Job Evaluation Strike at Coventry

I hope this isn't a sign of things to come, but Coventry Unison branch are currently on strike over managements attempt to implement the results of their job evaluation Scheme.

The photo shows schools admission staff on the first day of their indefinate strike action. Many of these women (who are not well paid in the first place) will loose up to 25% of their salary under the new proposals.

They are being joined on the picket lines by street cleaning staff and staff from Coventry's Exchequer Banking section, as their selective action starts to increase.

Talks with Trade Unions in Doncaster on pay & rewards (which include job evaluation) are due to commence next week, with a view to achieving a new equality proofed pay & rewards package by April 2007. Keep checking this site for the latest updates on the negotiations.

Remortgage for free

Britannia Building Society has removed the arrangement fee from its remortgage packages.

Unison members taking a Britannia Re-mortgage package will benefit from no arrangement fee or adminstration, a free standard valuation and free conveyancing - a saving of £829 for a typical customer.

Unison members also benefit from £150 cashback once the mortgage is set up.

Lobby Parliament to defend our Pensions!

For those of you who don't fancy visiting London just for Christmas shopping, why don't you join us in our lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 22 November as part of the campaign to defend the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).

We don’t know what proposals the Government will make for sure – it is nevertheless clear that we face the prospect of a worse deal than other public service pension schemes, including proposals to make us pay more for that worse deal.

This isn’t acceptable and I am pleased that UNISON is now stepping up several gears. We could spend time wondering whether we should ever have been in a lower gear, but it makes more sense for UNISON branches to build for a massive attendance at the lobby of Parliament on 22 November. We will arrange free transport to get you there, all you need to do is book the day off work and contact the branch asap, to let us know you're coming.

We also need to start the debate about the industrial action which we will almost inevitably have to take to defend our pensions. This debate needs to take place now. I support calls for a serious and sustained programme of all out strike action starting with at least a two day strike and escalating to further and longer periods of strike action. I don’t think a single one day strike will be a serious response to this attack – and I don’t think we should be messing about any longer with deferring action. If we start this fight we should carry on to win it.

London Trip

Unison Sports & Social are hitting the streets of London on 18th November, on our annual Christmas Shopping trip to the capital.

The coach departs Doncaster from Scarborough House at 7.30 sharp, so don't be late!
The return journey commences at 9.30pm from Marble Arch.

If you fancy a shop till you drop expedition, or just a day out in the capital, tickets are availbale from the Unison Office at £10 per person. Once again this offer is only available to Unison Sports & Social members...there's no excuse not to join with these bargains!

And if that's not enough for you bargain hunters, we have a trip to Gateshead on Saturday 28th October. The coach departs 8.30am sharp from Scarborough House, returning Gateshead at 5.30pm. Tickets £8.

There are still a few left, but you need to hurry to take advantage of this offer.

I'm now off to apply for a job at Wilfreda Beehive.

Panto Tickets Now on Sale

This years Christmas Pantomime is Sleeping Beauty. Once again Unison have used their contacts at Doncaster Civic Theatre, to secure our very own showing on Sunday 17th December, at 1pm.

Tickets are now on sale at the branch office, £7 per adult and kids go free.
All adults must be accompanied by a responsible child.

This offer is only available to members of Unison Sports & Social, so sign up today to make sure you don't miss out!

Coming soon new Doncaster Unison website

New website coming soon...watch this space!