UNISON members at South Lanarkshire College in East Kilbride have won a landmark pay deal which will see a rise of more than 4% for the lowest paid staff.

The negotiated pay increase of 2.95% or £550 (whichever is greater) plus a consolidated £15 on all scale points will be backdated from 1 August 2012.

Graeme Forrester, UNISON’s lead negotiator at South Lanarkshire College, said:

"We welcome this pay award, which will see our lowest paid members receive an increase in excess of 4% in real terms.

“And the offer also increases the minimum annual leave entitlement from 22 to 25 days - which is a victory in UNISON’s ongoing fight for equality for all workers."

The final deal includes an additional three unconsolidated annual leave days offered and a consolidated salary uplift of £15 (pro-rata) in addition to the previously tabled 2.95%. That means most staff will benefit from a consolidated salary increase of more than 3%.

Regional Organiser Robert Rae said:

“This is an excellent deal at a time when public sector workers face a pay freeze, rising prices and cuts to vital services – especially in further education.

“Securing a decent advance in pay and holidays  in the current climate shows once again that workers are stronger together in UNISON.”

For information please contact:
Robert Rae, Regional Organiser, 07904 342311

Fiona Montgomery, Communications Officer, UNISON Scotland, 0141 342 2877 or 07508 877 000

Malcolm Burns, Communications Officer, UNISON Scotland, 0141 342 2877 or 07876 566978

Carers, celebrities and campaigners rally for learning disability services and day care centres

Rally in George Square 12.30pm Wed 23 January

Photo and interview opportunities with carers

Carers and service users will unite with trade unionists, campaigners and celebrities including author(s) Alasdair Gray (and James Kelman) at a rally in George Square tomorrow – Wednesday 23 January from 12.30pm - to call for an immediate halt to cuts and an independent review into Glasgow’s learning disability services.

Sam Macartney, of Glasgow UNISON branch, welcomed the postponement of the council’s decision on cuts to learning disability services, closure of three vital day care centres and job losses.

Sam Macartney, Convener of Daycare Services, said:

“Glasgow City Council has put off the vote planned for Thursday (24 January) on the proposed cuts in learning disability day centres and services. This is of course entirely down to the pressure exerted on the council by those who use the services and their families, their supporters in the various campaigning groups including the Defend Glasgow Services Campaign and the trade unions.

“However, there are still no changes to the proposals and we must keep up the pressure on the council.

“We are calling for:

An independent review to be carried out into learning disability services and day care centres in Glasgow – as called for by Glasgow City Council’s own Carers Champion, Chris Mason

A halt to all changes and cuts – including cuts to services, jobs or closures of centres – while the review is carried out

Glasgow City Council Social Work Services to hold an open all-Glasgow meeting for all carers

And vitally - an increase – not a cut - in the money available to the total learning disability services pot, to make individual personalised budgets higher, because the cuts to personalised budgets are at the root of most of the problem.

“The protest planned for Wednesday 23 January at 12.30pm outside the City Chambers goes ahead. Let’s step up our efforts to defeat these proposals to cut vital services to the most vulnerable in our community.”

Rally details

Wednesday 23 January 2013

12.30pm in George Square, Glasgow

Speakers include those who use the services and their families, elected representatives including councillors and MSPs, prominent authors and academics, trade unionists and disability rights campaigners.

Confirmed speakers:

• Tommy Gorman, carer
• Grace Harrigan, carer
• Ian Hood, Learning Disability Alliance Scotland
• Dave Moxham, Deputy General Secretary, STUC 
• Alasdair Gray, author and artist – who also brings a message of support from writer James Kelman

Other speakers to be confirmed

Dave Prentis says ...

Another week, another attack by this coalition government on public-service workers, who will be forced to pay hundreds of pounds extra per year to fund a new single-tier state pension scheme.

Millions of public-service workers are struggling with a prolonged pay freeze while inflation is high, and they are already paying more for their final salary pension. After today's news many will be even more worried about how they can keep their heads above water.

Under cover of the claim that it is doing workers a favour by simplifying and slightly increasing basic pensions, the government is bringing in changes that will force people to work five years longer, with young workers having to work into their seventies.

The new state pension will only be worth £144 a week, which will still leave many in poverty in their retirement.

£144 a week is still poverty
Many workers will still face poverty in retirement because of government plans, says UNISON, despite the government's claims that its proposed overhaul of the state pension system will improve pensions.

Millions of workers will also be clobbered with higher national insurance payments under the plans.

UNISON says radical action is needed to halt the decline in pension provision, which stands to leave many people in financial misery in retirement.