latest on local government pay negotiations

Unison's news on its website, as well as the information on negotiations so far and the statement agreed by the unions and employers make grim and contradictory reading

We have been told that unison wants to resolve this dispute as soon as possible, but that the framework for talks is until end of December... when it would be too late to take action if the best deal they come up with is still crap!

We have gone into open ended discussions, calling off all, even selective action for negotiations which it now appears by reading the various statements was with nothing on the table, nothing at all.   Calling off action and it reality even without action, no other campaigning has been carried out or called for by our leadership (yes its been summer, but we new that when we called the action for July? didnt we?) 

So there is a problem with the leadership and by this I mean the real leadership at the top of our unions.

We in Unison allowed this to happen.  The left allowed this to happen.  The majority of the left did not debate how to hold leadership to account, or how to win this dispute... just calling for more or all out action, or saying wait until October when we can unite with others, isnt a strategy its more a "lets keep our fingers crossed and hope the other unions come to our rescue"

We haven't got a real rank and file mechanism for bringing together local gov activists across unions, branches and regions and this has helped the "leadership" get away with this crap 

Some of us in Workers Liberty and with support from other good activists helped initiate a email group but this is still only a tiny fraction of that of the health activist list. And this list growing to help share reports from branches, not just of action, but issues linked to single status results or negotiations, and other local conditions that can influence how we can fight over pay. 

The leaderships consultations over pay show that they have little understanding of whats going on in branches, asking for information on holidays (very very varied with many many authorities adding extra days leave) and annual leave. They think these can form part of the negotiations.

So we need to learn from this and build up the rank and file we need.

But for now we should challenge the leadership to lead:

- pull out of negotiations to call action; selective or otherwise alongside other unions (close the schools alongside the teachers?) ; close the depots and street cleaning alongside the GMB etc - Unless they put something on the table to make staying at the table worthwhile

- meet now in a high profile manner with other unions in pay dispute including our comrades in scotland with the message that we will coordinate action

- call open activists meetings in regions (not just officers) to build local protests and lobbies of MPs about to return to parliament

- say no to multi year deals when inflation is completely unpredictable and we know we could be leading our members into years of cuts in pay.

Spot the difference: Unison in scotland takes different tone in negotiations

Do unison activists in england, wales and northern ireland have something to learn from our colleagues in scotland?
- taking action alongside all local government workers (yes, perhaps that one)
- taking action alongside civil servants (yes, okay that's another)

But perhaps the most significant thing that differentiates the Scottish dispute (other than the better turnouts, and majorities for action) is the tone of the statement from the leadership to the opening of negotiations.

I don't want to overplay it, or claim a radical socialist campaigning strategy but compare Scotland
with that for the rest of us just 2 weeks earlier

Mainly: 

"make preparations for further strike action"

"members made it clear they want a deal that does not lock them into multi year deals"

"talks are welcome but not in themselves a solution"

I hope that the talks on 22 August made some progress, but since i have heard nothing from branch, region, or unison's site, and the previous reports (agreeing a timetable for more talks etc..) give no information of what improved offer is in the pipeline, then perhaps we should learn something from the scottish leadership and being doing as they are at least claiming to be doing?

We could always propose something radical like proposing a date for joint action with our scottish comrades for september and building for it now? Perhaps this may focus the minds of both sets of negotiators and both sets of employers and central government... perhaps this may speed up the timetable? its just a suggestion.

Negotiations start and Heather Wakefield has nothing to say....

Unison and Unite began pay negotiations with the Employers today and members in my office will be asking tomorrow what happened. But according to unison they just set the timetable? It would be useful to know what the employers are bringing to the table .. but yes its okay because we can read the lead negotiator and head of local government for Unison's report... but can we? well if you follow the link it appears Heather Wakefield has nothing to say.

Well jokes aside (and i have emailed the unison website to ask what the error is).

It would be good to find out what will be discussed by the NJC next week, and for activists to be able to discuss what action we can take now and how we can put maximum pressure on the employers and give maximum support to the negotiators, but we will be stronger if the employers know that negotiators have the full support of our members and for this we need to know as much as possible as soon as possible

inflation, pay rises and negotiations

Inflation (as measured by Retail Price Index) is up to 5% the highest for 17 years. This is the measure usually used to inform pay negotiations so should add much needed weight and confidence to our Unison negotiations who met today with the local government employers.

And meanwhile Labour Research Dept showed that pay increases for private sector were at 4% for the last month

And the guardians polly toynbee (not that i have ever been much of a fan) rreported 20 years ago directors of FTSE top 100 companies earned 17 times average earnings and now 75 times as much. So lets remember who is fueling this record inflation and who is suffering massive pay cuts.

So what happened in pay negotiations today ? well according to the unison website not much, but next talks are on 22 August and in between that there is an NJC meeting. So getting in touch with NJC reps would seem like a good think to do if we want them to ensure that negotiators don't:
- sign upto a multi year deal when inflation is still rising quicker than ever
- agree any attacks on terms and conditions as a compromise for this deal

PS anyone got any idea what "nothing ruled in, nothing ruled out" negotiations means? what is it that the employers don't want us to rule out?

lets be clear when we speak to our negotiators that for our members there are some things that should be ruled out and an attack on our conditions is one of them.

Scottish Council Workers Strike 20 August

Advance notice - council workers' strike on 20th August
 
For the first time ever all 3 unions in Scottish local govt have simultaneously balloted for strike action, won resounding YES votes [see figures below] and now plan a one-day strike on 20 august, followed by selective action and probably further all-out one day strikes in September
 

Ballot results
UNISON 70% YES -  35% turnout
GMB 74% YES-  30% turnout
Unite(TGWU) 68% YES - 25% turnout

and some comments:

- when unions all work together for action you get a higher turn out

- the situation is getting worse with prices rising and this could help explain a higher turnout and yes vote in this ballot

- if English regions want to build confidence this side of the border then publicising and supporting this action by organising high profile regional and city protests could both build real solidarity and help make english local government workers feel stronger by seeing this as an important step in winning an increase in negotiations

- worth noting that the scottish unison website proposes that this day of action will be followed by key dates of selective action of workers

If the scottish leadership are serious about coordinating this action, and Unison's Local government this side of the border listening then together both sets of employers can be put under serious pressure.

But we need to remind them that the vote for action by Unison members is actually getting stronger not weaker. Now what we need is leadership and a clear strategy to win.

Joint statement from emloyers, unite and unison

Attached is a joint statement (see below) so talks will begin in 3 weeks. I will try and be constructive.

But as one unison activist said to me today, it raises more questions than it answers! But we have a date for talks, which is a start.

Perhaps Unison should set a deadline for a firm proposal from the employers, they have had a couple of months since the ballot to think about it, and we have now given them another 4 weeks since the 2 days of action to come up with a response? By which time regions will have called open activist meetings to discuss the format of future action if needed (yes i know meetings are difficult over the summer, but we can't not discuss things for four weeks? we just need to be imaginative, call more than one meetings so those who are on holiday can make at least one?)

Then the employers will know that by the end of the deadine we have given them our members will be ready to take further action if the offer is not good enough.

I am not sure what we should read by "nothing ruled in, nothing ruled out" but what we need to down on the ground, in workplaces, branches and regions make sure the negotiators and most importantly the employers know that are members a beneath inflation pay rise is "ruled out"; a three-year deal, when inflation and costs are still rising is "ruled out" and an attack on our terms of conditions is "ruled out"

This is the best way that we can ensure our negotiators have the best chance of winning against our employers.

So I presume that regional officers have already been asked by the NJC to organise these joint activist planning meeting with UNITE and where possible supportive GMB and teachers unions activists, and ensuring that we have a plan of action (Plan B!) if the offer from the employers does not match the needs of our members. Oh and in case the regional officers haven't been asked to organise these meetings we should encourage them, with motions from branches or do it ourselves in our towns and cities.

Ed

To: Chief Executives in England, Wales & N Ireland
(with copies for Personnel Director & Finance Director)

Members of the National Joint Council

Provincial/Associated Joint Secretaries

Local Authority Associations’ Secretaries



24 July 2008




Dear Colleague,

LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES PAY NEGOTIATIONS


The following statement has been issued today on behalf of the National Employers and UNISON and Unite:



“Local government unions UNISON and Unite, and the National Employers, in the context of the current dispute on the 2008 pay settlement, agree that a new era of employment is needed to reflect properly the contribution of the workforce in purview of the NJC to service improvements and the future needs of local people.



Therefore, to secure this new settlement, the partners are committed to immediate serious and meaningful negotiations over a range of issues, including those in the trade union claim this year and a full review of the national conditions of service. These discussions will be on the basis of nothing ruled in or out and will aim to conclude with early proposals that recognise the aspirations of the workforce in the context of the financial position of local government.



Both the National Employers and UNISON and Unite will enter into these negotiations constructively with the aim of securing an employment package which is fit for the future with positive industrial relations, high quality and efficient local services and resolves the current dispute”



The agreed talks are scheduled to begin on Wednesday 13 August.



signed by Employers secretary, Heather Wakefield, UNISON, Pete Allenson, UNITE

unions postpone action for talks?

According to unison website tonight the NJC has called off action for talks. See here

forgive me for posting quickly, but we need to respond to this quickly

whats wrong with this picture?

after an upbeat mood from the membership and a very successful (even if more patchy in some parts) two days of action, we have not lifted the pressure by suspending action until September?

so we have agreement of talks (with no dates or timetables as yet)

yes we want the employers to come back to the table and since they said 2.45% was the final offer, if this means the employers are ready to increase this figure substaintially then good we should talk, but and its a big but, why lift the threat of further action.

were the NJC given a proposed figure that the employer would come up with? were the NJC convinced that the offer was good enough to not need the threat of further action?

we should be calling the shots more, keeping the pressure on. if they have agreed to talk then this is thanks to our action, we should at the very least agreed for the NJC to meet again in a week or 10 days time to set dates for further action if the employers offer was not worth putting to the membership,

but telling the employers we're calling off action, and will discuss again in September gives the employer the upper hand, they can string out discussions believing that as each day passes the membership will be less motivated to more action, with rumours about what amount we would be offered / accept misdirecting the membership, perhaps the delays would mean we would need the expense of another ballot for action in the autumn.

this is not inevitable with rallies, public meetings and getting public sector workers and service users together including political campaigning can prevent the membership from stepping down, but by agreeing to postpone even talk of further action until september when we are still in july doesnt help those of us who want to keep our members mobilised for action if and when necessary

could not this time while talking with employers have been used usefully to discuss the types of action with the regions and open activist meetings in every locality, i.e. discussing if selective action would work, if not why not and if yes, how would we improve on how it was used learning lessons from london weighting etc

we still need to ensure regions call these meetings, even if full timers are happy for us to wait

Ed

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