November e-news

Community e-news

November 2010

UNISON’s e-mail newsletter for the Community service group

In this edition: a report from UNISON’s Community Service Group’s first conference; an update on campaigns against the government’s cuts, and a request for information on how the cuts are affecting you locally; a helpful new equalities guide; a new social work campaign; the latest on the West Midlands’ new regional Community branch; and a request for people to get involved in the service group at regional level.

For further information on UNISON’s work in the Community service group, visit the website: www.unison.org.uk/community

Community conference – report from Telford

On 2^nd November, UNISON’s very first conference for all of our members in the Community service group took place in Telford. This was the first chance for delegates representing members in charities, housing associations, voluntary organisations and social enterprises to come together and debate the issues, concerns and campaigns that affect them.

Stephen Brown, the Chair of the Service Group Executive (the union’s national committee for Community) welcomed delegates and pointed out how far we have come. For the first time, instead of having to be content with a couple of quick motions at other service group conferences, delegates finally had a dedicated conference, to discuss community and voluntary sector issues, make contacts, share ideas, and decide what organising and campaigning work we should engage in.

The special guest for the morning session was Dave Prentis, UNISON’s General Secretary. Dave offered praise to delegates for "advocating on behalf of the most vulnerable in our society" and for members who are "the backbone of our public services, the heart of our communities." But he warned that "this is a real crunch time for our members and for the voluntary and community sector" as "we face an attack the like of which we've never seen before."

Dave made it clear that the coalition government’s cuts were not necessary. "Never mind a pay freeze for our members, how about a pay freeze for the bankers and boardrooms who've seen their money grow by 55% over the past year." And this means a challenge for the union. "We've got to build opposition. We've got to lever in support to our branches. We've got to give practical support to community groups fighting to defend their services.”

After agreeing the proposed constitution for the service group, delegates moved on to discussing the workplace issues that concern members in the Community service group. Among the decisions made by delegates:

Campaign on funding in the voluntary sector, arguing that the sector cannot be seen as a cheap answer
Recruit and organise around Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues in the sector
Defend TUPE and to argue for continued protection against two-tier workforces
Explore what pensions Community members have
Campaign with Local Government colleagues against the government’s attack on social housing
Work with other parts of the union on the ‘personalisation’ agenda
Promote good practice with regard to volunteering, ensuring that volunteers are not used to replace paid employees
Issue further guidance on safeguarding
Campaign against violence in the workplace
Campaign for and promote better facility time arrangements in the sector

Updates on the progress of this work will be published in future editions of Community E-news.

The conference also took part in a ‘panel session’ about the future of the voluntary sector. The speakers were Labour Party spokesperson Roberta Blackman-Woods, Steve Davies of Cardiff University, and Neil Cleeveley of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action. In a wide-ranging debate, the panelists gave their thoughts on what the government’s ‘Big Society’ really means, and what the dangers for the voluntary sector will be as a result of the government’s agenda. Contributions from delegates made it clear that troubled times are ahead – with service closures, increasing inequality and job losses among the many worries highlighted.

Campaigning against the cuts

One of the key motions debate at the Community conference was an emergency motion, highlighting the damage that the coalition government’s cuts agenda will cause in the community and voluntary sector.

Conference delegates agreed that the scale, speed and depth of cuts announced were unnecessary, and the way they were distributed will harm the poorest and most vulnerable people in society, including many members of our service group.

Of the £83 billion cuts in government spending, it is estimated that between £3 billion and £5 billion will be passed on to the voluntary sector. This will cause immense damage to our communities, the vulnerable people our members work with, and to our members’ jobs, pay and conditions. Meanwhile, the severe cuts to welfare spending and house building will increase the demand for the services Community members provide.

Bob Woods, speaking on behalf of the Service Group Executive, summed up the mood of conference: “Conference, campaigning against this won’t be easy, but we must do everything we can. We have to recruit and organise around what’s happening. We have to demonstrate that workers are stronger together, and that by joining UNISON, they join a constructive, effective, protective campaign. We have to work as part of the union’s broader campaigns, with other service groups, in our workplaces and at the national political level. But we have to make sure we emphasise the particular problems that Community members will face.”

Conference also agreed on the importance of building local coalitions, so that UNISON branches can campaign alongside community groups, service users, and local politicians, as the cuts begin to harm the voluntary sector, its service users, and the people who work in it. Bob finished with a rallying call: “Let’s go back to our workplaces and recruit, organise, campaign, lobby and shout as loud as we can. We need to demand fairness, decency and public services.”

UNISON has already begun campaigning against the coalition government’s treatment of the voluntary sector and housing associations. In July, UNISON activists came together with Members of Parliament, academics and voluntary sector campaigners to discuss the government’s ‘Big Society’ agenda at a special round table meeting in Westminster.

The meeting agreed that while we don’t yet know what the Big Society really means, we do know that the possibility of replacing paid voluntary sector workers with volunteers is wrong. Volunteering is an essential part of our society, but volunteers and paid workers have different roles, and we must defend the vital work our members do. And it was also agreed that the extension of competition for services, based on ‘cheapest wins’, must also be resisted, as it will damage the sector, our members, and the services they provide.

Since this meeting, good contacts have been developed with a number of other organisations and Members of Parliament, and as the impact of the cuts becomes clearer, we must work closely with these other groups and individuals as we campaign against the government’s attacks on public services, at local, regional and national levels.

Contact: m.short@unison.co.uk

Collecting information about the cuts

What’s happening in your area? How are the cuts affecting you, the members you represent, and the service users you work with?

Each UNISON region now has a ‘nerve centre’, so that the union can collect as much information as possible about the cuts, and develop an overall picture of job losses, service closures, pay cuts, cuts in terms and conditions, and so on. This is essential if the union is to campaign effectively against the cuts.

We therefore need activists and branches to let your regional office know immediately of any proposed or even rumoured cuts. Please provide as much or as little information as you have, but in particular we need to know the type of service affected, the UNISON service group, what the proposals are, what the likely impact will be on services, what the likely impact will be on our members, and what campaigning is going on.

Contact: your regional office – see www.unison.org.uk for regional office details

Equality audits and impact assessments in the community and voluntary sector

The National Equality Partnership recently published a helpful new guide, entitled Action. An equality audit and equality impact assessment guide for the voluntary and community sector.

To download the report, click here: http://www.edf.org.uk/blog/?p=7285

Social workers send out SOS – join the campaign for a new contract

UNISON and leading social care journal Community Care have joined forces to campaign for a new contract for social workers. We are asking all social workers to get involved and make your voices heard.

We are taking action following recent research which reveals a bad situation getting worse. Social workers are struggling to keep track of rising caseloads, bogged down by bureaucracy and hampered by poor IT and admin back-up.

Social workers have a duty to raise the alarm with policy makers and the public about the effects of spiralling caseloads on them and the service users who need their help. To help you do this we have drawn up a contract setting out the 10 basic requirements that social workers need to practise safely and effectively.

Click here to read the UNISON press release launching the campaign

Click here to visit the campaign page

Click here to download the contract

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Let your colleagues know about the campaign

Display the contract in workplaces

Sign the e-petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/714/061/796/

Write to your member of parliament/assembly and ask them to support the campaign. Click here and scroll down the page for advice on how to do this

Get involved with your local UNISON branch and offer to help support the contract campaign in your workplace – for branch contact details call UNISON Direct 0845 355 0845

News from the West Midlands - new Community branch

This year has seen the launch of the West Midlands Community Branch – a new branch for all UNISON Community members in the West Midlands. The branch has been set up to ensure that Community members get the same level of support as those in other larger groups and are able to participate fully in the union's democracy.

The branch will cover all of our members working for charities, housing associations and other voluntary sector organisations. The branch’s first annual general meeting will take place on 24 November.

West Midlands members: the new branch needs you!

Whether it's getting elected as a rep or a branch officer, helping with the local newsletter or just being a local mailing contact, why not see how much more you could get out of your membership? You are a member of UNISON because you know it offers you essential support when you need it at work and an unbeatable package of services and benefits.

But did you know how much more you could get out of the union by deciding to be active? You may just want to make sure you have your say in your branch's decisions, or become a UNISON activist.

You could offer to write a piece about your workplace for the branch newsletter or ask about the range of education and training courses available. It doesn't take much to be active - and you could gain such a lot in return!

Contact: a.johnson@unison.co.uk

Community service group at regional level – want to get involved?

UNISON’s regions are now in the process of setting up regional Community service group structures, to give Community members a democratic and effective voice in their areas. A motion passed at Community conference made it clear that regional structures need to provide Community members with a clear way to come together and make decisions about organising, bargaining, activist education and communications, without creating a bureaucracy which cannot be sustained or populated.

Would you like to get involved in your regional Community organisation, and be part of a regional e-mail network? If so, please e-mail cvsector@unison.co.uk with your name, membership number and e-mail address.

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For further information on UNISON’s work in the Community service group, visit the website: www.unison.org.uk/community Community conference – report from Telford On 2^nd November, UNISON’s very first conference for all of our members in the Community service group took place in Telford. This was the first chance for delegates representing members in charities, housing associations, voluntary organisations and social enterprises to come together and debate the issues, concerns and campaigns that affect them. Stephen Brown, the Chair of the Service Group Executive (the union’s national committee for Community) welcomed delegates and pointed out how far we have come. For the first time, instead of having to be content with a couple of quick motions at other service group conferences, delegates finally had a dedicated conference, to discuss community and voluntary sector issues, make contacts, share ideas, and decide what organising and campaigning work we should engage in. The special guest for the morning session was Dave Prentis, UNISON’s General Secretary. Dave offered praise to delegates for "advocating on behalf of the most vulnerable in our society" and for members who are "the backbone of our public services, the heart of our communities." But he warned that "this is a real crunch time for our members and for the voluntary and community sector" as "we face an attack the like of which we've never seen before." Dave made it clear that the coalition government’s cuts were not necessary. "Never mind a pay freeze for our members, how about a pay freeze for the bankers and boardrooms who've seen their money grow by 55% over the past year." And this means a challenge for the union. "We've got to build opposition. We've got to lever in support to our branches. We've got to give practical support to community groups fighting to defend their services.” After agreeing the proposed constitution for the service group, delegates moved on to discussing the workplace issues that concern members in the Community service group. Among the decisions made by delegates: Campaign on funding in the voluntary sector, arguing that the sector cannot be seen as a cheap answer Recruit and organise around Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues in the sector Defend TUPE and to argue for continued protection against two-tier workforces Explore what pensions Community members have Campaign with Local Government colleagues against the government’s attack on social housing Work with other parts of the union on the ‘personalisation’ agenda Promote good practice with regard to volunteering, ensuring that volunteers are not used to replace paid employees Issue further guidance on safeguarding Campaign against violence in the workplace Campaign for and promote better facility time arrangements in the sector Updates on the progress of this work will be published in future editions of Community E-news. The conference also took part in a ‘panel session’ about the future of the voluntary sector. The speakers were Labour Party spokesperson Roberta Blackman-Woods, Steve Davies of Cardiff University, and Neil Cleeveley of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action. In a wide-ranging debate, the panelists gave their thoughts on what the government’s ‘Big Society’ really means, and what the dangers for the voluntary sector will be as a result of the government’s agenda. Contributions from delegates made it clear that troubled times are ahead – with service closures, increasing inequality and job losses among the many worries highlighted. Campaigning against the cuts One of the key motions debate at the Community conference was an emergency motion, highlighting the damage that the coalition government’s cuts agenda will cause in the community and voluntary sector. Conference delegates agreed that the scale, speed and depth of cuts announced were unnecessary, and the way they were distributed will harm the poorest and most vulnerable people in society, including many members of our service group. Of the £83 billion cuts in government spending, it is estimated that between £3 billion and £5 billion will be passed on to the voluntary sector. This will cause immense damage to our communities, the vulnerable people our members work with, and to our members’ jobs, pay and conditions. Meanwhile, the severe cuts to welfare spending and house building will increase the demand for the services Community members provide. Bob Woods, speaking on behalf of the Service Group Executive, summed up the mood of conference: “Conference, campaigning against this won’t be easy, but we must do everything we can. We have to recruit and organise around what’s happening. We have to demonstrate that workers are stronger together, and that by joining UNISON, they join a constructive, effective, protective campaign. We have to work as part of the union’s broader campaigns, with other service groups, in our workplaces and at the national political level. But we have to make sure we emphasise the particular problems that Community members will face.” Conference also agreed on the importance of building local coalitions, so that UNISON branches can campaign alongside community groups, service users, and local politicians, as the cuts begin to harm the voluntary sector, its service users, and the people who work in it. Bob finished with a rallying call: “Let’s go back to our workplaces and recruit, organise, campaign, lobby and shout as loud as we can. We need to demand fairness, decency and public services.” UNISON has already begun campaigning against the coalition government’s treatment of the voluntary sector and housing associations. In July, UNISON activists came together with Members of Parliament, academics and voluntary sector campaigners to discuss the government’s ‘Big Society’ agenda at a special round table meeting in Westminster. The meeting agreed that while we don’t yet know what the Big Society really means, we do know that the possibility of replacing paid voluntary sector workers with volunteers is wrong. Volunteering is an essential part of our society, but volunteers and paid workers have different roles, and we must defend the vital work our members do. And it was also agreed that the extension of competition for services, based on ‘cheapest wins’, must also be resisted, as it will damage the sector, our members, and the services they provide. Since this meeting, good contacts have been developed with a number of other organisations and Members of Parliament, and as the impact of the cuts becomes clearer, we must work closely with these other groups and individuals as we campaign against the government’s attacks on public services, at local, regional and national levels. Contact: m.short@unison.co.uk Collecting information about the cuts What’s happening in your area? How are the cuts affecting you, the members you represent, and the service users you work with? Each UNISON region now has a ‘nerve centre’, so that the union can collect as much information as possible about the cuts, and develop an overall picture of job losses, service closures, pay cuts, cuts in terms and conditions, and so on. This is essential if the union is to campaign effectively against the cuts. We therefore need activists and branches to let your regional office know immediately of any proposed or even rumoured cuts. Please provide as much or as little information as you have, but in particular we need to know the type of service affected, the UNISON service group, what the proposals are, what the likely impact will be on services, what the likely impact will be on our members, and what campaigning is going on. Contact: your regional office – see www.unison.org.uk for regional office details Equality audits and impact assessments in the community and voluntary sector The National Equality Partnership recently published a helpful new guide, entitled Action. An equality audit and equality impact assessment guide for the voluntary and community sector. To download the report, click here: http://www.edf.org.uk/blog/?p=7285 Social workers send out SOS – join the campaign for a new contract UNISON and leading social care journal Community Care have joined forces to campaign for a new contract for social workers. We are asking all social workers to get involved and make your voices heard. We are taking action following recent research which reveals a bad situation getting worse. Social workers are struggling to keep track of rising caseloads, bogged down by bureaucracy and hampered by poor IT and admin back-up. Social workers have a duty to raise the alarm with policy makers and the public about the effects of spiralling caseloads on them and the service users who need their help. To help you do this we have drawn up a contract setting out the 10 basic requirements that social workers need to practise safely and effectively. Click here to read the UNISON press release launching the campaign Click here to visit the campaign page Click here to download the contract WHAT YOU CAN DO: Let your colleagues know about the campaign Display the contract in workplaces Sign the e-petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/714/061/796/ Write to your member of parliament/assembly and ask them to support the campaign. Click here and scroll down the page for advice on how to do this Get involved with your local UNISON branch and offer to help support the contract campaign in your workplace – for branch contact details call UNISON Direct 0845 355 0845 News from the West Midlands - new Community branch This year has seen the launch of the West Midlands Community Branch – a new branch for all UNISON Community members in the West Midlands. The branch has been set up to ensure that Community members get the same level of support as those in other larger groups and are able to participate fully in the union's democracy. The branch will cover all of our members working for charities, housing associations and other voluntary sector organisations. The branch’s first annual general meeting will take place on 24 November. West Midlands members: the new branch needs you! Whether it's getting elected as a rep or a branch officer, helping with the local newsletter or just being a local mailing contact, why not see how much more you could get out of your membership? You are a member of UNISON because you know it offers you essential support when you need it at work and an unbeatable package of services and benefits. But did you know how much more you could get out of the union by deciding to be active? You may just want to make sure you have your say in your branch's decisions, or become a UNISON activist. You could offer to write a piece about your workplace for the branch newsletter or ask about the range of education and training courses available. It doesn't take much to be active - and you could gain such a lot in return! Contact: a.johnson@unison.co.uk Community service group at regional level – want to get involved? UNISON’s regions are now in the process of setting up regional Community service group structures, to give Community members a democratic and effective voice in their areas. A motion passed at Community conference made it clear that regional structures need to provide Community members with a clear way to come together and make decisions about organising, bargaining, activist education and communications, without creating a bureaucracy which cannot be sustained or populated. Would you like to get involved in your regional Community organisation, and be part of a regional e-mail network? If so, please e-mail cvsector@unison.co.uk with your name, membership number and e-mail address.