In the next few months we will be out and about visiting workplaces across Lanarkshire look out for our stalls and come up & say hello - you might even get yourself one of our famous "freebies" .
Next Wednesday 2nd May we'll be at Monklands General Hospital at the Choices Restuarant between 9.30 and 2pm.
If you'd like us to come and visit your workplace get in touch and we'll schedule a visit in to the diary.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
UNISON supports annulment call on changes to NHS pension scheme
UNISON has voiced its support for an annulment of the NHS pension amendment regulations, which will be moved at the Scottish Parliament today (Tuesday).
At a meeting of the Health and Sport Committee in Edinburgh, Drew Smith MSP will call for the regulations to be annulled, leading to a debate among the MSPs.
The proposed changes outlined in the regulations include a year one increase to employee contributions of up to 2.4 per cent – effectively a pension tax on health workers. There is no need for the increase as the NHS pension scheme across the UK is in surplus, and not one penny of this increase will go to the pension scheme.
The Scottish Government has said it is opposed in principle to these contribution increases, but it plans to implement them regardless.
Tam Waterson, chair of UNISON’s Scottish Health Committee, said: “The Scottish Government has the responsibility to address these issues in Scotland, so they have a duty to fully explore a Scottish solution for health workers.
“We welcome this call for an annulment of the regulations and would urge MSPs to put a halt on proposed changes until sufficient time has been given for negotiation and to look at alternative solutions.
“MSPs have to realise that asking hard-pressed NHS workers who cannot afford to contribute more to their pension at a time of pay restraint just doesn’t make sense.”
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Finance staff strike at Monklands and lunch time protests
UNISON Lanarkshire Health Branch would like to put on record our thanks to our membership in Finance at Monklands Hospital who undertook strike action today.
Their generosity in taking action on behalf of the wider membership and their contribution today was greatly appreciated by the branch as a whole.
Many thanks colleagues for making a such a serious issue as strike action - a good humoured day!
Additionally we would like to thank our fellow workers who came out at Kirklands, Wishaw General and Hairmyres in lunch time protests in support of the action.
Solidarity forever the union makes us strong.
Their generosity in taking action on behalf of the wider membership and their contribution today was greatly appreciated by the branch as a whole.
Many thanks colleagues for making a such a serious issue as strike action - a good humoured day!
Additionally we would like to thank our fellow workers who came out at Kirklands, Wishaw General and Hairmyres in lunch time protests in support of the action.
Solidarity forever the union makes us strong.
 |
| Some of the strikers at Monklands today. |
Monday, 26 March 2012
PENSIONS: Email now to Nicola Sturgeon MSP
Over the last few days we have been circulating postcards to members and non-members encouraging them to send a pre-printed postcard to the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon.
If you have not seen the postcards please take 5 minutes to send an electronic message with the same message.
Please use this link to send your message to Nicola
If you have not seen the postcards please take 5 minutes to send an electronic message with the same message.
Please use this link to send your message to Nicola
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
PENSIONS DISPUTE - DEMO 27TH MARCH
The fight to stave off Pensions contribution increases continues with vigour next Tuesday 27th March when UNISON members in Finance at Monklands General Hospital will stage a 1 day Strike in support of our campaign to get the Scottish Govt to the negotiating table .
Lunchtime Protests from 12noon - 2pm have been called at Monklands , Wishaw General , Hairmyes and NHS Board HQ at Kirklands .
These protests are being supported by all the Unions - so get out their in your Lunch break and show your strength of feeling as well as saying a BIG THANK YOU ! to those members who are taking strike action on behalf of ll of us !
Lunchtime Protests from 12noon - 2pm have been called at Monklands , Wishaw General , Hairmyes and NHS Board HQ at Kirklands .
These protests are being supported by all the Unions - so get out their in your Lunch break and show your strength of feeling as well as saying a BIG THANK YOU ! to those members who are taking strike action on behalf of ll of us !
March and Rally against Youth Unemployment - Troon
No to workfare - Yes to jobsMarch and Rally against youth unemployment outside
Tory Conference in Troon
Sat 24 March 2012Assemble 12 noon
South Beach Esplanade (Victoria Drive)
March off: 12.30 pm
Rally 1.00 pm
South Beach Esplanade (Titchfield Rd)
Tory Conference in Troon
Sat 24 March 2012Assemble 12 noon
South Beach Esplanade (Victoria Drive)
March off: 12.30 pm
Rally 1.00 pm
South Beach Esplanade (Titchfield Rd)
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
NHS STAFF SUFFER 11.6% CUT IN VALUE OF WAGES
UNISON, the UK’s largest union representing 460,000 NHS workers, today condemned the Government’s decision not to give a pay rise to nurses, therapists, paramedics, midwives and other health staff for the second year running. The cut means that health staff have seen the value of their wages fall by 11.6% since the Coalition came to power.
The recommendation from the Pay Review Body to award £250 to those staff earning under £21,000, will still leave thousands upon thousands of staff struggling to make ends meet.
Coupled with massive discontent about the hated Health and Social Care Bill, privatisation, cuts and job losses, the pay freeze sends out another message that the NHS is suffering under the Coalition Government.
Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said “We are disappointed at the Government’s decision which means the pay of staff in the NHS is now worse than when this government came to power. Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff and their families face a second year without a pay rise. It is a tough job being a nurse, paramedic, therapist or midwife and surely we want them to concentrate on their patients and not to be worrying about paying rapidly rising bills.
“Continuing to freeze pay in this way will also deter young people from entering healthcare professions and we could soon be back to the bad old days where gaps in the workforce could only be plugged by raiding the trained staff of other countries.
“The NHS will only be able to cope with double whammy of massive restructuring and fewer resources by retaining well motivated and highly skilled staff.”
In its evidence to the Pay Review Body, UNISON warmed that a toxic combination of increasing demand, shrinking resources and the pay freeze, was putting staff under severe pressure. The Pay Review Body report has acknowledged these pressures and highlights the loss of independent decision making imposed on it by the Government’s demand to impose a public service pay freeze.
The recommendation from the Pay Review Body to award £250 to those staff earning under £21,000, will still leave thousands upon thousands of staff struggling to make ends meet.
Coupled with massive discontent about the hated Health and Social Care Bill, privatisation, cuts and job losses, the pay freeze sends out another message that the NHS is suffering under the Coalition Government.
Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said “We are disappointed at the Government’s decision which means the pay of staff in the NHS is now worse than when this government came to power. Hundreds of thousands of NHS staff and their families face a second year without a pay rise. It is a tough job being a nurse, paramedic, therapist or midwife and surely we want them to concentrate on their patients and not to be worrying about paying rapidly rising bills.
“Continuing to freeze pay in this way will also deter young people from entering healthcare professions and we could soon be back to the bad old days where gaps in the workforce could only be plugged by raiding the trained staff of other countries.
“The NHS will only be able to cope with double whammy of massive restructuring and fewer resources by retaining well motivated and highly skilled staff.”
In its evidence to the Pay Review Body, UNISON warmed that a toxic combination of increasing demand, shrinking resources and the pay freeze, was putting staff under severe pressure. The Pay Review Body report has acknowledged these pressures and highlights the loss of independent decision making imposed on it by the Government’s demand to impose a public service pay freeze.
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