Marching for Change : Helen Hayward

On Sat 20^th October, I met members of the Middlesex University UNISON Branch outside the Savoy on the strand, ready to march on the TUC mass demonstration in London against the government austerity agenda which is clearly not working. 

There were workers from Barnet council who exchanged banter with us. I was told how the majority of Barnet services are now being privitised and outsourced and how they are battling against the further erosion of public services. Its appalling what is happening in the name of ‘savings and budget cuts’ when anybody can see that it is the bankers and the rich who are getting off scot free. 

As we formed up on the embankment in a surreal moment Barry White’s music was booming out from the PSU.  There were thousands of people from all over the country and a carnival atmosphere. Lots of marchers from the North, who were down to register a protest, teachers, civil servants, cleaners and policemen. Yes the police, they were handing out leaflets being friendly and approachable, sympathetic to the march.

The march started at mid-day and slowly meandered past Embankment station and the Houses of Parliament. There was a cacophony of noise with marchers blowing whistles, banging drums and various sound systems blaring out the Clash. I looked behind me and noted I was in august company: Jonathan Millar and his family were marching, I also spotted Angela Eagle, Labour MP in the shadow cabinet. I had a laugh seeing if I could spot any agent provocateurs, they tend to wear a clichéd costume of black balaclava with a brutish expression, but on this March there weren’t any.

We got to Hyde Park, had a quick perusal round the Socialist pop-up bookshop, and then made our way to the middle of the park in front of giant screens. The speeches started from firebrands such as Bob Crow, general secretary of the Transport workers. He made some hilarious points. 

All this in a week for the Tories that saw George Osbourne the Tory Chancellor upgrading himself to a first class carriage without having purchased the right ticket. Also Andrew Mitchell who was stopped by Downing street police from going through an entrance on his bike and called them ‘Plebs’, thus revealing his opinion of people trying to do their job.

Interestingly both banana skins were to do with class, how can Eton educated MPs have any idea of the suffering and misery their out of touch policies are inflicting.

Ed Milliband spoke of further austerity measures if Labour got into power, which did not go down well with people at all. Dave Prentis UNISON General Secretary spoke of the need to invest in good public services to boost the economy and strengthen communities.

It started to rain, which was our cue to leave before everyone had the same idea. Clutching the huge UNISON banner I headed off to the West End, and home weary but satisfied I had made played my part in delivering a message to the coalition government that for hundreds of thousands of working people : Austerity is Failing

Helen Hayward

 

Why I Joined UNISON : Sam Cerovich

This summer I was offered a position at Middlesex University as an International Student Liasion Administrator, my first job. The stressful application and interview process were over and I looked forward to contributing to the University and learning new skills.

I found myself having joined a workplace that was undergoing a lot of restructuring and I had a lot of questions. 

Being my first job I wanted to speak to someone about what I should expect with these changes and if the uneasiness I was feeling was normal.

In my office, UNISON members are the majority. They spoke positively about their experience as being part of UNISON and offered me advice about the lingering questions that I had. Being a UNISON member, and training to be a steward, is not just about having strength in numbers. It allows me to be there for my co-workers and vice versa. Having joined UNISON I am now a part of a group that I feel comfortable talking about employment and changes in the workplace.

I heard that UNISON is Britain’s largest trade union. At first this did not resonate with me until I heard from colleagues who had lost members from their team and feel over worked and under valued. UNISON has a seat at the negotiation table to help its members in cases such as this.

Coming into the role of UNISON steward I am eager to learn as much as possible. A big part of why I joined UNISON was the amount of training UNISON offers its reps and its members through the Life Long Learning (Maggie Walkowska)  and Education Officer (Helen Hayward). 

In November I begin my steward training so that I can help others get the most out of their UNISON membership.

Samantha Cerovich
UNISON Steward 

To Be in Redeployment Pool : Helen Hayward

In May the University announced that it would be shifting resources away from Support Staff towards academics. As a result of the restructuring my permanent IT Advisor post in LR did not appear in the new structure, and on the 8th May 2012 I was given notice, along with others that I was at risk of redundancy.

I was put in the redeployment pool. In the weeks that followed I began the stressful and anxious process of applying for jobs and going for interviews. Many other staff were in the same position and as the weeks went on I was unsuccessful in securing a position and stayed on the at risk list and in the redeployment pool. I became increasingly demoralised and was left feeling like a spare part.

Whilst at Middlesex I have built up ten years of skills and experience in the area of IT that I felt confident these would be transferable to other areas. Despite feeling increasingly demoralised many colleagues and UNISON members urged me to hang on in there, to keep applying and not to give up. The University sent me my voluntary redundancy figures and increasingly I felt as if I was being edged out of employment and my options were limited.

I was anxious and worried as my personal circumstances meant I couldn’t be without work or consider the VR as a practical alternative. I was determined to stay in employment. As a UNISON member I went to see Trevor Alexander, the UNISON Branch Secretary on several occasions. He offered advice and support, and recommended I apply for any position I was eligible for, even temporary fixed term contract jobs as a ‘bridging’ contract. I really did not want to do this as I wanted a permanent post, but beggars can’t be choosers.

During this period I had a pre booked holiday in June - slap bang in the middle of the redeployment interview! I was placed in the slightly ridiculous situation of being interviewed for positions whilst on holiday in Cyprus on Skype. Which involved slow internet connections, internet crashes and the cost, along with more anxiety and stress. With hindsight it was probably not the best decision to have scheduled 3 interviews whilst on holiday, but I wanted to demonstrate to the University that I was determined to gain a job and work. As you can imagine it wasn’t my best holiday!

I applied for a temporary job at Archway even though the campus is closing next July (2013). I was successful, and I am now at the Library, learning new skills and gradually regaining my confidence and self esteem. I have made lots of friends at Archway and everyone is supportive, helpful and very pleasant. I have been encouraged by the UNISON Branch Secretary to expect that suitable alternative work is likely to emerge over the coming months.

I am particularly thankful for the support I received from the UNISON Branch - I was pointed in the right direction for help and given support and advice. I feel that UNISON’s negotiations with the University helped me immeasurably in securing alternative work at the University. It should be noted that not a single Union member who wanted to remain with the University was made compulsorily redundant this year, and that is, without question, a massive achievement.

I would urge all UNISON members to tell non-union colleagues that with the economic situation as it is, and with further attacks on our jobs and Higher Education, they cannot afford to bury their heads in the sand, the support UNISON can provide individually and collectively is invaluable.

Being in UNISON cannot guarantee you a job, but it can provide support and expert advice when you most need it. Ultimately you have to help yourself but it is good to know what to do, when you feel like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

The experience has shown me the value of having UNISON representing and advising its members and negotiating on our behalf  

let’s not forget that “Together We Are Stronger”

Helen Hayward October 2012
Edited by MDXBranchlines : 2012

March For An Alternative : TUC 20th October 2012

The Middlesex University UNISON Branch joined the TUC March for an alternative on the 20th October 2012 to put across the message that Austerity isn't working. We deserve better than cuts to our jobs and public services that we rely on, we won't pay for a crisis of the wealthy. Demand an alternative to austerity, cuts and rewards for the 1%. More arguments and research is available from the TUC website. The organisation that brought you the NHS and the welfare state

Message of Support to London Met UNISON

Middlesex and London Met UNSION in Solidarity

Middlesex University UNISON Branch sent a message of support to the London Met UNISON Branch following the recent VISA UKBA situation, Shared Services and threatened Womens Library closure.

Since the message of support London Met has called a halt to its shared services model. The London Met UNISON Branch remains vigilant to new threats to its members in the form of new "partnerships"

Message of Support to London Met UNISON:

The recent victory in achieving even a temporary injunction and amnesty for current international students is a significant one, and achieved by the organising strength of the London Met UNISON branch, campus unions and students. We extend our support to your further efforts to win a full judicial review and secure the future of London Met University as a public university.

Middlesex University UNISON Branch also extends support for your campaign to resist the planned shared services model that is currently proposed by London Mets management. These plans are ideologically motivated and profit driven they are an attack on Higher Education and staff at London Met and should be resisted.

Members of our Branch have also asked to extend their support to the Save the Women’s library campaign, many have already signed the petition and a number have close links and affinity to these unique collections. They deserve to stay in their purpose built home and maintain the expertise of their staff and links to the local community.

We offer our support to your campaigns in any way our Branch Committee and members can. We have voted to send your Branch a donation of £200 to your fighting fund.

Please keep the Middlesex UNISON Branch informed of any further petitions, demonstrations or actions that our members can support.

In Solidarity
Middlesex University UNISON Branch

UNISON National Pay Ballot

UNISON is currently balloting its members who work in higher education for strike action on the proposed pay deal for 2012-13.

This is a national ballot across the Higher Education sector and not a local dispute. 

UNISON in conjunction with sister Unions have conducted negotiations to win fair pay and a living wage for all workers in the HE sector.

Currently the employers has offered a pay increase of 1% with no guarantee of a living wage for the lowest paid worker.

Middlesex University UNISON Branch took part in a Branch Consultation of its members via an indicative ballot to gauge the strength of feeling on this issue. The results of the indicative ballot show 86% of those who took part, voted in favour of rejecting the 1% pay offer.

This vote indicates a change in position for the Branch that has traditionally voted to accept the 0.5% pay offer (2009) 0.4% (2010) and last year a £150 (2012) across the board "pay rise". With inflation at 3% and living costs having increased by 12% staff in HE have effectively taken a 10% pay cut in real terms over the last few years. 

This presents significant problems for the sector in terms of retention and recruitment but also has a significant impact on the lowest paid members of staff. A worker on pay point 16 has lost the equivalent of £1600 a year, meaning real hardship for many.

UNISON has found that the HE sector has healthy surpluses in many areas, yet our pay offers continue to be low, whilst Vice Chancellors, senior managers and consultants continue to reap the rewards of high pay. It is a question of fairness and distribution of the funds; not whether a pay increase can be afforded.

The vote to reject the Pay Offer locally as well as nationally is in part of the failure of the governments austerity agenda and a response to theTUC and national UNISON commitment led by David Prentice to "smash the pay freeze". 

We have seen nationally that industrial action, though a last resort, can achieve concessions and improved offers from the employers and government. This was seen in the national LGPS Pensions deal. Whatever individuals may feel about the merits of pension deal, it is a significant improvement from the deal that the government originally intended to impose. Choosing to resist the changes to the pensions scheme and negotiating a better deal is down to the anger shown by union members and the industrial action taken in November 2011.

Locally at Middlesex University successfully organised Industrial action has strengthened the Branch in negotiations, and the Branch has made gains in areas such as Contribution Points, negotiated protections and prevented the outsourcing of the University maintenance department. Industrial action presents the Branch with the opportunity to build solidarity and organise in the workplace as well as win real gains for its members.

Arguments for industrial action over pay are available here. Recent events, not least pensions, have shown that Industrial action as part of a wider concerted campaign can bring concessions that benefit ordinary members.

Stand with UNISON on this issue demand fair pay for all staff within Higher Education. Vote to reject the pay deal.

Middlesex UNISON Recruitment Campaign

Middlesex University is currently undertaking a huge restructure of it's schools and administrative services moving towards a more centralised model and an increased use of offshoring (QuScient).

Staff at the University also face the closure of the Trent Park and Archway Campus and the threat of further redundancies.

The Branch Committee has taken the decision to go on the front foot and launched this campaign to recruit "our" administrative and support staff back into the union.

Only through building and strengthening our collective voice within the University will we be able to defend staff and services.

The Branch has already run a successful Meet and Greet "Let's Get Our Own Back" morning recruitment drive outside the Fenella building and we will be following this success up with further events outside the Town Hall, Collinhurst and the Grove over the coming month.

Information about the campaign and printable materials are also available on our website they include the 5 good reasons specific to the Middlesex University UNISON branch of why staff should join.