We meet again against a backdrop of continuing austerity although Teresa May’s and her government obvious denial.
The most astonishing attempt by the government to deny the impact of their devastating austerity measures was the blind rage with which they met the report from Professor Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights. This report in 2018, highlighted the UK as being the 5th largest economy in the world however this fact was contradictory to the poverty he discovered: 5th of the population live in poverty, child poverty to rise by 7% which could see a rate as high as 40% in the coming years. ‘For almost 1 in 2 children to be in poverty in 21st century is not just a disgrace but a social calamity and economic disaster all rolled into one’. This government despite this report and others including their own parliamentary committees continue to fail to acknowledge this, let’s be clear though this is not naivety but there policies and actions are a political choice, it is the politics of this government that create the rolling back of the welfare state and attacks on ordinary workers. Clearly, they have money to cut the taxes to the rich, fund trident and most recently bankroll failing Grayling in his public money handouts to the rich, non-accountable private co-corporations. Money our public services are much in need of. One rule for their rich friends another for us.
Locally we know how services have been gutted by the policies of austerity that has seen 40% cuts over the last 10 years to funding in local government. This has seen the social safety nets we provide through local authority services, grants and payments to the community and private sector to deliver where local government do not anymore, being cut and services diminishing.
All our members across the private & community sector, schools and borough council will have fewer people to support the service they deliver whilst the needs of the community increase. Stress levels of our members rise with more homelessness and rough sleepers, more need food banks, more children in poverty, increase in people with mental health problems or living in isolation & with fewer benefits. We know by 2020 this will only get worse as the government grants to local councils will be £0.
The government has also created a hostile environment which we have seen with the deportation and detentions for the Windrush generation and the inhumane actions regarding refugees languishing in northern France – and on the back of Trumps bigoted rhetoric have all have given rise to the politics of Hate and the Far Right gaining ground which impacts on our members and the workplace environment.
Support the up and coming national demonstration on the 16th March and help demonstrate UNISON’s confidence in our values of respect and equality for all, for multiculturalism, strong cohesive communities and peace. It will demonstrate our solidarity in action against the politics of hate, against bigotry, racism and discrimination of all kinds, and against the politics of fascism.
Unison nationally is challenging this agenda of Austerity and cuts at a national level as well as local pressure.
Campaigning and organising
This backdrop is why over the last year locally we have been Educating, Agitating and Organising amongst our members and the community to challenge the austerity agenda and politics of hate through national and community events/lobbies and demonstrations – all vital ways of getting our voices heard.
We have unfurled our banners and wares several times last year, some examples being International day of anti-racism, the TUC step up for public services demonstration, leafleting and lobby of the local council as part of Save Southend NHS campaign which supported a victory in getting the mid Essex STP referred back to the Secretary of State, been active in and one of the main sponsors for Southend Pride event in Southend in July (see Sam Adams report for more). Supported the SWAN (Social Week Action Network) conference in Southend with a stall, had campaign stalls over health and safety, women’s history, end violence against women, health and wellbeing, supporting CWU – stall to defend the post office workers terms and conditions, stalls around ending domestic violence, black history month and more.
A taste of surveys done with our members include:
- Within the private sector, sleep in payments and taken this to our solicitors and lobbied employers.
- Employed by Southend council within SBC and SBC schools over regular overtime being done and annual leave allowances this branch felt members might be losing out – this is resting with the region to report back the finding and next steps.
- Christmas shut down at the Council – with a lobby and letters to council – we are following this up for next year with the employers and will be communicating with members over this.
- Schools Consultative ballot over cuts in funding – done several post outs and phone rounds plus emails encouraging members to use their vote.
A taste of work with employers
- The present appeals policy for formal process – they wanted to change from a panel of councillors to one person hearing an appeal over dismissals, the Chief Exec or another officer. This felt unfair, untransparent and lacked robustness. We lobbied councillors with letters wrote a rebuttal against the proposals and saw a climb down as the report was pulled from the council agenda.
- Sexual Harassment in the workplace this is ongoing however have progressed with an agreed questionnaire now and formulated a plan re-education and support service to coincide with the questionnaire launch
Health and safety clear set of meetings are held to take issues unremedied forward and we have a joint action to support international workers memorial day.
- Social care – ethical care charter we are continuing our talks with employers and asking to monitor which area they have supported within this charter and looking at next steps.
- International women’s day tomorrow!
We have also supported UNISON members up and down the country in various disputes from the bin workers of Kirklees to Birmingham to parking attendants of Camden and the Birmingham care workers and mid-day assistants in Durham as we know where there is victory our members locally will benefit.
Whilst it might not feel like it, we do see the incumbent government increasingly on the back foot with Brexit and their continuing gaff. We might yet see a General Election and we need to argue for this to get a better deal for our members.
UNISON Democracy
We have our national conferences coming up and will be sending delegates from this branch to vote for the action plan for our union nationally and for local government.
We have sent members to women’s conference this year but unusually have not had anyone one at black members or LGBT conference nor disabled members conference so are keen for members to express an interest in this area of work to attend and join us on the national conferences.
Delegates to the National Executive Committee are being re-elected this year. This branch has generally backed candidates regionally and nationally that are standing on the UNISON Action platform as we felt these are standing for change; a fighting union that will better defend and support our members and services. Voting starts in April when you will receive your ballot papers. We encourage you to use your vote in this election.
Recruitment
This is vital to the lifeblood of our branch and every member is a potential recruiter! We need numbers to have the collective strength.
We have recruited 167 members 125 have been online which is positive and regionally we have sustained our membership and grown in number. But we need more in all our sectors and particularly at this time in the local authority. More members = more power to effect change.
Getting active – Stewards & Training opportunities
Thanks to all our active stewards we have made a real difference for members when faced with disciplinaries; contractual review, grievances and capability cases we have had over 127 individual cases across the branch membership this year and have had to deal with restructures within schools, South Essex Homes and the local authority mainly, with some positive results.
I thank all those that have supported our members. It is hard work but can be very rewarding.
We have 5 new stewards this year some have finished their training and other yet to attend, which is really positive – but we always welcome others.
We have also trained our activists through the fantastic regional programme that has supported members with negotiating skills for Women, health and safety, dealing with difficult behaviour (in schools) black activists development weekend, housing seminars and more including in house website training. We ONE UNISON weekend coming up with loads of opportunities form workshops to Officer training & a summer school with a raft of more interesting and empowering courses.
Post boxes
Thank all our post boxes that have given out our newsletters and kept members in touch with their union and its activities and reported back issues within their workplaces.
We are also being proactive – we note from our casework issues that equalities, whether it be around disabilities, gender, race or sexuality, have often not been dealt with properly by managers and we continue to liaise with the employers over this and have offered support for the training and been proactive around policy changes (see Jill Henson’s report).
This branch has organised a lot over the last year – but it’s not always demos and picket lines! We have organised theatre trips thanks to Shona Rowe, also yoga.
However, if you feel there are areas that we are not looking at then please let us know, but we also need your continued help by spreading the word of being in a union is important – take a membership form and recruit a colleague!
Also, I thank members for letting us know when things are not right – we need to know so we can support you individually or collectively.
Internationally
Unison locally has supported a lot of trade union activity abroad as union members fight under undemocratic regimes for their rights under far harsher conditions than us. We also support international organisations such as the Burma & Philippines campaign, ACTSA (Action for South Africa), and other trade unionists in Columbia, India, Palestine Canada to name a few who, like us, are fighting against greedy bosses, cuts and so-called austerity and often war.
We hope to be able to support our sister unions in the future.
I would like to thank all those that have worked really hard this year, however, as we recruit new stewards and activists this becomes easier!
Thanks to all those that support us through volunteering Sam, Michael, Sue, Jackie and Pam, Tim & Roger who volunteer as retired stewards to support casework it makes a real difference. Lastly big thanks to Mary, our PT Admin worker, who holds the fort & often is the first point of contact for members phoning in – they always appreciate her sympathetic ear and kind words.
We will have a lot of battles ahead and we need all our members to support as this is where our strength lies so help us to Educate Agitate and Organise.
Our Annual General Meeting is open to all our members. It’s when we get a chance as a branch to discuss our work over the year and decide what we want for next year. You can take part in electing your Branch Officers for the year ahead and you can ask questions about the union. We invite all members to come along – it’s your union!
