UNISON

from UNISON United Left Local Government workers across the UK have reacted with alarm and anger at the news that all further action in our pensions dispute has been suspended as of 13 April pending further talks with the Local Government Association to conclude in June. This despite the fact that there is no concrete offer from the employers, merely an agreement to framework talks with “nothing ruled in and nothing ruled out”. The success of the massive united national strike action on 28 March, and the threat of further regional and national strike action in the run up to May’s local...

By a health worker Delegates at the public sector union UNISON’s conference for health workers at the end of April gave Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt the silent treatment when she spoke to them. They then voted for the union to “find ways to take national industrial action against the cuts”. Activists must now campaign to ensure this action includes strike action. At the very least action could include an overtime ban, a refusal to do bank work and the withdrawal of good will, i.e. a refusal to do the unpaid overtime on which the NHS relies. The union leadership will now take legal advice...

On the day before the 28 March pensions strike for local government I was working in a Geography class. It was the last period of the day. Year 9 i.e. 14 year olds. They had taken little notice of the supply teacher during the lesson on the grounds that “supply” translates as “won’t be back tomorrow, therefore no comeback if we misbehave”. As the students filed out when the bell went, I wished them all a pleasant day off for the next day. A group of students stayed behind to ask me what it was all about. “Can we come on your picket line tomorrow?” “Will we get into trouble if we do?” “Any...

Dumfries and Galloway: A mass picket of 300 people at the council offices in Dumfries. All council workplaces were affected, and 30 schools were closed. Everyone thought the day strike had been a success and was determined to continue with future strikes in order to win their demands. Elaine Lambeth: 60 to 70 people on the picket line outside the Town Hall, Many women - mostly from local schools. A definite mood that people were up for more action on this issue. One worker told me how it should have happened before the general election — ain’t that true. Faz Leicester: The vast majority of...

UNISON health workers hold their annual conference later this month. As Nick Holden explains, they have a lot to discuss. New reports each day of hospitals slashing jobs, and cutting back on services seem to indicate an NHS falling apart at the seams, despite the claimed investment of millions of pounds of new money. Propaganda about the “NHS crisis” serves various agendas On the one hand, NHS unions and activists use the financial crisis to bolster their argument for more money — although the unions are struggling to respond adequately to the suggestion that the cash crisis is at least partly...