UNISON (East Midlands)

Are You Registered to Vote?

2011-12-14T12:46:00.000Z

A new report from the Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog has suggested that at least six million people in Great Britain were not registered to vote in December 2010.

The number of people who have not registered has grown from the 2000 canvass by an estimated 2.1 million. Results from April 2011 canvas indicate the number not registerd to vote could be as high as 8.5 million.

The report found:

44% of those not registered to vote mistakenly believe that they are.
56% of people living in private rented homes are registered, compared with 88% for homeowners
56% of 19-24 year olds are registered, compared with 94% of those aged 65+
77% of people from BME communities are registered (compared with 86% of white people)
Only 14% of people who moved house after the 2010 annual canvass had registered at their new address by April 2011

Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission, said:

"This should be of concern for everyone who cares about democracy. There are many reasons behind the decline in registration – including changes to our population and increasing disengagement with traditional party politics. But we know almost half of those not registered mistakenly think they are, and more needs to be done to address this."

To read more on this click here

If you want to know more about registering to vote click here

The Public Administration Select Committee Criticises Big Society for Lack of Clear Plan and Warns of Dominance of Big Business

2011-12-14T11:58:00.000Z

The cross-party Public Administration Select Committee [PASC] has published its report into the Big Society project. The Committee has suggested that after eighteen months of the current administration "there is little clear understanding of the Big Society project among the public, and there is confusion over the Government's proposals to reform public services."

PASC has said "the ambition to open up public services to new providers has prompted concerns about the role of private companies which have not thus far been adequately addressed by Ministers. We have recommended greater clarity on the roles of charitable, private and public providers of public services."

While the Committee has acknowledged there are serious concerns about the financial health of the charitable sector, it has also warned of the danger of large private sector contractors and the largest charities dominating the project. The Committee says early practical examples like the Work Programme "have left service providers such as the charitable sector – who would play a major role in the Big Society - with serious reservations."

The Committee has pressed the Government to explain "how crucial issues of accountability in terms of quality and regulatory powers will be managed in the Big Society project, and in particular accountability for public expenditure."

Bernard Jenkin MP, Chairman of PASC, said

"The government has not been clear enough about what the Big Society means in practical terms. There is a lot of confusion among the public and the new providers how the Big Society policies are expected work in practice. Not all public services are suitable to be delivered by charities and not all charities are willing or capable of delivering services"

To visit Parliaments Public Administration Select Committee click here

Women and Tax Credits Underpin Rise in Living Standards for Low to Middle Income Households

2011-12-07T11:17:00.000Z

A Guardian article of 6 December highlights the findings of a report from The Institute for Fiscal Studies [IFS]. This report shows the impact of women's employment on low-to-middle-income households [LMI].

The IFS report indicates that 78% of all growth in gross employment income among LMI households between 1968 and 2008/2009 has come from women. Women have provided a 27% growth in household wealth compared to 8% from men. 17% of this growth came from tax credits.

The report's authors say:

"The LMI households today receive large portions of their income from female employment and from the benefit and tax credit system. This greater diversity of income sources may reduce the risk of negative income shocks.

"But these changes mean that LMI households are now more dependent on external support, whether directly (through the generosity of the benefit and tax credit system) or indirectly (through the availability of services, such as childcare, that make dual earning, or lone parent working possible."

The IFS figures reveal the reliance low-to-middle income households place upon women's financial security. Women make up two-thirds of the public sector workforce. The rising tide of public service sector cuts and the proposed public sector pay cap that will follow the two-year pay freeze will adversely impact on women struggling to support their households.

To read the Guardian click here

To find the IFS report click here

Local Government Cuts 145,000 Jobs in the Last Year

2011-12-07T08:30:00.001Z

In the past year it is estimated 145,000 jobs have been cut by England's 353 councils. According to a report from the Audit Commission and Local Government Association compulsory redundancies are set to rise as government funding for councils is reduced by over a quarter between 2011/2012 and 2014/15. The report indicates councils had been cutting posts before the cuts in government funding.

The report identifies what it calls the "distinctive profile" of council workforces where "more than half of staff work part time (55 per cent), more than half work either in social care or schools support (54 per cent), and more than half earn below the UK's median pay of £19,620 (53 per cent)."

To find the Audit Commission press release click here

To read UNISON's press release click here

Wage Divide Between Rich and Poor Growing in UK

2011-12-05T13:38:00.000Z

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] has launched a report today entitled "Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising" analysing the income gap between the rich and poor of 29 OECD countries.

The report has highlighted that income inequality among working-age people has risen faster in the UK than any other OECD country since 1975. This inequality gap peaked in 2000, fell slightly and has risen again since 2005.

The UK annual average income of the top 10% in 2008 was almost £55,000, almost 12 times higher than that of the bottom 10%, who had an average income of £4,700. This is up from a ratio of 8 to 1 in 1985.

Key recommendations of the report to counter income inequality include:

1. The provision of freely accessible and high-quality public services, such as education, health, and family care. Public services have had an impact in reducing inequality.

2. Creating more and better jobs that offer good career prospects and a real chance to people to escape poverty.

3. Upskilling of the workforce. The report identifies investment in people must begin in early childhood and be followed through into formal education and work.”

The OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said:

"This study dispels the assumptions that the benefits of economic growth will automatically trickle down to the disadvantaged and that greater inequality fosters greater social mobility...There is nothing inevitable about high and growing inequalities."

To read the report click here.

BBC Poll Tracker

2011-12-05T10:24:00.000Z

If you are interested in the seeing the changes of public support for Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems over the years you should visit the BBC's Poll Tracker here.

Using the Poll Tracker you can trace the party ratings from the current back to 1983.

Far From a Damp Squib. 30 November Day of Action a Carnival of Colour

2011-12-01T13:16:00.001Z

30 November was a bright clear autumnal day in the East Midlands. Tens of thousands of public sector workers and their families thronged the major towns and cities of the East Midlands to demonstrate the need to protect public sector pensions. In a carnival atmosphere public sector workers marched and rallied to a cacophony of drums, whistles, vuvuzelas, bagpipes, singing, and chanting. The towns came to a standstill as members of the public lining the pavements clapped and waved as the procession of colour snaked through the streets.

The marches and rallies were a culmination of strike activity across the region. The information is still rolling in but so far 934 schools, 136 public buildings and 22 libraries were closed.

David Cameron commented the 30 November day of action was a damp squib.

Squibs are miniature explosive devices which have been used for hundreds of years. Older uninsulated squibs which became damp would not perform hence the expression "damp squib".

30 November was no damp squib. 30 November will be a day long remembered.

Below just a few photos form Leicester.

Piper Preparing to Lead the March

A Carnival of Colour

A Day for All the Family

The First to Arrive at the Rally

Thousands Gather Together

Get a feel for the atmosphere here

Report on the State of Poverty and Social Exclusion Identifies Worrying Trends

2011-12-01T10:12:00.000Z

The annual report on the state of poverty and social exclusion in the UK, from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the New Policy Institute has been released today.

Using official government data the report analyses a wide range of issues including low income, debt, ill-health, unemployment and problems in communities

The report has highlighted worrying trends:

Six million people were under-employed in the first half of 2011 – this includes people who are unemployed (2.5m), working part-time but wanting full-time work (1.2m), and those classed as economically inactive but wanting work (2.3m). Though no higher than the previous year, this was 2 million higher than in 2004.

The poverty rate for working-age adults without dependent children is now 20%, the highest since 1997. and is increasing at a faster rate than any other group.

Changes to Tax Credits now mean that an additional 1.4 million households lose over 70p for each extra £1 they earn

The proportion of children living in low income households that were going without ‘essential’ items for reasons of cost was higher in 2009/10 than in 2005/06 across a range of items

The proportion of households in fuel poverty has risen significantly in the last few years. Almost all households in the bottom tenth by income are in fuel poverty, as are half of households in the second bottom tenth.

The number of households accepted as homeless in England rose in 2010/11 for the first time since 2003/04 and now stands at 65,000. The number of court orders for mortgage repossessions in England and Wales rose to 21,000 in the first half of 2011, the first significant rise for three years.

To read more on this click here

Women Bearing the Brunt of Cuts

2011-12-01T09:05:00.001Z

This is the stark message of the Fawcett Society. Responding to the Government's Autumn Statement on Tuesday Anna Bird, Acting Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, said:

"Women’s unemployment is at a record high, women are absorbing the bulk of cuts to benefits, and women are being expected to ‘plug the gap’ as services roll back...Capping public sector pay will impact disproportionately on women who make up the bulk of the public sector workforce: this real terms decrease in take home pay will see millions of women who are already struggling to make ends meet trying to survive on tighter budgets than ever"

Women will likely bear the brunt of public sector job cuts. Women make up two-thirds of the public sector workforce. The predicted rise in public sector job cuts from 400,00 to 700,000 will be unwelcome news for public sector women workers struggling to make ends meet in the run-up to Christmas.

For the full Fawcett response to the Government's Autumn Statement click here

The Government's Autumn Statement Spells More Misery for Public Sector Workers

2011-11-29T16:05:00.001Z

Some key points identified by the BBC:

Public Sector pay awards will be set at an average of one per cent for each of the two years after the current two year pay freeze comes to an end next year.

The Government will not go ahead with the planned £110 above inflation increase to the child element of the Child Tax Credit and will not uprate the couple and lone parent elements of the Working Tax Credit in 2012–13.

The rise in the state pension age to 67 will be brought forward to 2026 from 2034.

Economic growth for 2011 has been revised down to 0.9% from 1.7%. Growth in 2012 is now expected to be 0.7% down from 2.5%.

The Office of Budget Responsibility forecasts total public sector job losses up from 400,000 to 710,000

An additional £100 billion in government borrowing will be needed over the next four years.

For more key points from the Autumn Statement visit the BBC's quick guide here.

Read the case studies of local government workers on page 6 and 7 of the trade unions local government pay claim released at the end of October 2011. The government's Autumn Statement offers no relief. Click here to view. (The report is contained in a pdf of approximately 1 MB).

Women and Families Pay High Price for the Economic Crisis

2011-11-29T11:56:00.001Z

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, has accused the Government of making women and families pay a high price for the economic crisis.

In the press release of 28 November Dave Prentis said it was the Government's economic policies "that are really hurting women and their families."

Read the press release here.

This press release echoes the concerns of The Fawcett Society.

Anna Bird, Acting Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society has drawn attention to the 1.09 million women now unemployed. Anna Bird argues "the government’s approach to reducing the deficit is pushing women out of the workplace, and threatening their financial independence." Anna Bird's comments can be read here.

The Fawcett Society's has produced a report entitled A Life Raft for Women's Equality detailing a series of key policy recommendations for government to defend women's rights.

The report can be read here.

Dave Prentis speaking to the BBC on Saturday 26 November about Public Sector Pensions

2011-11-28T09:20:00.000Z

Dave Prentis speaking to the BBC on Saturday 26 November about the lack of a formal offer on public sector pensions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15906284

60% of people believe public sector workers are justified in going on strike

2011-11-28T08:30:00.001Z

A poll commissioned for the BBC suggests 60% of people believe public sector workers are justified in going on strike. Read the BBC news article below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15910618

Public Sector Cuts in the East Midlands

2011-11-28T08:15:00.001Z

Keep updated with cuts in East Midlands by following http://falseeconomy.org.uk/cuts/east-midlands/all/t1

Sign the E-Petition to Reverse Pension Changes

2011-11-28T07:51:00.002Z

Sign the e-petition calling on the government to reverse the change of increasing pensions by CPI instead of RPI. A change that will reduce the value of all pensions, public and private.

East Midlands Protect our Pensions March and Rallies Information for 30th November

2011-11-24T09:49:00.000Z

Provisional Details of the Protect our Pensions March and Rallies on 30 November

Chesterfield
Assemby point: Rykneld Square at approximately 11.00 AM
Rally at Miners Welfare with refreshments at 12.30 PM

Derby
Assembly point: The Silk Mill at 11:00 AM.
March to start at 11.15 AM.
Rally in Market Square in Marquee at 12 Noon with speakers and live music

Leicester
Assembly point: Top of High Street at 11:00 AM
March to start at 11.30AM. March to Athena theatre
Rally to be held at Athena Theatre with speakers and entertainment

Lincoln
Assembly point: Tentercroft car park at 11.30 AM.
March to start at 12 noon. March to Free School Lane.
Rally to be held at 12.30 PM at the Drill Hall
Social event in Jolly Brewer pub 2.00pm

Northampton
Assembly point: Becketts Park, NN1 1HF from 11.30 AM
March to start at 12.00 noon.
Rally to be held in the Market Square (NN1 2DL) from 1pm.

Nottingham
Assemble point: The Forest Recreation Ground
March to Albert Hall
Rally to be held in Albert Hall. Speakers and entertainment.

More details to follow.

FREE Workshops for Unemployed Workers in Nottinghamshire - 30 November 2011

2011-11-24T08:57:00.000Z

FREE Workshops for Unemployed Workers in Nottinghamshire - 30 November 2011

UNISON East Midlands Region will be supporting unemployed workers on 30 November by offering a series of FREEworkshops designed to build confidence and enhance skills. If you, or anyone else you may know is unemployed within your family or community, please pass this flyer to them and encourage them to come along to these sessions.

We will be providing free refreshments and a buffet lunch and will reimburse travel costs.

Workshops will run between 10am – 12 Noon and will be repeated again between 1pm – 3pm to include:

Using the Internet for Social Networking e.g. Facebook, Twitter etc
Build Your Confidence! Techniques For Being More Assertive
Planning For Your Future
Starting Your Own Business

Venue: UNISON Regional Centre, Vivian Avenue, Nottingham, NG5 1AF

To book your place (first come first served) please contact - Jill Palmer, j.palmer@unison.co.uk or ring 0115 8475428

Unemplyoment set to stay high say CIPD

2011-05-19T07:09:00.001+01:00

Yesterday the FT reported that the Chartered Personal and Development (CIPD) think it is unlikely that the private sector will create enough jobs to cover the loss in jobs in the public sector.

The FT reported:

The recovery in private sector jobs is likely to be largely cancelled out by public sector redundancies over the coming months, according to a survey of human resources managers.

Overall employment levels may show a slight improvement in the second quarter but the risk of a slowdown appears “finely balanced”, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

The findings come ahead of Wednesday’s monthly labour market data from the Office for National Statistics. Economists expect unemployment, currently 2.48m, to remain stable at 7.8 per cent of the workforce, according to a Reuters poll.

Most forecasters expect that over the coming months there will be some rise in the jobless total, which has been broadly flat since the middle of 2009.

The full article can be read here.

George Osborne's perverse "expansionary fiscal contraction" policy which sets out to create jobs by sacking public sector workers (yes you read that right!) is not working. And it's not just UNISON saying this.

Fewer than 500 turn up for "Pro Cuts" rally

2011-05-16T07:50:00.000+01:00

The "pro cuts" so called Rally Agaisnt the Debt in London on Saturday had fewer than 500 people turn up!

The rally was supported by right wing groups such as the TaxDodgers Alliance, free market fundamentalists and assorted supporters of the Tory party (though not many of them).

As you can see from the photo this rag bag of right wingers couldn't even fill the area allocated to them by the police.

Contrast this with the 500,000 who turned out on 26 March.

The truth about public spending is all in the numbers and you can see the truth here, but in the meantime one calculation we've done is that based on protester numbers the anti cuts movement beat the pro cuts movement by a factor of 1,000.

FT reports bad news on the economy

2011-05-16T07:35:00.000+01:00

Last Friday the FT reported:

The most significant release of the week was the Bank of England’s quarterly inflation report in which it said, yet again, that inflation would be higher and growth lower than expected. It also signalled at least one rate rise this year.

Worse, a close reading of the data shows that it has implicitly accepted that the recovery is not going to plan and that the economy may never again grow the way that it did before the recession hit.

To read the full article go here.

The cuts aren't working. They are just making things worse.

She needs a maternity unit not another costly NHS reorganisation

2011-05-15T22:02:00.001+01:00

This excellent graphic is from the The Other Taxpayers Alliance.

Click on the link for more info.

Nottinghamshire Police UNISON and Police Federation press release

2011-05-11T14:01:00.000+01:00

Nottinghamshire Police branch of UNISON and the Nottinghamshire Police Federation would like to announce an historic joint statement.

Working together, UNISON and the Police Federation have the same goals and values. Our members are the Officers and staff that provide the Policing on behalf of the Public of Nottinghamshire.

We jointly oppose the cuts imposed by the coalition Government to the budget of Nottinghamshire Police. Savings amounting to 20% are bound have a detrimental effect on local policing services.

We believe that some of the information emanating from Westminster is misleading and the public are unaware of the possible consequences of the severity of the cuts.

It is disingenuous to say that front line policing will not be affected and that the back office can support such a level of fiscal deprivation. It is the very provision of back and middle office staff that keeps Officers on the streets.

We believe that the public do not support cuts to such vital services as Policing.

A recent MORI poll showed that 86% of people were worried that these cuts would have a detrimental effect on what services the police could provide.

Sir Denis O’Connor, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), which conducts reviews of police performance, has stated.

“Cuts to police budgets over 12% would have a detrimental effect on front line policing”.

We jointly oppose the Governments proposals to make changes to public service pension schemes. These are “Pay As You Go” schemes and are self funding and not in deficit. Why should public sector workers pay 50% more for the same provision simply so that the government can claw out of the pension pots 4 billion pounds to pay for the greed and excess of some sections of the banking fraternity?

We are concerned about the recommendations in the “Winsor” review of Police and Police staff pay & conditions and see this as yet another attack on our pay and conditions of employment. The government is using the excuse of “austerity” to plunder and devalue one of the nation’s greatest treasures – its world renowned Police service.

Nottinghamshire Police as a result of the cuts is losing 226 Police Officer and 416 Police staff posts between 2010 & 2012. Further cuts are likely in the years to follow.

This is likely to devastate the policing service to our communities.

We call on the public to support us in opposing the huge cuts being pushed by central Government and help us in ensuring a safer Nottinghamshire for all.

Please communicate your opposition to your local MP in a calm, rational and lawful manner.

Crazy cuts that spell danger

2011-05-04T07:28:00.003+01:00

Rubbish could litter our streets, bodies could pile up, vulnerable children could be left without care, strip clubs could be set up on any corner, and mouldy chops could stack up on our shelves. These are just some of the damaging things that could happen if the Tory government presses ahead with plans to cut the duties on councils that protect us all, and give us better communities.

Yesterday UNISON published a list of crazy cuts that could leave communities exposed. In its submission to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (CLG) consultation on statutory duties, the union called on the government to protect our communities by putting a stop to its damaging plans.

Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said:

“The coalition has made some pretty crazy and dangerous decisions, but even thinking about getting rid of some of these duties is up there with the best of them.

If the Tories press ahead with their race to scrap the so-called ‘red tape’, they could see bodies pile up on the street, as nobody has responsibility for mortuaries. We could see gas safety fall and recycling schemes dry up. Unregulated taxis could prowl the streets and strip clubs set up on any corner.

Eric Pickles only needs to scratch the surface to find out that these duties protect our communities, making them safer and better places to live. Like a lot of other Tory plans, this consultation should go on the scrapheap.”

The crazy cuts rundown is below.

Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/1629)

Local Authorities are responsible for keeping gas safe. How many people will be put at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if this is abolished?

Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 Section 7

Makes provision for the purpose of extinguishing fires and protecting life and property. Who else should do this?

Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 Section 8

Makes provision for the purpose of rescuing people in the event of road traffic accidents.

Fire and Rescue Services (Emergencies) (England) (Order) 2007 (SI 2007/735) made under s. 9 FRSA 2004

Makes provision for chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear emergency and urban search and rescue. Who will the public turn to if this duty is removed?

Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 Section 7

Local Authorities have a duty to provide a library service. Will libraries be cut to extinction if this is abolished?

Gambling Act 2005 Section 159

Councils have to licence premises for gambling activities. How would corrupt operators be stopped if this was abolished?

Licensing Act 2003 Section 18

Requires local authorities to have a system for regulating premises licenses, including issuing licenses. Would we see strip clubs set up on any corner?

Zoo Licensing Act 1981

Councils should ensure zoos are safe for the public to visit and have a high standard of welfare for animals. What cruel and bad practices would come into place with unregulated zoos?

Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 45 A

Councils have to arrange for the collection of recyclable materials. Is our care for the planet going to be dumped?

Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 89

Councils currently have to keep land and highways clear of litter. Would litter start to pile up on our streets?

Food Labelling Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1499)

Councils are responsible for ensuring food labelling is accurate and out of date food is not being sold. Do we want to eat old sausages or have ingredients missed off the label?

Public Health Act 1936

Councils have to provide mortuaries. Would removing this duty see bodies pile up in the street?

Children Act 1989 Section 33

Councils take vulnerable children into care and look after them. Who would take over this role if this duty was scrapped?

Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act 1976 Section 54

Councils licence taxi drivers. If they stopped doing this, how dangerous would it be to get into a cab?

Highways Act 1980 Section 41(1A)

Puts local Authorities responsible for dealing with snow and ice – who else could take this up?

New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 Section 81

Councils have to tell other bodies when they (or a utility company) are digging up the road. Without this, would we see roads in constant upheaval?

Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (as amended) Section 5 (1)

Makes local authorities one of the authorities responsible for formulating and implementing strategies to tackle crime and disorder. Who else can create a joined-up approach?

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004) Section 9

Requires local authorities to participate in domestic homicide reviews with a view to improving policies and practice and preventing further violence and homicide. Tackling domestic violence requires a multi-agency approach – should this be optional?

Juries Act 1974 Section 3

Requires electoral registration officers to provide the Lord Chancellor with copies of the electoral register from which potential jurors can be summoned. A vital cog in the wheel of justice.

Crime and Disorder Act 1989 Section 39 (5)

Establishes the multi-agency, multi-disciplinary ethos behind the Youth Offending Teams. Putting into practice decades of experience.

Criminal Justice Act 2003 Section 325

Requires agencies to work together to manage the risks posed by offenders following their release from custody, for example to ensure that paedophiles aren’t inadvertently housed by the local authority near a school, or in an estate with many families. It is necessary to have one body – the locally accountable one – ensuring that this coordination happens – it can’t be optional.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Councils have to disclose information to the public on request. Do we want a culture of secrecy from the people we elect?

Proof the cuts are not working

2011-05-02T20:22:00.000+01:00

Here at UNISON (East Midlands) we like graphs the illustrate things clearly and the one here (courtesy of Labour List) shows conclusively the cuts are damaging economic growth.

There was 1.8 per cent growth in GDP in the six months before George Osborne's October Spending Review and exactly zero growth in the six months after.

The cuts aren't working working: public services are being cut, public sector worker are losing their jobs, the vulnerable people are suffering and the economic recovery is being wrecked.

Time for Plan B Mr Osborne.

Workers' Memorial Day - 28 April - Chesterfield

2011-04-21T20:20:00.030+01:00

Every year more British people are killed at work than in wars. Most don't die of mystery ailments, or in tragic "accidents". They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority.

Workers' Memorial Day takes place every April 28th - as an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work. The slogan for the day is:

Remembers the dead, fight for the living

On Thursday 28th April 2011 from 11am to 1pm in the Arena, New Square at Chesterfield’s historic market there will be an event with:
•    Trade Union Safety Team
•    Trade Union speakers
•    Trade Union banners
•    Stalls for Health & Safety information

Come along to Chesterfield on Workers Memorial Day and don your free “WE DIDN’T VOTE TO DIE AT WORK” T shirts given out at 11am on the day.

Join the photo shoot and help send a message to the ConDem government that we do not accept the cuts to health and safety at work.

For more information contact Joanne Carlin or Shay Boyle
The Trade Union Safety Team on: 01246 380415
Email: mail@safetyteam.org.uk

Banner Theatre's 1st of May Band presents Fighting the Cuts - 28 April Nottingham

2011-04-19T08:02:00.001+01:00

The superb Banner Theatre 1st of May Band are presenting their multi-media cabaret of songs, comedy, music and video that highlights the reality of the cuts.

If you've not seen them then you really should. They will make you laugh, angry, dance and smile throughout the course of their performance.

The event is on 28 April from 7.30 pm at the Polish Eagle Club, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham NG7 6JN.

Tickets are £5 waged and £2.50 unwaged and will include the great covers band The New Retro's.

This event is paid for by UNISON's General Political Fund.

This is not to be missed.

It now costs £50 to volunteer in Cameron's Big Society

2011-04-18T07:52:00.019+01:00

Writing on his blog, Channel 4 economics editor Faisal Islam reports that the flagship National Citizen Service that aims to get 16-year-olds to volunteer on community projects is now up and running. Islam writes:

Well the NCS is now taking recruits. And remarkably, many of these six to eight week volunteering schemes are charging £50 to £100 for the pleasure...

This is gobsmackingly unbelievable. But we kid you not. Click here to see an ad on Facebook that shows the reality.

Not only is the Big Society a cover for cutting public services, but now Cameron expects 16-year old volunteers to pay for the privilege of working for nothing!

Can you trust him?

2011-04-17T20:18:00.000+01:00

Below are all four of the different GPF funded posters going up in selected bus shelters in Broxtowe, Gedling, Ashfield, Nottingham. They will be up from 25 April.

FT reports bad news on the economy

2011-04-17T08:48:00.001+01:00

The FT "Economy Watch" column recently reported bad news on the economy saying of a recently published report:

The unemployment rate dropped, the number in full-time jobs rose and the number of those participating in the jobs market increased.

But behind the scenes there was another jobs report. In this one, the number of those claiming jobless benefits rose.

Moreover, the improvement seen in the latest report may be a statistical fluke because of the way data are smoothed over three months.

The article went on to say:

A survey from Deloitte shows that optimism among finance directors is at its lowest in two years as inflation and austerity bite.

Economy Watch notes that retailers are looking ahead to the Easter holidays and a royal wedding to give a lift to demand.

But with public sector job cuts under way, it is likely we will buy only what we need and not what we want. And that is not much reason to celebrate.

More proof that public spending cuts damage the economy. To read the full article go here.

Inspiring Video of 26 March

2011-04-15T20:56:00.001+01:00

Below is an inspiring video of the Nottingham City and Notts County UNISON branches from the 26 March demo.

NHS breaches targets for hospital waiting

2011-04-15T08:23:00.002+01:00

Yesterday the FT reported that:

Andrew Lansley’s bad week got no better on Thursday as data showed that the National Health Service in England has breached a pledge that no patient need wait more than 18 weeks for hospital admission, for the first time since the coalition government was elected.

In February 89.8 per cent of patients were admitted for treatment within 18 weeks when the official target is 90 per cent. The average wait for admission has also risen since the election, as have the absolute numbers waiting more than 18 weeks.

So not only do the Tories want to privatise the NHS. They are making a mess of the current system in the meantime.

To read the full FT article go here.

Lincolnshire County ballot on industrial action over service cuts

2011-04-15T07:11:00.008+01:00

The following notice has gone out to all UNISON members employed at Lincolnshire County Council from John Sharman, the branch secretary.

Notice has been served on the Council’s Chief Executive that all UNISON members employed by the authority (excluding those in schools) are to be balloted on Industrial Action. Ballot papers will go out in one week’s time to members’ home addresses.

Our fellow trade unions GMB and Unite also intend to ballot their members. All three unions are jointly lodging a dispute under the Council’s Disputes Procedure, in an attempt to find a resolution which will prevent action being necessary. We will not take industrial action while the procedure is in process, but we will ballot during that period so that – in the event of a Yes vote – we can take action at its conclusion, should that be necessary.

The formal wording of the notice is that this is “A trade dispute with Lincolnshire County Council over proposed redundancies, and changes to terms and conditions, including all matters arising out of and in consequence of the dispute.” This is a broadly defined dispute, which will include all matters involved in the cuts in the Council’s budget, including redundancies and detrimental service condition changes, which in both cases may be proposed or anticipated.

Members will be asked if they are prepared to take industrial short of a strike (work to rule), and if they are prepared to take strike action. An accompanying letter will explain what the forms of action will mean. The ballot period will be three weeks.

These actions are being taken because members have given us a mandate to oppose the cuts to jobs and services. We know that the scale of the attack we face, nationally and locally, is unprecedented. But the resolve of members to resist that attack is also unprecedented. The very fact that a ballot is being held, and a dispute has been registered, is testimony to our members’ determination.

Watch this space for updates.

No Compulsory Redundancies at Erewash and Amber Valley Councils

2011-04-14T23:01:00.000+01:00

UNISON branches all over the country are fighting to save jobs and prevent compulsory redundancies. Given the current climate this is a tough job.

But in spite of the tough situation there is some good news has come from Erewash and Amber Valley Councils where hard work from UNISON has meant there will be no compulsory redundancies this year.

Regional Organiser Charlie Carruth said:

"Both UNISON branches have worked really hard with their respective councils to ensure the only jobs lost are through cuts to vacancies and voluntary redundancies. Whilst any job losses are regrettable it's good to know the UNISON have ensured that everyone who wants to stay in job this year will do."

Chris Tansley responds to one sided BBC story on council mileage

2011-04-14T08:44:00.000+01:00

The BBC today ran a one sided piece based on a press release from those tax dodgers the Taxpayers Alliance. The story was about council workers' car mileage rates.

Chris Tansley, an East Midlands NEC member and Chair of the Local Government Service Group has written to the BBC in response. It is reproduced below.

I was appalled at your one sided acceptance of the Taxpayers Alliance totally inaccurate report on car allowances paid to local Government staff and think you need to be supplied with the facts.

1 The car allowances paid are set by an independent body which sets the amount based on all the costs of running a car. They are less than the AA estimates

2 The inland revenue rate is not 40p it went up to 45p on the 6th April. Even so it has remained at 40p for over 12 years despite the rising cost of fuel and other costs and is well below the actual cost of running a car

3 The amount paid to Local Authority staff is taxable at a rate dependent on the amount staff use their car. Low mileage users have virtually all their allowance clawed back in tax as it is deemed to be all profit

4 When staff get to 8,500 miles in any one year their allowance is halved

5 It's much cheaper for Local Authorities to pay staff to use their own cars than to supply them with cars so staff are in effect subsidising tax payers

You must know that the Tax payers alliance are the unofficial voice of the Tory Party who are on a mission to destroy public faith in public services are public sector workers

Can I ask how much the BBC pay their staff for using their cars?
Chris Tansley

Despite their name the Taxpayers Alliance are the attack dogs of the Tory party and the super rich. They claim to represent ordinary taxpayers but they are a shadowy, secretive organisation who chose not to file their accounts publicly. One of their directors does not even pay tax in the UK and they have been investigated for wrongly claiming tax relief.

For more information about this shady group go here.

Video: Cameron says "No More Pointless Reorganisations"

2011-04-14T08:21:00.000+01:00

Speaking in 2009 to the RCN, David Cameron said "no more pointless reorganisations of the NHS."

Silk Mill Rally - 30 April in Derby

2011-04-12T23:14:00.000+01:00

The annual Silk Mill trade union rally in Derby will take place from 10.30am on 30 April, starting at the Assembly Rooms in the Market Place.

The march marks the time, 177 years ago, that workers battling for better conditions were locked out of the former mill. Wikipedia says:

"November 1833 saw the beginning of industrial unrest in Derby which led to the formation of the Grand National Trades Union in February 1834.

This event predated the Tolpuddle Martyrs by several months.

Taylor’s Silk Mill was not at the centre of the controversy although he was one of the employers who agreed not to employ any worker who was a union member.

By the middle of April 1834 Taylor reported that two-thirds of his machinery was working and many of his former workers were applying for reinstatement.

According to "The Derby Mercury" some of the former unionists were never able to find fresh employment in Derby.

This event is commemorated by a march organised by the Derby Trades Union Council every year on the weekend before MayDay."

The Trades Council is expecting the march to be well attended after recent funding cuts and services. If you are around in Derby on 30 April make sure you attend.

For a flyer about the event go here.

Growth forecasts downgraded

2011-04-12T08:04:00.000+01:00

The FT reports:

The International Monetary Fund has downgraded its expectations for growth in the UK for this year and raised its forecasts for inflation in its latest survey of the global economy.

We've said it time and time again. Public spending cuts will damage the economy.

Save our NHS - Public Meeting 21 April in Nottingham

2011-04-12T07:06:00.012+01:00

There will be a public meeting on Thursday 21 April from 7.00 pm at The New Mechanics Institute, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham to discuss how to fight off the government's damaging NHS proposals.

Speakers include local GP, Chris Udenze; author and health service expert Professor Colin Leys and Nottingham City Hospitals UNISON branch secretary, Martin Benn.

More details about the campaign in the press release below.

Campaign and health groups, including Notts SOS, 38 Degrees Nottingham, Keep Our NHS Public and Health in Your Environment have joined forces to call on Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to “Kill the Health and Social Care Bill."

Lansley has acknowledged there is huge public concern about the proposed government reforms to the NHS, and has announced a “pause” for further consultation on the Bill before it returns to Parliament after the May elections.

The campaigners say the Bill will:
Create a two tier NHS, with the poor at the bottom, and fee paying patients at the top of the treatment queue. The Bill will abolish the Private Patient Cap – the cap on the number of patients treated privately – and the requirement to plough money earned from private patients back into non-fee paying patient care;

Introduce cash limited ‘Personal Healthcare Budgets’. Exceeding this budget means that a non-fee paying patient will have to pay for US style health insurance to ‘top up’ their own and their family’s healthcare;

Increase the £10 billion a year the NHS spends on transaction costs, administering services bought from external providers. With PCTs gone, GPs will pass 80% of the NHS budget to ‘Private Commissioning Companies’. These companies, not GPs, will purchase treatment, define eligibility and decide patient entitlement to NHS funded care; and

Mean that healthcare staff will be employed by their specific business unit – with no one working for the NHS any more. From September, all health services would be supplied by independent contracted providers, under the NHS ‘Brand.’

Nottingham University Hospitals Unison Branch Secretary Martin Benn said: "The Health Bill is nothing more than wholesale privatisation of the NHS. When I visit my GP I want her to be thinking about what's best for me, not what's best for her budget."

And health service expert Professor Colin Leys, author of The Plot Against the NHS, said: "The government is seriously rattled. Lansley’s aim is to use the pause he has announced to find a series of amendments to his Bill that he can present as concessions and that will leave his essential aims intact. Our job must be to convince Cameron that persisting on that course will make the Conservatives permanently unelectable."

Professor Leys, Martin Benn and local GP Chris Udenze will explain why the Health and Social Care Bill will destroy access to the current system of NHS treatment – prescribed according to need and free at the point of delivery – at a public meeting sponsored by: Notts SOS, 38 Degrees Nottingham, Keep Our NHS Public, Health In Your Environment

The way forward to fight the cuts - a public debate Wed 13 April Nottingham

2011-04-11T21:05:00.000+01:00

The Notts Trades Council have organised a debate following on from the hugely successful March for the Alternative on 26 March.

It will take place on Wednesday 13 April from 7.30 pm at the Djanogly Theatre, Nottingham Trent University, Shakespeare Street, Nottingham.

There will be speakers from across the labour movement, from trade unions and the Labour Party.

FT reports two bits of bad news about the economy

2011-04-07T08:00:00.022+01:00

Two separate reports in the FT give gloomy news about the economy dues to George Osborne's disastrous polices.

The first report says that the economy is almost at a standstill and that's before the effect of the spending cuts. The report says:

The economy was practically stagnant over the past two quarters even before the impact of higher inflation and deeper spending cuts, according to a respected economics research group.

After the economy contracted by 0.5 per cent in the final quarter of last year following heavy snow in December and a general slowdown, the first quarter of this year saw growth of 0.7 per cent, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research estimates.

However, averaging out growth over the period to smooth away distortions caused by the weather, the economy grew by just 0.1 per cent in each quarter.

The next report questions if the private sector can create the jobs to make up for the forthcoming avalanche of public sector job losses. The report says:

Growth in the jobs market slowed in March, raising questions about whether the private sector will create enough jobs in the short term to offset those being lost in the public sector.

Hiring of permanent staff eased in March after February’s 10-month high, according to a survey of 400 recruitment consultancies by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG, the professional services firm.

At what point will this government realise they need to change course before they wreck the economy and our public services?

Public sector pensions under attack

2011-04-07T07:00:00.027+01:00

The government is planning to attack public sector pensions under the pretext that reform is needed because of people are living longer.

They are saying public sector workers should pay more, work longer and get less.

This is a lie.

Back in 2007 pubic sector unions agreed a wide range of pension reforms with the then government to address the issue of longevity and affordability.

The only thing that has changed since then is the global financial crash caused by greedy bankers. This attack on public sector pensions is nothing more than a tax on public sector workers because the government will not take on the greedy bankers who casued this mess.

For more info on the UNISON campaign to protect pensions go here.

Tax Credit changes calculator

2011-04-06T20:20:00.000+01:00

Do you want to know how the government's tax credit changes affect you and your family?

If so, head over to the TUC's excellent Touchstone blog and have a go on their Tax Credit Changes Calculator - it's very easy to use.

Clegg supported NHS reforms from the start

2011-04-06T11:48:00.003+01:00

Nick Clegg is today dishonestly trying cast himself as the person who will save the NHS from the dangerous Health Bill currently going through parliament. He claims to want substantial changes.

But the truth is that he has supported these reforms all along.

It seems odd to be quoting as our source a blog article from the right wing Spectator magazine. But their blog post hits the nail on the head.

We've quoted the blog post in full below.

Ahead of this morning’s Cameron, Clegg, Lansley event on the NHS, it is worth reminding ourselves of what Nick Clegg was saying about these reforms back at the start of the year. On January 23rd, he went on the Andrew Marr show and had this exchange:

'ANDREW MARR:
Huge change to the NHS just coming down the line. Was that in the Liberal Democrat manifesto?

NICK CLEGG:
Actually funnily enough it was. Indeed it was. We were one of the primary critics in opposition of what we felt was a top …

ANDREW MARR:
(over) I don't remember you saying you were going to get rid of Primary Care Trusts and pass it down to GPs.

NICK CLEGG:
We certainly said we were going to get rid of Primary Care Trusts.'

If you read the whole transcript, you see that Clegg was fully signed up to the reforms. He even said that doctors “can't look after the clinical well-being of a patient if at the same time your decisions don't lead to financial consequences.”

In truth, both Cameron and Clegg have known what Lansley was planning for months. If Clegg wanted ‘substantial changes’ to the bill, why didn’t he ask for them months ago?

Clegg is turning out to be the most duplicitous politician for a long time - and there is a lot of competition!

We've had the broken tuition fees pledge; the about turn on the economy when before the election he said cuts would be wrong; and yesterday he said it was wrong for interns to get jobs because of who they know despite him landing an internship because of his father's connections.

Now he is claiming to want changes to the NHS Bill despite supporting it from the start.

Bad news: UK manufacturing growth slows sharply

2011-04-05T17:53:00.000+01:00

On Friday the FT reported that:

UK manufacturing growth slowed sharply in March, adding to fears that the economy was weakening even before deeper cuts to the public sector begin to arrive this month.

The manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 57.1 from a reading of 61 in February, the lowest level since October. Any figure above 50 indicates companies are reporting rising activity.

The decline in the index was the largest one-month fall since November 2008, when the fallout from the collapse of Lehman Brothers was helping drive the UK into a deep recession.

We've said it time and time again: these cuts are wrecking the economy. This article provides further evidence.

For the full FT article go here.

Can you trust him?

2011-04-05T07:30:00.000+01:00

Below is another one of the four different GPF funded posters going up in some selected bus shelters before the local elections.

Amazing video of 26 March - over 4 hours compressed into 23 mins

2011-04-03T20:19:00.000+01:00

This video captures the true scale of the March 26 protest. Filmed by Paul Hanes over four hours and compressed into 23 minutes it shows the whole demonstration.

From the Counterfire website.

Brilliant video - cuts are not the cure

2011-04-03T13:28:00.000+01:00

A superb video explaining simply and clearly why the "cuts are not the cure" from the excellent False Economy website.

Cuts Are Not The Cure from Unionfilms on Vimeo.

UNISON "All together for the NHS" in Nottingham

2011-04-03T13:23:00.000+01:00

On Friday as part of the "All together for the NHS day" UNISON held a demo outside the offices of the Notts PCT.

Proposals from the PCT means the most vulnerable members of Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County will no longer recognise the services that they are used to receiving from their Community Health Practitioners.

The PCT commissioning body for Nottinghamshire NHS are severing services and transferring care to one of the largest social enterprises in England, based in Nottinghamshire.

UNISON's demo was to tell the NHS Trust it just isn’t good enough - our NHS is not for sale.

Andrew Lansley Rap supported by UNISON

2011-04-03T11:13:00.002+01:00

The Observer today revealed that the Andrew Lansley rap by East Midlands rapper MC NxtGen that has been a viral You Tube hit was funded by UNISON.

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:

"We want to use every means to let people know about the damage it will cause to the NHS."

You can now buy this on iTunes too. Let's help it get to number one.

Portugal is cutting its way deeper into crisis - could Britain follow?

2011-04-01T07:45:00.001+01:00

David Blanchflower us one of the few economists who predicted the financial crash - in the Summer of 2008 he told the Treasury Select Committee "something horrible" would happen to the economy.

In his New Statesman blog he now notes that Portugal's austerity measured are creating a crisis and asks if Britain could follow. He goes on to say:

Under George Osborne...... growth is falling, unemployment and inflation are rising and consumer confidence has collapsed to levels lower than it reached in the depths of the recession in 2009.

Rather than evidence of an "expansionary fiscal contraction", we are observing a "contractionary fiscal contraction". New data shows that all of the countries that have implemented fiscal austerity policies experienced negative GDP growth rates in the fourth quarter of 2010: Greece (-1.4 per cent), Iceland (-1.5 per cent), Ireland (-1.6 per cent), Portugal (-0.3 per cent) and the UK (-0.5 per cent).

Remember - the full impact of the UK's austerity measures have not yet been felt. The worst is yet to come.

His full article can be read here.

The Biggest Lie In British Politics

2011-03-31T22:09:00.001+01:00

On his blog, journalist Johann Hari outlines exactly how the government's economic plans are based upon a lie. In a powerful piece Hari starts:

British politics today is dominated by a lie. This lie is making it significantly more likely you will lose your job, your business, or your home. The lie gives a false explanation for how we came to be in this crisis, and prescribes a medicine that will worsen our disease. Yet it is hardly being challenged – except by some of the world’s most distinguished Nobel Prize winning economists.

Here’s the lie. We are in a debt crisis. Our national debt is dangerously and historically high. We are being threatened by the international bond markets. The way out is to eradicate our deficit rapidly. Only that will restore “confidence”, and therefore economic growth. Every step of this program is false, and endangers you.

Let’s start with a fact that should be on billboards across the land. As a proportion of GDP, Britain’s national debt has been higher than it is now for 200 of the past 250 years. Read that sentence again. Check it on any graph by any historian. Since 1750, there have only been two brief 30-year periods when our debt has been lower than it is now. So we can afford to run a deficit, if that has a positive effect – which we’ll get to in a minute. If we are “bust” today, as George Osborne has claimed, then we have almost always been bust. We were bust when we pioneered the Industrial Revolution. We were bust when we ruled a quarter of the world. We were bust when we beat the Nazis. We were bust when we built the NHS. Or is it George Osborne’s economics that are bust?

Hari concludes his piece by saying:

The real reason why David Cameron is imposing these massive cuts has nothing to do with the national debt or the deficit. It is because he regards himself as, in his words, “the child of Thatcher”, and he wants to pursue her agenda harder and faster than she ever dreamed. He can do the difficult job of selling that to the British people if he wishes – but he should stop doing it on the basis of a swollen, suppurating lie.

To read the full article go here.

UNISON All Together for the NHS Day Demonstration – Friday 1 April 2011 - Nottingham City Centre

2011-03-31T14:16:00.000+01:00

NHS Patients and staff not laughing this April Fools Day. On April 1, right across the country, members will be lobbying their local constituency offices and holding workplace demos, lunchtime meetings and rallies to make their opposition heard.

The PCT commissioning body for Nottinghamshire NHS are severing services and transferring care to one of the largest social enterprises in England, based in Nottinghamshire.

In Nottingham City Centre at 12 noon, UNISON is organising a demonstration at lunch time against the callous actions of the Commissioners at Standard Court, Park Row, Nottingham .

UNISON is urging the public to come along to tell the NHS Trust it just isn’t good enough - our NHS is not for sale.

UNISON is deeply concerned about the dividing up of NHS services in Nottinghamshire; it is the most vulnerable members of Nottingham City and County who will no longer recognise the services that they are used to receiving from their Community Health Practitioners.

UNISON Regional Organiser, Corall Jenkins said:

“UNISON members work hard in our communities looking after all of society and also care for the most vulnerable members of our communities suffering with Mental Health Issues, these are the people who are most unable to speak up for themselves and rely on NHS staff to voice their concerns and support them with daily living. We ask that the commissioners listen to the staff and stop breaking up the NHS services which the public need.”

Nick Clegg in Leicester this Friday

2011-03-31T14:03:00.000+01:00

Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will be in Leicester tomorrow, Friday 1 April.

He will be at the Showcase Cinema de Lux in High Cross, at 6.00pm with a 6.30 start for around one hour. The event, organised by Capital FM, will be a "town hall" style Question and Answer session.

If you live in Leicester make every effort to attend to ask him some questions.

For more info and to book a place go to the Captial FM website here.

Annual household incomes fall for first time since 1981

2011-03-29T15:04:00.001+01:00

The FT today reported that household incomes have fallen for the first time since 1981. The FT said:

The annual amount workers take home in their pay packets – adjusted for inflation – fell for the first time in three decades, it was revealed on Tuesday, as UK growth for the final three months of last year was revised slightly higher.

Real household disposable income – incomes after taxes and adjusted for inflation – fell by 0.5 per cent in 2010, the first annual drop since 1981

To read the full article go here.

Remember: this analysis includes both public and private sector workers.

The situation is likely to get be far worse for public sector workers earning more than £21,000 who will be seeing no pay rise this year, or next year. Local government workers on less than £21,000 are not even getting the paltry £250 flat rate increase they were promised by George Osborne.

And on top of this inflation is racing away.

George Osborne's so called "budget for growth" is nothing of the sort and his disastrous economic policies are letting the bankers who caused this mess get away scott free while the rest of us pay the price.

There is an alternative - and it is here.

Speech from Dave Prentis at Hyde Park on 26 March

2011-03-29T11:34:00.000+01:00

Here is the rousing speech given by UNISON General Secertary, Dave Prentis on 26 March at Hyde Park

Can you trust him?

2011-03-28T07:53:00.004+01:00

Below is another one of the GPF funded posters going up in some selected bus shelters before the local elections.

Hyde Park at 4:30

2011-03-26T16:24:00.002Z

And they are still flooding in over 5 hours after the start.

Massive turnout

2011-03-26T14:21:00.001Z

Is staggering how big this march is. Started marching over 2 hours ago and there are still people who have not got past the start at the Embankment.

Can you trust him?

2011-03-25T07:20:00.003Z

Below is a proof of a General Political Fund poster that will be appearing in selected areas of the East Midlands 10 days before the local elections.

Economists say budget growth forecasts are wrong

2011-03-25T06:46:00.002Z

George Osborne's budget was meant to be "a budget for growth. An article in the FT highlights that many leafing economists disagree with the budget forecasts. The article says:

Economists have criticised the Budget economic forecast for being far too optimistic about growth in the second half of the decade, casting doubt on the viability of George Osborne’s deficit reduction plan.

The forecasts, produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility for the chancellor, suggest that the vast majority of the growth shortfall last year will come back at some point after 2015.

This judgment, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said, explained the green light the OBR had given to Mr Osborne’s deficit reduction plan.

In 2015-16, the OBR judged that Mr Osborne would have £15bn leeway in meeting the government’s fiscal mandate of eliminating the current structural budget deficit. But the OBR was able to make this assessment only because it also judged that the economy still had spare capacity to grow 1.3 per cent faster than the long-term average after 2015-16, even though it gave no indication of the sources of this windfall growth.

Without the judgments that an output gap of 1.3 per cent would still exist in five years’ time, the OBR’s forecasts would have shown Mr Osborne falling short on his fiscal mandate in 2015-16 by £5bn.

On Thursday night the OBR refused to disclose the methodology underpinning this assessment to the Financial Times. It said it would not be proper to do so at the moment.

Read the full article here.

Sea of purple and green to snake through London on Saturday

2011-03-24T16:20:00.001Z

Press release from the UNISON website

A carnival atmosphere, with brass bands, dragonfly stilt walkers, 4000 trumpets and tattoos, all decked out in green and purple, will snake its way through London’s streets on Saturday (26 March).

UNISON, the UK’s largest union, will form the biggest group of people marching against the cuts, as tens of thousands of nurses, midwives, social workers, teaching assistants, blood transfusion staff and healthcare assistants make their way from all corners of the country, by train, plane, tube, boat and coach.

From even further afield, union representatives from France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, will show their support for an alternative, fairer global approach to the economic crisis. The union leaders will take part in a round table discussion on Friday (25 March), highlighting the different approaches their countries have taken to the downturn.

The UNISON group will assemble from 11.00 am outside Embankment tube, with the march heading off to Hyde Park at 12 o’clock midday. UNISON, at the front of the trade union section, will be lead by giant purple inflatable’s and national banners.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:

“Marching to the sound of a choir, brass bands, drummers, trumpets, rattles and whistles, a sea of purple and green ponchos, hats, t-shirts and flags will make its way through London on Saturday.

“Millions of lives have already, or will shortly be, touched by the Tory’s reckless plans. Tens of thousands of dedicated public service workers will vote with their feet, marching with family and friends to show their support for an alternative economic approach.

“We know the government has other choices – but the Tories are ideologically wedded to cutting back on vital local services and public sector jobs. This is not only a disaster strategy for our society – it is already hitting our chances of recovery. Instead of making cuts that close children’s centres, connexions offices and cut hospital beds, the Tory-led coalition should impose a Robin Hood Tax on banks, and make taxation fairer.”

Why UNISON members are marching

The Government’s own forecasts expect a total of 330,000 public service jobs to go because of the cuts – some economists estimate the toll will be much higher. This includes 50,000 job cuts from NHS trusts in England, and 140,000 jobs from councils in England.

Not only will this destroy our society, with vital services that provide a safety net for the poor, the sick and the vulnerable closing down, it will wreak havoc on our economy – hitting our chances of recovery.

At 2.5m unemployment is already at a 17 year high, and will keep on rising, inflation has hit a two-year high, and business and consumer confidence are already low. We do not accept the government’s mantra that cuts are the only way – this is a political choice and there is an alternative.

Instead of making cuts that are stretching the gap between the rich and poor, the government should use taxation and measures against the banks, including a Robin Hood tax, to spread the burden of the crisis, fairly.

Keeping up public spending on vital services would help us to recover from the recession, and help communities to pick up the pieces.

We are now up to 69 coaches going to London

2011-03-22T19:24:00.000Z

Yesterday we posted 67 coaches were going on the demo on Saturday - it is now up to 69.

Do you need a coach?
If you want to go but you haven't got transport sorted yet, a list of the UNISON branches sending coaches is here. If you contact the relevant person you may be able to book a seat. But be quick, places are going very quickly.

Alternatively you can go to the False Economy website for info on transport that might be available.

Train
There is specially chartered train from the East Midlands organised by the RMT union. There are still seats available on the train from the East Midlands and times and calling stations are given below.

Tickets are discounted for trade unionists and their families and friends at £20 return. Anyone interested in booking a seat should email Dave Jones at d.jones at rmt.org.uk

Chartered train Saturday 26th March
Departs Sheffield 07.48
Chesterfield 08.01
Derby 08.32
EM Parkway 08.49
Leicester 09.06
Arrives St Pancras 10.46

Return St Pancras 17.45

Now it's 67 coaches going to London

2011-03-21T17:48:00.001Z

Yesterday we blogged that 63 coaches were going on the demo on Saturday - and in less than a day it is now up to 67.

Do you need a coach?

If you want to go but you haven't got transport sorted yet, a list of the UNISON branches sending coaches is here. If you contact the relevant person you may be able to book a seat. But be quick, places are going very quickly.

Alternatively you can go to the False Economy website for info on transport that might be available.

UNISON Vice-President Chris Tansley says "join us on 26 March"

2011-03-20T19:17:00.000Z

Chris Tansley is a Child Care Social Worker and NEC member from the East Midlands as well as currently being the UNISON Vice-President.

He recently had an article published in the journal Community Care.

It is reproduced it below.

Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, recently said that he was surprised that there wasn't more public anger over the scale of cuts being wielded.

Well, I can tell Mr King it's been building up with demonstrations in most of our major cities and increasing levels of industrial action in several of our councils, including my own, as the cuts to services and job losses become clear.

My recently elected Tory council is forcing through a politically motivated £78m of cuts that will see all our residential care homes for older people sold, day centres closed, libraries shut and 3,000 workers losing their jobs over the next two years. Unison pointed out, to no avail, that the council had £28.9m in reserves, which it could use to offset job losses and service cuts.

Other local authorities are facing budget shortfalls from a government that has deliberately given more to rich Tory areas than to poorer, inner city Labour controlled areas.

As the NHS faces wholesale marketisation, other parts of the public sector - police, probation service, careers and youth services - are facing cuts. It's clear from statements that are coming from the prime minister about opening up the public sector to the market that it's all part of a strategy that the Tories have been planning for the past 11 years to roll back the state.

The mantra of the government that they have to do this to bring down the national debt is a smokescreen. We've had higher levels of national debt. In fact, the highest was after the second world war when it stood at 250% of the gross domestic product, not the 40% it is now - and we still managed to create the NHS and the welfare state.

Local authorities are set to be commissioners, not providers, of the services that were run for the needs of the local communities and the vulnerable within them but will now be run for profit instead.

We are in the eye of a perfect storm which, unless we put a stop to it, will destroy the welfare state as we know it.

We need the real Big Society - our communities, service users, public sector workers and trade unionists - to join together on the 26 March and hold the biggest demonstration that this country has ever seen before it's too late.

A stunning 63 coaches going to the March for the Alternative on 26 March

2011-03-20T18:40:00.001Z

That's right! The East Midlands region has an impressive 63 coaches confirmed as going to the March for the Alternative on 26 March.

That's a great response and when you consider other unions and community groups will be sending coaches too, along with thousands of people who will be making their own way down we can expect to see hundreds of thousands of people marching through London on 26 March.

We will be making history, that's for sure.

Do you need a coach?

Alternatively you can go to the False Economy website for info on transport that might be available.

What about taking the train down?
There is specially chartered train from the East Midlands organised by the RMT union. There are still seats available on the train from the East Midlands and times and calling stations are given below.

Tickets are discounted for trade unionists and their families and friends at £20 return. Anyone interested in booking a seat should email Dave Jones at d.jones at rmt.org.uk

Chartered train Saturday 26th March
Departs Sheffield 07.48
Chesterfield 08.01
Derby 08.32
EM Parkway 08.49
Leicester 09.06
Arrives St Pancras 10.46

Return St Pancras 17.45

Strange, but true..........

2011-03-18T22:12:00.001Z

Seems there are some Tories who "get it"

Hat tip: The Nobody Likes a Tory Facebook site

A picture tells a thousand words (about the deficit)

2011-03-17T22:10:00.000Z

The deficit is caused by public spending say the Tories and the Lib Dems. Sometimes a picture can tell a story better than words can.

The graph above (from the excellent False Economy website) shows it was not public spending that caused the deficit; it was really caused by falling tax revenues because of a recession caused by the global banking collapse.

Go to the False Economy website for more well written and easy to understand explanations about the economy.

Nick Clegg in Chesterfield Fri 18 Mar - come protest

2011-03-17T20:20:00.000Z

BREAKING NEWS: Nick "I pledge not to raise tuition fees" Clegg is in Chesterfield tomorrow. Come and join the protests at 8am at Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce, Canal Wharf, Chesterfield.

Lincolnshire County UNISON members vote for industrial action

2011-03-15T23:21:00.000Z

A stunning 83 per cent of UNISON members at Lincolnshire County Council have voted "yes" in favour of industrial action short of strike action.

The action means carers will only work their contracted hours and complete their contractual duties.

The dispute is about the council's announced changes to adult social care which could mean up to 118 full-time equivalent posts being axed, as well as vital services to the vulnerable being cut.

Branch Secretary John Sharman said:

"The fact this action is happening should send a message to the county council that our members are very serious about this."

Cleggzilla

2011-03-14T15:34:00.001Z

Although not in the East Midlands region we think you might find this of interest. UNISON Sheffield welcomed Liberal Democrat delegates to their spring conference in the city yesterday with a reminder of just how unpopular their leader has become since taking the party into coalition with the Tories.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg is the MP for Sheffield Hallam.

The UNISON Sheffield office is directly opposite one of the main conference hotels – and as delegates set out for the opening of their conference this morning, they were greeted by the branch's 'Cleggzilla' banner, graphically showing the damage Clegg has done to the city in his short time in government.

Pictured with the banner above are activists from UNISON’s Sheffield local government branch outside the union office.

Another heavywieght economist lambasts Osborne's austrity meausres

2011-03-14T12:23:00.001Z

In his New Statesman blog this weekend, former Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Professor David Blanchflower writes about another stinging criticism of George Osborne's misguided austerity measures. Blanchflower concludes his article:

Osborne is going to find it increasingly hard to claim that the world and his dog supports his economic strategy when the Cabinet Office's former chief economist clearly does not share that view. And neither do Nobel prize winners Krugman, Stiglitz and Pissarides, and a growing consensus of economic commentators, along with the majority of the British public. The time for turning is approaching.

To read the full article click here.

Bassetlaw Public Meeting against the cuts - Wed 16th March

2011-03-14T11:37:00.000Z

There is a public meeting against the cuts in Bassetlaw on Wed 16th March at 7.00pm at The Crossing, Newcastle Street, Worksop‏.

Private sector jobs are not being created

2011-03-09T08:13:00.000Z

The Financial Times today reported that private sector employment was not filling the gap cuased by public spending cuts. The FT report:

Hays, the UK’s largest hiring agency, said the increase in private sector employment was so far failing to counteract the loss of public sector jobs.

With tens of thousands of workers losing their jobs as a result of the government’s spending cuts, the recruiter warned there was unlikely to be any improvement in the unemployment rate – currently 7.9 per cent – in the next six months.

As we've said time and time again, these unnecessary cuts will be devastating for public sector workers who lose their jobs, will hit the most vulnerable in our communities and just as importantly they will damage the economic recovery.

There is an alternative to cuts - click here to see it.

Banker takes the biscuit

2011-03-09T08:07:00.000Z

From yesterday's London Evening Standard:

A public-sector employee in a union, a banker and a member of the "squeezed middle classes" are sitting at a table.

In the middle of the table there is a plate with a dozen biscuits on it.

The banker takes 11 of them, turns to the middle-income man and says: "Look out for that union guy. He's after a piece of your biscuit."

28,000 police jobs to go

2011-03-08T08:13:00.002Z

Today's Guardian reports that 28,000 police jobs will be lost as a result of government cuts.

Do you remember David Cameron saying there would be no cuts to frontline services?

Opting out from Public Sector Pension Schemes on the up

2011-03-07T07:41:00.003Z

Today's Financial Times has a worrying report about increased opting out from the UK's largest public sector pension scheme because workers are feeling the pinch because of rising inflation.

The FT reports:

The number of workers opting out of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, the nation’s largest public sector scheme, has risen by more than 50 per cent in the past year, even before the effect of higher contribution rates takes effect.

The trend will worry the government, coming ahead of this week’s publication of the final findings of Lord Hutton’s public sector pensions review, and indicates that ministers may struggle to close the gap between what is paid out in benefits and taken through contributions.

The number of opt-outs, which does not include those who chose never to join the scheme since they began their employment, rose to 1,210 in 2010 from 773 the year before, a rise of 56 per cent. The scheme has about 97,000 active members and the combination of departures and opt-outs has cut the number of contributors by about 4,000 in 2010.

This should serve as a warning to a government who seem hell bent on raising contribution rates for public sector workers who are already feeling the pinch of rising inflation.

A child's plea

2011-03-06T21:51:00.000Z

Ronald Reagan on the right to be in a union

2011-03-06T20:52:00.002Z

Another famous left wing radical. This time former US President, Ronald Reagan on the "basic right to form free trade unions and to strike."

Governor of the Bank of England on the cause of the recession

2011-03-06T20:48:00.000Z

In last week's Guardian it was reported, that famously trade union loving, left wing radical, Mervyn King, the Governnor of the Bank of England said:

"The price of this financial crisis is being borne by people who absolutely did not cause it. Now is the period when the cost is being paid, I'm surprised that the degree of public anger has not been greater than it has."

Actually Mervyn, people are angry - and once the cuts bite they will get angrier.

But thanks for being one of the few people in the Establishment to be telling the truth about this crisis.

Wonder if George Osborne will change his tune now and stop blaming public spending for this mess?

A withering attack on government economic policies

2011-03-05T08:46:00.004Z

David Blanchflower is one of the few economists who predicted this banking induced recession. On his New Statesman blog this week he delivers a stinging attack on George Osborne's economic policies and the lack of any proper plans for growth.

The whole article us worth a read but the final paragraph sums up the situation very nicely:

In the Budget on 23 March, George Osborne will have to lower his growth estimates. The only growth strategy he has right now is to hope for good news, such as a gold strike in the Welsh hills. U-turn, here we come. And David Cameron will then say that he is "really, really, really, really sorry" for another screw-up.

Another anthem against the cuts

2011-03-01T15:17:00.001Z

Hot on the heels from last year's excellent "Liar Liar" anti cuts track, Captain Ska have followed it up with a new tune "Shame on You." Another great contribution to the anti cuts movement.

Health Service Cuts in Derbyshire

2011-02-28T20:11:00.000Z

During the election campaign David Cameron pledged to protect and ring fence the NHS from cuts promising that spending on the NHS would increase every year this has proved to be another lie.

Derbyshire County Council a Conservative controlled Council recently stated they are pulling out of the Adult, Older Adult and Learning Disability Services they jointly provide in partnership with Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Pam Shepherd, UNISON Regional Organiser said:

“The withdrawal of services by Derbyshire County Council will have a far reaching effect on the mental health community leaving the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust fire fighting in relation to the services it provides. There is no doubt that this will have an impact on not just mental health services but services provide for older people

This is at a time where the demand for mental health services is rising due to poverty, unemployment, workplace stress and the breakdown of families due to the recession.“

There is already evidence that the recession has pushed up demand for mental health services, while in-patient numbers have risen for the first time in five years.

With an economy which is on the down and more people becoming unemployed and with less public support services out there it's inevitable there will be more people who will become really depressed. Some people won't be able to cope.

Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust itself will have to shed between 350 and 400 posts over the next 5 years in order to make ends meet. They have to make a 5% saving every year, 75% of the Trusts costs are staff: therefore 350 – 400 posts will be lost.

Most of these will be natural wastage where staff leaving will not be replaced and services reconfigured. The type of posts will be clerical, admin and senior managers. The loss of these posts will increase the pressure on community teams with an inevitable rise in caseloads also the loss of skills through experienced managers leaving. All this when staff are demoralised with pressure of extra work, nil wage increase, their pensions threatened as well as their jobs being down banded.

An area like Bolsover, which was devastated by the last Conservative Government with the closure of the coalmines, has 50/50 services with Derbyshire County Council. Without the social services element to help alleviate some of the social problems that cause depression and mental health then people will fall through the net at a time when we should be helping them more.

These cuts in mental health are a false economy as our members' jobs are to help and support patients with mental health problems in the community. Take away that support will just leave the vulnerable more vulnerable and at risk.

Just another sad example of cuts that will put hard working public sector workers on the scrap heap, hit vulnerable service users and wreck the local economy.

These cuts are unnecessary and the reasons why are outlined here.

Derby Protest Against Council Cuts - Weds 2 March

2011-02-28T20:04:00.000Z

The Tory Lib-Dem coalition at Derby City Council are planning to vote through millions of pounds of cuts to vital council services later this week.

There will be a protest at 5pm on Wednesday 2 March - meet at The Assembly Rooms. Then the protest will move on to actual council meeting.

LIVE BLOGGING from Notts County demo

2011-02-24T12:09:00.004Z

Today UNISON members are taking strike action. And as part of the strike action the branch have organised a march and demonstration.

As we blog live we can report over 1,000 people have turned up to the demo outside County Hall as the full council meets to agree the budget.

It's not just UNISON members who are here; hundreds of people from the community who are being hit by the cuts are here too. There are is also a good show of solidarity from sister unions such as CWU, FBU and PCS.

50,000 NHS Jobs to go

2011-02-23T07:04:00.002Z

The excellent False Economy website today reports on research it has done that has uncovered that over 50,000 NHS jobs are due to be cut.

Before the election David Cameron famously said he'd "cut the deficit, not the NHS.".

Notts County budget - latest update

2011-02-22T21:47:00.000Z

Only a few days ago we submitted a response to Tory-run Notts County Council on their budget. Our original letter to the Leader of the Council can be found here. The council is planning to make cuts of over £75m this year - far more than any other council in the region.

The council has replied - a copy of their reply with our comments in the margin can be found here. As you will see the council has stated that some of our suggestions are not feasible.

Fair enough.

But this has only come to light because they have now made available a Budget Summary document with the papers for the full council meeting on 24 February. This Budget Summary document was not available when we put together our response. And really it should have been.

We have been able to identify significant other savings and these are contained in our letter to Kay Cutts, the Leader of the Council which was sent today along with our comments on their reply referred to above.

We believe there are between £13.9m - £22.9m of easy savings to be made. And given that the budget pressures are so high compared to other councils (see page 6 of the letter) there could well be more money to be saved.

What is also very alarming is that last year when the council set the budget it estimated it would have some £78m in earmarked reserves on 31 March 2010. Decisions on the 10/11 budget were made (including the decision to cut £29.9m of expenditure) with these figures in mind.

However it turned out that the earmarked reserves were £101m - some 25% higher than originally forecast.We don;t know where this extra £22m has come from.

Would the councillors have taken the decision to cut £29.9m from the 10/11 budget had they known the earmarked reserves would have been £22m higher?

If you read our detailed submission to the council it raises some serious questions about the reliability of the council's forecasting on the budget.

Do they really need to make the cuts they are suggesting? We will leave you to decide for yourself.

Inside Job - a must see film before it goes off screen

2011-02-22T21:16:00.001Z

This is cross posted from UNISONActive.

The very reason your job is under threat, your pension under attack and your public services threatend with privatisation is set out in the ground breaking film Inside Job - the financial crisis has affected everyone, from middle-class home owners to outsourced factory workers in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Inside Job lifts the lid on exactly how the catastrophic collapse of the world’s economy was not only perpetrated but in some cases actually pre-meditated.

Narrated by Matt Damon, it traces the root of the problem back to the Reagan administration and its policy of deregulation and shows how through the corruption and greed of banks we came to be in the situation we are today.

It uses clearly laid out and well explained graphics to not only explain technical terms like CDOs (Collateralised Debt Obligations), derivatives, and MBSs (Mortgage Backed Securities) but to show exactly how this large-scale fraud was accomplished - a real achievement considering how the technical jargon could have made it impenetrably dull.

Writer and director Charles Ferguson has managed to corral an impressive assortment of talking heads.

This is no lightweight documentary based on a lone outsider’s opinion but a powerful and far-ranging exposé which includes interviews with the Former Governor of New York, Eliot Spizer (soon to be the subject of another documentary Client 9); Christine Lagarde, the French Minister of Finance; Glenn Hubbard, Chief Economic Advisor during the Bush Administration and Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore.

It’s unfortunate that those who seem to be most responsible declined to be interviewed (notably former Chairman Of The Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan, Ben Benanke, the present incumbent, and Hank Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs and former US Treasury Secretary) but that’s only to be expected.

Inside Job reveals that the banks power to create money as debt and the greed that fed on the bonuses is at the heart of the problem.

With deregulation, bankers could bet on assets that didn’t even exist yet and with the complicity of insurance companies and financial ratings firms, eventually made money by betting on the failure of assets which they themselves had recommended using a monetary sleight of hand that Charles Ponzi himself would have been proud of.

The film goes further by suggesting that even debate of the economic situation is stifled because many of the economics professors at prominent universities hold positions on the boards of powerful banks – a potential conflict of interest that they’re not even obligated to disclose.

Even worse, this culture is unlikely to change as there’s a revolving door between the echelons of high government and Wall Street.

Even under Obama who proposed widespread financial reform, very little has changed – Ben Bernanke was recently re-appointed as Chairman Of The Federal Reserve despite several controversies.

Inside Job is a far more impartial documentary than any of Michael Moore’s films, Ferguson doesn’t ambush interviewees or slyly report cherry-picked facts but it's no less provocative.

That’s not to say it’s not angry – the tone of outrage is impossible to suppress, especially in the last quarter.

You’ll be shocked, appalled and enraged not only by the monumental greed and duplicity which it uncovers but also by the fact that none of the culprits has been indicted for a plethora of financial crimes ranging from insider trading, bribery, money laundering and massive international fraud.

There’s always a debate as to whether documentaries deserve cinema releases and Inside Job goes some way to justifying that with some spectacular city shots.

But more importantly, international distribution brings a worldwide audience and everyone should see this; the content is vital, imperative and will make you want to seek a solution to one of the oldest problems humanity has faced...who should have the power to create our money?

Another anthem against the cuts

2011-02-22T03:18:00.003Z

First we had Captain Ska with Liar, Liar with a fantastic tune and powerful political message.

Now UK artist Adynkrah has produced an excellent cover of Bob Marley's Redemption Song with some alteration of the lyrics to deliver an attack on the government’s cuts.

Have a listen. We think you will like it.

Private sector won't employ sacked public sector workers

2011-02-21T22:41:00.002Z

The government is hoping that the private sector will find employment for those public sector workers who lose their jobs as a result of George Osborne's austerity measures.

But a report in today's Financial Times gives the alarming results from a survey recently carried out. The FT says:

Most private employers say these people are not equipped to join their businesses, according to a survey of 500 companies carried out by Barclays Corporate and the Financial Times.

Although more than half plan to create jobs this year, three-quarters fear they will not create enough to compensate for those lost in the public sector.

So, these austerity measures will unfairly hit the most vulnerable in our society who will lose vital public services they rely on.

On top of that public sector workers will also pay the price of an economic crash not of their making, because the government does not have the guts to make the greedy bakers who caused this mess pay their fair share.

And finally, it is looking very much like the private sector will not "fill the gap" with jobs for the sacked public sector workers, which means a prolonged economic slump and a massive hit to public finances as more state benefits are paid out to unemployed public sector workers who cannot find a job.

As we've said before, the evidence shows austerity does not work.

Need a coach place for the demo on 26 March?

2011-02-20T19:52:00.001Z

The East Midlands region's plans for a good turn out on the March for the Alternative on 26 March are going very well.

We now have over 50 coaches confirmed as going from a variety of UNISON branches in the region. That's a great response and when you consider other unions and community groups will be sending coaches too, along with thousands of people who will be making their own way down we can expect to see hundreds of thousands of people marching through London on 26 March.

If you want to go but you haven't got transport sorted yet, You can get a list of the UNISON branches sending coaches here. If you contact the relevant person you may be able to book a seat. But be quick, places are going very quickly.

Alternatively you can go to the False Econmy website for info on transport that might be available.

Keep the Post Public - March and Rally Sat 19 February

2011-02-20T19:03:00.001Z

It's not just areas where UNISON members work that are under attack; all parts of the public sector are under attack from this ideologically driven government. One important part of our public services under attack we should all be worried about is the planned privatisation of the Royal Mail.

The Keep the Post Public campaign run by the Communications Workers Union affects us all. At stake is:

Increasing mail prices
Cuts to the universal service whereby the Royal Mail deliver letters to every address in the UK for the same price
Closures to Post Offices

This issue affects everyone in the UK who wants to retain the high quality postal service we all currently enjoy. Show your support by going to the Keep the Post Public website and sending an email to your MP.

This Saturday the CWU and the Labour Party jointly held a march and rally in Beeston, Nottingham where hundreds of people turned out to say no to privatisation.The turnout was all the more impressive when you consider that many of the CWU members had just knocked off from a shift that started early in the morning.

It was good to see that UNISON activists were out in force to show solidarity with the CWU in their struggle. The picture above shows the march with some UNISON staff who turned up to show their support and pictured below are Notts County UNISON activists (who will be striking on 24 February) who also turned up.

And he said he would protect the NHS

2011-02-18T19:31:00.001Z

Here is an article in The Guardian about 1,000 frontline job losses in two hospitals. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Hat tip to http://www.andybarefoot.com/politics/cameron.php?poster=544465 for the poster

Art imitating life?

2011-02-17T21:02:00.002Z

A UNISON member emailed us with the above picture and following comment:

Terry Gilliam’s 1985 film Brazil depicts a repressed society under the yoke of dysfunctional, corrupt totalitarian dictatorship in a country where nothing really works.

In one scene you can see a government propaganda poster. The slogan on it?

We Are All in This Together’

It’s déjà vu all over again

A very astute and apt observation.

Notts County UNISON vote for strike action

2011-02-17T14:50:00.001Z

UNISON members at Notts County UNISON have voted to take strike action in defence of jobs and services. The one day strike is planned for 24 February, the day that the full council meets to set the budget.

Although Notts County Council plan to make over £75m of cuts there is still time for them to avert the strike. Earlier this week we wrote to the council to show them how they could make £26m of easy savings.

In our letter we said:

We are left to draw the conclusion that the current budget position may be a deliberate misrepresentation taken for party political reasons, with the aim of building up a "slush fund" to reduce Council Tax before the next county council elections. Of course, we may be wrong about this and we would be grateful for written confirmation that the council does not intend to do this.

The council issued an official statement in response to our letter, but interestingly they did not deny the suggestion that they were building up a "slush fund" to cut council tax.

If the council implements the suggestions in our letter they can avoid the need for any compulsory redundancies. And ensure vulnerable people continue to receive vital services.

They have the power to avoid this strike - let's see if they take the sensible course of action.

Protest against the cuts - Northampton - 24 February

2011-02-15T20:06:00.000Z

There will be a rally and demonstration on Thursday 24th February, at 1pm outside County Hall in Northampton in protest of the £80m that Northamptonshire County Council wants to cut from public services in 2011-12.

Proposed cuts include:

900 county council staff redundancies – Less staff to fix pot holes, assess clients for long-term care needs, and support with emergency short-term needs…this will cause delays and longer waiting lists!
Bus Grants – for rural bus services, and Sunday and evening buses across town, to be axed!
Street lights – every other street light to be switched off, which is a health and safety hazard especially for the vulnerable
Rape and Domestic Violence Services – 24% cut in funding to support those who have been raped or suffered sexual abuse
Advice centres – under threat of closure, or losing staff and volunteers
Tackling anti-social behaviour – projects to go that successfully prevent anti-social behaviour and teenage pregnancy
Libraries – small libraries and mobile van routes under threat

Visit Northampton Against The Cuts for more details.

Why Police Staff Matter

2011-02-15T19:34:00.003Z

The public say it time and time again - they want to see more police officers on the street. The video below explains how their police staff colleagues create the time and space for the officers to do their jobs.

My Funny Valentine

2011-02-14T21:56:00.000Z

A funny little Valentine's poem appeared in today's Nottingham Post.

For those who may be unfamiliar, Kay Cutts is the Tory Leader of Notts County Council who we recently exposed as misrepresenting their budget situation to make bigger cuts than necessary for ideological reasons.

The poem pithily outlines the impact of the cuts.

Short Valentine to Kay Cutts

Roses are red
Dahlias are brown
I'd like to read you the rest
but the library's closed down

Dave Bishop, Nottingham

We are on Facebook

2011-02-13T20:54:00.002Z

We've created a Facebook page for UNISON (East Midlands) so Facebook users can easily keep up to date with what is going on in the region.

You can find it here.

Please subscribe to it and pass on the link to others.

UNISON finds £26m for Notts County Council and ask some serious questions

2011-02-13T18:53:00.001Z

Tory-run Notts County Council are planning over £75m of cuts to services which will result in 1,400 job losses, around 1,000 of which will be compulsory redundancies. The scale of the cuts to jobs and services in Notts is bigger than anything else in the East Midlands.

Last year they said they needed to cut £33m but UNISON showed comprehensively that there was £28m of "easy savings" to be found that could have avoided these cuts. But the council went ahead and made £28m of cuts to vital services that had a devastating impact on the community, especially on people like Bert.

This year, again, UNISON have looked at the accounts and the budget proposals and we've found over £26m of easy savings. All county councillors will be receiving a letter, in advance of the full council meeting on 24 February that will agree the budget, outlining how the £26m can be found.

Dealing with these cuts has been a team effort across all parts of the union. The detailed 12 page letter was put together by UNISON regional and national offices working together to reveiw the accounts and find alternatives - you can get a copy of the letter here.

The local Notts County UNISON branch have been doing a great job talking to members in workplaces and organsing publicity events in the lead up to the full council meeting. The branch have also organised a march from The Embankment to County Hall on the day of the full council meeting when the budget will be approved.

In addition UNISON members are being balloted on strike action.

Comparing Notts County with other councils is striking, because the scale of the cuts seems to be much larger than would be driven by the cuts to central government grant funding.

Notts County have had a government grant cut of £25m and are shedding 1,400 jobs - 1,000 of which will be compulsory redundancies.

But neighbouring Nottingham City Council who have a had a bigger grant cut of £33m (on a budget about half of that of Notts) are losing 370 jobs. And Nottingham City are aiming for all of these to be voluntary redundancies.

Derbyshire County Council has a similar sized overall budget as Notts County, and have had a grant cut of £23m and are losing around 1,000 jobs. Derbyshire County are aiming to lose most, if not all of these jobs through voluntary redundancies.

Something does not add up. If you read page 12 of the letter we've sent you will see we have drawn the following conclusion:

We acknowledge that finances are tight for all councils, but we are very puzzled as to how the County Council is claiming to be in such a difficult budget position compared to other councils.

We are left to draw the conclusion that the current budget position may be a deliberate misrepresentation taken for party political reasons, with the aim of building up a “slush fund” to reduce Council Tax before the next county council elections. Of course, we may be wrong about this and we would be grateful for written confirmation that the council does not intend to do this.

We believe that if the County Council implements the savings we have suggested in this letter along with a thorough review of the budget pressures there will be no need for any compulsory redundancies

Tory Council leaders aren't happy with the cuts

2011-02-13T18:35:00.000Z

Last week we saw more nearly 100 top Lib Dem councillors (including 18 council leaders) speak the truth and criticise their own government's cuts.

The next day, Jim Pickard, on this Financial Times Westminster blog wrote a piece about how Tory council leaders are not happy about the cuts either. He reported that Anne Millward, Tory leader of Dudley borough council, who has said many Tory leaders took a “very similar” view to their Lib Dem counterparts.

So now we have criticisms council leaders from all three mainstream parties. But still the government ploughs ahead with these cuts. They are unnecessary and if you want to see why click here.

At what point will Eric Pickles and George Osborne actually listen to what people are saying?

Perhaps they will listen when tens of thousands of people take to the streets of London on 26 March on the TUC March for the Alternative.

Make sure you are there to make sure that they do.