Campaign over jobs and pay continues
Around 12000 workers employed by various public monitoring and regulatory bodies are set to join the three-month rolling industrial action called by the PCS civil service union. The campaign began with a national strike on 20 March to coincide with the government’s presentation of the Budget. Since then the action has involved different departments and agencies and now involves a range of public bodies such as the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and the utilities regulators. Read more about the current action at > PCS And more about the campaign at > PCS
Local government employers make final offer
Local government unions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been given a final offer by employers in this year’s negotiations. This includes a 1% pay increase for all workers backdated to 1 April 2013 followed by abolition of the lowest point on the pay scale from 1 October 2013. This would mean around 28000 mainly women, part-time workers moving up the scale and would represent an additional increase for them of 1.4%. Unions are consulting over what would be the first pay increase after three years of pay freeze which has seen workers’ pay eroded by around 16% by inflation. Read more at > UNISON And at > GMB And at > UNITE
Latest stage of three-month industrial action
In the latest stage of its three-month campaign of industrial action the PCS civil service union has called on workers in different sections of the Home Office (interior ministry) to go on strike. The union action is over cuts to pay, pensions and jobs and began last month with a one-day national strike. Various forms of campaigning and industrial action will be organised over the coming weeks involving different groups of civil servants. Read more at > PCS
Using pension funds to influence company policy
The UNISON and UNITE trade unions are working with the TUC confederation to use their staff pension fund shareholdings to influence company policy. They will try influence companies in relation to a number of issues including: moves to limit the growing gap in the pay of those at the very top and bottom of companies, with the aim of achieving a 20:1 pay ratio, and persuading all companies to become living wage employers. Read more at > UNISON
Unions call for revised offer for local government workers
UNISON is urging local councillors to put pressure on the local government employers’ organisation to come up with an improved offer. The initial offer was for 1% increase with changes to conditions or a 1% increase for lower paid workers and 0.6% for higher paid. The union says the offer is wholly inadequate and fails to go any way towards compensating for the effective 16% fall in real pay over the past three years’ pay freeze. The negotiations cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland while in Scotland in separate negotiations the union has formerly rejected an offer of 1% and advised members to vote against the offer in a ballot. Read more at > UNISON And on Scotland at > UNISON
Strike on budget day to launch rolling action
Members of PCS, the largest civil service union, will take strike action on 20 March, coinciding with the presentation of the Budget in parliament. This action will begin three months of campaigning and industrial action in defence of pay, pensions and working conditions and to put pressure on the government which is refusing to negotiate. The union will be consulting with members over the types of action and tactics of the campaign. Read more at > PCS
Members back changes to health agreement
Members of UNISON in England have given their support to changes to "Agenda for Change", the main national agreement covering the pay and conditions of workers in the National Health Service (NHS). UNISON argues that the changes will be important in maintaining a national agreement and preventing the break away of more NHS Trusts looking for local or regional pay arrangements. The changes will mean that progression up the pay scale will depend on individuals’ skills, competences and performance. There will also be more pay flexibility for senior staff. Read more at > UNISON
Municipality agrees to pay living wage
Barking and Dagenham local authority in east London has agreed to pay a minimum living wage of £9.00 (€10.50) an hour to all workers - making the annual minimum £16425 (€19100). The £9.00 rate is in fact 45p (€0.52) more than the official living wage rate calculated by the Greater London Authority. It will apply to all directly employed workers as well as agency staff working for the council. Read more at > GMB
Civil service union ballots for strike action
PCS, the largest civil service union, is balloting its members for strike action in protest at the government’s refusal to negotiate over pay. Following a two-year pay freeze, the government is imposing a 1% limit on pay increases for a further two years. PCS is also warning that a review of terms and conditions could also mean further cuts. The unions is calling for a pay increase of 5% or £1200 (€1425) for 2013. Read more at > PCS
More workers get living wage
Public services union Unison reports further successes in ensuring that outsourced workers are paid at least the living wage as opposed to being stuck on the lower official minimum wage. The living wage is calculated on the basis of the cost of living and there are different rates across the country. The new rate in London is £8.55 (€10.50) compared to the national minimum wage for adult workers (21 and over) of £6.19 (€7.60) an hour. Read more at > Unison And at > Unison And at > Unison
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