' at the parliament
Arrangements are now under way for UNISON Scotland's activists to spell out their message on equal pay and mark International Women's Day by holding a "Time to Get Equal" event/lobby at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 8 March.

Water - Why 'Mutualisation' = Privatisation by any other name
The recent 'conversion' of Environment Minister, Ross Finnie to the CBI and Tory policy of so-called 'mutualisation' of Scottish Water is a worrying trend.

Recruitment success prompts targeting initiative
Consistently good overall recruitment figures for the last year have prompted UNISONScotland to target areas of concern in particular workplaces in the spring of 2007.

Health Boards still not addressing need for nurses' flexible working
While Audit Scotland's reported increase in the use of bank nurses instead of agency nurses was a step in the right direction, UNISON says it did not answer the question of why nurses chose to work through either of these arrangements rather than in mainstream healthcare.

Seminar gets down to business on new-look Local Government Pension Scheme
Discussions are well under way on the new-look Local Government Pension Scheme and branches were briefed at a seminar in Glasgow on 13 February. .

Public service workers are service users too
UNISON Scottish Secretary Matt Smith has called for politicians and the media to stop creating a false division between public service workers and service users. .

£60,000 award at troubled college
A kitchen assistant who fell after being distracted by a faulty hot drinks machine has been awarded more than £60,000 in compensation. .

Culture Bill consultation
UNISON is seeking comments from members working in the Culture sector on the Executive's new Culture Bill, and the accompanying guidance document. .

Dundee UNISON crosses the border to Show Racism the Red Card
Busloads of UNISON members from Tayside will soon be heading for England to play a friendly football match against UNISON Carlisle in a bid to Show Racism the Red Card in May.

Asylum review
Following the successful launch of "child's welfare paramount?", a guide for members working with asylum seeker children, UNISON Scotland will give evidence to the Independent Asylum Commission review of asylum in the UK. .

Welcome for UNISON's largest health branch
Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary, has welcomed the election of Branch Officers in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde branch and the return of the administration of the branch to officials elected by the membership. .

Back the Simclar workers appeal
A "justice" fund account has been opened to receive donations to the Simclar Ayrshire workers.

Young members' training and AGM
The Scottish Young Members' Committee (SYMC) will be holding its AGM & training weekend from Friday 23 March to Sunday 25 March in Glasgow. .

McGahey video
A video celebrating trade union legend Michael McGahey and the unveiling of his statue at Midlothian Workers Memorial Day will be available at UNISON's Scottish Council in April.