Probation Staff Transfer Negotiations Stall
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Bradford NHS members suspend strike action UNISON to present its case to trust for services to remain in-house
UNISON has agreed to suspend the indefinite industrial action that was due to start on Monday at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, after successful talks at the conciliation service ACAS.
Some 300 UNISON members were preparing to escalate industrial action if the trust didn’t halt plans to transfer them to a wholly owned private company it is setting up.
Regional organiser Natalie Ratcliffe said: “The trust has agreed not to proceed with a 1 October transfer date. The board of directors will meet on 12 September.
“UNISON has been offered the opportunity to present its case, to allow the board to further reflect on the position previously taken. The outcome of this further consideration will be notified to UNISON by the end of September 2019.”
The staff, who work in estates, facilities and clinical departments, went on strike at Bradford teaching hospitals for two weeks earlier in August, having already taken one week’s action in July.
They want to remain as direct NHS employees, and fear that the trust’s plans to move their work to a wholly owned subsidiary company could see workers losing the protections they have as NHS employees.
UNISON and Napo Sodexo CRC members have voted overwhelmingly in a consultative ballot to accept the Sodexo CRC Pay offer.
95% of UNISON members voted to accept the pay offer and 95% of Napo members voted to accept the offer.
The pay offer for all six Sodexo CRCs provides for significant pay reform of both the NNC and SCCOG pay Bands.
For NNC Pay Bands:
Bands 2, 3 and 4 will be reduced from 20 pay points to 15 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 7 points from 1 April 2020
Band 5 will be reduced from 14 pay points to 10 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 5 points from 1 April 2020
Band 6 will be reduced from 19 pay points to 15 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 7 points from 1 April 2020
These changes will significantly reduce the time to progress through each pay band and the value of progression will be larger than in the current structure. As a result Sodexo want to introduce a way of linking progression to competence in a role. Napo and UNISON have made a commitment to enter into negotiations on the introduction of a competency based pay progression framework but this will not prevent transition to the pay points above.
The offer provides that all staff will receive an increase of 2% from 1 April 2019 as a result of moving to a new pay point or through an unconsolidated payment or a combination of the two. There is also a commitment from Sodexo to enter into negotiations for a cost of living increase from April 2020.
Sodexo Pay Deal – last chance to get your vote in
Members who have not already voted, can vote at
The consultation process will close at 5 PM on 23 August.
Sodexo Pay Deal – time running out to get your vote in
Members who have not already voted, can vote at
The consultation process will close at 5 PM on 23 August.
Interserve Pay Ballot result
UNISON and Napo Interserve CRC members have voted overwhelmingly in a consultative ballot to reject Interserve CRC Pay offer.
93% of UNISON members voted to reject the pay offer and 92% of Napo members voted to reject the offer.
Napo and UNISON submitted a joint pay claim to Interserve in March 2019. The pay claim sought pay equality with the National Probation Service (NPS) from 1 April 2019 with a minimum increase for all staff of at least 3%. Both unions believe that Interserve CRC staff deserve the same pay increase for their dedication, skill and hard work in a period of major change within the probation service and the Interserve CRCs.
However, after a series of negotiations, the offer we have received fell a long way short of the claim leaving most Interserve CRC staff significantly worse off than their former colleagues working in the NPS.
The offer from Interserve was:
§ Payment of your contractual increment if you are not at the top of your pay band from 1 April, which you should now have received
§ A 1% cost of living increase (inflation is currently 2.8% – July RPI)
§ Deletion of the bottom two pay points for Bands 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
This offer falls well short of the current rate of inflation and does little to reduce the length of the pay bands, which remain far too long despite the deletion of the bottom two pay points.
We hope that the overwhelming rejection of the offer by Interserve CRC members will encourage the employers to reopen pay talks.
SODEXO PAY OFFER – GET YOUR VOTES IN!
The pay offer for all six Sodexo CRCs and provides for significant pay reform of both the NNC and SCCOG pay Bands.
For the NNC
Bands 2, 3 and 4 will be reduced from 20 pay points to 15 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 7 points from 1 April 2020
Band 5 will be reduced from 14 pay points to 10 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 5 points from 1 April 2020
Band 6 will be reduced from 19 pay points to 15 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 7 points from 1 April 2020
These changes will significantly reduce the time to progress through each pay band and the value of progression will be larger than in the current structure. As a result Sodexo want to introduce a way of linking progression to competence in a role. Napo and UNISON have made a commitment to enter into negotiations on the introduction of a competency basedpay progression framework.
The offer provides that all staff will receive an increase of 2% from 1 April 2019 as a result of moving to a new pay point or through an unconsolidated payment or a combination of the two. There is also a commitment from Sodexo to enter into negotiations for a cost of living increase from April 2020.
Both Trade Unions are now recommending acceptance of the offer but if you wish to reject the offer please indicate your willingness to take industrial action to seek to improve the offer.
If you have not already voted, you can vote to accept or reject the offer at
The consultation process will close at 5 PM on 23 August.
Peterloo March for Democracy Sunday 18th August
Dear Branch Secretary,
| 1819-2019 Peterloo MassacreBi-Centenary March for Democracy Join the March – Sunday 18th August 2019RALLY IN ALBERT SQUARE – STARTS @ 1.00pm Confirmed speakers at this time Matt Wrack (General Secretary, Fire Brigades Union) Julie Ward MEP (North West Labour MEP)Ian Hodson (President, Bakers, Food & Allied Workers’ Union) Lynn Collins (Regional Secretary, North West TUC) Owen Winter (Director, Make Votes Matter) Marlene Walker (NHS Worker & Campaigner) Pete Middleman (NW National Education Union) Gina Dowding (North West Green Party MEP) Ian Allinson (President, Manchester Trades Council) Felicity Dowling (National Secretary, Left Unity) Mark Krantz (Peterloo Historian & Political Activist)Paula Barker (Regional Convenor, UNISON North West) Alan Davies (The Word Newspaper & Peterloo March for Democracy Organising Committee) Presiding: Stephen Hall (President, GMATUC) Speakers will be grouped into threes and limited to 7 minutes each. Each group of three will be ‘interspersed’ with entertainment provided by Joe Solo, Claire Mooney, Bard Company and Crispin Flintoff. There will also be entertainment at the end of the speakers. |
UNISON NORTH WEST IS URGING MEMBERS TO JOIN THIS MARCH!
UNISON North West Regional Committee has agreed to support this march to commemorate the Peterloo Massacre on its two hundredth anniversary. We have been offered, and have agreed to provide support for, one of ten feeder legs of the march, all of which will make their way to and meet at Albert Square near the site of the massacre in 1819.
WHAT WAS THE PETERLOO MASSACRE
Two hundred years ago, on August 1819, about 60,000 people assembled, including a high proportion of women and children, in St Peters field in Manchester. What followed was a brutal dispersal, by armed cavalry, with fifteen people killed and over five hundred injured. People had marched from all around, many miles, to peacefully demonstrate, amidst widespread hunger and deprivation, for the right to vote. That working people, by securing a voice over their fate, might be heard and might share justly in the wealth they toiled to create in the workshop of the world.
WHY REMEMBER IT?
This is a truly shameful day in the history of the conservative political establishment in Britain. Yet in the history of the labour movement, this event, known as the Peterloo Massacre, has come to symbolise the centuries of unremitting political struggle that moved working people from abject poverty and squalor, and back breaking labour, to the rights we now enjoy today. It inspired the rise of the Chartists and modern trade unionism and helped transform our history. Yet these struggles are never over, they must be fought again and again. After a decade of pay stagnation, growing poverty and austerity, it is more important than ever that we use the rights that others had to fight and die for to improve the lot of all working people.
UNISON NORTH WEST – FEEDER LEG TWO
Each leg will receive a banner marked “1819-2019 Peterloo Massacre Bi-Centenary – March for Democracy” to go at the front of the marchers and 500 copies of a Souvenir Newspaper which we will give away to the marchers and the general public en route and at Albert Square. Bundles of the 10,000 copy limited edition paper are also available from GMATUC on a first come first served basis (contact Alan on 07958 158080).
We are looking for volunteers to steward this leg of the march, and we will provide all all the necessary information to ensure the safety of the marchers from start to finish, including for the duration of the rally in Albert Square.
ASSEMBLY POINT – HORNBY STREET OFF BURY ROAD NEW ROAD, MANCHESTER. .
We have been asked to primarily focus on mobilising on our own members in the North West and wider afield, but other people from the North Manchester, Prestwich and Bury area will be advised to join this assembly point. Anyone else of course, is free to join them.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
Please circulate information about this march. Encourage activists and members to attend with families.
Please email nwmedia@unison.co.uk to let us know that you’re branch is planning to attend, roughly how many attendees you expect, and whether you will bring a branch banner.
ASSEMBLY POINT – HORNBY STREET OFF BURY ROAD NEW ROAD, MANCHESTER
NB) The exact march routes have not yet been finalised with GMP. The above broken red lines, however, indicate something close to what is likely to be agreed.
UNISON North West LGBT Group – AGM 2019
The UNISON North West LGBT+ Group will hold its Annual General Meeting on Saturday 7th September 2019 from 1200 hours to 1500 hours at the UNISON North West Regional Offices, Arena Point, Manchester, M3 1UN.
The meeting is open to any UNISON member who self-defines as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBT+) and is in a branch based in the North West Region. Travel and appropriate meal expenses will be covered by the committee.
There are a number of positions on the committee up for election which are listed in the attached invite letter. UNISON North West LGBT Group – AGM 2019
If you know someone who might be interested in joining our committee, or who wants a chat about what might be involved, they are welcome to contact us directly – Adam Hodgson (a_hodgson@hotmail.com) or Ceri Lewis-Shaw (cls1974@outlook.com). They can also message us via Facebook or Twitter.
We are also running an awareness session for delegates and visitors attending this year’s UNISON LGBT+ Conference. This is an opportunity particularly for new delegates to learn more about how conference works, to meet colleagues who will be at conference with them and to get advice and guidance on writing or preparing speeches on any motion at conference. This will be from 1100 hours.
We would be grateful if you could circulate the attached letter to anyone who you may think would be interested in attending our AGM.
With Pride
Ceri Lewis-Shaw and Adam Hodgson
Co-Convenors
UNISON North West LGBT+ Group
Bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre – March for Democracy – Sunday 18th August
The branch is supporting this event, for more information including a full list of anniversary events please visit the following links;
https://manchesterhistories.co.uk/projects/peterloo2019
Interserve CRC Pay Offer Vote Now!
If you have not already voted on the Interserve CRC Pay offer please do so before 9 August.
The offer from Interserve is:
§ Payment of your contractual increment if you are not at the top of your pay band from 1 April, which you should now have received
§ A 1% cost of living increase (inflation is currently 3% (May RPI))
§ Deletion of the bottom two pay points for Bands 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
This offer falls well short of the current rate of inflation and does little to reduce the length of the pay bands, which remain far too long despite the deletion of the bottom two pay points.
Both UNISON and Napo are now consulting our members on the offer.
You can vote via the following link:
You will need your UNISON Membership Number or National Insurance number to vote.
Sodexo CRCs Pay Update
The pay offer for all six Sodexo CRCs provides for significant pay reform of both the NNC and SCCOG pay Bands.
For the NNC
Bands 2, 3 and 4 will be reduced from 20 pay points to 15 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 7 points from 1 April 2020
Band 5 will be reduced from 14 pay points to 10 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 5 points from 1 April 2020
Band 6 will be reduced from 19 pay points to 15 pay points from 1 April 2019 and to 7 points from 1 April 2020
These changes will significantly reduce the time to progress through each pay band and the value of progression will be larger than in the current structure. As a result Sodexo want to introduce a way of linking progression to competence in a role. Napo and UNISON have made a commitment to enter into negotiations on the introduction of a competency based pay progression framework.
The offer provides that all staff will receive an increase of 2% from 1 April 2019 as a result of moving to a new pay point or through an unconsolidated payment or a combination of the two. There is also a commitment from Sodexo to enter into negotiations for a cost of living increase from April 2020.
Both Trade Unions are now recommending acceptance of the offer but if you wish to reject the offer please indicate your willingness to take industrial action to seek to improve the offer.
If you have not already voted, you can vote to accept or reject the offer at
The consultation process will close at 5 PM on 23 August.
Consultative Pay ballot of Sodexo CRC members
We will be starting a consultative ballot of Sodexo CRC members on Monday 29 July, members who have provided an email address will receive an email on Monday, which will direct them to a web link where they can vote
: https://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/police-and-justice-staff/key-issues/vote-now-sodexo-crc-pay-deal/
You will not be able to vote before 29 July.
The ballot closes on Friday 23 August.
Outsourced NHS staff in St Helens, Blackpool and Liverpool set to strike after unanimous vote
Staff employed by private contractor Compass within St Helens and Knowsley, Blackpool and Liverpool Heart and Chest NHS Trusts have unanimously voted to take strike action at the end of the month over their employer’s failure to match NHS pay rates.
The staff work for the multinational outsourcing company as catering, cleaning, security, portering and reception staff and most are paid only the minimum wage rate of £8.21 an hour.
But Compass staff work alongside colleagues who are employed directly by the NHS, where the lowest rate is £9.03 an hour. This difference of 82p an hour is worth £1,600 a year for full-time staff.
After Compass refused to give its staff a wage rise in line with that paid to NHS employees last year, UNISON asked almost 300 members whether they wished to go on strike over the issue. The result was that 100% of respondents voted to take industrial action.
A one day strike will take place within all three NHS trusts on Wednesday 31 July if ongoing talks between UNISON and Compass are not able to reach a successful conclusion.
Commenting on the vote, Donovan Rowe, a porter employed by Compass at St Helens Hospital said: “It’s disheartening to work alongside colleagues doing the same job who are getting paid more than you.
“It’s affecting staff morale and creating a divide between staff on NHS contracts and the rest of us. We do the same jobs and it’s only right that we get the same pay.
“I’m working weekend and night shifts, but unlike my NHS colleagues don’t earn any extra for doing these. At times I’ve worked 45 hours overtime a month just to get by. If we got the pay rise, I would be able to work my contracted hours every week and have more time to spend with my family.”
Michelle Tymon is a UNISON representative who also works for Compass but gets the higher NHS rate for the job. She said: “I am fully supportive of my striking colleagues.
“We all do exactly the same work and yet those of us lucky to be on NHS contracts earn thousands of pounds more per year. We all play our part in keeping the health service going and it’s only right we all receive proper NHS pay and conditions.”
UNISON North West regional organiser Lisa Walsh said: “It’s completely wrong that staff working side by side together within the NHS are getting different rates for the job.
“On top of the issue of hourly pay, those on Agenda for Change (NHS) contracts are receiving shift bonuses and better sick pay schemes.
“All of these workers deserve an NHS contract for an NHS job – it’s time for the two tier workforce to end.
“The 100% mandate for strike action shows how strongly these dedicated hospital staff feel about this issue.
“Compass made £1.7bn in profit last year. They should put their hands into their deep pockets and find the 82p per hour that would make little difference to their profits but would be a huge help to NHS workers in St Helens, Blackpool and Liverpool.”