
The UNISON Fun Day was a smashing day out for members and their
families and friends in the beautiful and sunny setting of New
Lanark World Heritage Site on Sunday August 29th.
With a
bouncy castle, face painting and balloon modelling, there were lots
of things for the children to do, whilst a variety of music, films
and talks offered an entertaining and interesting programme for the
grown ups.
Rodney Bickerstaffe,
Defending Public Services, Pay and Pensions

Rodney
Bickerstaffe, ex UNISON General Secretary was one of the highlights
at the UNISON Fun Day. An inspirational union leader, Rodney
explained that the current Government could learn a lot from Robert
Owen the mill manager at New Lanark in the early 1800s and his
transformation of the Village by giving all decent housing, a decent
education and a free health service.
Rodney said that
public sector cuts will mean a loss of essential services to your
children, your parents and your grandparents. He warned of the knock
on effect of no pay rises for workers to the local communities. He
slammed the myth of the gold plated public service pensions, with
local government pensions being around £3,500 per annum.
Designated Car User Scheme Proposals
Following
consultation at Area Meetings, UNISON withdrew its grievance in
relation to the proposed changes to the Designated Car User Scheme.
The Pool Car
Scheme pilot is due to go live on 1st August and will be available
initially to those who have lost their designated car user status.
It is
planned that the scheme will be rolled out for all business car use
next April. UNISON have agreed to evaluate the scheme
separately from the Council,
so we want to hear from you.
In the meantime, those
who retain
the designated car user status for this year will receive a one off payment of £500 in August or September.
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"Freezing public
sector pay when inflation is running at 5.1% and VAT is going up, will
mean a real cut in living standards for millions of ordinary workers and
their families - already struggling to pay rising bills."