UNISON REFERS DISPUTE WITH ONE HOUSING GROUP TO ACAS

UNISON is demanding One Housing Group (OHG) agree to formal talks with ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) to resolve the ongoing dispute over their proposals to substantially reduce the pay of many Care and Support staff.

UNISON had a binding agreement with OHG after the majority of members voted in favour of a ‘buy-out’ settlement in return for (reluctantly) accepting the new proposals.  OHG Management has since reneged on this agreement, without consultation, and reduced the settlement figure which has angered our members.

Colin Inniss, UNISON Regional Organiser said “All staff members in OHG deserve better than this.  Relations between the Trade Union side and management have become farcical with the Joint Negotiating Committee no longer fit for purpose.

“To add insult to injury a bonus payment has arbitrarily been given to all staff except those working in frontline Supported Living (the same staff facing drastic reductions in salary).

“If management will not agree to meetings with ACAS as a matter of urgency, UNISON will have no other option other than to begin balloting our members for industrial action.”

For Further information or comment please contact:

UNISON Regional Organiser, Colin Inniss 

C.InnissATunisonDOTcoDOTuk

Notes for Editors

1.    UNISON’s represents over 60,000 members in the Community and Voluntary sector.

2.    UNISON’s Housing Association Branch represents 3,500 members in the Greater London Region and the South East.
 One Housing Group is a major provider of care and support across London and the South East and manages 15,000 properties across, 26 boroughs.

3.    One Housing Group’s net surplus for 2012/13 was £35.8 million.

Ends

May Day March & Rally London 2013

This lunchtime I went on the traditional London May Day march from Clerkenwell to Trafalgar Square.

It was a cheerful, noisy and very colourful event. The lovely blue (not Tory of course) skies and sunshine helped. Lots of red flags trade union banners, music and political chanting.

A little strange perhaps to see so many banners with smiling pictures of Marx, Lenin, Stalin and Mao in the West End of London but no one seemed to mind.

You bump into a number of Labour movement people during the march you know but haven't seen for ages.  You meet new people who you happen to be marching alongside and can have some good political conversations but usually it's a discussion about the weather.

I helped carry our UNISON Housing Association branch banner and the UNISON Greater London Regional banner. Normally due to political elections it is difficult to attend the March but this year there are no elections in London tomorrow.

Centre of picture college is UNISON London Regional Convener Gloria Hanson speaking to the rally at Trafalgar Square. Below is the excellent and well received speech she made.

"My name is Gloria Hanson and I’m very proud to be here today sending you solidarity and unity from UNISON Greater London Region.

May day has been celebrated in London since the 1880’s and if the Tories have their way that’s what we’ll be returning to:-

•     before the NHS when healthcare was based on wealth not need,

•     when only the rich received an education & a decent standard of living

•     when there was no minimum wage, no holiday or sick pay, no health & safety and no rights at all for workers

•     when the poor and needy had nothing to look forward to except the workhouse

This Tory led Government came into power determined to pick up where Margaret Thatcher left off but after 3 years in office its clear it is going to be much worse, with an austerity agenda slashing our public services and the welfare state in a way she could only dream off.

Millions of jobs in the public sector lost, unemployment reaching record levels, our NHS and many of our schools and essential public services effectively privatised or sold off to the highest bidder. 

Our pay has been frozen as the cost of living soars, our employment & equality rights under threat and cuts to housing & other benefits will be devastating for all – especially in London. Our most vulnerable citizens are being made to bear the brunt of a financial problem that was not of their making.

Our parents and grandparents fought long and hard to establish our public services and many of the rights we take for granted today.  We cannot allow them to ride roughshod over them, whilst giving tax breaks to their rich friends. We must stand together as workers and trade unionists to defend them.

As we celebrate May Day here today we must remember that unity is strength, and when we stand together with one voice we WILL be heard".

Gregg McClymont MP on Pensions and Shaping Capitalism

Picture of Labour Shadow Pension Minister Gregg McClymont MP addressing UNISON Housing Association Branch AGM at the House of Commons.  Gregg was our keynote speaker on a subject that is very close to the hearts of many UNISON members, who work in the sector due to unnecessary closures and contribution hikes in many of our funds, recent announcements on state pensions and the impending auto-enrolment of non savers into pensions schemes.

He started his speech by teasing me that I was one of the very few Labour supporters who turned up to the Pension fringes at last year's Party conference in Manchester.  These fringes tend to be dominated by financial services lobbyists, who on the whole are not known for being rank and file Labour supporters.

Then he spoke about the recent government plans for the state pension which may be simpler but is in the long run less generous. Despite a lot of noise by this Tory led Government, it actually signifies a withdrawal in state pension provision.

Next, was Private Pension plan provision and their high costs and hidden charges. How can workers work out the value of a company provided pension if they don't know how much it costs? Why doesn't the Government allow NEST (the national pension saving plan set up by the last government with cross party support) to compete without restrictions and therefore bring down costs? (I can hazard a guess; just compare who provides expensive private pensions schemes and who donates to the Conservative Party).

The 3rd and most thought provoking part of his speech was about the role that trade unions and the Labour Party can play on promoting responsible capitalism. Can we use our pension assets and wealth to tackle excess? In Norway there is a massive sovereign wealth fund which is able to influence and promote good company governance practises. In the USA there are also huge public sector pension funds which do the same and change company behaviour for the better.

He posed the question is it a long term  project for the Trade Unions and the Labour Party to shape the future of responsible capitalism through our funded investment pensions schemes? (My answer - Yes)

We had a quick Q&A since Gregg had to go off and vote at a House of Commons division (the bell ringing loudly in our committee room) but I think he understood our "concerns" about the way many of us feel that we are being ripped off by both the state and our employers with regard to Pensions and unless something is done than most face a pretty miserable poverty future.

Many thanks to Gregg and his office for helping to arrange this event.

Hat tip picture Sarah Day our ace Branch admin officer.

UNISON Labour Link Officer Branch Report 2012

My report to UNISON Housing Association Branch Annual Report 2012.

"In the GLA and Mayor elections in May, Branch Labour Link members played their part across London by being in UNISON door knocking and tele-canvassing teams which helped get rid of nasty Tory GLA members such as Brian Coleman, while London Mayor Candidate, Ken Livingston only narrowly missed out being elected.

We held our annual meeting in the House of Commons in October and our key note speaker was Shadow Housing Minister Jack Dromey (see picture), who in a well attended and lively session, made a convincing case for an alternative housing policy.  At the same time he listened to our concerns about poverty wages, insecure employment and the impact that austerity has on those trying against the odds to provide quality services.

He overstayed the Q&A by 40 minutes and let one of our major employers, who also had an appointment that evening waiting for him.

In 2013 we need to exercise our local and national political muscle to support our campaigns to not only save our jobs, pensions and pay but argue for different ways of doing things. For example sector wide collective pay agreements;  for a living wage plus (decent pay, pensions and sickness benefit) for all housing and care workers and no public sector contracts for employers who do not  recognise trade unions.

Those of us who support the Labour Party need to play our part in making sure that a Labour Government is elected in 2015 and that it is a truly progressive Government with an alternative economic policy that will transform our society.

John Gray"

A Branch Secretary Annual Report on 2012

This was my contribution to the Branch Annual Report. "2012 has been another appalling year for many of our members.

You may be one of the many Care and Support workers who have had their wages and conditions slashed or you may work in Housing  Management and had another year of pay cuts due to below inflation cost of living rises.

In one of our major employers, it is estimated that in real terms, average pay has been reduced by nearly 14% in the last 5 years since the link with RPI (Retail Price Index) was broken. No wonder so many of us find it hard to manage and pay the bills. While at the same time rental income for landlords has outpaced inflation and many senior executives have seen their pay go up and up.

Some employers and the Social Housing Pension Fund also seem to have taken leave of their senses
and are trying to close down pension schemes due to “funny money” deficits. This decision is wrong and completely unnecessary since they know that the Government has announced that the way we value pensions is nonsense and are reviewing it.

This year our guest speaker at our AGM (12 February) in the House Commons is Gregg McClymont MP, the Shadow Minister for Pensions. No doubt we will be discussing the issue with him!

It has not all been doom and gloom. We have been able to win better than average pay deals in certain
employers and we have protected many members from some of the worse attacks on terms and conditions. Our stewards and branch staff have made a difference and have kept people in jobs, stopped unfairness and supported members going through difficult times.

What has been pretty obvious to me, is by and large, in the employers where we are better organised, with greater membership density, greater number of local stewards and regular joint consultative meeting between the union and management, we have been able to achieve much better pay, protection and pension deals than where we are weaker.

This should be no surprise. This is bread and butter trade unionism. The more of us in the union, the better organised we are, the better deals we are able to get for our members. It is as simple as that.

From April this year it will soon cost you up to £1200 for an employment tribunal hearing if you are unfairly
dismissed, discriminated against or suffer a determent. You cannot rely on your employer or the law to protect you at work. You can only rely on your trade union.

So once again I ask us all to recruit more members and nurture more activists and stewards. It is in everyone’s interests that this happens and it is the only way in the long term that we can increase your pay and better protect you at work.

John Gray

UNISON Greater London Housing Association branch AGM 2013

On Tuesday evening it was my branch Annual General Meeting. Which took place this year at the House of Commons. Thanks to our keynote speaker (and his staff), Shadow Pension minister, Gregg McClymont MP (see top right).

The AGM was very successful with the best turnout I have seen since I joined the branch in 2008.

There were lots of members present who have never been to a trade union meeting before. Hopefully we didn't scare them off and they will return!

On the way into the House of Commons members of the branch gave out "Love Trains, Hate High Fares" postcards to commuters outside Westminster station.

I had been re-elected unopposed as Branch Secretary as was the Chair, Tony Power.

It was a traditional Labour movement annual meeting with introductions; apologies; minutes: meeting; matters arising; branch officers making verbal reports and taking questions on the running of the branch; elections to vacant posts and conferences; rules changes; motions and affiliations.

There was some very good debates and contributions made during the motions and rule changes. 

There is a very serious side of an AGM, since we have nearly 3500 members to defend in the worse of times and a budget of nearly £250,000 to account for to these members. 

After the meeting, there was a less serious side, as we continued to put our world to rights and went to the branch social in the nearby "The Lord Moon of the Mall".

I'll post on Gregg's well received speech on pensions, my reports and the motions over the next week or so. 

UNISON Housing Associations Branch Annual General Meeting 12 February 6 - 8 pm House of Commons

All members are invited to the Branch Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 12 February

6.00 – 8.00pm
House of Commons
Committee Room 18

Speaker: Gregg McClymont MP, Shadow Pensions Minister
Social Housing Pensions * Auto enrolment * State Pension proposals

Full details: http://www.unisonhablondon.org/index.php/about-us/branch-committee

Deadline for motions and nominations is Monday 21 January.

Entrance to is through the Public Entrance – Cromwell Green

Allow plenty of time to pass through security and take your seat

Members who have not visited the House of Commons before can meet other branch members at 5.15pm prompt outside Westminster Tube Station to go as a group to the House of Commons. 

 The meeting will be followed by a social in the local Wetherspoon.
 Prize draw for all members attending the AGM. 

(Picture TUC March for an Alternative 2012)

Metropolitan Housing Association: UNISON Protest tomorrow

Below is a press release from our branch about tomorrow's protest against poverty pay. As you can see from the screenshot to your left that Metropolitan "Vision and Values" includes "having care and concern for employees". 

How they can square these visions and values with paying staff poverty pay and taking on part time workers so they can cheat the taxpayer is beyond me?

"UNISON members in Metropolitan Housing Association (MHA) are planning to hold a mass lunchtime protest outside the organisation’s London headquarters at Cambridge House, in Wood Green on Friday 14th December.

The protest is in response to a lack of progress in current consultation meetings on proposed changes to the terms and conditions of staff members who are employed as Care and Support Workers.

Implementation of the new proposals by MHA will result in the reduction of staff salaries by 40%, the introduction of “flexible” contracts, and the implementation of pay rates below the London Living Wage.

MHA has already begun advertising for Support Workers at the new (low) pay scales. Anecdotal reports from within the organisation suggest attempts to recruit staff on these terms have been costly and inefficient, as posts have to be re-advertised 2 or 3 times.

UNISON Regional Organiser, Colin Inniss, stated: “it seems that Metropolitan Housing Association are determined to tarnish their fine reputation for high quality service delivery by paying a significant number of their dedicated Care and Support staff poverty pay. That is shameful”.

UNISON Housing Associations Branch Secretary, John Gray added: “It appears front line staff are being asked to pay the price for the lack of competent leadership within Metropolitan. Inflicting poverty pay on others while those at the top collect bumper wages reeks of hypocrisy and is unfair”.

Notes for Editors

1. Metropolitan manages 36,000 homes and provides housing and other services to 80,000 customers. In 2011/12 it made an operating surplus of £65.4M on a turnover of 244M.

2. Metropolitan’s London office is located at Cambridge House 109 Mayes Road Wood Green London N22 6UR.

3. Brian Johnson, formerly of Moat, has recently been appointed chief executive of Metropolitan.

4. UNISON’s Housing Association Branch represents 3,500 members in the Greater London Region and the South East.

The London Living Wage is designed to help people towards a minimum acceptable quality of life in our capital. It is calculated by the Greater London Authority and is currently £8.55.

Metropolitan Housing: Poverty Pay, Pay Offs and Predistribution

NO PROGRESS IN METROPOLITAN CONSULTATION MEETINGS

A series of cost-cutting proposals presented to UNISON by Metropolitan housing association have been firmly rejected by the union’s members.

Metropolitan are conducting a 90 day consultation on changes to the terms and conditions of its 887 staff who are employed as Care and Support workers. The proposals include the reduction of staff salaries by up to 40%; reducing the number of job roles from 44 to 4, introducing flexible contracts and reducing management and administration posts.

Controversially, a private consultant’s report presented to the Metropolitan Board in December 2011 recommended employing more low-paid, part time staff “who could supplement their income by claiming working tax credits”.

If implemented, the proposed salary cuts will slash the wages of front line staff to below that of the GLA’s recommended London Living Wage. Metropolitan’s 2011/12 Financial Statement revealed that the former chief executive, Bill Payne, received a record payout of £412,000 in 2011.

UNISON’s Housing Associations’ Branch Secretary, John Gray, commented: “The hypocrisy of Metropolitan’s position is absolutely staggering. It pays £412,000 to honour the employment contracts of a departing chief executive yet wants to rip up the contracts of hundreds of frontline staff in order to impose wage cuts of up to 40%”.

UNISON Regional Organiser, Colin Inniss stated: “our members at Metropolitan are very angry about this and rightly so. Unless the Board sees sense and reconsiders its proposals we are heading for a serious dispute.

For Further information or comment please contact:

UNISON Housing Associations Branch Secretary, John Gray j.gray2@unison.co.uk
UNISON Regional Organiser, Colin Inniss or C.Inniss@unison.co.uk

Notes for Editors

1. Metropolitan manages 36,000 homes and provides housing and other services to 80,000 customers. In 2011/12 it made an operating surplus of £65.4M on a turnover of £244M.

2. Brian Johnson, formerly of Moat, has recently been appointed chief executive of Metropolitan.

3. UNISON’s Housing Association Branch represents 3,500 members in the Greater London Region and the South East.

The London Living Wage is designed to help people towards a minimum acceptable quality of life in our capital. It is calculated by the Greater London Authority and is currently £8.30

(This is from branch press release. I brought this matter up at our West Ham GC meeting last night with our MP Lyn Brown)