Stand up for Salford Issue 5

the magazine of Salford UNISON Autumn 2014 Issue 5 Free

STRIKE AGAINST AUSTERITY!!!

Why we need fair pay now...

INTRO

Welcome to the latest

edition of Stand up for Salford. There’s a lot been going on since the last magazine came out and hopefully this magazine will give members (and those who might want to become members) a sense of what we’ve been up to.

The primary focus is of course the ongoing NJC pay dispute. It was fantastic to see so many people supporting the strike on 10th July, although I think the record numbers on picket lines might have had something to do with the blazing sunshine! It’s still deepest winter for our wages though and that’s why we’re gearing up for another day on 14th October. It’s great that

members in academies look set to join us on that day and that health workers and civil servants will also be striking that week. After the strike we hope that you’ll join us in London on the 18th in telling the Government that “Britain deserves a pay rise!”

We also feature stories about the tremendous fight-back that has taken place against cuts in services for vulnerable adults. We’re really proud to have supported and campaigned with service user groups, carers and families.

Thanks as always to our stewards and members for all your support. Take care and see you on the picket lines….

Steve North Branch Secretary

CONTACT SALFORD CITY UNISON:

Branch Office 434 Chorley Road, Swinton 0161 794 7425/793 3126 office@salfordcityunison.org.uk Printed by: Caric Press Ltd 525 Ringwood Road, Ferndown Dorset, BH22 9AQ 01202 871 766 www.caricpress.co.uk

UNISON OFFICERS AND CONTACT DETAILS Branch Secretary Steven North (07557281475 or steven.north@salfordcityunison.org.uk) Assistant Branch Secretary / Diane Ogg (07557281472 or Education Co-ordinator diane.ogg@salfordcityunison.org.uk) Branch Treasurer Ameen Hadi (07557281471 (07557281471 or ameen.hadi@salfordcityunison.org.uk) Branch Chair Lawrence Duke (07757281473 or Lawrence.Duke@ salfordcityunison.org.uk) Welfare Officer Paula Lawless (07809085203 or Paula.Lawless@salford.gov.uk) Communications Officer Richard Nelson (07971617401 or richard.nelson@salford.gov.uk) Health and Safety Officer Neil Redford (neil.redford@salford.gov.uk) Membership Officer Kevin Corran (07971495597 or Kevin.Corran@salford.gov.uk) Equalities Officers Sue Wray (07557281476 or sue.wray@tesco.net)

Bora Oktas (07748054446 or bora.oktas@salixhomes.org) Lifelong Learning Coordinator Alec McFadden (alec_stuc@hotmail.com) Education Coordinator Daren Wright (daren.wright@salixhomes.org) International Officer Bora Oktas (07748054446 or bora.oktas@ salixhomes.org) Labour Link Officer Liz Cameron (e.cameron2@unison.co.uk) Young Members Officer Rose Stanyon (rose.stanyon@scll.co.uk)

Contents Strike on October 14th

Why we have to strike for fair pay…

Cuts, Cuts and More Cuts

Welfare Rights and Debt Advice, Adult Transport, Housing and Care on Call

Why Salford Needs an Ethical Care Charter For staff and service users

The Proposed Stock Transfer Some points to consider

Barton Moss

The Secure Children’s Unit

Barton Moss

A UNISON member’s views on fracking

Stand Up To UKIP!

Anti-establishment? In yer dreams!

Basking in Croyde Bay UNISON’s own beach resort

UNISON in the Community

From Cheerleaders to Charity Head Shaves

Mutuals

Bad for your future

Why We Have To Stri Here Salford City UNISON branch secretary, Steven North, explains why industrial action on October 14th is crucial and answers some of the statements being made about the strike by opponents…

The Strike Action on the 10th July was

really well supported in Salford, with over 90% of our members eligible to support it coming out to demand fair pay. The weather certainly helped draw record numbers to the picket lines and on to our impromptu march through Manchester.

It was a great day that sent a positive message about the importance of local government workers, and everybody who took part should be proud that they were prepared to sacrifice a day’s pay to try and halt the decline in all our pay.

UNISON has announced another day of strike action on the 14th October. We will again be joined by other trade unions and our brothers and sisters in the NHS, who have been made an offer that is even worse than ours!

We know that losing pay to support industrial action is difficult, but in July we got a lot more sympathy from the public than our employers, the Government (and we) could have expected. Nevertheless there will still be some who say that we shouldn’t strike. Here are some of the things they will tell us and what we can say in response: They say: `1% is a fair offer for Local Government workers!’

We say: Local Government workers are paid 20% less in real terms than they were four years ago. At the same time, they are working on average seven hours every week for no pay and are keeping most services going despite over half a million

council jobs going since 2010.

They say: `But anything more than 1% is not affordable!’

We say: Councils have billions more in reserves - money that could have been spent on wages and services - than they did in 2010. Money can be found for the things the Government wants to find it for – foreign wars, trident nuclear missiles, bankers’ bonuses in banks that are mostly state run.

The list goes on. Also do you remember Cameron saying that `Money was no object’ when floods hit his and his Tory colleagues’ constituencies? Well, if `money is no object’ for the better-off, then money can and should be found for decent wages for those who (unlike most politicians) provide a genuine public service.

They say: `Unions should be negotiating, not striking!’

We say: We put in our pay claim in October last year and have been willing to talk ever since. It took until March this year for employers to reply - just days before the rise was due to be implemented - and all they said was `1% and that’s our final offer’.

It is them who have not wanted to talk.

They say: `A higher pay rise would be bad for the economy!’

We say: 40% of council workers are now having to rely on in-work benefits to keep them out of poverty - tax payers’ money topping up low wages. They have very little money to spend in local pubs, restaurants and shops, which is bad for all of us.

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ike on 14th October

13-18 October: A Big Week In The Fight Against Austerity...

Monday 13th October: Health workers, including for the first time in their history, the Royal College of Midwives, will be on strike 7am to 11am. We are asking for members to join our colleagues at the Salford Royal in an act of solidarity before work.

Tuesday 14th October: Local government and college lecturers are on strike Wednesday 15th October: Civil Service unions on strike.

Saturday 18th October: Mass protests in London and Glasgow called by the TUC and STUC over low pay and austerity.

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They say: `But what about private sector workers?’

We say: UNISON has members in the private sector and we want to see them do well also.

Bad wages for public sector workers does not mean good wages for private sector workers.

In fact all employers take a lack of resistance from workers in general as a green light to attack their own staff. It’s called the race to the bottom and it does none of us any good.

They say: `Striking doesn’t work!’

We say: The strike action we took in November 2011 prevented a 3.2% on average increase in our pension contributions. That’s a day’s pay every month we saved! Also, think about what they had to admit about Bob Crowe when he died.

That by fighting back and striking when they needed to, his union protected their members’ wages. Years without strike action over pay shows that our bosses sometimes only listen to us when we take away what they take for granted – the work we do.

They say: `Public sector workers should not hold the country to ransom!’

We say: How dare politicians and right-wing media commentators - who have never done a day’s genuine public service in their lives try and make us feel guilty for thinking about our own families for once. They tell us we’re useless when we’re in work and then tell us we’re needed when we don’t. Well, which one

is it? If we’re so important that our absence is felt then they should recognize that we’re needed and pay us properly!

We should all be proud of the work we do and not ashamed that for once we’ve decided to put our own families first. We know that a victory against this Government would be good for everybody ACADEMY STAFF SAY YES because it would TO OCTOBER 14TH send the clear message that UNISON members in they can’t just academy schools who were get away with balloted and are subject to attacking the national joint council (NJC) poor forever pay awards, have voted Yes without a fight. to strike action in a dispute over pay.

This is our chance to make The result of the main a real difference academies strike ballot – to deliver the is as follows: Yes: 68.6% pay we deserve (5,153) No: 31.4% (2,364). and to tell The related national multiWestminster that academy chain ballots we are important. returned a similar Yes Thank you all again for what you did on the 10th July. We look forward to seeing you all again on the 14th October!

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percentage. A the time of going to press UNISON’s NJC committee was seeking authorisation from the industrial action committee to include academy members in the current planned local government industrial action on 14th October.

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JULY 10TH: SALFOR STRIKES FOR BETT With public sector pay effectively being cut by 20% in the last four years, pensions being slashed, workloads increasing every day and jobs being axed, Salford trade unionists manning picket lines on July 10th were angry...

“I’m a single homeowner, inflation has gone up 20% and I literally have to take a calculator when I go to the supermarket so that I don’t go over budget. We need a pay rise because it is getting stark now…”

Anne Farrow

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RD TER PAY “I’m on strike today in support of our pay rise.

We had a 1% pay rise last year and I also took a massive pay cut of £2,500. This year I have been down-banded after waiting ten years to be upgraded through job evaluation.”

Paula Lawless

“I have lost £1300 in wages, I have not had a pay rise for several years. I retire in two years and I am absolutely fed up of this country and this Government.”

Yvonne Donlon

“I really believe in fair pay but particularly for me it’s about how this austerity government is really unfair to women. It’s really disproportionally hitting women, and women rely on public services to have the infrastructure support to do a job” Magda Sachs

Cuts, Cuts an The ConDem Goverment tell us that we are experiencing an economic recovery. Try telling that to our members, or the vast majority of Salford people who would think the politicians have lost touch with reality!

The Government medicine for

the economic crisis, caused by the bankers, is to attack public services.

Those who have to rely on those services and benefits see them being lost at the same time as an assault on public sector workers jobs, pay and pensions.

Salford Council says it has no choice but to implement the cuts. We accept that the ConDem government are to blame but there is something wrong when the Council views the service users and union members as the troublemakers. We believe their priority should be defending services of the most vulnerable, not spending their money on prestige projects.

Austerity will not stop until workers and communities stand together and say `Enough is enough’. This is why our union branch is proud to defend every job and all services...

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nd More Cuts

Adult Transport supporting the most vulnerable?

L

ast year, the union branch was proud to support parents who wished to retain The Grange Residential Unit for respite care for their children. They fought a magnificent campaign while offering full time care of their children. They have been proved right to fight, given the problems of accessing respite now.

This year the Council has decided to withdraw transport which takes adults with severe disabilities to and from day services, colleges and centres. This provides, not only necessary, safe support to these service users but also gives carers, who dedicate their lives to support their love ones, a few hours respite.

What has been disappointing is the lack of empathy for their genuine concerns.

For our members who work on transport it is has not been about protecting their jobs but about their support, care and solidarity with the service users

and carers. It has been a privilege to represent these members and support the campaign generated by service users and carers.

There have been public meetings, petitions, outdoor events and extensive media coverage - we can only wish that the Council would spend even half the effort in challenging this Government! *After Salford Council refused to withdraw from the cut to the Passenger Transport Unit, law firm Irwin Mitchell, representing two service users, is taking the Council to the High Court for a judicial review, believing that the decision is unlawful because the consultation surrounding the cut and the assessments of the vulnerable adults wasn’t done properly. The case is due to be heard during October.

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THE PARENTS AND CARERS’ REACTION “Why are they not protecting the most needy in society…Why is the Council cutting jobs that protect my disabled daughter?” father “They’re doing this to people like us because it’s so hard for us to fight, life is hard enough…” mother “These proposed changes have caused so much stress to both of us. It feels like our circumstances have just not been taken into account at all and the Council has also failed to carry out an assessment as to how this will change my son’s care plan. It has been suggested that Michael could take a taxi to and from the Day Centre, but, putting aside the practical difficulties of getting Michael’s wheelchair into a taxi, we simply cannot afford this. I am extremely concerned about the prospect of losing this service because the practical result of this will be that Michael will simply have to stop attending the day centre, which he loves and which he attends in order to meet his assessed community care needs.” Mary Robson, mother of Michael who is taking Salford Council to the High Court for a judicial review “The Council doesn’t realise how much it is taking away from us” carer “My twins, Robert and Daniel, love going on that bus. That was one of the highlights of their day, getting picked up and going on a bus. They loved it, so that’s another of their pleasures gone out of the window.” mother

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A DRIVER’S STORY

UNISON member, Peter Moritz, reflects on the impact of the cut to the Passenger Transport Unit both on the drivers and the service users and carers...

I’ve been at the Council for nine years

and thought that if you just did your job to the best of your ability that you perhaps had a job for life. It’s a job but also I have a nice feeling when I go home at night, that, hopefully I’ve made the day of people less fortunate than myself a bit easier and a bit better.

Now, with the cut, a lot of people are very upset because they don’t know how they are going to arrange transport. Either the cost will be excessive, or, even if they do take their families themselves it’s fair to say it’s an hour each way to the centres.

That’s two hours out of their day – but they need that time to recover because if you don’t care for the carers they are going to become ill and the NHS is going to have to look after them.

I’ve picked people up, and their carers have been up all night, or most of the night, taking care of somebody and have gone straight back to bed as soon we’ve driven off. They haven’t got up until we’ve dropped people back again. For them it’s

going to be a nightmare.

The staff who escorted the service users on the journeys are very upset about it too because they are not losing their employment but they are losing their job.

Some want to be transferred onto the education side which is doing the same job but it’s taking children with special education needs to and from school.

Their contracts will be dropping down to 16 hours a week term time only, from 2530 hours previously.

It’s going to affect me personally because my hours will drop down from 36 hours a week to working 25 hours term time only.

It’s a massive pay cut. They have offered re-allocation but I like what I do so I’m going to stay.

Overall, however, it’s all terrible. It’s going to have an effect on the service users’ health and their safety, and it’s going to have a detrimental effect on the people who live with them.

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Welfare Rights

Why Advice Pays Its Way Salford City Council is proposing to cut over £300,000 from the Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service with the loss of ten jobs including the Head of Service.

The decision to

decimate the Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service has been deferred for the time being but we believe the proposal represents an overall net loss of income to the City Council, not a saving as stated. Just as importantly it will also lead to an even more significant loss of income to both local people and the local economy.

In addition the proposed staffing structure will create large advice gaps and exacerbate inequality within the city. Those who are most insecure and vulnerable are likely to be the biggest losers, which is against the City Council’s stated objective of protecting this group.

The proposal will also significantly affect any role the service can play in meeting the objectives assigned to it in the city’s Child and Family Poverty and Financial

Inclusion strategies. Shorn of any strategic direction by the loss of its senior management, the service will struggle to maintain and build effective partnerships.

The proposal does not appear to be one that creates a platform for a resilient effective service, but rather suggests a staging post to the complete loss of the service.

This is why members who work in this service have asked the Union to ballot them to take industrial action. We are asking all union members to support them in their fight. If the Council won’t stand up to Government cuts then as unions and community we must stand up and say no more!

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WHAT THE CUT IN W AND DEBT ADVICE

The Advice Workers’ Stories...

One manager in advice has already left, so we’re almost like a little example of what things might be like if this goes through. We’re struggling. We’ve had to shut our debt advice line because basically we can’t cope with the volume of enquiries, so that’s already a cut really.

We feel that we’ve got to defend this for Salford because the Council so far have refused to do so, and we feel that the senior officers don’t understand our service, never have done and have never even tried to understand it. They don’t appreciate what we do. The service brings in seven times what it costs so if they get rid of us they’re getting rid of income from Salford. No-one with any kind of financial acumen would sanction that, it just doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

The Welfare Rights line is still operating but if this cut happens we’ll have to shut it down too. A lot of what we do now can’t continue because we get demand from different areas - we have an advice line

for members of the public but we also get referrals from within the Council and outside it and we can’t do all that. We’ll have to decide what we can and can’t do, and that advice line to the public may well be restricted or ended.

There’s a proposal to cut the post of Head of Service effectively, and that’s a huge concern for us because not only is he the man who created welfare rights in Salford but he’s sort of like our strategic voice for the Council and if he goes it would leave us leaderless.

He is the most likely candidate for compulsory redundancy because where else is he going to go after thirty years? Is he going to be asked to move somewhere else? We’ve already signalled our intention to oppose compulsory redundancies or a worsening in terms and conditions and, if it comes to it we would wish to be balloted by the union for industrial action.

Richard Holland

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WELFARE RIGHTS E WOULD MEAN...

The Advice Workers’ Stories...

The situation is that the Council continues to claim it will delete ten posts to save £346,000 but in doing so they are going to lose £7 for every one of those pounds to the city because we bring money into the city. The decision has apparently been almost made but they can’t bring themselves to implement it. I think the reason for that is that they realise deep down that the decision is wrong.

in Salford – with Universal Credit, rising personal debt and more, the need for our jobs is obvious to anyone really. I don’t know how they are going to solve the problem but it’s their problem not our problem. We’ve collectively taken the decision that we will ask to be balloted for indiustrial action if there are any compulsory redundancies or loss of our pay.

It will be massively detrimental to people

Steve Quinn

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Housing cuts make no sense!

Salford City Council originally intended to reduce their service to the homeless and those under threat of homelessness to a basic statutory team of four. Through campaigning, workers and service users with the support of the Union have managed to save the service, albeit reduced.

Providing a reduced service is still set to cost the authority hundreds of thousands of pounds over the next few years, totally wiping out any savings that might be made in cutting these services now.

The current cost to Salford Council to deal with a household that becomes homeless is approximately £9,000. The cost of tenancy support to prevent homelessness is approximately £1,550. Less workers means less interventions and will cost the city more than any `saving’ it makes in cutting jobs. This is madness and is an example of how government austerity measures implemented by the Council must stop!

As we go to press further jobs are potentially at risk but housing members have pledged to stand together for their services and to retain jobs for those who wish to stay.

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Care on Call

to be cut or not to be cut?...

Salford City UNISON members at Care on Call with other union members, service users and community campaigners fought a vigorous campaign to stop Council plans to make this service self financing...

A

t a public meeting in April, John Dolan railed against cuts to Care On Call with personal story about mum who is ninety and lives on her own…

“For me there should be no question that Care On Call cuts should be even considered” he said “So we value our elderly parents? The answer is `Yes we do’.

“Without Care On Call I couldn’t sleep at night” he explained “If the service is withdrawn what happens? My mum falls out of bed – does she sleep on the floor all night? She’s worth more than that. I cannot even consider that she should be in that situation; why should she suffer for Salford City Council? They have to look after our elderly people.”

He added that there are four thousand elderly people in Salford living at home and that Care On Call, the Council’s emergency 24 hour, seven day a week telephone and mobile response service, looks after a lot of those people if they have falls or any other problems…

“What’s going to happen?” he asked “Are they going to send in paramedics and put them in hospital? It will cost a lot more money. Are we going to put them in a nursing home? No. Someone in the latter days of their lives should be happy in their own environment and be cared for by their families and Care On Call. Why

should we allow that to be stopped now?

There’s no reason.”

The meeting ended with 82 year old Bill, Care on Call user, saying “We didn’t fight two World Wars for this…We need to stand up and show them what we’re made of…”

In July the Council backed down and accepted that they would underwrite any losses of this service because we all knew that many service users would not be able to afford the fees to make it self-financing. Which makes it so disappointing to read that vulnerable people have actually been handing back the Care on Call boxes. The Council has increased the rates to £4.82 per week for the standard service and up to £10 a week for enhanced visits.

The Service in terms of staffing is being funded but they are dealing with fewer people who can access the service. This is madness! It looks like Care on Call may be under threat again but with the successful campaign under our belts and service users like Bill the Council will have a fight on its hands!

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Warning Mutuals - bad for your future The Council are currently proposing a `mutual’ in provider services (day centres, respite care and supported tenancies). Despite the Union asking the Council to explain the proposals, no clear answers are forthcoming. What is even more worrying is that they may wish to follow this model for other services!

Let us be clear:

• UNISON believes that this is Government supported privatisation.

• These so-called mutuals will be a private limited company answerable to shareholders not service users on the public.

• The Council has not promised to underwrite pensions, wages and other costs in case of financial difficulties • What happens if the Council withdraw or reduce funding? Highly likely due to the cuts in Local Government.

• What if it goes bankrupt? Mutuals have a history of failure.

What is at risk for you?

Pay Bargaining- You will no longer be part of Local Government service group with one million union members.

Pension Rights - As yet there is no guarantee that you will be able to maintain your Local Government Pension. All new starters will be placed on an inferior

scheme.

Terms and Conditions - Members are protected by TUPE in any transfer but this can be changed by the new organisation for an economic, technical or organisational reason.

Do turkeys vote for Christmas? So don’t vote for a `mutual’.

A UNISON steward says: “We just want to know what it’s going to be, they’ve not told us – only that it’s a mutual. Even at a McDonald’s restaurant you get offered which sauce you want on your burger. Are we going to be a private company? Are we going to be like a co-operative? Or a social enterprise? They expect us to vote on it but they’re not telling us what we are actually voting for. I’d rather take the cut than be a mutual.”

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SALFORD COUNCIL TO THE ETHICAL CA Salford UNISON is calling on Salford Council to support an Ethical Care Charter to put an end to the practice of routine 15 minute visits and ensure that care workers are paid a living wage....

O n 5th September, UNISON Northwest launched a report, produced by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) called After Austerity: An Economic Plan for the North West.

The report focuses on what local authorities and other public bodies in our region could do to help the North West move past the crushing austerity that, for example, means that in Greater Manchester the welfare benefits bill is even higher now than it was in 2009 – despite the attacks we have seen on claimants’ rights.

The report highlights specific challenges for public services in our region. In local government specifically it states (as we would all expect) that finances continue to be squeezed due to cuts in funding, and that this is causing an increased inability to deliver quality services and a negative impact upon democracy and accountability. It highlights the social care sector as an area that is not adequately perceived as an important component of the economy, and as such does not receive the appropriate support to challenge some of society’s biggest challenges.

A section devoted to Salford is present, and we thought it would be useful to

quote a few passages from that section.

The following sections on the extent and impact of the cuts will come as no surprise to readers: “Salford has experienced major cuts.

Up to 2014, £100m has been cut from Salford City Council’s budget. £70 million of cuts are to come in the next three years - £25 million of which are in the current financial year.

The £25 million this year represents 300 jobs, which will be sought from voluntary redundancy and early retirement in the first instance, though compulsory redundancy may be unavoidable.

Children’s and adult services will be cut significantly, as will regeneration, customer services and administration and environment, community safety and leisure. In addition, other services will be cut, including the Salford Discretionary Support Scheme, which provides financial aid to the neediest people, respite care, children’s homes and road maintenance.

Some public services are expected to disappear altogether as a result of the cuts. Some will be provided by the council working in partnership with other organisations. Others will be provided by partner organisations on their own.

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L SHOULD SIGN UP ARE CHARTER

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By the end of 2014, the council is likely to only be operating to fulfil statutory requirements.”

The report goes on to talk about actions taken by Salford City Council to mitigate against the impact of the cuts. It talks about the implementation of the living wage, of the welcome retention of refuse services in-house (which has saved £4m) and the Council’s current consideration of UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter. It is the last point we want to focus on here because this picks up on the question many of us have asked: What good is the Living Wage for council staff, if those in the lowest paid jobs see their services privatised and are no longer entitled to it? ...a

huge leap forward in quality of life for workers and service users.

Even before this Government unleashed austerity on record scales, privatisation of social care had taken hold in Salford.

Even before the Council chose to join the ranks of those authorities only providing care to those with substantial and critical needs, many Salfordians were already receiving care from hard-working, but poorly paid and poorly trained care workers. The gulf between in-house care and privatised care has been obvious to workers for a long time.

UNISON firmly believes that public services should be delivered by providers that are directly accountable to the people they serve and we reject the mantra that privatisation works. We long for the day when politicians no longer see public ownership as a dirty phrase and will continue to fight hard for that day to return. We cannot afford to sit back and wait for this to happen though. While

we fight for it with one arm, we need to use the other to ensure that the conditions workers and service users are faced with outside of the public sector are as decent and humane as possible. Therefore, we welcome the report’s suggestion that councils should consider adopting UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter and hope to see Salford Council do it as soon as possible.

UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter asks local authorities and other providers to sign up to the following principles (which are broken down into three stages): Stage One: • The starting point for commissioning of visits will be client need and not minutes or tasks. Workers will have the freedom to provide appropriate care and will be given time to talk to their clients.

• The time allocated to visits will match the needs of the clients. In general 15 minute visits will not be used, as they undermine the dignity of the clients.

• Homecare workers will be paid for their travel time, their travel costs and other necessary expenses such as mobile phones.

• Visits will be scheduled so that homecare workers are not forced to rush their time with clients to get to the next one on time.

• Those homecare workers who are eligible must be paid statutory sick pay.

Stage Two: • Clients will be allocated the same homecare worker(s) wherever possible.

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• Zero hours contracts will not be used in place of permanent contracts.

• Providers will have a clear and accountable procedure for following up staff concerns about their “clients” wellbeing.

• All homecare workers will be regularly trained to the necessary standard to provide a good service (at no cost to themselves and in work time).

• Homecare workers will be given the opportunity to regularly meet co-workers to share best practice and limit their isolation.

Stage Three: • All homecare workers will be paid at least the Living Wage. As of November 2013 it is currently £7.65 an hour for the whole of the UK, apart from London. If Council employed homecare workers paid above this rate are outsourced it should be on the basis that the provider is required, and is funded, to maintain these pay levels throughout the contract.

• All homecare workers will be covered

by an occupational sick pay scheme to ensure that staff do not feel pressurised to work when they are ill in order to protect the welfare of their vulnerable clients.

The implementation of the Charter in Salford will not solve all the problems present within social care, but it would allow for a huge leap forward in quality of life for workers and service users.

We’ve already discussed the Charter with one provider in Salford – IAS (who last year we signed a recognition agreement with) – and they would be keen to adopt if the Council can lend its support.

Other councils like Islington, Southwark, Reading and Wirral (in our own region) have adopted the Charter. We want to see Salford join them in making sure that protecting the vulnerable and supporting the low-paid are two ways that our city can challenge austerity.

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UNISON SPONSOR CHARITY HEAD SH

In August, 16 year old Kaisha Fletcher had all her hair shaved off to raise much needed funds for The Christie, as promised to her brother Brendan who tragically died of cancer four years ago, aged only 18.

The head shave, performed by Lisa

Bryan who herself has terminal cancer, was the moving centrepiece of a Brendan’s Day community event at the Beacon Centre in Charlestown.

“I’m doing it in memory of my brother, I promised him before he died that I’d do it, that was age 12 and I’m 16 now” Kaisha explained “My motto is…`To every girl their hair is their prize possession but for me it’s something that can make a difference to somebody else’.”

Kaisha’s mum, Claire Fletcher, was impressed with her daughter’s gesture and the resultant cut… “I was a bit shaky

and nervous but I’m fine now it’s done” she said “Kaisha came up with the idea herself. I was shocked but happy because it’s for a good cause. She promised this when she lost her brother to cancer four years ago and she’s done it. I’m very, very proud of her. She’s looks well. I’m a very proud mum.”

Salford City UNISON pledged £50 towards Kaisha’s fundraising efforts and Assistant Branch Secretary, Dianne Ogg, said “I’m so proud to be here today to watch a very brave young girl have her head shaved. We’re all extremely proud of her.”

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RS CANCER HAVE

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How Much Do Salfor Earn For Adequate L

A new study supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has found that to keep up an adequate standard of living, wages should have risen up to 126% since 2008.

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he report, titled A Minimum Income Standard for the UK in 2014 by Abigail Davis, Donald Hirsch, and Matt Padley at the Centre for Research in Social Policy at 28

Loughborough University, asks members of the public what goods and services they think different types of households need to live to an adequate level.

rd People Need To Living Standard?

And, published annually since 2008, it uses the information to calculate how much people have to earn – taking into account their family circumstances, the changing cost of these essentials and changes to the tax and benefit system.

This year’s research found…

A lone parent with one child now needs to earn more than £27,100, up from £12,000 in 2008 – a rise of 126% A couple with two children need to earn more than £20,200 each, compared to £13,900 each in 2008 – a rise of 46% Single working-age people must now earn more than £16,200, up from £13,500 in 2008 – a rise of 21% “Despite social and economic change, the budgets are similar in real terms to the original 2008 amounts” the study states

“However, people’s ability to afford them has declined.”

The only category of people who get anywhere near keeping up are pensioner couples.

“Overall the cost of a basket of essential items has risen by 28% over six years, while average wages have increased 9% and the minimum wage 14%” the report explains “Increased tax allowances have eased the pressure somewhat for some households, but the freeze to child benefit and ongoing cuts in tax credits have outweighed this for low-earning families with children.

“Out-of-work benefits have fallen further and now provide 39% of what single, working-age people need to reach a Minimum Income Standard” it adds “On the other hand, pensioner couples who claim all their allowances receive 95% of the amount required.”

The study cites food costs rising by 26% since 2008, domestic energy by 45% and bus travel by 37%.

There are differences to the items since 2008. People no longer thought that a landline for a phone was essential but computer access at home was essential.

There was also a reduction in the amount allocated for eating out or takeaways by working-age households, who now regard this as an occasional treat.

Read the full study at www.jrf.org.uk

Stand Up To UK UNISON and the TUC are supporting the Stand Up To UKIP campaign. Here’s the launch statement...

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he 2014 European Elections marked a watershed in British politics. UKIP is a right wing, racist, populist party which won over 27% of the vote; a staggering 4,352,051 people voted for them and they beat the three mainstream parties.

UKIP presents itself as an antiestablishment party and its leader, Nigel Farage, claims to be ‘a man of the people’.

This is a lie. UKIP wants to introduce a flat rate of income tax of 31 per cent that means those on the starting and basic rate, will face huge tax increases. UKIP’s deputy leader called for the privatisation of the NHS.

UKIP presents itself as an anti-establishment party...

This is a lie It has built up its electoral base by both presenting itself as a party opposed to the European Union, but more importantly by spreading poisonous lies and hatred towards migrants and Muslims. We believe UKIP is a racist party. This may be something Farage and the party’s leadership is quick to deny. But in the run up to the European elections UKIP’s mask slipped. UKIP presents the anti-racist movement with a major problem – dragging British politics to the right.

UKIP is also a party of bigots, sexists, Islamophobes and homophobes. The rise of UKIP has parallels with other far right and fascist parties, which are growing across Europe. In France the fascist Front National gained the biggest overall vote in the French European Elections. The PVV in the Netherlands, another racist populist party, came third and in Hungary the fascist Jobbik party came second.

UKIP received disproportionate media coverage prior to the elections and any party that received this level of coverage would have benefited at the polls. Although UKIP received a high vote, 65 per cent of the population did not vote. The mainstream political parties must do more to engage these people and not chase the UKIP vote, to avoid the danger of racism being normalised in British society.

Now is the time to make a stand against UKIP. The lesson of history is that we needunity against the far right and racism. Stand Up to UKIP is an umbrella organization which believes women, trade unions, antiracists, black, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, other faith communities, LBGT, young people, students and all good people, must unite and stand up to UKIP, racism and bigotry.

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KIP!

Please join us.

Diane Abbott MP Len McCluskey, Unite the Union General Secretary Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London 20002008 Owen Jones, Writer and Journalist Sally Hunt, UCU Union General Secretary Manuel Cortes, TSSA Union General Secretary Ava Vidal, Comedian Gerry Gable, Editor/ Publisher Searchlight Magazine Hugh Lanning, Vice chair, Unite Against Fascism Lyndsey German, Convenor Stop the War Coalition Leon Silver, President of the East London

Central synagogue Jo Cardwell, We Are Waltham Forest Denis Fernando, Rainbow Coalition Against Racism Sean Hoyle, President Wessex Region of RMT Union Lisa Fletcher, Branch Chair, Unite Community Portsmouth and District Jon Woods, President Portsmouth TUC, Chair UNISON Portsmouth City Branch For more information contact the Salford Branch Office or see http:// standuptoukip.org/ Sign the statement by visiting this online petition, http://www.petitions24. com/standuptoukip

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Salford City College Job Evaluation Due to a ballot of UNISON members over the summer, Salford City College is about to become the latest employer in Salford to sign up to the Living Wage.

This marks a fantastic step

forward for low-paid workers and the culmination of nearly five years of work to implement equal pay for men and women who do work of equal value.

The new pay and grading scheme will see a big majority of members earn more through an increase in the College’s overall support staff pay bill and particular thanks go to our College stewards who have supported members and branch officers throughout the process – David Newman (who has now retired), Nick Brown, Jonathan Bielby-Nicols, Michelle Ollerhead and especially Jan Boden, who has given up a great deal of time to make this happen.

Regrettably (as is always the case with JE) the new scheme has led to losses in pay for some members. It will be our priority now – over the two years of pay protection - to use all means at our disposal to minimise the number of those who stand to lose out.

UNISON members have

achieved a significant and necessary step forward at Salford City College and we now need to do what we can to support the minority this hasn’t helped.

Pay And Grading For School Staff Through the summer months UNISON has been consulting members in a number of VA and VC schools over proposals for a revised Pay and Grading scheme. This is part of a roll out between the City Council and the schools following the major grading review within the Council in 2013 that included all the community schools.

Stewards will continue to support the ongoing JE process for any new posts via moderation and by giving support and guidance to any Although a challenging existing staff who feel their process in terms of balloting role has changed since their last evaluation and wish to be members, it has been rewarding as UNISON has re-evaluated. now confirmed Collective Bargaining Agreements with If you work at Salford City the majority of our Aided College and would like to schools. Additionally we have join – or if you are already recruited new members, a member and you need contacts and stewards in these some support or advice schools. please contact the following stewards: Decisions on issues like this are based on consulting Jan Boden –0161 631 5304 or jan.boden@salfordcc.ac.uk members and acting collectively on the outcomes.

Jonathan Bielby-Nichols - 0161 It’s workplace democracy 631 5492 or jonathan.bielbyand if non-members want nichols@salfordcc.ac.uk the strength and security of a collective voice they are Michelle Ollerhead - 0161 631 welcome to join our union.

5676 or michelle.ollerhead@ salfordcc.ac.uk

I will keep our membership up-

Nick Brown –0161 631 5114 or dated.

Nicholas.Brown@salfordcc.ac.uk

Diane Ogg Assistant Branch Secretary.

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Please support our strike on October 14th

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SALFORD UNISON SPONS NETBALL AND CHEERLE Salford UNISON is proud to announce our support to Summerville Primary school netball and cheerleaders teams by funding their kits. Summerville pupils are equally as proud to wear the UNISON logo emblazoned on their new kits.

“When we were approached by the school enquiring

about possible sponsorship for the school teams we did not hesitate in approving the request as it was seen as an opportunity for funding to go to a school where children are so enthusiastic and deserve the support” says Salford UNISON’s Assistant Branch secretary Diane Ogg Both teams already doing brilliantly...

“This is our first year in any sort of competition for around four or five years” says Summerville’s Gina Norman “The Summerville Diamonds Netball team are coached by Mandy Gilluley and myself, and narrowly missed out on the final at the Salford Schools Netball Rally and will be taking part in Worsley Netball League this school year.

“The Summerville Shimmers Cheerleading Squad gained second place at the Salford Schools Dance Competition after only six weeks practice” she adds “Well done to their coaches Holli Holmes and Vicky Lacey.”

For Diane Ogg, an ex-pupil of Summerville, the school holds a special place in her heart...

“I have fond memories of my own childhood spent at Summerville” she says “So a special message to the school on behalf of Salford UNISON...‘Wear your kits with pride, they will bring you good luck, they are winning colours...we will be supporting you all the way’.”

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SORS SUMMERVILLE EADING TEAMS

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OUTSTANDING BART

Staff at Barton Moss Secure Care Centre in Irlam help some of the most difficult children in Salford, have been judged `Outstanding’ by OFSTED and are now growing the union to protect their rights...

Beverly Fahy works as a residential

childcare worker at Barton Moss Secure Care Centre and is also the UNISON steward, whose first action was to get the staff’s secure allowance increased by fifty per cent, after negotiations with the Council.

Now the union is preparing for more `issues’, which starts on October 14th when pickets will be posted at the Centre’s entrance as part of the national day of strikes for fair pay.

“The majority of staff went on strike in July, even those who had exemptions, and we’re all going out again on the 14th” says Beverly “The union is very strong at the moment

and that’s been helped by staff who have joined us from Red Bank who were all UNISON members.”

While Barton Moss is known more usually for the anti-fracking protests which took place on Barton Moss Road last winter, the secure children’s centre on the same road is building up a reputation as a centre of excellence for the type of work it does.

This year, OFSTED judged it `Outstanding’; a place where “Young people receive outstanding levels of care, support and guidance and make excellent progress as a result...”. Meanwhile, this summer, staff won the Shine a Light Award for their

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TON MOSS STAFF

work supporting the speech, language and communication needs of young people in their care – and City Mayor Ian Stewart paid tribute “to the hard work and dedication of all the staff at the centre who work tirelessly to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.”

Indeed, the Centre has just had over £1million spent on new buildings, which has increased the number of beds from twenty to 24, and provided new facilities for the ten to 17 year olds who are in care.

“Some are young offenders and some are welfare beds for children who are at risk and are in secure units for their own safety” explains Beverly “It can be a very interesting, very worthwhile job but also very stressful. We work directly with the young people, caring for them day in day out, seeing to their needs and we’re like advocates for them.

“We’re in contact with their families, we monitor their behaviour and are like key workers” she adds “It’s like care work only with a very difficult group of children. The staff work very, very hard.”

Meanwhile, Salford UNISON’s Ameen Hadi explains that the highly praised staff are having difficulties...”Unfortunately, residential childcare night workers at Barton Moss are currently having their jobs re-evaluated, which could lead to both a huge loss of earnings and loss of terms and conditions despite what the staff have achieved” he explains “Also it seems many support staff feel like their career progression is being blocked. The Union will be working with members to support them in their struggles to come” Watch this space for further details...

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SALFORD SAYS Lindsay Hassan is a Salford UNISON member who went to Barton Moss last winter to visit the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp and take part in the anti-fracking protests as energy company IGas was carrying out exploratory drilling. This is her story from the front line...

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nce I’d done the research about fracking online and read about what was happening in America and elsewhere in the world, it was quite alarming to think that it could be happening right here on our doorsteps.

Salford itself is built up. The site at Barton Moss is within a couple of hundred metres of the Barton Moss young offenders unit and, within a mile of there, are homes, communities and schools which, given the risks that are associated with fracking, there’s too many health risks...

There’s risks to contamination of the water table, there’s risks from well leakages and failures; risks from the fumes that are omitted, the gasses expelled in the air.

There’s the fact that it’s a fossil fuel and not renewable clean energy...There’s so many risks that concern me. And that it’s right here in Salford, and, potentially could be covering 60% of the country if fracking goes ahead.

I went to a few of the walks in front of the lorries delivering to the IGas drilling site at Barton Moss last winter and I think what I found most intimidating was the behaviour of the police. I witnessed no violence or intimidation or aggression, just passionate people or `protectors’ putting themselves on the front line.

But the behaviour from the police and the way that we were treated was just outrageous really. It felt like we were being treated like criminals, our human rights weren’t being respected, our right to protest.

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On the few occasions I went I was barged down that road, and pushed and shoved in the small of my back while my heels were being kicked by the police behind me. I felt totally disrespected. It felt like the police had one intention, and that intention was just to get those lorries in, and that the order was coming down from much higher above. It felt like fracking is on the Government’s agenda and that it is going to go ahead regardless of what people think, and the police will carry out those orders. It was very intimidating.

It’s about people power, and unions are about people power. I think it needs people power to kind of challenge the idea of fracking and what’s happening, and the Government’s intention to go ahead, regardless of what the public think or what people voted for. I think the unions are the ideal place to challenge this.

Frack Free Salford is being launched on Tuesday October 21st between 6:30 and 9pm at The Star Inn, Back Hope Street, Broughton M7 2FR. All welcome.

`FRACK OFF!!!’

ARABIC LINKS I Aided Schools a Salford’s only Welfare Rights Link Worker for Arabic speaking minorities is dealing with the fall-out from worldwide events...

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et’s turn this on its head. There’s a war in England. There’s a dictator in Wales.

And Scottish tribes are after your life.

You flee to the Middle East and land in a country where their writing looks like scribble and you don’t understand a word they say. What do you do?

Just thinking like this puts some perspective on the plight of those fleeing from war or oppression and coming to Salford as refugees or asylum seekers from places where horrendous events are happening.

“Many of them are fleeing war zones in places like Syria, Iraq and Palestine with no English, and they are coming to totally different system” says Amira Taha, who is Salford’s only Welfare Rights Link Worker for Arabic speaking minorities “The refugees who come here don’t know anything, it’s like a totally different world for them. They don’t know their rights, they don’t know anything, even simple things like going to a GP. I help them.”

Amira is really the only person who they can turn to, as she not only speaks Arabic but understands the culture too.

In the past, it was Salford’s Yemeni community in Eccles who were her main clients but now the geography has widened.

“I have people from Arabic speaking countries but also Kurdish people who lived close enough to Iraq to learn some Arabic, so the post serves a lot of people” Amira says “Even Persians who cannot speak Arabic come to me because I am aware of how they perceive things.

It’s essential... it’s a relief for so many people.

“It’s not just a matter of interpreting, or me knowing their language, you have to be aware of the different cultures too” she adds “For example, I have some clients who have been abused domestically and the police would be involved, and they are so worried about the pressure they would get from their own home country.

So to support these people in these circumstances is not easy.

“There are so many cases where I’ve managed to help women get out of really abusive relationships” she explains “They come and tell me that they are afraid he might take the children or beat her up, and I say `This is dangerous, we have to bring in social workers’ or whatever, and they don’t know that they have any rights and this is something I help with as well.

“With everything happening in the world they come here, not against the will of

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IN SALFORD and Academies

the UK which has signed and accepted them, but you cannot bring them here and give them nothing” she argues “Salford Council has a humanitarian responsibility to help them cope and give them a service.”

As well as help with advice on subjects varying from disability to child benefits, Amira also provides a reassuring presence in a strange new world.

“Some people who cannot speak English feel very timid and, whether we like it or not, they are worried about racism because of the media or what they’ve heard” she says “So it’s important for them to find someone from their own culture to tell them this is wrong and that

they have rights like every other white man or woman.”

Amira is keen to point out that her job is not about making these people dependant, it’s more about social and economic development...

“The people need help and it’s nothing to do with dependency, it actually helps the community because if they know about the system they become productive and find jobs and work in Salford – they’re not just there going `Give me benefits’” Amira explains “Most of them are talented they just don’t know how. The know-how is what they need and this is what we give them.”

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Some Points To Co The Proposed Sto The potential transfer of Salford’s remaining council housing to Salix Homes is a contentious question that will rightly be answered by tenants. The purpose of this article - written by Defend Council Housing’s Martin Wicks after he read the full offer document is to try and explain why UNISON, along with most other trade unions, has serious concerns about the privatisation of council housing.

We hope members employed by Salix Homes and the areas of Salford City Council that could potentially become part of a stand-alone Salix Homes (housing, contact centre, environment) find it informative and interesting....

A Labour Council proposing to

‘transfer’ its stock to a Housing Association is nothing new. Under the New Labour government there was a

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onsider About ock Transfer...

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policy of transferring 200,000 homes a year. There were financial inducements (including the writing off of housing debt) which were used to pressure the tenants into voting for ‘transfer’. What’s different about this proposal is that a Labour Council is appealing to a Tory/Liberal coalition government for permission to ‘transfer’, and asking for it to write off the housing debt in order to facilitate it.

As with all of the ballots, tenants are being told `Stay with the Council and get nothing, vote for ‘transfer’ and you’ll get new windows and bathrooms’. Salford Council is proposing to ‘transfer’ 85% of the Council housing stock to Salix Homes, which would be transformed into a Private Registered Provider. The rest of the stock is covered by a Private Finance Initiative instituted under the New Labour Government.

Salix Homes, apparently, supports the coalition government’s war against the poor.

There is no question that there are financial constraints on Salford Council as a result of the new ‘self-financing’ system introduced in 2012, and the borrowing cap which was associated with the ‘debt settlement’. However, Salford’s Labour Council is executing what can only be described as an utter capitulation to the government. It appears to support the coalition government’s housing programme. For instance the document refers to “the development of a new tenancy policy which will support local and central government agendas”. Hence the new organisation will (in part): * “Address under-occupation;” * “Address circumstances where

customers’ income has improved and there is no longer a need for social housing;” * “Work to change the view that social housing is a home for life towards being a resource for a particular time.”

In other words Salford Labour Council is supporting the coalition government’s policy of ending of ‘secure tenancies’ for new tenants by the introduction of ‘flexible’ or fixed term ones. This involves an ‘earnings threshold’. If a tenant’s household earnings rise above this ‘threshold’, they would be forced to leave their homes at the end of the tenancy period.

Where flexible tenancies have been introduced elsewhere this has included the operation of the ‘size criteria’, on which the ‘bedroom tax’ is based. So anybody on these tenancies can be forced to move into a smaller property at the end of the fixed term if their household composition has changed and they have a ‘spare’ bedroom.

Even tenants affected by the ‘bedroom tax’ aren’t forced to move, whereas tenants on fixed term tenancies can be. The Council also appears to support the rationale of the ‘bedroom tax’ insofar as it accepts that Salix will “address under-occupation”.

Salix Homes will “seek to acquire and build new developments across a wide range of tenures”, including the following: Housing for “affordable rent” (i.e. charging up to 80% of market rent), flexible tenure, low cost home ownership, housing for outright sale, market rent accommodation and joint ventures.

So, Salford Labour Council supports the strategy of the new ‘social housing’ provider to introduce “affordable rent”, build housing for sale and for market rents as well! Once affordable rents are introduced there is nothing to stop them

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being extended to more properties as they become ‘void’ (when existing tenants leave or die).

One of the supposed selling points of the proposals is that 186 new homes will be built. However, 106 of them will be “affordable rent” and 80 for sale on the market. They will replace 120 Council and 27 privately owned homes which will be demolished. So this means the loss of 14 Council homes at the cost of charging “affordable rent” in 106 properties. Exactly why is a Labour Council supporting “affordable rent”, a coalition policy which seeks to drive Council rents up to market levels? Why does it support the idea of a Housing Association building homes for market rents?

Salix Homes – a “keen supporter” of the government’s “reform agenda”...

The document could hardly be clearer when it says that “Salix Homes, in conjunction with partners will continue to be a keen supporter and contributor to the Public Sector Reform agenda.”

Salix Homes, apparently, supports the coalition government’s war against the poor and its persecution of tenants on Housing Benefit should they have ‘spare’ bedrooms. How can a Labour Council support the ‘transfer’ of its homes to an organisation which is “a keen supporter” of the coalition’s “Public Sector Reform agenda”? Here we are less than a year away from a General Election, yet the Labour Council can’t even wait to see the outcome of it. You have to wonder if they have even bothered to discuss with Labour at the national level the issue of increased funding should they win the General Election.

Whilst any local authority has to deal with the government of the day, Salford’s

application for ‘transfer’ marks a complete capitulation to the coalition government.

On its website it boasts that this government has confidence in its proposal.

Thankfully the transfer application document which kow-tows to the coalition has caused dissension within the ranks of the Labour group itself. There’s a campaign against ‘transfer’, which includes some Labour Councillors who are tenants themselves.

...an utter capitulation to the government.

As ever the message is that the Council “has no choice”. But some of these Labour politicians might ask themselves the question why exactly does the coalition government have confidence in them?

Isn’t it the case that the only reason that the government has agreed to write off £65 million in debt is because Salford Council has agreed to accept that Salix Homes will support the government’s disastrous housing polices and its ‘reform agenda’?

Martin Wicks Defend Council Housing Salford UNISON’s Ameen Hadi adds: “Most of the major unions are affiliated nationally to the Defend Council Housing campaign. These include: CWU, FBU, GMB, PCS, RMT, UCATT, Unite and UNISON. Councils often try and persuade council workers into helping them to get tenants to accept privatisation. They talk about the need for ‘team working’ – but don’t mention that senior managers personally stand to get big pay rises if privatisation goes ahead. Sometimes they threaten job losses if tenants vote No but they are regularly caught out massaging the figures to paint a bleak picture.”

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TAKE A BREAK WITH UNISON

There are lots of benefits to being a

UNISON member that go beyond being protected at work. For instance, did you know that the union has its own Croyde Bay Holiday Resort in North Devon? It’s owned and operated by UNISON and has special discounts for all members, with half price deals for low paid members.

Croyde Bay has a choice of hotel, chalet or cottage accommodation, and even has a `Waggy Tail’ section set aside for those with dogs. The resort, set in stunning surroundings, also does special autumn, new year and surfing breaks and comes highly recommended by Salford City UNISON’s Elaine Clapham...

“I stayed at Croyde Bay Holiday Resort a few years ago and now look back with very happy memories” she says “The location is wonderful, really picturesque.

The views of the bay are breathtaking.

It’s only five minutes’ walk into the tiny

beautiful village but well worth a visit, especially for the Devon Ice-cream and a glass of your choice in the tranquil village pub.

“The chalet I stayed in was basic but clean and the food was good, the facilities are excellent and staff are friendly and helpful” she adds “Croyde beach is a haven for surfers and you need to take the short walk through sand dunes to get there but with no roads to cross it is ideal for families with young children. There is a variety of accommodation to suit everyone, something I would recommend you explore before you book. All in all a very pleasant and memorable experience and somewhere I would like to visit again!”

For more details see www. croydeunison.co.uk or phone 01271 890 890

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Members Missives...

EXCLUSIVE!!!

Leaked email to the Council!!!

Dear Sirs I have a small table tennis bat that needs mending. It has seen better days, and the rubber is peeling off one side (the side I use for top-spin).

A Social Worker’s Warning.

Munro said we oughta think about the sons and daughters.

But what has OFSTED brought us?

Even more paperwork for us!

A little voice in the corner whispers `What about me?’

A little word of caution Don’t let the focus be forgotten, these children have fallen They need someone to fight for them.

A little voice in the corner says `What about me?’

I wonder if the Council would consider a small one-off (or two off if you can backdate it?) cash injection to offset my losses on match day. I am sure that, as I will be in the position of offering a council employee a large salaried job within my organisation in the next two weeks, you would see it as favourable to award a small cash sum to ensure I can continue in my quest to be table tennis champion (North West) in the next 42 years.

PLO, EPO get that form completed before you go Here’s another ethic to forgo OFSTED, adoption report card, are you working hard?

It’s not enough, there’s more we can cut Fat cats needs more stats More resources get cut back A little voice in the corner shouts `What about me!?’

I would be looking at a sum of around £160,000 (glue, extra rubber, hotel and car park fees).

Child focused we are supposed to have entered as our plea to be more person centred Politicians we’ve petitioned ...if only they had listened A little voice in the corner screams `What about me!?’

For further details that any Scrutiny Committee might wish to consider I can give you dates for which I will be unavailable.

Many thanks Geoff Craggitt (Mr) Table Tennis International Salford

Members Poem Overworked under paid We can’t help but feel betrayed Our dues we have paid Now we feel dismayed.

But still that little voice isn’t heard Not until we’re walking behind their hearse...

How many more do we have to loose For politicians to take a walk in their shoes?

Less inspection, we need more introspection Forget fancy linguistics Get back to the child and there won’t be more death statistics A little voice in the corner sighs... `finally... it’s about me’

How much more can we take Before we need a permanent break Austerity would be easier to take If politicians weren’t being fake Alison Chew

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Why Our Greater Manchest Disinvest From Companies

Greater Manchester Pension Fund, which looks after our pension money, has at least £2billion invested in some 67 companies, banks and investment funds entangled with Israel’s military blockade of Gaza and illegal settlements in the West Bank. These include...

Veolia £5.8m – involved with the Jerusalem Light Rail project, serving the illegal settlements.

BAe Systems £60.7m – owns Defense Technology which supplies tear gas to the Israeli police, and supplied components for Lockheed Martin F-16s destined for Israel.

Hewlett Packard £7.7m - owns EDS Israel which provides the Israeli ministry of defence with an automated biometric access control system for Palestinian workers, in major checkpoints.

Following events in Gaza, Salford City UNISON passed a motion in August which stated...

“We demand the attacks on the Palestinians stop immediately, that the siege of Gaza is lifted, and call for sanctions against Israel.

The British government is complicit in Israel’s massacres of the Palestinians by selling weapons. A government report on arms last year revealed 380 licences to export military equipment to Israel worth nearly $8billion.

All arms sales to Israel must cease now.

There can be no justice and peace without freedom and self determination for the Palestinian people.”

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ter Pension Fund Should s Complicit With Israel...

The branch also resolved: 1. To re-affirm our opposition to all forms of discrimination including anti-Semitism and Islamaphobia.

2. Call on Salford City Council to fly the Palestinian Flag for one day in memory of over 400 children that have died in Gaza.

3. Use the resources of our union to divest pension funds from companies complicit with the Occupation, Settlements and Wall (as per briefing from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign) 4. To support activities and make a donation to Manchester PSC and Greater Manchester Stop the War. 5. That the Union plays an active role to support the campaigning of the Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions movement (http://www. bdsmovement.net/) where it is in line with Branch Policy.

6. This motion to be put forward to Regional Council and National Conference.

Motion proposed by Ameen Hadi, Debbie Krantz, Catherine Connors, Johnjo Aranoa-Martin and Ray Walker, Jamil Mohammed.

Photos by Salford Lad

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Salford City UNISON Self Organised Women’s Group (WSOG) gets launched...

There are women’s self-

organised structures at national, regional and local level in UNISON. In these groups, women meet to discuss their particular concerns and develop proposals for promoting equality to feed into the wider structures. Women in these groups also provide valuable support and encouragement to each other.

Several women stewards from Salford City UNISON have begun meeting this year as a self-organised group. We wish to provide a forum where women feel able to discuss things which affect them. However, we acknowledge that many of these issues also affect men in our union, either directly or indirectly. Our hope is that by focussing in this way we can improve awareness and conditions for all members.

If you have issues you think the group should focus on, please contact us via the Salford City UNISON office 0161 794 7425.

Next meeting is 20 October 4pm at UNISON offices

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Salford UNISON will be running transport to London – for details contact your branch steward or phone the Branch Office on 0161 794 7425