Swindon Council attacks Trade Union facility time

General Secretary, Dave Prentis sends message of support to UNISON Swindon

Dear Joanne,

I am writing on behalf of the NEC, and as General Secretary, to send the strongest possible message of support to those activists facing redundancy and all our members who look to UNISON to speak up for them.

The whole union is standing with you in this dispute, and we will challenge any employer who attacks UNISON and our trade union rights. At a time of redundancies, restructuring and threats to terms and conditions, our members need a strong trade union and employers should know we will resist these attacks with every means possible and hear our message - attack one of us and you attack us all.

Together we will defend our union and defend our right to speak up for our members.

Best wishes,

 

Latest news

UNISON members and other trade union supporters from across the South West attended a lobby of Swindon council on Thursday 23 February outside the Civic Offices.  Despite the need for union members to have collective representation, the Tory led council went on to vote for the removal of funding for two UNISON trade union reps whilst agreeing to fund consultants at the staggering cost of £1.3m.

UNISON will be challenging this decision.  Watch this space for further updates.

Trade Union Rights

UNISON is calling on all our members and branches to stand up against the attacks being carried out against our elected officials in Swindon Borough Council, Bob Cretchley and Karla Bradford.

The Council propose to withdraw all funding for facility time for the two Branch Secretaries, despite the fact that time off for trade unions is a legal obligations. For many years, Bob and Karla have worked solely on trade union duties, speaking up for members and standing up for public services. This year, the Council are taking away funding for trade unions, removing the voice of UNISON members in Swindon, to save a fractional amount of the Council budget, but it's enough to still ensure there is someone to speak up for the workforce.

UNISON will not stand by and let this attack happen. We will challenge it by every means necessary, by rebutting the Council proposals with hard facts and figures, by lobbying every member of the Council and senior officers with our case, by industrial action if necessary and supported by our members and by making this a huge issue in the forthcoming Council by elections.

What can you do:-

• *Write to the Chief Executive Gavin Jones at Swindon Borough Council, Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon SN1 2JH or e-mail Gavin Jones (gjones@swindon.gov.uk) or the Leader of the Council, Roderick Bluh at the above address or e-mail Roderick Bluh (rbluh@swindon.gov.uk) expressing your opposition to these proposals and your support for UNISON in Swindon. Please copy in the local branch - unisonswindon@swindon.gov.uk
• *you can also send an e-mail message to Gavin Jones and Roderick Bluh at the same time and copy in the local Branch with JUST ONE CLICK
• Tweet the Council on @Swindonnews, using the hashtag #tradeunionrights
• Send a message of support to the branch

Watch this space - the branch model letters will be linked here shortly to help you send your message of support.

Separating Fact from Fiction - Facility time for trade union reps

The TUC has produced a comprehensive report which separates fact from fiction and dispells the myths about facility time for trade union reps.