Dear Colleagues,

Quarriers Executive have decided that they are now going to bypass UNISON. This is unacceptable to us and is not in your interest.

The Chief Executive stated when he joined Quarriers that he was a Union man, he said at the Staff Conference that he encouraged everyone to join UNISON. Why are we now in this situation?

On 27th April Quarriers gave us 90 days notice to change Terms and Conditions. They reluctantly agreed to extend this to the 10th August, then 24th August. Now they have changed everything ans are extending the consultation to 23rd September. This shows the success of UNISON and you, the members. Our strength is in each other and now is the time to stay strong.

Quarriers are sending Service Managers round every Project trying to get people to sign up to a new contract based on Option 1 (which they said was their final offer to us on the 2nd August). There are scare tactics being used in some places and this, we worry, is behaviour that leans towards bullying.

Here is our advice:

1.        You DO NOT have to attend these meetings.

2.        You DO NOT have to attend a one- to one meeting.

3.        You DO NOT have to agree to any new contract, either Option 1 or Option 2.

4.        Our advice is clear DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS VOLUNTARILY.

5.        Quarriers are giving people until the 23rd September to agree. TAKE THE DOCUMENTS AND KEEP THEM UNTIL UNISON GIVES FURTHER ADVICE.

Quarriers tell us the majority of staff (890) will get a 3% cut. 890 out of 2024 (the total) is only 42%. This is not a majority. The majority is 58% who are taking more than 3% cuts.

To those like myself who face a 3% cut we must think of our colleagues who are facing life changing cuts. Whilst we may be getting our pay cut by a small amount our colleagues who we work with day in, day out are facing losing homes, cars, etc, etc.

We must also remember our Senior Manager colleagues. Many are UNISON members and cannot be comfortable with the request being made of them.

Our message to you is follow our advice, stay strong, think of your workmates and keep up to date with your Union. Remember this is YOUR union, not mine. I am but a servant of the members.

We are getting the support of MSP's, MP's who are all telling Quarriers to go to ACAS and resolve this dispute amicably, not by pressurising people into signing up to pay cuts they do not want and cannot afford. Again we call on Quarriers Executive to join us at ACAS.

Yours,

Stephen Brown

Branch Secretary