UNISON Scotland has told the NMC that it does not support an increase in fees and that there proposals, should they be imposed , will have a disprportianate affect on part time workers and newly qualified nurses and midwifes.
You can read the full response here http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/response/UNISONresponsetoNMCfeeincrease.pdf
Monday, 8 October 2012
Scottish Draft Budget 2013-14 Analysis
The Scottish Government has published its draft budget for 2013-14. This has to be seen in the context of their three year spending plans set out last year (see Briefing 13) and the UK Government’s public spending cuts.
The Scottish budget is facing an overall real terms cut between 2009-11 and 2016-17 of around 18%, or £5½ billion. We are less than half way through these cuts. In addition, the UK Office of Budget Responsibility reported in July that further cuts were likely because growth projections have not materialised and UK Government borrowing is also higher than projected. It is therefore likely that further UK cuts will be announced in the November statement by the UK Chancellor. The UK Government’s strategy may not be working, but that doesn’t mean they are likely to change course.
Capital spending is being cut more than revenue and the Scottish Government is proposing to alleviate this by switching £250m from revenue to capital next year. This is aimed at supporting the construction sector, but of course it will be a further cut in the resources available to run services. Payments to PPP contracts due to top £1bn by 2013/14.
Pay Policy The Scottish Government has also published its pay policy. For UNISON, this primarily covers members working in NDPBs. However, it is influential in other areas as budget allocations assume a similar approach. The key features of the 2013-14 policy are: a one per cent cap on the cost of the increase in basic pay for staff earning under £80,000 maintaining a pay freeze (zero percent basic award) for staff earning £80,000 and above specific measures for supporting the lower paid. £250 for staff below £21,000 and the Scottish Living Wage suspension of non-consolidated performance related pay discretion for individual employers to reach their own decisions about pay progression. additional flexibilities in exchange for no compulsory redundancies The headline pay elements of this policy are the same as the UK government with the addition of the Scottish Living Wage. It is a further cut in real wages with a consequential impact on the economy. The bulk of cuts so far have been funded by public service workers
Health Health has some protection from spending cuts as the budget is standstill in ‘real terms’. However, this does not exempt NHS Scotland from cuts. ‘Real terms’ means the Treasury definition of inflation at 2.5%. Actual inflation is higher, and health inflation higher still. In addition, like local government, demographic pressures add further costs. They are also required to find so called efficiency savings of 3%.
Education FE colleges get an additional £17m as a partial response to the impact previous excessive cuts are having on the sector. There is a small increase in funding for Skills Development Scotland, again putting back past cuts. £16.25 million has been added for a national employer recruitment initiative that aims to create 10,000 opportunities for SME to recruit young people; and the establishment of an Energy Skills Academy .There is £80m in the capital allocation for new schools.
Justice This budget now includes the ring fenced cash for police officer numbers. This policy is likely to see the loss of 3000 police staff posts as any attempt at a balanced staffing structure is abandoned. There is additional capital to address concerns over the accommodation of female offenders in prisons.
Utilities Far from being a burden on public finances, Scottish Water will be making a net contribution to next year’s revenue budget. The benefits of a public water service are obvious to everyone other than the Tories and Liberal Democrats! Over £7m has been allocated to the Warm Homes Fund to help alleviate fuel poverty, although this is well short of what is required. Energy receives additional capital of £45 million in 2013-14 and £42 million in 2014-15 for renewables projects through drawdown of the Fossil Fuel Levy surplus.
Next Steps
Parliamentary committees will take evidence on the budget over the next two months and the Budget Bill will be published in January. Individual health board allocations are set out in the budget (p31) and council funding allocations will be announced next month. All public service organisations will now be working out their budgets for next year and branches should be engaged in that process. Remember that government budget allocations are only part of the picture. Most organisations have some other revenue streams, but also unavoidable commitments.
Be there in Glasgow October 20
UNISON branches and communities across Scotland are gearing up for a massive STUC demonstration in Glasgow on 20 October to demand ‘a future that works’ as opposed to disastrous cuts and austerity policies.
Sister events are also being held in London and Belfast and UNISON leaders from all services are urging stewards to pull out the stops and build for the day. The event will start in George Square and march to Glasgow Green.
Branches across the country have been planning and making transport arrangements, often in partnership with other unions, communities and users of public services, to ensure a turnout that cannot be ignored.
The need to build that broad coalition was underlined by UNISON Scotland Convener Lilian Macer: “Our members know that attacks on services, pay, jobs and pensions, whether from Westminster, Holyrood or individual public authorities, can and should be resisted by communities and trade unionists working and campaigning together.
“Our members will be out on October 20, as will people from the communities we serve”, she said.
Mike Kirby, UNISON Scottish Secretary, explained why the event is so important: “The Coalition Government may be in crisis but they are still refusing to change course from their dangerous and damaging programme of cuts and austerity. That damage is being directly translated into the Scottish Government’s budget decisions, affecting every service our members provide.
“On the morning of Saturday 20 October, trade unionists and community activists from across Scotland will gather for the march through Glasgow to play our part in telling governments that enough is enough.”
Tom Waterson, Health Chair, pointed to staff cuts, pay cuts and pensions threats in the NHS making it “easy to see why we will be backing the 20 October demo.”
Local Government Chair Stephanie Herd and UNISON Scotland Depute Convener Stephen Smellie tell of the huge attacks on local councils and the need to make the fight against the pay freeze part of the October 20 agenda.
Karen Dawson, Vice Chair of FE, tells of the effects of a 30% funding cut in colleges in an article that also covers cuts in HE, Police and the Community and Voluntary Sector, underlining why we all need to be there on 20 October.
Sister events are also being held in London and Belfast and UNISON leaders from all services are urging stewards to pull out the stops and build for the day. The event will start in George Square and march to Glasgow Green.
Branches across the country have been planning and making transport arrangements, often in partnership with other unions, communities and users of public services, to ensure a turnout that cannot be ignored.
The need to build that broad coalition was underlined by UNISON Scotland Convener Lilian Macer: “Our members know that attacks on services, pay, jobs and pensions, whether from Westminster, Holyrood or individual public authorities, can and should be resisted by communities and trade unionists working and campaigning together.
“Our members will be out on October 20, as will people from the communities we serve”, she said.
Mike Kirby, UNISON Scottish Secretary, explained why the event is so important: “The Coalition Government may be in crisis but they are still refusing to change course from their dangerous and damaging programme of cuts and austerity. That damage is being directly translated into the Scottish Government’s budget decisions, affecting every service our members provide.
“On the morning of Saturday 20 October, trade unionists and community activists from across Scotland will gather for the march through Glasgow to play our part in telling governments that enough is enough.”
Tom Waterson, Health Chair, pointed to staff cuts, pay cuts and pensions threats in the NHS making it “easy to see why we will be backing the 20 October demo.”
Local Government Chair Stephanie Herd and UNISON Scotland Depute Convener Stephen Smellie tell of the huge attacks on local councils and the need to make the fight against the pay freeze part of the October 20 agenda.
Karen Dawson, Vice Chair of FE, tells of the effects of a 30% funding cut in colleges in an article that also covers cuts in HE, Police and the Community and Voluntary Sector, underlining why we all need to be there on 20 October.
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
October 20th March in Glasgow
The STUC is organising a mass demonstration on 20th October in Glasgow. The event will coincide with a similar event in London under the banner ‘A future that works’.
The Coalition Government may be in crisis but they are still refusing to change course from their dangerous and damaging programme of cuts and austerity.
On the morning of Saturday 20th October, trade unionists and community activists from across Scotland will gather for a march through Glasgow to play our part in telling the Government that enough is enough.
In the coming weeks you can come to this site to download publicity materials, find out about transport, or volunteer to help on the day.
Sign-up to receive latest updatesat info@stuc.org.uk
The Coalition Government may be in crisis but they are still refusing to change course from their dangerous and damaging programme of cuts and austerity.
On the morning of Saturday 20th October, trade unionists and community activists from across Scotland will gather for a march through Glasgow to play our part in telling the Government that enough is enough.
In the coming weeks you can come to this site to download publicity materials, find out about transport, or volunteer to help on the day.
Sign-up to receive latest updatesat info@stuc.org.uk
Condem Government look to slash Employment Rights
UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today warned that the ‘Beecroft lite’ proposals to slash employment rights will only fuel insecurity, making the UK’s unemployment levels higher and the recession worse.
These plans will cut unfair dismissal awards, deter people from taking claims against rogue employers, and put pressure on people to sign settlement agreements, under which people sign away their right to taking an unfair dismissal case at a later date. Coupled with new fees for Employment Tribunals due next year they represent a ‘lite’ proposal of those originally proposed by venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft in his report to Government.
Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, said:
“These ‘Beecroft lite’ proposals are still a blatant attack on workers’ rights. The UK already has some of the weakest labour laws in Europe. Weighing the scales heavily in favour of bosses - who can hire and fire at will - will only fuel insecurity, lengthening the dole queues and making the UK’s damaging recession worse.
“UNISON will also be campaigning hard against plans to amend the TUPE rules that protect workers’ rights when they are transferred from one employer to another. We suspect that in the name of simplification the Coalition really want to make it easier transfer public services to the private sector, and spark a race to the bottom on pay, terms and conditions.”
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/under-attack
These plans will cut unfair dismissal awards, deter people from taking claims against rogue employers, and put pressure on people to sign settlement agreements, under which people sign away their right to taking an unfair dismissal case at a later date. Coupled with new fees for Employment Tribunals due next year they represent a ‘lite’ proposal of those originally proposed by venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft in his report to Government.
Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, said:
“These ‘Beecroft lite’ proposals are still a blatant attack on workers’ rights. The UK already has some of the weakest labour laws in Europe. Weighing the scales heavily in favour of bosses - who can hire and fire at will - will only fuel insecurity, lengthening the dole queues and making the UK’s damaging recession worse.
“UNISON will also be campaigning hard against plans to amend the TUPE rules that protect workers’ rights when they are transferred from one employer to another. We suspect that in the name of simplification the Coalition really want to make it easier transfer public services to the private sector, and spark a race to the bottom on pay, terms and conditions.”
http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/under-attack
UNISON Scotland Nursing Conference 30th September 2012
This one day conference will be held in the Trades Hall in Glasgow 10am to 4.30pm and is open to our members across the whole nursing family, including: nurses, midwives, health visitors and healthcare assistants.
Together we will consider the key issues currently affecting members and offer an opportunity to debate the future of nursing in Scotland.
Conference speakers:
Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing Keynote Speaker
Ros Moore, Chief Nurse for Scotland ‘Maintaining and delivering safe nursing care on a reduced budget’
Gail Adams, Head of Nursing for UNISON ‘Protecting standards and you’
Glyn Jenkins, UNISON Head of Pensions Pensions debate
Gordon McKay, Chair of the Nursing Sector and NEC Member
Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing Keynote Speaker
Ros Moore, Chief Nurse for Scotland ‘Maintaining and delivering safe nursing care on a reduced budget’
Gail Adams, Head of Nursing for UNISON ‘Protecting standards and you’
Glyn Jenkins, UNISON Head of Pensions Pensions debate
Gordon McKay, Chair of the Nursing Sector and NEC Member
Contact the Branch by phone or e-mail if you would like to go.
UNIVERSITY OF WEST OF SCOTLAND STUDENT NURSES & MIDWIVES
Wednesday 19th September sees us visiting the Hamilton Campus of UWS to encourage Student Nurses & Midwives to become part of the UNISON Family - Theres a great offer for them to join !
For only £10 a year they will get un-rivalled advice and representation when they need it as well as a bag of goodies including a a stethoscope & dictionary to get them started .
We'll be at the Freshers Fair from 10am and giving presentations at 9.am and 9.30 in the lecture theatres.
For only £10 a year they will get un-rivalled advice and representation when they need it as well as a bag of goodies including a a stethoscope & dictionary to get them started .
We'll be at the Freshers Fair from 10am and giving presentations at 9.am and 9.30 in the lecture theatres.
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