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.

Middlesex UNISON support for UCU strikers

Middlesex University UNISON Branch sends Solidarity greetings to our sister Union UCU who will be taking strike action in defence of their pensions on the 10th May.

UCU and other unions involved in this action are taking a principled stand in the defence of their pensions.

Following the Strike action taken by UNISON on the 30th November, UNISON members at Middlesex University have shown their willingness to support similar action in defence of their pensions

UNISON at this time remains in negotiation over our LGPS scheme. Members will be balloted on the result of negotiations and we will be able as members to decide on the course of action for our Union.

MDX UNISON Nominates Sandy Nicoll and Molly Cooper for the HESGE

Middlesex University UNISON Branch Committee voted to nominate Sandy Nicoll and Molly Cooper in their campaign to be elected to the HESGE. Due to an administrative error the Branch nomination did not appear on the candidates election addresses. 

However you decide to use your vote make sure you use it and have a say in the future direction of your Union.

Kevin Ward : MDX Labour Link

Kevin Ward : Labour Link Officer

What  are 'UNISON’s political fund arrangements? 

In  making  sure that issues affecting members are heard, UNISON has two political funds.

The Affiliated Political Fund (APF) ,  known as 'UNISON Labour Link', which works to promote UNISON interests in the Labour Party; and 

The General Political Fund (GPF) which is independent  of any political party but campaigns to promote UNISON policies

What has UNISON Labour Link won for members? 

 As a result of the Labour Link and powerful lobbying from UNISON, the last Labour government implemented many positive policies which have benefited our members.

These include:

The introduction of the minimum wage.

Massive increases in funding for health and education and a large rise in public service  jobs.

Stronger equality legislation covering the public sector, and more childcare provision.

What happens when UNISON disagrees with Labour?

Well it does happen from time to time and there are major issues where we think the Labour Party and the last Labour government got it wrong. Privatisation and fragmentation of our public services are key examples of this. Our role is to take UNISON's message into the Labour Party at every level.

How to get involved 

                                       

Being a member of Labour Link means you can get involved at branch, constituency, regional or national level. So if you have strong views about how the Party should develop, get involved! 

Middlesex University Branch currently have 93 Labour Link members who subscribe and it  will only cost Party members  £6  to be a Delegate to your local constituency Labour Party.

Many subscribers are not members of the Labour party but they can  get a reduced membership fee if they join the Labour party (as an affiliated union member).

There are the London Mayoral elections coming up on the 3rd May. UNISON is backing Ken Livingstone to oust Boris Johnson from the mayoral office. If you want more information or want to get involved get in touch.

Kevin Ward  (Student Services)   UNISON Labour Link Officer , formally known as  Affiliated Political Fund (APF) officer ,   k.ward@mdx.ac.uk   for more info on Labour link click here