A series of measures designed to undermine Trade Unions ability to represent their members and undermine employment rights has gone almost unreported in the national media.
First it was announced that the government intended to increase the employment period from one year to two years employment before members and their union could present most claims before employment tribunals, at the same time they announced their intention to reduce the “consultation period” from 90 days to 30 days in most cases involving redundancies.
The government are saying that the best way to create new jobs and employment is to make it easier to sack workers; logic most people find hard to comprehend. Next David Cameron is reported as supporting measures some right wing Tories are proposing to introduce that would make it almost impossible for local branches of unions to represent members by limiting or excluding time off with pay for local representatives, in the public sector.
Next George Osborne announced that workers in the public sector would be limited to 1% pay raise for the next two years.
Osborne then announced that by April 2013 he wanted to see the end of national pay bargaining in the public sector. Instead pay rises, and therefore pay rates, would be different depending on where you live the biggest losers would be those workers who live and work in the most disadvantaged parts of the country. In places like Liverpool workers could see their pay cut by as much as 10%. Those living in the richer parts of the country would get richer, health workers would be paid considerably less than other equally qualified staff depending on where you live. Where is the logic that says a nurse, a medical secretary and a cleaner is worth more in the prosperous South West than the same staff in the North West?
I have no need to repeat here the proposed changes to our pension scheme which led to the most widespread strike action for a generation.
Most of these are driven by dogma and will do nothing to promote economic growth and jobs and will lead to a situation of increased poverty now and in retirement. Is David Cameron Margaret Thatcher in drag?
UNISON will of course, as the biggest Union in the country, campaign tirelessly against this naked attack on our members and our ability to represent their interests both locally and nationally.
First it was announced that the government intended to increase the employment period from one year to two years employment before members and their union could present most claims before employment tribunals, at the same time they announced their intention to reduce the “consultation period” from 90 days to 30 days in most cases involving redundancies.
The government are saying that the best way to create new jobs and employment is to make it easier to sack workers; logic most people find hard to comprehend. Next David Cameron is reported as supporting measures some right wing Tories are proposing to introduce that would make it almost impossible for local branches of unions to represent members by limiting or excluding time off with pay for local representatives, in the public sector.
Next George Osborne announced that workers in the public sector would be limited to 1% pay raise for the next two years.
Osborne then announced that by April 2013 he wanted to see the end of national pay bargaining in the public sector. Instead pay rises, and therefore pay rates, would be different depending on where you live the biggest losers would be those workers who live and work in the most disadvantaged parts of the country. In places like Liverpool workers could see their pay cut by as much as 10%. Those living in the richer parts of the country would get richer, health workers would be paid considerably less than other equally qualified staff depending on where you live. Where is the logic that says a nurse, a medical secretary and a cleaner is worth more in the prosperous South West than the same staff in the North West?
I have no need to repeat here the proposed changes to our pension scheme which led to the most widespread strike action for a generation.
Most of these are driven by dogma and will do nothing to promote economic growth and jobs and will lead to a situation of increased poverty now and in retirement. Is David Cameron Margaret Thatcher in drag?
UNISON will of course, as the biggest Union in the country, campaign tirelessly against this naked attack on our members and our ability to represent their interests both locally and nationally.
