Branch News

The role of the UNISON Workplace Steward is never more important than when the union are involved in issues directly affecting our members. Your role is to ensure that members have as much information as possible on the reasons why we need to VOTE YES for action.

Please click these links to the National website for up to date information on the pay dispute

http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2008/stewardsbriefing2june08new.pdf

or

Members Letter

Members will be aware from previous communication that UNISON, along with the other local government unions rejected this year's pay offer of 2.5% for each of the next three years. You will also be aware that UNISON members in England &

Wales

have recently voted for industrial action over pay.

UNISON will now commence with a period of consultation on whether members are prepared to participate in industrial action in order to try and improve this offer. It is vital that as many members as possible participate in this ballot, more importantly is that our members vote YES for industrial action.

UNISON do not take this step lightly, we have always tried to work to find a solution that is acceptable to our members, both in Fife and Nationally. We are disappointed that the employers organisation, CoSLA, have failed to build in security for our members to reopen talks should inflation continue to rise in the fashion that it currently is. Further, the offer does not recognise the spiralling cost of living in

Scotland

both today and the years ahead.

Inflation is sitting at 4.1%, this may of course fall, however it won't fall below 2.5%, therefore, unless there is concerted and collective action you will be taking a pay cut in real terms. We have enclosed a leaflet which outlines some of the changes to the cost of living over the last few months and years.

In addition UNISON Fife branch have been inundated by calls from members complaining about fuel costs, and rightly so. Whilst the pay negotiations aren't directly linked to this payment, a decent pay award would go a long way to helping.

The average pay award across the sectors (Private and Public) is currently 3.3%, the offer we have had is nowhere near this. UNISON have a proud history of fighting for fair pay for our members, we need to successfully campaign again for a decent living wage.

Some of you will have had your salary frozen as a result of the Single Status agreement, you will want to know why you should lose money for a pay award that you wont benefit from! This is wholly understandable, however the higher the pay award the sooner you will be removed from this constraint and receive annual increases.

Your local UNISON Steward will be able to advise you of any developments on this situation, however please return your voting paper when you receive it, crucially you must vote to defend your standard of living, vote YES for industrial action. Over 100,000 members will also show their support for action along with you in Fife and

Scotland

If you know of a colleague who is not a member of UNISON, please encourage them to join UNISON and our campaign for Fair Pay.

Press Release

UNISON Fife branch are urging members working within Fife Council to vote for strike action in the ballot called as part of a dispute over pay.

Members in Fife and Scotland rejected the three year pay offer of 2.5% a year, issued by local government employers CoSLA. UNISON Fife are calling on members to take our campaign to the next step in the campaign to improve this offer.

"UNISON and the other local government unions had claimed for 5% or Ł1000 for the next year. The 2.5% offer for each of the next three years doesn't meet inflation, makes no attempt to address low pay, with no opportunity to reopen negotiations regardless of future increases in the cost of living."

"Our members responded during the consultation stating that they rejected this offer. The offer would see our lowest paid members receive a paltry 46p an hour after the three years. CoSLA have failed to recognise this issue, therefore it is unfortunate that we are being forced to call for sustained industrial action to shift them."

UNISON Fife called on all UNISON members to vote in the ballot and send a clear and decisive message to the employers. It is vitally important that our members vote." She said "We need a clear result to show the level of frustration of our members, we need to collectively voice our determination to take action to change this offer."

UNISON Stewards Briefing

Members Letter

Press Release

Tax relief for washing council uniforms - model letter