Battling For Bolton Issue 2

Spring 2013 Issue 2 Free

the magazine of Bolton UNISON

Emergency! Emergency!

Bolton’s Health Services in peril

Who gives a Hoot?

BOLTON UNISON AGM

Resist Bolton Council Cuts!!!

Organise! Lobby! Stick Together!

Plus...News, Views, Branch Reports and UNISON around Bolton...

Dear Bolton UNISON Members…

Welcome to the second issue of Battling for Bolton magazine which finds us in the midst of more cuts which now total £43.6million…

Bolton Council has announced they need to make a further £9 million cuts on top of the £35.6 million projected last September. The cuts are as a direct result of the coalition dogma that ordinary people must pay for the deficit. A deficit formed as a result of a de-regulated, greedy banking sector.

There is clearly a need to get an alternative message heard The years of pay freeze, job losses and attacks on benefits and services have not reduced the public sector deficit - because that has never been the Government’s intention. For the Cabinet of millionaires, the attack on our living standards and public services is an end in itself.

Sadly many people still believe that there is nothing councils can do. A council consultation exercise with the people of Bolton about the cuts stated that 86% understand the cuts have to be made. A staff survey undertaken

by Bolton Council stated that 65% of workers understood the need for change.

There is clearly a need to get an Branch Officers Branch Chair: Branch Secretary: Branch Treasurer: Vice Chair: Assistant Branch Secretary: Equalities Officer: Health and Safety Officer: Education Officer: Welfare Officer: Life Long Learning Officer: New Technology Officer: Membership Officer: Young Members Officers:

Communications Officer: Community Organiser/ Labour Link Officer:

alternative message heard.

Cuts are not inevitable, clearly councils, (unlike central government that is able to run a deficit) have to set a legal budget but unless councils show some resistance to the cuts the government will come back for more and more.

This is evidenced by the decision to take the Tory bribe of a council tax freeze grant last year. This year the government has said that the grant is only 1% and for one year only.

The council took the decision to make cuts early in order to make full ‘in year’ savings. Whether that is the right decision only time will tell. It appears the reserves are higher than they need to be but there are worse times to come and that money may be needed to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Can we do anything about it all?

Bolton UNISON branch believes there is plenty that our members can do to challenge and resist the cuts. Read

our features on the Housing Review and on Resisting The Cuts [pages 8 and 4] to see what we are doing on a national and local level.

Where members are strong, united and organised they can make a difference…

Bernie Gallagher Bolton UNISON Branch Secretary

Matt Kilsby (01204 336044) Bernie Gallagher (07969 511622) Janet Bryan (07876 146245) John Vickers Andrea Egan (01204 338901) John McSwiggan (01204 334481) David Milne (01204 338016) Joan Pritchard-Jones (07775 642640) Julie Tudor (01204 338901) Sue Vickers (01204 334447) Eddie Pilling (01204 338901) Eddie Pilling (01204 338901) Andrew Thomas (01204 334450) Kieran Grogan (01204 335968) Martin Challender (01204 337715)

matthew.kilsby@bolton.gov.uk admin@unisonbolton.org janet.bryan@boltonathome.org.uk john.vickers@boltonathome.org.uk andreae@unisonbolton.org john.mcswiggan@bolton.gov.uk david.milne@bolton.gov.uk joanpj@unisonbolton.org admin@unisonbolton.org sue.vickers@bolton.gov.uk admin@unisonbolton.org membership@unisonbolton.org andrew.thomas@bolton.gov.uk Kieran.grogan@boltonathome.org.uk martin.challender@bolton.gov.uk

Steve Rigby

(01204 334600)

steve.rigby@boltonathome.org

(07775 642640) (01204 338901) (07876 146245) (07917 260711) (01204 338901) (01204 331039)

joanpj@unisonbolton.org cecilia@unisonbolton.org janet.bryan@boltonathome.org.uk philt@unisonbolton.org jackie.peploe@bolton.gov.uk jeanette.billing@bolton.gov.uk

Convenors Adult Services: Joan Pritchard-Jones Corporate Resources: Cecilia Costello Bolton at Home: Janet Bryan Children Services: Phil Travers Environmental Services: Jackie Peploe Chief Executive Department: Jeanette Pemberton-Billing Development and Regeneration: Matt Kilsby Bolton Community College: Graham Walmsley

(01204 336044) matthew.kilsby@bolton.gov.uk (01204 482138) graham.walmsley@boltoncc.ac.uk

CONTACT BOLTON UNISON Ground Floor, Howell Croft House, Howell Croft North, Bolton BL1 1QY Phone: 01204 338901 admin@unisonbolton.org www.unisonbolton.org Contact us if you’ve moved house, changed job, got a new name or to join Britain’s biggest and fastest growing trade union (see membership form at the back of the mag)

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Contents Resist Bolton Council Cuts!!!

Organise! Lobby! Stick Together!

A six page special on how UNISON can help – from management concessions on Housing Review to the latest demo outside the Town Hall

Emergency! Emergency!

Bolton’s Health Services in peril

Who gives a Hoot?

Bolton’s ethical loan and savings shop

General Strike Now?

We look at the Bedroom Tax, Pay Freezes and Poverty Wages - is a General Strike really far fetched?

Snow White UNISON Annual panto fun in photos

BOLTON UNISON AGM

Details, reports and motions in motion Printed by: Caric Press Ltd 525 Ringwood Road, Ferndown Dorset, BH22 9AQ 01202 871 766 www.caricpress.co.uk

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Bolton Council cuts ano On Monday 11th February, members of UNISON and GMB, service users and the community gathered to jointly lobby Bolton councillors as they met to agree another round of cuts, on top of £35.6million already announced for the next two years.

T

he feeling of the lobby was summed up by UNISON Convenor, Jeanette Pemberton Billing, who works in the Council’s Chief Executive’s department…

“Having gone through a lot of the reviews, this is the worst I’ve seen as far as the cuts are concerned” she said “It’s very depressing for everyone as they’re thinking they could be next. But there is a strength of feeling there, we can still rally our members. And I don’t think the public realise yet how far the cuts are going to affect their services. Only twenty per cent of the cuts have been delivered, and there’s another eighty per cent to come “That’s the dire message that people need to be aware of, that there’s worse to come” she added “We need this Council to put up more of a fight against central Government and not be dictated to. We also need them to make the right choices, and take the right options.”

Jeanette’s words were echoed by Julia Gregory, a worker at Jubilee Day Centre, Halliwell…

“So far, they’re going to close three of the day centres and we expect a reduction in working hours because funding for disabled people has been reduced” she explained “The Council should be protecting the most vulnerable people, they should be making their voice heard to central Government. They don’t seem to

be doing as much as they should be doing to protest.”

As councillors went into the meeting they were handed a letter from Bernie Gallagher, Branch Secretary of Bolton UNISON, and Sean Warren, Convenor for GMB, which reminded them of their obligations…

“Councillors of all political persuasions have entered local politics to make a difference, and it must be a source of frustration that you find yourself in the current position of making swingeing cuts to services” it read “What is the legacy for our children and grandchildren if the 201517 scenario of £30-£40million of further cuts come to fruition?”

Only twenty per cent of the cuts have been delivered The letter went on to question the ethics of lead councillors and their “prospect of a career in local government which also attracted relatively generous expenses and pensions as they became `full time’ councillors, working closely with council officers but removed from their back bench councillors, constituents and allies in the trade unions”…

The Bolton union leaders ended their message to councillors, saying “We will continue to fight these cuts with or

without you – but we would prefer to be with you…We have the potential to make a difference and drive this Government back. Put aside any Westminster ambitions, civic honours or financial gain and work with us to defend what is left of local government…”

At the subsequent Bolton Council meeting to find almost £9million of cuts the Cabinet recommended using £2million of reserves per year, increasing Bolton’s share of Council Tax by 1.2% (3.5% altogether inc police, fire charges etc) and cutting £5.17million from services including Play, Finance, ICT, Economic Strategy, Customer Services, Planning and Strategic Development…

“We should remember that this Government does not have a mandate for these cuts” responded Bernie Gallagher, Bolton UNISON Branch Secretary “As well as the ideological attack on public services we are also witnessing failed economic polices and the prospect of a triple dip recession. Only last week, the Institute of Fiscal Studies stated that worse is to come and raised the likely redundancies in the public sector to 1.2million.

“We will work with local campaigns fighting to keep services running” she added “and constantly keep up the pressure on local politicians to resist the cuts”

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other £5million!!!

CUTS!!!

September December 2012

Youth and Play:

£600,000

Personal Advisors and Key Workers in Schools:

£1.4million Housing and Environmental Health:

£600,000 Current Round Of Cuts include: Chief Officer Review:

£500,000 Children’s Centres:

£1.5million Supported Housing:

£350,000 Play Services:

£150,000 Development and Regeneration:

£320,000

What UNISON Can Do For You The union is only as strong as its members.

Union members need to have the confidence to feel they are able to challenge and resist cuts in their area. Where members are strong, united and organised they can make a difference, as is seen in the article on the Housing Review (page 8).

It is important that all workplaces have a section steward. Bolton UNISON invests a large percentage of its budget into training activists to give them the confidence to take on what is a very difficult job in difficult times.

The branch operates on a political level both inside and outside the Labour party to influence change. Pressure on Labour Councillors has resulted in maintaining no compulsory redundancies. This is one of only a handful of councils across the country to have done this.

Lobbying both behind the scenes and at council meetings is a key part of our strategy.

Stewards offer support and guidance to members both during and after reviews. Consultation on reviews typically start off with anger and a sense of impending doom but most members soon realise that the support of good union organisation means you can influence change.

When members are in a redeployment situation they often feel isolated. It is at this point that the union can offer individual support up to and including legal advice if necessary.

We work very closely with other trades unions and community groups including pensioner groups to build alliances against the cuts.

What You Can Do As A UNISON Member If there are people in your section not in the union ask them to join. Most people say they are not in a trade union simply because no one asked them.

If you haven’t got a local shop steward then you need to elect one. Training is available and you are entitled to paid time off to attend training and union meetings. If you want to talk to someone about the role of the steward then please contact the union office.

If you don’t want to be a steward you can be a ‘UNISON Post-box’. This is someone who delivers UNISON literature to members in your section.

Attend union meetings. If the union calls a member meeting it is important that members attend, not just to hear what’s going on but to have your say and hold the union to account.

It is important that members attend the AGM on 6th March. (12.30pm Lancaster Suite Bolton Town Hall). At this meeting we will be re-affirming the branch position of no compulsory redundancies and providing an update of the cuts.

If you are interested in directly influencing local Labour policy then join UNISON Labour Link.

Contact Steve Rigby via the union office for more information

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Economic Myths * Debt was over 100% for 20 years after 1945 - and we built the Welfare State!

The banks do not have to pay the £520bn banking deficit and our bailout in four years. They have as long as they need. * The UK is the 6th richest economy in the world and has NEVER defaulted on a debt. Current debt is longterm, cheap and sustainable * Our debt is less than other countries - UK 60% Germany 72% Japan 200% USA 95%

WARNING!!!

Deeper Cuts Will Spark Civil Unrest Say City Council Leaders “Rising crime, increasing community tension and more problems on our streets will contribute to the break-up of civil society if we do not turn back”, council leaders in Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield have warned.

* The Government is borrowing to finance a bank bailout that is 6.5 times bigger than our own national deficit. The value of bank bailout: £955bn * Our economy survived the greatest recession since the 1930’s and still managed to build the NHS and a mass house building programme.

As hundreds of millions of pounds get slashed from local authority budgets, the three leaders say that, by 2018, they fear they will be unable to provide acceptable levels of essential services.

New evidence shows that Government policies are widening the economic divide between north and south, as northern councils have a greater proportion of their budgets slashed even though poverty levels are higher than the south.

“We urge them to stop what they are doing now” the leaders say “and listen to our warnings before the forces of social unrest start to smoulder…”

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UNISON members’ concessions and s UNISON members in Bolton’s Community Housing Service show what can be achieved when everyone sticks together and speaks with one voice…

Last November it all looked rather bleak for both staff and

some of the most vulnerable people in Bolton, as the Council produced a Review of its Community Housing Services that would lead to three compulsory redundancies and decreased help for vulnerable customers, such as women fleeing domestic violence, people facing homelessness or residents living in substandard accommodation.

Instead of accepting the cuts to the department, UNISON stewards and their members fought back and achieved some valuable concessions. An environmental health officer post and an administrative post have both been saved and there are currently no compulsory redundancies. Meanwhile there are plans to keep the Housing Options Centre services confidential and separate from other Council access points at the Town Hall, despite the Review hinting that they were all going to be lumped together.

“UNISON always take a stance of `no compulsory redundancy’ and so members and staff fought to have the posts reinstated” explains Lisa Catlow, Housing Adviser and UNISON steward

“Members put together a report to management, they conceded and two posts were gained.

...it was the staff sticking together and having a voice that swung the day “It was hard work, a lot of legwork, a lot of meetings and a lot of staff giving their input into what the service does, what their jobs are and what that means for service delivery” she adds “but we were able to go back to management and say what the consequences would be if they took staff away from frontline services like public health, homelessness, housing financial and debt advice.”

While the stewards made a concrete case for keeping the service as intact as possible, it was the staff sticking together and having a voice that swung the day.

“They basically said `We are ready to go into dispute if management don’t produce the information we need or concede

8

’ solidarity wins saves jobs on anything” Lisa recalls “We took a vote on that and it worked.”

Even those whose jobs were not affected backed their workmates…

“They were quite willing to show solidarity to their colleagues and we couldn’t have asked for more from our members” says Louise Jackson, UNISON steward and Homeless Welfare Officer “At first we couldn’t find out any information from management, it was smoke and mirrors. We put our frustrations to members and got the clear message back that `If they’re not going to give us that information then we will act’.

“What has come out of this is that management know now that our members are aware they’ve got a voice” she adds “And that’s the most important thing.”

The negotiations with the Council haven’t just been about jobs, as staff working in these frontline services also care about the vulnerable people they see every day. Originally, as part of the review, the whole service was to be moved into the Town Hall and integrated into Access Bolton, joining up with things like Council Tax payments. The UNISON stewards and their

members have expressed their strong views with regards to the need for a separate access point for customers.

“If you’ve got someone fleeing domestic abuse and they walk into the Town Hall and see loads of people paying Council Tax they’re not going to wait” Louise explains “And if someone gets killed or a child gets injured then Bolton Council will have to answer to a serious case review. We, as professionals, wanted reassurances that there would be an open access environment where people felt safe.”

Again, management have not been hostile to a UNISON suggestion of a separate entrance in the Town Hall. It’s not all totally good news, as there have been cuts in posts through natural wastage and cuts in resources but no-one currently in post has been made immediately redundant “There may still be some impacts but going forward it’s been a positive outcome” says Lisa “I think there’s a lot to be said for our members who have been good at communicating with us and coming forward with information. As a steward you can’t do everything, so you do rely a lot on your members and the strength of your members. And they’ve proved that.”

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Save Bolto

A&E in danger and 500 hospital s Fifty midwives are facing the axe at Bolton, as part of 500 proposed health staff redundancies and an uncertain future for its A and E unit…

B olton is getting absolutely battered

– with the Accident and Emergency department at the Royal Bolton Hospital under threat, along with those at Bury, Wigan, Tameside, North Manchester, Trafford and Rochdale.

Meanwhile, Bolton NHS Trust is looking to impose 500 compulsory redundancies - 20 doctors, 143 nurses and midwives, 93 technical and therapy staff, 193 medical secretaries and ward clerks, and 20 estates staff. This is 12.5% of the total workforce at the Trust and staff believe these job losses will threaten patient safety and care.

“Unbelievably, management at the hospital claim, not just that patient care won’t be affected by having 500 less staff but that patient care will be improved!” says Harry Hanley, Branch Secretary of Bolton Health UNISON “The staff side have put on record that they believe the speed these are being implemented and the size of the cuts will affect patient care

and risk patient safety.

“Mid Staffordshire Hospital spent five years putting its finances as a higher priority than care” he adds “They made cuts. Between 400 and 1200 additional people died who should have never died.

Thousands of others had a much worse health experience than they should have had. Health workers were not listened to.

Don’t let them turn Bolton health services into a Mid Staffordshire hospital.”

“...the size of the cuts will affect patient care and risk patient safety” Harry Hanley, Bolton Health UNISON Already the new maternity unit has been dealing with 40% more births than commissioners expected, despite being warned of this by local midwives. Women

in labour have not always had a midwife each as promised. Yet fifty midwives jobs are under threat. It really doesn’t make sense.

“There’s two things happening here, there’s the A&E unit under threat and the Trust looking to make redundancies” says Stephen Hall President of Greater Manchester Association of Trade Councils, whose daughter was born at Royal Bolton.

“In spring Royal Bolton will be part of the so-called Healthier Together review, under which the hospital could lose its A&E unit” he explains “The clinicians, who allegedly know better than us ordinary people, are saying that the NHS isn’t fit for purpose, it was designed for the last century and that what we need is this new set up with centres of excellence which have got more consultants on hand and better equipment.

“But if they get rid of the A&Es, the simple

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“I fully support the campaign to save Bolton’s A&E department.

It is essential for our borough to retain these vital services. I am delighted that rallies and public meetings are taking place to demonstrate how strongly residents across Bolton want to protect their A&E department. It is vital that we all keep the pressure on to ensure that our voices are heard at the highest levels.”

Julie Hilling, MP for Bolton West “As a past employee I would like to send my full support to the campaign to save Bolton’s A&E and Hospital. It is unthinkable that a town the size of Bolton would have no Casualty Unit and I don’t think its an exaggeration to suggest that lives will be put at risk should this ridiculous plan be actioned. This absolutely cannot happen and I am so glad that people are fighting back to defend our health service. All the best.”

Dave Spikey, Bolton Comedian

on’s NHS

staff face redundancy! fact is that people are going to have to travel further to get to them which could be a life and death issue” he adds “It’s pointless how good the A&E unit is if you die on the way to it, and it also means that people will have to wait twice as long to be seen.”

If the A&E closes, Bolton people will be expected to travel to Salford Royal Hospital, which is amongst only five that will survive in the whole of Greater Manchester. As campaigners against A&E closures have noted, `For every extra 10 miles and ambulance has to travel to take you to an A&E, there is a 20% increased chance of dying.’

Bolton is in line for the cuts, even though David Cameron insisted in his election manifesto that there would be increased spending on health.

“The reality is that it’s going to be cut under the banner that the NHS is `not sustainable’” explain Stephen Hall “Yet we’re one of the richest countries in the world and the 0.05% Robin Hood Tax on city speculators would raise £20billion, so

they could double the spending on the NHS and no ordinary people would be affected.

“It should be about taxing the people who got us into this mess in the first place” he concludes “These bankers and speculators who have basically gone onto a casino, while us ordinary people have been forced to bail them out.”

To find out more information about the campaign and to download petitions or sign online petitions to Save Bolton Health Services go to www. saveboltonaccidentandemergency. org.uk

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Somone Give A Hoot!!!

Anyone who thought credit unions were just for the totally skint had better get wise – Bolton’s non-profit making, ethical money saving and lending service is now competing with the high street as business grows by a third. And a new style of customer is catching on…

As affordable credit for everyone gets harder to find, Bolton’s own non-profit making Hoot is filling the gaps and getting a whole new style of customer coming through its door.

“If you look at people who historically use credit unions it’s those who are financially excluded; people on low incomes, people on benefits whose only other recourse for loans would be doorstep lending, loan sharks, Wonga and those sort of companies” explains David Batten, Manager of Hoot, which has a shop front on Ashburner Street in the town centre.

“If you can explain why you got into difficulties a year ago, and we can see that you’ve made steps to get out of that, then you’re going to be more attractive to us than if you’ve just stuck your head in the sand” he adds “I’m always conscious that it’s our money I’m lending out, not this big pot of money that’s being raised from venture capital.

“What’s happened increasingly over the last three or four years, after the credit crunch, is that access for loans for people on higher incomes has become harder to get, so people who wouldn’t have looked at us as a source of lending before are now looking at us” he adds “There’s been a shift of demographic.”

Hoot is actually owned by its own members who all have a `common bond’ in that they live, study or work within the Bolton boundary. It was formed six years ago when Bolton Council amalgamated all the existing credit unions in Bolton into one organisation. While Bolton Council still helps with funding, the third sector company is run under the Bolton At Home umbrella and its employees are all UNISON members. As such, for Bolton Council employees, any loans or savings payments can be deducted direct from payslips. Hoots aim is to help its members rather than pile up profits.

That shift has seen business increase by a third and over five hundred new people join Hoot in the last six months, taking total membership to around 4,600. The advantage Hoot has over other finance institutions is that the profit motive doesn’t come into the equation, so its terms are way softer than high street and back street lenders.

The only money Hoot lends out comes from its own members and not the international money markets. The interest it charges on loans goes towards its operating expenses and to give its own members a dividend, which, in recent years has been 0.5%, compared to the 0.1 or 0.2% given by average banks.

Saving is very much a part of the process.

“The big thing we can offer, apart from access to small value loans, is on higher value loans” says David “We’re actually quite difficult to beat on a loan of up to £5,000 at the moment. We do it for 12.7%*, and you won’t find anywhere else that will offer you that. Tesco, for instance, will say `We’ll give you 8 or 9%’ but that relies on you having an excellent credit rating, which is getting harder and harder to get.”

“We make it a condition of borrowing that you save with us” David explains “If you take out a £200 loan for a year, it might be that you pay back £6 a week but then we say `Pay £7 a week’. £1 is savings so at the end they have £50, which could be the first time they have ever saved any money, and there’s a social aspect to that.”

David lists the criteria of an `excellent credit rating’ to get the best rate loans on the high street…you must own your own home…you must not have been declared bankrupt…you must not have defaulted on a credit payment over the last five years…you must not have missed a credit payment in the last year…

“We’re human people and when you make a loan application you’re seen by a human being who will discuss it with you; we’ll try and help people as much as we can” he explains “All of our loans are unsecured, we rely on the fact that people who have borrowed money are going to give it back. Obviously if somebody comes to us who hasn’t borrowed from us before, we’ll do a credit check on them just to see how they’ve dealt with lending in the past but having a bad credit rating isn’t necessarily a barrier for us in the way it would be with a mainstream bank.

Indeed, the whole ethos of Hoot is the total opposite of traditional bankers who have wrecked the economy, new Wonga-type lenders charging extortionate interest, and loan sharks who’ll demand your granny’s heart if you don’t pay up...

Contact Hoot…

60 Ashburner Street Bolton BL1 1TD Phone: 01204 365024 www.wisewithmoney.org.uk enquiries@wisewithmoney.org.uk * Representative example: assumed borrowing of £3,500.00 over 36 months, representative 12.7% APR (variable), monthly repayments of £116.26, total amount repayable is £4,184.93

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es

...the whole ethos of Hoot is the total opposite of traditional bankers who have wrecked the economy

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Bolton UNISON Goes Snow Wh UNISON’s daft as a brush members see Stu Francis and co perform Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at The Albert Halls…

B

olton UNISON’s annual panto night was an amazing success this year, as children dressed up as Snow White to get into the spirit of the story, while mums, dads and grandparents joined in the audience banter…`Oh no they didn’t…Oh yes they did!!!’

The afternoon matinee not only sold out but UNISON had to order more tickets as demand from members went through the roof. Roll on next year!

Cathy Davies and Family – Katie and Oliver (Children’s Services)

Jo Kenny and family - Olivia, Willow and Abi (Children’s Services)

Wendy and Malc Hilton and family Sophie, Stephen and Demi (Adult Service s)

ily- Leilani, Tia Andrea Egan and fam Social Officer) d and Jacob (Sports an

a Omarji and Shanez Arshad, Munir hammed family Amal, Faris, Mu s) ce (Children’s Servi

Bernie Gallagher with grandchildren India, Isl a, Zak and Charlie (Branch Se cretary)

Nicky Powell and family Lucy and Sam (Children’s Services)

N hite

Jill Pike, Samantha and Jennifer (One Stop Shop Adult Services)

GENERAL STRIKE – NOW???

Is the idea of a General Strike against the Coalition Government’s austerity and attacks on workers really far fetched? Here Matt Kilsby argues that it’s not only possible, it’s essential…

At the big demonstration against the cuts in London on 20th October 2012, hundreds of thousands of people took the streets.

After the march there was huge rally in Hyde Park and the most significant call for a General Strike came from Len McCluskey, who is the General Secretary of Britain’s biggest trade union, Unite…

“The TUC has agreed to consult on the practicalities of a General Strike” he said “Let’s start right here - if you are in favour of a general strike raise your hands!”

In Greece, our demand for a 24 hour General Strike would appear pretty tame.

The overwhelming majority of people raised their hands en masse. Although much of the media downplayed or ignored the TUC demonstration, the call for a General Strike continues to gain support in the fight against austerity.

Bolton UNISON Branch has consistently raised this at all levels of the union and has approved a number of motions at Branch Committee. Most recently we have argued that the UNISON campaign on smashing the pay freeze needs to be linked to other disputes across the public and private sectors. As we showed on the 30th November 2011, when millions of public sector workers took strike action, if we all shout together the Government has to listen to us.

Why does the branch demand a General Strike?

Across southern Europe, in Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal, we have all seen on the news that the working classes in those countries are no strangers to a general strike. Greece alone has seen 20 general strikes over the last two years. In Greece, our demand for a 24 hour General Strike would appear pretty tame.

However, our demand for a 24 hour General Strike is really important if we are to make the Coalition Government back down from its attacks on local government workers and the NHS, to name just two. The Government will only stop chasing us once we, together with the entire trade union movement, stop running.

Is a General Strike really so far-fetched?

Although we are certainly not helped by Britain’s anti-trade union laws that 13 years of New Labour Government failed to repeal, a General Strike is possible. Is it so far-fetched for workers in local government to take strike action over the pay freeze on one day, to be joined by civil servants striking over pensions and cuts on the same day? Would it be so difficult for all those workers to be joined by teachers, nurses, doctors and fire fighters striking over cuts to terms and conditions, privatisation and job losses?

And then is it really so far-fetched for private sector workers to take strike action on the same day. All year we’ve seen an increasing number of disputes in the private sector, from electricians taking action over blacklisting and BESNA, to Eddie Stobart drivers taking industrial action and Argos workers striking over attacks on their pension scheme.

Simply put, a mass 24 hour general strike is possible. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

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L-R Liz Orr Students services Advisor, Ashley Williams Sports Attendant and Marie Gilluley Principal

How The Living Wage Could Save UK Treasury £2 Billion a Year.

BOLTON COLLEGE SIGNS UP FOR THE LIVING WAGE

live

I want to not just exist

Campaigning for a Living Wage alivingwage.co.uk Recent studies by leading think tanks have indicated that widespread use of the living wage could save the UK treasury as much as £2 billion a year.

20850 LivWage wall graphic 1630x1000.indd 1

B

11/06/2012 14:37

olton College has signed up to the Living Wage which promises to pay staff a fair, liveable salary of £7.45 an hour. The initiative, which is led by UNISON, the National Union of Students (NUS) and Labour students in the FE sector, has already lifted more than one thousand education workers out of poverty pay and, for many, the campaign has meant a pay rise of more than £1 an hour.

Bolton College was one of the first colleges in the North West to sign up to the campaign and across the country 58 per cent of colleges are now paying the ‘living wage’.

“I was on the minimum wage, however, it changed in my October pay and it means that instead of just trying to get by, I am now a bit more comfortable” says Ashley Williams, a UNISON member who works at Bolton College. “It’s made it easier to meet my rent and I don’t have to budget as much” he adds “It has meant I can join the union, which makes me feel more secure at work.”

Marie Gilluley, the College Principal adds: “Bolton College is pleased to support UNISON’s campaign for a Living Wage. We believe that all of our staff hold equal importance when it comes to contributing to the overall success of the college. As an employer, we also believe that it will have a positive impact on morale, customer service and turnover levels.”

The Resolution Foundation and the Institute for Public Policy Research estimate that by increasing the wages of Britain’s lowest paid workers to at least £8.55 in London and £7.45 outside London it would raise income nationally by as much as £6.5 billion a year.

This increased spending power would help the economy through boosting spending with shops and businesses. The Government’s finances would directly benefit through collecting more money in income tax as well as paying less in benefits and tax credits.

Local employers have already begun to take a lead in the campaign for the living wage. Bolton College and Bolton at Home have both signed up during 2012. The National Minimum Wage implemented by the previous Labour Government was an important step in the right direction. Increasingly however, people argue that the minimum wage does not go far enough.

As a society it seems that despite living in an age of austerity we can afford multi-millionaires, bankers and top bosses who receive huge salaries and bonuses. Most members will agree that hospital cleaners, kitchen domestics, shop workers and care workers deserve a much better deal. At a time when living costs keep on rising, is £7.45 an hour really too much to ask for Britain’s lowest paid workers?

Martin Challender

NO MORE PAY FREEZE! As inflation rises to over 3%, public sector wages have been frozen, leaving many working people in real hardship. Now UNISON is calling for a decent pay rise…

Just read the annual report from Bolton UNISON’s Welfare Officer, Julie Tudor (page 26), about the impact of a pay freeze on our own workers. More and more people who work for Bolton Council are applying for union help with basics like heating bills and school uniforms. It’s absolutely staggering that people in work should be suffering like this. Now, at a national level, UNISON is calling for an end to the pay freeze.

“We know how tough finances are for councils, they have been singled out by

the Tory-led coalition for its harshest cuts” says Heather Wakefield, UNISON head of local government “But councillors need to know how tough things are for the people working harder than ever to keep local government services running.

It’s absolutely staggering that people in work should be suffering like this “Wages have been driven down by rising prices and it is not only those on the lowest pay who are struggling” she adds “Middle earners are also facing sleepless nights over how to keep food on the table. Giving workers a decent rise would also help to stimulate local economies…”

Local Government Pay - the facts * High inflation, coupled with a threeyear pay freeze, means that since 2009, pay for the NJC workforce has fallen by 13% - it’s now more than 10% below where it was in 1996 and will have fallen by 15% by April 1st. *76% of the workforce are women, six out of ten working part-time. With the changes to working tax credits the pay freeze is hitting women hardest. *The lowest pay rate in local government has been stuck at £6.30 an hour for nearly four years – that’s only 11 pence above the National Minimum Wage.

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MARCH FOR A FUTURE THAT WORKS O

n Saturday 20th October 2012, I joined 150,000 protesters who were marching through London for a ‘Future That Works’.

It was not as big as the gathering in March 2011 but the feeling was still there that people are prepared to carry on fighting, not just for their own jobs but against the impact that the austerity cuts are having on all levels of society, particularly the vulnerable.

The march was noisy, carnival-like at times with people playing drums, blowing vuvuzelas and waving banners. The people marching will already be experiencing pay cuts, redundancy threats and seeing the life being squeezed out of local public services. This march demonstrated that the trade unions are still willing and able to mount a strong opposition to the government and other groups with a vested interest in opposing the public sector.

The one thing that I will take away with me from the day is that this is a group of people who are determined to make a difference and will, if necessary, commit themselves to a general strike to achieve that goal.

Julia Gregory

NIGHTMARES IN THE BEDROOM

The so-called Bedroom Tax is going to put even more pressures on tackling homelessness in Bolton. Here, Janet Bryan, UNISON Convenor for Bolton at Home, exposes the full horrors - and it’s everyone’s nightmare…

According to social housing companies, as many as 25% of tenants subject to the Bedroom Tax could be forced to leave their homes as a result of Government changes to housing benefits.

From April, social housing tenants of working age deemed to be underoccupying their properties will be charged a penalty which will be deducted from their housing benefit entitlement.

Couples and children of the same sex are expected to share a room, as are any two children under 10 regardless of their gender. Disabled tenants will also be subject to the penalty, unless a bedroom is used by a non-resident carer who is required to stay overnight.

Affected tenants are expected to pay extra rent which many simply will not be able to afford. The advice they are being given is to pay the penalty, get a job,

move house or take in a lodger. There is little consideration for severely disabled people who cannot get a job. There is little consideration for estranged parents who share access of their children and may need a spare bedroom for weekends and short visits.

A recent Channel 4 report predicted that 600,000 people will be affected nationwide, around 20 per cent of social housing tenants. However, in some parts of the North West more than 40 per cent of people in social housing will be subject to the Bedroom Tax penalty.

Although tenants and their families will suffer first, these short sighted and vicious changes will inevitably impact on the local economy and wider community as rising arrears impact negatively on jobs and service provision within social housing. The new levy, a central part of the Coalition Government’s agenda on welfare reform agenda, has attracted widespread criticism from housing associations and charities which tackle homelessness and poverty.

Many housing associations including

Bolton at Home are promising to do everything possible to help tenants facing financial difficulty. Ultimately though, there are real concerns that across the country the inability of tenants to pay the penalty is likely to lead to increased numbers of evictions with increased homelessness as a result.

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE – BOLTON SWITCHES ON TO CHEAPER ENERGY In an effort to fight back against ever increasing energy bills that have put thousands of Bolton people into fuel poverty, all ten Greater Manchester councils have banded together to form their first ever collective energy switching scheme.

“It brings together a number of people who want to switch providers into one ‘auction’” explains Bolton Housing Strategy officer and UNISON member Tina Ghandi “Energy providers then bid for their business by offering the best available prices. The more people join the collective scheme – the better a deal everybody gets.”

The next auction is in late March and anyone who signs up will be offered an energy tariff based on their usage and how much they will save by switching to the winning energy provider. Residents

then choose whether to sign up to the new supplier or not. There’s no obligation to switch providers, although Tina reckons it will be cheaper.

“On average we expect residents to save around £177 per year by switching energy suppliers through this scheme” she says “This figure is based on the average annual saving per customer on the recently completed Oldham energy switch.”

You don’t have to live in Bolton to take part, anyone from Greater Manchester can sign up, and the more people who sign up the better deal everyone will get.

Residents can sign up free, and with no obligation, by visiting www. gmfairenergy.com or calling the freephone number on 0800 009 3363.

Bolton Unison in Red Ribbon Success

By Andrea Egan Congratulations to our own John McSwiggan, Bolton UNISON’s Equality Officer, on a very successful ‘Red Ribbon Ball’ for UNISON’s North West LGBT group and the Northern Wave at the end of November.

After the Branch Committee agreed to support the event, an advert was circulated to Bolton members and stewards, which helped to

generate a great deal of interest. We were really pleased to be able to book a full table and several branch members attended. The night helped to raise awareness of HIV issues and also raised money for good causes including UNISON’s ‘There for You’ Welfare Fund, Northern Wave and George House Trust.

It was a fantastic night, with great food, some very moving speeches, while the entertainment second to none. Well done John and thank you for all you efforts.

HOPE Not Hate – SACK NICK GRIFFIN AND THE BNP! This year a huge campaign has been started by the HOPE Not Hate campaign to Sack Nick Griffin from his MEP seat at the 2014 European Elections.

Griffin won the last of eight North West seats at the 2009 Election with just 8% of the vote and HOPE Not Hate aims to get people registered and voting for anyone but the BNP to get rid of the fascist.

“We see the BNP and EDL’s dishonest blaming of minorities for the world’s ills as a cowardly substitute for challenging those with real power to address the genuine problems which we deal every day” states a message from Trade Union Friends of HOPE Not Hate “The BNP hates unions with a vengeance. We, on the other hand, will continue to represent all workers, irrespective

of race or religion. That is, after all, what trade unionism is all about.”

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON is also backing the campaign… “Far-right organisations such as the BNP are using the current economic climate and issues such as asylum and immigration to further their politics of hate” he says “UNISON stands for what is right and decent, in celebration of diversity and tolerance. UNISON is proud to continue working with the HOPE not Hate campaign, bringing our communities together in the face of those who seek to divide us.”

For further details of the HOPE Not Hate campaign see www.hopenothate.org.uk

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National Executive Council Elections 2013-2015

From 22nd April UNISON members will begin voting to decide who sits on the National Executive Council of our trade union. Below are the names of the candidates nominated by the Bolton branch, together with a timetable leading up to the ballot.

Further information from UNISON Direct Call: 0845 355 0845 Or freephone textphone: 0800 0967 968 Lines are open 6am-midnight Monday-Friday and 9am-4pm Saturdays

CANDIDATES NOMINATED BY BOLTON BRANCH‌

National Executive Council Elections 2013-2015Timetable 22 April 2013 - Voting starts. Voting papers are sent to members.

29 April – 21 May - Voting helpline open for members.

24 May - Voting ends 5pm.

10 June - The results are published

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BOLTON BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT All members are invited to attend and vote at the

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Wednesday 6th March 2013 12.30 - 1.30pm Lancaster Suite, Bolton Town Hall Free Buffet at 12.00 prior to the meeting AGENDA

1. Welcome and Introduction by Chairperson 2. Apologies 3. Minutes of AGM 7th March 2012 4. Financial Reports of Branch Officers, Stewards and Delegations n Electio / mation 5. Confir 6. Motions 7. Annual Reports 8. Close of Meeting Bolton Branch 06450 Ground Floor, Howell Croft House, Howell Croft North, Bolton.

Tel: 01204 338901 Email: admin@unisonbolton.org Website: www.unisonbolton.org

5343 Full

BL1 1QY

Membership Total - 6181 805 Retired 33 Unemployed/ Student

Number of Stewards - 97 Number of Employers – 65 Including: Bolton Council, Bolton at Home, Bolton Community and Sixth Form Colleges, Mencap, Serco and Fujitsu

Branch Employed Staff - Emma Smith, Sarah Trendall Regional Organiser - John Lewis Political Affiliations – Labour Link

The Branch is affiliated to: Bolton North East Labour Party - Bolton West Labour Party -

Bolton South East Labour Party

21

UNISON Bolton Branch 6450 Year End Accounts at 31st December 2012

* Branch Accounts are open to inspection by any Bolton Unison Member (please contact the Branch Office to make arrangements) * Questions on the AGM reports or to the Branch Treasurer must be submitted to the Branch Secretary by: 5.00pm Wednesday 27th February * Motions and minutes are available on the UNISON website www.unisonbolton.org * Audited accounts, motions and minutes will be available in hard copy at the meeting and any member wanting copies in advance should contact the union office.

Branch Officer Reports IT Officer Report www.unisonbolton.org

Communication Officer Report We continue to face unprecedented attacks on jobs, services and the welfare state. Effective communication is at the heart of everything we do as an active, campaigning, union branch. I feel we have built up good links within the media to help get our message across. We live in an age of Facebook and Twitter and have made progress in this area. Despite this, our members often say they enjoy having a regular magazine to keep them informed. We have worked with a local publisher to help produce Battling for Bolton, which you are currently reading. It costs more but the results are better plus it saves the branch lots of time and leg work. I hope you like it.

All feedback welcome.

From 1/01/12 to 1/01/13 we had 4,775 visits to the site, compared to 6,881 between 1/01/11 and 1/01/12. We had a peak of 64 visitors on 30/5/12 compared to a peak of 117 visitors on 29/11/11 In 2012, 663 visits were made using mobile devices (13.88% of traffic).

In 2011, 520 visits were made using mobile devices (7.53% of traffic).

Please keep visiting the website to keep up to date with all branch activities Eddie Pilling IT Officer

Martin Challender Communication Officer

Equalities Officer Report The Branch has campaigned on equality issues throughout the year and has continued to support the development of Branch Self Organised Groups (SOG), Member Forums and representation at several National SOG conferences.

Our branch has continued to support a variety of causes and campaigns in the year including the Women’s Group, who organised floor walking to discuss the issues of workplace stress.

The LGBT SOG also worked with One Bolton partners on an exhibition of case studies on the impact of homophobia in Central Library to

coincide with International Day Against Homophobia, and hosted a branch table at UNISON North West’s World AIDs Day Ball.

The year ahead will see the recruitment and development of our new role of Equality Representatives who will work closely with branch negotiators on equality issues. Anyone interested in finding out more about the new role please contact the Branch.

John McSwiggan Equalities Officer

Health and Safety Officer Report Everyone will be aware of the current Government’s unprecedented attacks on the health and safety of all workers. It sometimes feels that they actually want workers to be maimed or even killed at work. That’s why I am so proud to be part of this team.

In the past twelve months this branch’s health and safety reps have won some hard fought victories all of which are brilliant, but some that have taken a long time and required a lot of perseverance.

And that is what we need perseverance. There are so many changes taking place that we need to stand firm on health and safety and not let it be brushed under the carpet.

Do you know who your Safety Rep is? Has your section got a Safety Rep? If not why not step forward? You’ll get full training and support and you’ll provide an invaluable service for your colleagues.

David Milne, Health and Safety Officer

Labour Link Report 2012-2013 This year has seen another busy time for the Labour Link Committee. We have a strong core of activists and party members who are busy at Local Ward and Constituency Labour Party level, and UNISON Labour Link members even have two seats on the newly formed Local Campaign Forum (LCF).

The last twelve months have been a testing time, with cuts to local services, welfare reform and attacks on the living standards of our members. We have attempted to influence Labour Party policy at every turn and will continue to do so.

As a National Labour Link Committee member I have been active at a national level, taking the issues of our members to MPs and into the political arena. Anyone who wishes to become a Labour Party member can request the relevant forms from Branch Office or myself and we will gladly support you in becoming active in the Labour Party.

Steve Rigby Labour Link Officer

Sports and Social Officer Report Over the last year we have really begun to see the results of the impact of this Government’s attack on budgets. Members are beginning to feel the financial squeeze. Usually when money has to stretch further, and members have to prioritise, socialising becomes further down the list. It is with this in mind, the sports and social committee decided we needed to try to reach our membership and try to organise events which we could support our members.

We have organised a couple of successful social events, which has seen a return to Bolton of our favourite, Alun Perry. This year’s Regional Golf Event saw our branch send two teams and next year we are hoping to support local events.

But by far the greatest event was our Trans Pennine pub crawl. We saw over fifty members turn up, and we will run it again in 2013.

We have also tried to support our own Bolton Albert Halls, purchasing tickets, then providing subsidised tickets to our members to a number of shows including Sean Hughes, Lenny Henry, Rory Bremner and this year’s panto, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - as well as the usual ‘UNISON day’, we purchased an extra 100 tickets. Oh yes we did!

The committee was particularly proud to be able to send a ‘table of 10 members’ to the north west’s LGBT Red Ribbon Ball, in recognition of World Aids Day. We have also supported Bolton Octagon Theatre, purchasing tickets and subsidised trips to see Peter Pan, Tull and Mice and Men. All have proved very popular choices, which will shape our decisions for 2013. We would like to continue to organise events for our members. Any idea’s for future events? Please contact the branch, who will pass them on to the committee.

Andrea Egan Sports and Social Officer

WELFARE REPORT It’s been a very busy year for There For You, with a big rise in the number of people coming forward to our branch for help with everyday living expenses and personal problems. I am pleased to say that 98% of applicants have been helped successfully, but on a wider scale the recession and cuts are biting our members.

Education Officer Report Our union branch continues to work hard to represent members in the face of the Government austerity agenda and what is often a tough climate in the workplace. To represent members effectively it is important that our stewards have the right training and support. I have worked to organise this over the past 12 months. Courses organised include: Branch Induction Training for new stewards, Specific Casework training for all stewards and Stage 1 and 2 TUC courses for stewards.

We have been able to train several new stewards this year who I am sure will be a real asset to the branch. We have also been able to ensure that our more experienced stewards update their training and maintain the necessary steward accreditation. In Bolton branch we are certainly applying the principle of “knowledge is power” in our approach to training and organising Joan Pritchard-Jones Education Officer

The Union’s Welfare Fund has seen a massive rise in the number of applications for grants that fund basic essentials and even to help people to file for bankruptcy. Applications for help with heating bills have risen by 388% - 771 people this year, compared to 158 people in 2011. Calls for help with school uniforms have risen by 25%. This year more than £30,000 was paid out to nearly 450 Unison members who earn less than £18,000. Nationally, the charity has paid out more than £750,000 - a rise of 11% on the previous year.

Union organisers are increasingly reporting that public sector workers are relying on food banks to feed their families. The Trussell Trust, which runs the UK’s largest network of food banks, says 128,687 people used food banks in 2011/2012, a rise of 100% on the previous year.

Our Welfare Fund used to pay for Wellbeing Breaks, but the recession means that holidays are a thing of the past for low paid families, what people need now is help with the basics of life, such as food and fuel.

Many of our members would be surprised at just how much There For You (formerly Unison Welfare) could be of help to them. If you are struggling, or maybe just need help or advice, call your UNISON office and make an appointment to see me. All conversations are totally confidential and we will try to help you.

As the name says, we are There For You. Julie Tudor Branch Welfare Officer

BOLTON BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT All members are invited to attend and vote at the

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Wednesday 6th March 2013

12.30 -1.30pm Lancaster Suite, Bolton Town Hal Free Buffet at 12.00 prior to the meeting