OCTOBER 2024
An emergency motion has been agreed by Branch Committee and has been sent to the Retired Members Conference in Llandudno this week in relation to the cutting of the winter fuel allowance.
NEW BRANCH BANNER!
The new branch banner has now been delivered to the office. With input from the Branch, the banner was designed and made by local artist Louise Garman, along with her frequent collaborator Andy Smith. Louise and Andy also designed and created the mural in our Branch office.
AndreaEgan BranchSecretary
Tackling violence in the workplace
A report has been presented to Bolton Council’s Health and Safety Central Committee stating that workers must be free from harassment, discrimination and violence whilst doing their daily jobs. The belief is that better risk assessments will provide one solution.
Addressing the
changes in our climate
Our employer has a responsibility to us both in hot and cold weather. Whilst there is a minimum temperature to work in there is no upper temperature, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a responsibility on the employer.
SkyGuard
TheUseofSkyGuardorothermonitoring,recording ortrackingdevices
Ithascometotheattentionofthetradeunionsthat productssuchasskyguardarebeingintroduced intotheworkofitsmembersandthewider workforce.
Wehaveseriousconcernsabouttheuseofsky guardorequivalentmonitoringdevices,withoutdue governanceandproposalsbeingsharedwiththeTU side.
Asaminimumwemustseethegovernanceforthe useofskyguardorequivalentmonitoringdevices.It wouldbereallyusefultoknowwhichteamsare usingthemandwhatgovernancetheyarecurrently usingthem. Furthermore,wedonotandwillnotagreetostaff usingthemintheirnormalofficeduties. Weunderstandacoupleofteamshavestartedto usethemhowevertherehasbeennodiscussions withthetradeunions.
Wearestressingthatallteamswhoareusingthem ceaseuntilwecansitdownandconsult.
Thisisessentialsincewehavenotseenanyformal proposals.
Nogovernance Nopolicy/guidance NoRiskAssessmentorimpactassessment
Banner Theatre treated us to a performance of their production “Battle Lines”. Battle Lines re-visits the striking mining communities Banner supported in 1984 to celebrate in song, music and video this historic working-class struggle. Battle Lines links this historic struggle to the battles of today with songs and video from striking Amazon workers in Coventry and creative union battles in the global south like the massive farmers struggle in India which delivered the biggest general strike in trade union history.
In September our Branch activists attended a Branch training day titled “Understanding Racism”. They all said that it had been a very eye opening and thought provoking day. There were discussions on prejudice and discrimination and thinking about ways in which we can challenge racism and how we can work towards positive solutions and outcomes.
On Thursday 3rd October we said goodbye and good luck to our Regional Organiser, John Lewis who has retired from UNISON.Everyone at the Bolton Branch would like to wish him a very happy retirement and a big thank you for all his help and support over the years. Definitely Maybe in Bolton was the place to be to bid John a fond farewell with colleagues gathering including UNISON Vice President Julia Mwluke.
