Hi
Just a quick note to say that our folks at national level has asked us to draw your attention to the campaign against the very damaging NHS Bill.
You can find out more about the Bill and why it is such a disaster here: http://unison.org.uk/ournhs/
You can also take positive action by completing this petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670 or by visiting this page on the unison web site: http://unison.org.uk/ournhs/adopt.asp.
Hi,
It’s that time of year again and our branch AGM is almost upon us. The AGM will be taking place on Friday 30th March at 10:30am – 12:30 in the Fountains Lecture Theatre (FT/002). HR have been informed and will be contacting managers to encourage them to make every effort to ensure that everyone can attend. If you are unable to attend for some reason please let us know so that we can do our best to make the event as accessible as possible buth this time and in future years.
Last year’s minutes are available at http://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/unison/2011/03/17/agm-2011-minutes/. If you are unable to access them for some reason then please speak to one of our union representatives (listed below) and they can arrange for you to get a paper copy. A limited number of copies will also be available on the day.
The agenda this year follows the usual pattern and is currently as follows:
If there are any items you would like added or clarified please let us know. If you wish to nominate or second anyone for a position as a branch office and are unable to attend the AGM in person then please let us know either by email (unison@yorksj.ac.uk) or by contacting one of your representatives (listed below) who will be able to assist you in making a nomination.
Lastly – please note that the current branch constitution can be found at http://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/unison/files/2011/03/Constitution-2011-03-09.pdf and if you require it in printed format please contact us directly at unison@yorksj.ac.uk or via one of our representatives (listed below)
|
Name |
Position |
Phone |
|
| Dave Thompson | Chair | 01904 87 6668 | d.thompson@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Anna Herbert | Deputy Chair | 01904 87 6542 | a.herbert@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Gareth Jenkins | Branch Secretary | 01904 87 6909 | g.jenkins@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Ken Scott | Treasurer | 01904 87 6676 | k.scott@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Pieter Smit | Membership Secretary | 01904 87 6908 | p.smit@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Linda Wilson | Health and Safety Rep | 01904 644578 | l.wilson@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Monty Feather | Health and Safety Rep | 01904 87 6706 | m.feather@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Hazel Eldred | Workplace Representative | 01904 87 6926 | h.eldred@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Keith Vasey | Workplace Representative | 01904 87 6668 | k.vasey@yorksj.ac.uk |
| Paul Oldroyd | Workplace Representative | 01904 410180 | p.oldroyd@yorksj.ac.uk |
You can also contact us via our official mailbox: unison@yorksj.ac.uk
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2011 AGM and a special, extra thank you to everyone who contributed in whatever manner. As a result of the meeting we have our new branch constitution in place (you can find a copy under the ‘documents’ menu) and we have now welcomed our new Treasurer – Ken Scott.
A copy of the minutes can be found by clicking here. If you spot any inaccuracies or omissions please let us know.
Well – it’s been the usual long summer and usually union matters go very quiet. This year has been different though – not too surprising for any of you with your fingers on the pulse.
Nationally we’ve been fighting cuts, pensions changes and other attacks on public services. Please take the time to visit the national UNISON website to see the latest news.
Locally we’ve had an agenda full of restructures, financial resilience, smoking policy, car parking, building alterations, workload/stress and all of the usual individual cases of advice, grievance, disciplinary and so on. We have also drafted a new branch constitution – but more on that as we approach the next AGM.
All in all – we’ve been busy and that’s not likely to change for a while.
Hi,
Not really as weighty as a lot of the things we post here but… we’ve been notified that our regional folks have negotiated a discount for members at Lighterwater Valley (http://www.lightwatervalley.co.uk). Show your Unison membership card at the gate any time up to 31 October 2010 and you’ll get tickets at £11.95 (rather than £19.45). One card entitles you to up to 6 discounted tickets per visit so your friends and family can benefit too.
If you need a replacement membership card please let one of your Stewards know or email unison@yorksj.ac.uk and we’ll get one in the post to you.
We have received the following message from our regional office – concerning events being held for the Labour Leadership battle:
This is a linked series of posts about my experiences of National Delegate Conference 2010. Why a linked series? Well – I want to keep them bite-sized both for the benefit of the reader and so that I can actually get them out on a senisble schedule.
We’ve added a new section to our web site. Under the documents menu you will find an increasing number of documents around negotiation, meetings, advice etc.
We don’t have a massive amount there yet but we will be building on this as time goes on.
Well – I’m here at the NDC in Bournemouth and I’m trying to get snippets out to you as quickly as I can. You can see relatively concise news from the event on twitter:
I will try and get a selection of longer reports out as and when I get time but the schedule is pretty hectic.
Today staff received an email from HR with a link to this document (originally in word but converted to pdf to allow as many people as possible to read it) stating the stance of Management at York St John on the currently ongoing national pay negotiations.
We considered there to be a number of issues with the veracity of the information and the manner in which it was conveyed and consequently release the following statement to our members via email. We are aware that a number of our members do not have access to email and thus have made the document and our subsequent statement available on our web site to try and reach as many members as possible.
YSJ UNISON – response to Employee Briefing on current Pay Negotiations
Following the briefing circulated by Human Resources concerning the ongoing pay negotiations, YSJ’s Unison branch would like to clarify the following points for our members:
The real pay offer
The employers have offered a 0.4% increase. As the current rate of inflation is 5.3% this means a significant real-terms pay cut. The cost of your monthly outgoings will increase substantially more than your pay, leaving you noticeably worse off.
Cost of increments and pensions
The argument that the cost of pensions and increments prevents the University from making an acceptable pay offer is disingenuous. York St John has already incorporated all of these additional costs into its financial planning – they are not new burdens to be carried.
In addition the total staff numbers have dropped by 4.2% in the last year, reducing the cost burden even more. Reviews and restructures have further reduced the amount YSJ pays out in increments and pensions.
Further, Unison refutes the argument that the effect of incremental increases on the pay bill should be taken into account during pay negotiations at all. Unlike the private sector (who pay the rate for the job from day one) in the public sector staff start below the full rate and build up reflecting increasing knowledge and skills – arguably providing a short term subsidy for HE employers. (www.unison.org.uk)
Pay increases versus job security
Does accepting a lower pay agreement mean our jobs are more secure? In a word – no. As the briefing document clearly states all decisions linked to job losses are made locally, unrelated to national pay negotiations. The proposed increases have already been factored in to York St John’s Financial Resilience Plan, they do not represent additional finances to be found at the expense of more jobs.
The financial context
YSJ Unison wishes to express its disappointment at the decision of the management to publish this briefing on a day when the media is dominated by alarming references to financial cutbacks. Unspecific references to ‘negative consequences’ to the University are unhelpful and unnecessary. Whilst the financial pressures on the University are real this should not be used as an opportunity to squeeze staff salaries further. Instead, Unison argues it is time to value the hard work of the staff who continue to contribute to the University’s development under such difficult circumstances.
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Pay negotiations are undertaken nationally on behalf of both the management and unions at York St John. You can follow their progress on our local branch page: http://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/unison/category/negotiation/pay/