Posted
31st March 2010 Bulletin - LG Bosses Refuse to Negotiate [Download
document]
Posted
30th March 2010 Defending the Welfare State and
Public Services - April Demo Coaches [Download
document]
Posted
25th March 2010 TO
ALL GMB MEMBERS AT NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
25 March 2010
Dear
Colleagues
BALLOT
FOR ACTION ON REDUCTION OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS PROPOSALS
As
you will be aware the closing date for the above ballot was
19th March 2010 and the following outlines the official result.
NUMBER
OF VOTES CAST : 483 NUMBER
OF ‘YES’ VOTES : 234 NUMBER
OF ‘NO’ VOTES : 249 NUMBER
OF SPOILED VOTING PAPERS : 3
Clearly
we do not have a mandate to take action in these circumstances
and therefore, I must make it clear that GMB members are not
legally covered to take part in any industrial action that may
be undertaken by UNISON who has received an overwhelming “YES”
vote in their ballot.
However,
although we are not able to take part in official action, I
would expect that in true Trade Union tradition our members
would show solidarity with UNISON members and provide them with
moral support.
Obviously the response in the ballot is extremely disappointing
on two counts. Firstly bearing in mind that we sent out over
1,600 ballot papers it is extremely worrying that we have only
received 1/3 in terms of those who have voted.
This
means that we have 2/3 of our membership have not engaged in
this process by opting not to vote. This is a serious concern
as we desperately need our members to take part in the ballots
we conduct so that we can be absolutely sure what it is our
members are thinking, feeling and want us to do on their behalf.
On
the other count prior to the ballot, many members - much more
than the 234 which voted “YES” had been in touch
with my office, the Branch Secretary and with local Representatives
urging the GMB to do something to stop the savage cuts and reductions
to your terms and conditions and yet when given the opportunity
to indicate their anger and participate in resistance against
such changes, it appears that only a few are that worried about
the issue.
The
low response is very worrying bearing in mind that it is clear
that in the next 3-5 years the programme of change within this
County Council will be phenomenal. It is my belief that there
will be no stone unturned in the horrendous hunt for savings.
This means that although you may not be at the front of the
queue for this type of savings programme now, sooner or later
it is more than likely they will get around to focusing on where
you are located, and the only way that we can resist is by sticking
together from start to finish.
I
understand that there is now a letter on the intranet for employees
to sign to indicate their acceptance of the changes and this
obviously places us in a predicament. However, my advice is
that although we have no mandate for industrial action this
does not mean that we agree to the changes, and therefore should
members maintain their objection they should indicate this by
signing and stating clearly that they do so UNDER PROTEST, as
they do not agree with the change proposed.
This
will be a long and drawn out fight against cuts and negative
change and I hope that we can show much more resistance in the
future. If you have any queries with regards to the above please
do not hesitate to contact your Branch Secretary Vic Baines,
your local GMB reps, my office or visit the branch website www.gmbmidandec.org.uk
Posted
25th February 2010 Well,
despite the rain, maybe a couple of hundred people were present
to hear Mrs Cutts read her pre-prepared text and blame the Government
for all the cuts here in Nottinghamshire. This was despite the
Government having increased the allocation to Notts by 4% this
year!
I
was most disappointed at the lack of GMB support - despite several
members being present I was the only one holding a flag and
a Broxtowe borough councillor held one of our placards (despite
not being a GMB member). Are you ashamed to show that you are
a member of a trade union? Any union is only as good as its
members so please participate more. People made it from Worksop
and Retford (some by coach) but many from local buildings didn't.
As
for the speeches, the CE came outside whilst Mrs Cutts read
her statement after which she marched straight back in to County
Hall. Councillor Alan Rhodes (Labour leader) apologised for
the barriers that had been erected stating that people have
a right to have access to their councillors and should be able
to ask questions. He pledged support to the trade unions to
oppose the cuts. Councillor Jason Zadrozny (Lib Dems leader)
gave an impassioned speech vowing to work with the other opposition
parties to fight the cuts.
John
Mann (Bassetlaw MP) gave an outspoken speech - I do admire the
man for the speeches he makes in parliament and what he said
was on a par with one of those (really rousing). A lady from
one of the care homes under threat of being sold also gave an
emotional speech, followed by a man who is also involved in
care of the elderly. And last, but not least, Grace Perry of
Unison gave a firebrand oration which should have raised anger
levels to fever pitch especially when she said that the authority
had more than £100m in reserves. John Mann then summed
up and Deborah Hinde invited those that wanted to stay to adjourn
to the assembly room for refreshments.
So,
not the best of protests/rally's that I have attended and no
doubt the administration will take comfort from the small turnout
of protesters thinking that opposition is on the wane. Your
next chance to voice your opinion will probably be at the General
Election - please don't suffer from memory loss before then!
Posted
4th February 2010 Local Government Unions 0utraged
at Pay Freeze [Download
document] P1-10-LG Bulletin- Bitter Blow
as Employers Say No Pay Rise-20January2010[Download
document]
