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

September 2007 No 68

Edinburgh fights cuts and redundancies
Almost 8,000 UNISON members delivering services for the City of Edinburgh Council walked out on strike on Thursday 23 August against cuts and redundancies. Selective action and boycotts were set to follow.

Glasgow strike gains fair grade for social care workers
After 20 days of all out indefinite strike, over 600 Glasgow social care workers have won a clear victory in their dispute with the city council.

NHS pay ballot
Ballot papers for the revised NHS pay offer are now out and must be back by 13 September. UNISON's Health Executive believes the offer is the best that can be achieved through negotiation. wing a successful ballot for three days strike on 5,6,7 December, last ditch talks between UNISON and the council lead to a decision by the branch to call off the strike.

Local Government pensions - time to have your say
The Scottish Government has announced the opening of the consultation period on proposals to develop a new pension scheme for those who are members of the Local Government scheme. N members, fellow trade unionists and people representing all faiths and cultures came from all over Scotland to take part in St Andrew's Day Anti-Racist march in Glasgow - to send a clear message across that racism will not be tolerated in Scotland.

One year claim £1,000 or 5%
The shape of the claim for a pay rise for Local Government staff in Scotland became clearer as the Local Government Committee agreed to press for a one year claim of £1,000 or 5% - whichever was the greater.

Engaging with Government to back our members
UNISON has been busy in the parliamentary recess, pursuing members' concerns and issues impacting on Scottish public services with the new Scottish Government.

EOC report calls for fair pay for classroom assistants
The publication of the EOC's Formal Investigation into the role and status of Scotland's Classroom and Learning Assistants (CLAs) was an important step forward towards justice.

Literacies for Social Care and Health Staff
As many as one in five workers in Scotland may be struggling with literacy and numeracy. For some of these workers, building confidence in their writing, number and reading skills may be the first step they want to take.

Stand up and speak out against poverty
Dave Watson (Scottish Organiser) says it's time to renew our call to action

In unison for peace
Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary was a key speaker in an important rally for peace that took place in Glasgow following the attempted attacks on Glasgow Airport and in London. n a very wet and wild and windy November weekend, a group of UNISON's young members met in Glasgow for our twice-yearly training weekend.

Gender Agenda - the EOC's last campaign
The Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland has launched its last ever campaign before becoming part of the new CEHR in October with a warning that sex equality is still generations away.

Welcome to the Equal Pay Support Team
UNISON Scotland has set up a new Equal Pay Support Team and their role is to support branches, members and staff in the processing of equal pay claims.

Anti-Racist drive seeks local football initiatives
The annual Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) Fortnight of Action is scheduled for 17 - 31 October 2007. SRTRC will again be offering grants of up to £1,000 for local community-based initiatives.

Japanese Working Women visit UNISON
Ms Shizuko Koedo, WWN International Affairs Manager and Toshie Habu, of the Working Women's Network (WWN) of Japan visited UNISON on the 21 August..

"Shared Vision" is the Key to Black Members success
"Shared Vision" is the key to black members' success was the message from Hamid Rasheed, the Chair of UNISONScotland's Black Members Group, to the Black Members Group of Lothian Health Branch at their second meeting on 11 August.

Reprieve for senior care workers from non-EU countries
After UNISON calls for action to stop the wholesale deportation of much needed and highly skilled senior care workers and a parliamentary report which said Government changes to the criteria of entry to the UK breached European Human Rights, the Home Office has agreed to temporarily waive key immigration criteria.

Welfare care swung into action when Les took ill