Adult Social Care and Health | Children & Young People | Communities | Corporate Services | Fire & Rescue | Further Education | Private & Voluntary Sector | Pensions News
UNISON is Britain's largest trade union, representing workers in public services, the voluntary sector, and privatised service industries. Nottinghamshire County UNISON Branch represents over 10,000 members employed by:
* Nottinghamshire County Council
* Further Education Colleges in Nottinghamshire
* Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service
* Ex-County Council privatised services
* OFSTED
* National charities in Notts
* The Voluntary Sector (including private residential homes and Day Nurseries)
* Organisations whose funding is derived from local authorities.
The Branch office is in West Bridgford near County Hall. You can contact us at the address above. location map
MAIN HEADLINES - UPDATE 1 Feb 2012
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE LGPS BEGIN IN EARNEST (27 Jan 12)
UNISON Members back local government pension talks (11 Jan 2012)
Thank You to everyone that took part in the strike on 30th November and also those who joined the march and rally in Nottingham. Photos and letter of thanks from Martin Sleath Joint Branch Secretary
Branch Pensions Campaign page including a summary of recent proposals
Strike on 30th November - coaches arranged for rally and march in Nottingham - see Pensions Campaign page
Pensions Ballot result - UNISON Members have overwhelmingly voted YES for industrial action to protect our pensions
There was a 78% majority, with 245,358 in favour and 70,253 against on a 29% turnout. Over 1 million members were balloted.More information
UNISON hits back at Pensions strike ballot attacks - 7/11/11
The Pensions Ballot - what you need to know
Ballot over Pensions cuts
Public service workers are being asked to pay more in pension contributions by an average of over 50% - if you earn above £15,000. It's the equivalent on average of a 3% pay cut.
And this extra money isn't being used to improve pension schemes for the future, it's going straight to the Treasury to pay for the bankers' crisis.
BUDGET CUTS - How UNISON will support members at risk by latest budget cuts
On 1 November, Nottinghamshire County Council announced it wanted to make a further £12million of cuts in the 2012/2013 financial year. This means some 382 posts at risk (see http://bigissues.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/index/bigissues/jobs-and-redundancies/). More than 382 people may be affected where posts are actually held by job-sharers or part-time staff of course. The scale of these cuts will clearly impact on essential public services.
The council under-estimated the demands of adult and children social care, hence their decision to make additional £12million savings elsewhere.
The council says it will make the job cuts this way:Managing and minimising the impact on council staff will be undertaken through seeking to redeploy those identified as being at risk of redundancy into alternative posts, releasing staff who volunteer for redundancy wherever business needs allow and using other job vacancies which the council will ring–fence through the application of its vacancy protocol. We intend to hold them to account and make sure this happens.
UNISON will of course be central to the 90-day formal consultation process. We will help members consider alternative proposals, or help campaigns against cuts. We will support members who remain at risk when the consultation closes. We have successfully challenged poor decisions taken by NCC in the last restructures (and forced a change to the Enabling Process as a result). Please use the support of your union – if you want to arrange a workplace meeting for your team please call us on 0115 981 0405 to book one.
The council continues to advertise posts externally, knowing it has staff at risk. If you know of any posts being advertised in your department in this way, please contact us on 0115 981 0405 – these jobs should only be filled on a temporary basis to allow for redeployment of staff at risk.
The council is running its public consultation at present at the same time as the 90-day consultation process over staff cuts. We recommend staff take part in the public consultation process if you are local county-council tax payer. Encourage your friends to take part too. Details are here:
http://www3.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/thecouncil/democracy/finance/conversation/
Council to retain Meadow House in Mansfield and Prospect House in Broxtowe
A paper going to full council on 3rd November confirms the council has had to drastically amend its office plans. This is good news for members who thought they would be forcibly relocated elsewhere. But the council reports says the plans are being amended because “The need to accommodate approximately 200 staff that were not identified at the time of preparation of the original business case”. Quite how you can miss 200 staff is astounding. The revised plans will mean more money spent on the project management of the plans. We recall as phrase that the council was to become ‘more business-like’ in future... It never made sense to remove a major presence in Mansfield (the Tories original plans), and we fully welcome the retention of Meadow House.
The full council report and plans to amend the ‘Ways of Working’ plans can be seen here:
UNISON opposes £1.5 million spending cuts in adult social care - 7/11/11
Sherwood industries stop the closure -7/11/11
UNISON at Labour Party Conference - speech by Dave Prentis
Leaflet re County Hall demo 22nd Sept (download 370kb) - 19/09/11
Outrage at plans to sell off Elderly Persons Homes - 14/09/11
Ballot over plans to cut pensions - 14/09/11
Free two day course for UNISON members facing redundancy - details
UNISON Fighting for your jobs - July Newsletter
News on latest govt plans to cut your pension – see our new Pensions campaign page
UNISON calls on Notts County Council to halt care home sale
Adult day care centres forced to close /
Supporting People budgets halved
Join the protest 30th June County Hall 8.30am download leaflet (263k pdf)
Advice to members re 30th June strikes (492k pdf)
No Pension Cuts, No Job Cuts, No Cuts to Services (572k pdf)
District Election results show voters disgust at Tories
School JE Information - JE Results info/UNISON Meetings etc
Following pressure from UNISON, Notts County Council has agreed to extend the deadline for the submission of appeal information to May 31st.
Heads are being sent this information and you will receive a letter from NCC to your home address giving you this information.
Campaign against the Cuts - new page