London Met UNISON leaflet / statement to our members on the UCU strike on 24th March – double sided A4 pdf: VOTE YES March 2011

London Met UNISON branch are helping to build support for the TUC’s “March for the Alternative” on March 26th.

The pace and severity of the Coalition’s deficit reduction plan is being driven by political ideology, not economic competence. There is an alternative. Join the UNISON branch Committee on the march through central London on Saturday March 26th to send the government a message.

You can see information on the march on the TUC website here:  http://marchforthealternative.org.uk/

You can see members of the London Met branch below showing our support for the march at a recent UNISON training day. Further details of how London Met UNISON members will be getting involved, and where to congregate on the day etc., will be issued nearer the time.

After months of campaigning by UNISON, London Met have today confirmed that, as of August 1st 2011, all directly employed staff of the university will receive at least the London Living Wage.

In addition, the management of the university have finally agreed that all contracts for out-sourced staff will also be required to pay the Living Wage when they come up for renewal or re-tendering.

In a statement to all staff on March 11th, VC Malcolm Gillies confirmed:

. The University will ensure that from 1 August 2011 all staff directly
employed by the University will receive a wage at least at the level of
the London Living Wage

. As contracts fall due for renewal, revision or re-tendering, we will be
requiring the same in all new contracts.

This represents a massive victory for the union, and will ensure that London Met’s most poorly paid staff will soon receive a fair, decent living wage.

UNISON branch Chair, Max Watson, said:

“The Living Wage is about dignity in the workplace. Nobody should be forced to survive in London on poverty pay. We all know London is the most expensive place to live in the UK. In the last few months alone we have seen VAT rise to 20%, an increase in travel costs, and rent in London continues to rocket. UNISON is determined to close the widening pay gap at London Met. This commitment to the Living Wage is an important step in that direction. ”

UNISON has been lobbying the University since early 2010 to pay the Living Wage as part of our ‘Manifesto for Change’ after the Board of Governors resigned and a new Vice Chancellor, Malcolm Gillies, was appointed.

Since then UNISON submitted detailed proposals to the University’s review into pay and rewards, providing a business case, a moral case and a political case for paying the Living Wage. In October, UNISON wrote to the Vice Chancellor putting forward the case for the London Living wage and followed this up by some of the affected staff electing a delegation to meet with the Vice Chancellor and Human Resources staff to explain to them what is it like trying to survive on the minimum wage in London.

UNISON very much welcomes the announcement. This victory for the branch proves what can be achieved when a compelling moral case is made through sustained, organised campaigning with our allies in the Students’ Union, UCU and London Citizens.

UNISON OFFICE (JS3-94) London Metropolitan University, 31 Jewry Street, London EC3N 2EY

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  08 March 2011

UNISON secures commitment to dignity at work but insists paying the Living Wage at London Metropolitan University must include all contracted out staff

UNISON welcomes the news, announced today, that London Metropolitan University is committed to paying the Living Wage for its directly employed staff.

Workers at London Met who are directly employed will get the Living Wage as of the 1st August, 2011. London Met will also ‘give consideration’ to also ensuring that future contracts for cleaning, security and catering services include paying the London Living Wage (currently £7.85, set by the Greater London Assembly each year).

Max Watson, Chairperson of London Met UNISON, said:

“The Living Wage is about dignity in the workplace. Nobody should be forced to survive in London on poverty pay. We all know London is the most expensive place to live in the UK. In the last few months alone we have seen VAT rise to 20%, an increase in travel costs, and rent in London continues to rocket.

“UNISON is determined to close the widening pay gap at London Met. This commitment to the Living Wage for some staff is an important step in that direction. UNISON is adamant that this commitment is meaningful only if the University insists that contractors pay the Living Wage.

It is the staff that clean London Met buildings, provide security and catering services who make up the bulk of the University’s low paid workforce – they need to know they are valued by London Met as much as the directly employed staff are.
“UNISON believes it is vital London Met reasserts its commitment to social justice and to playing a positive role in our communities.  London Met teaches in some of the poorest parts of London, and members of UNISON believe a full commitment to the Living Wage is an important move that recognises our role as a socially responsible employer.

“UNISON represents the lowest paid workers at London Met, some of whom are currently on the minimum wage, and our representatives recently called on the new Board of Governors to end the low pay scandal at our University.

“If the University is committed in principle to paying the minimum wage – why not make that commitment meaningful? Those workers deserve a genuine commitment, not a ‘get out clause’.”

UNISON has been lobbying the University since early 2010 to pay the Living Wage as part of our ‘Manifesto for Change’ after the Board of Governors resigned and a new Vice Chancellor, Malcolm Gillies, was appointed.

Since then UNISON submitted detailed proposals to the University’s review into pay and rewards, providing a business case, a moral case and a political case for paying the Living Wage. In October, UNISON wrote to the Vice Chancellor putting forward the case for the London Living wage and followed this up by some of the affected staff electing a delegation to meet with the Vice Chancellor and Human Resources staff to explain to them what is it like trying to survive on the minimum wage in London.

The changes could add as much as £1m to the total annual wages bill, according to the University. Last summer UNISON revealed the same figure was paid annually to the senior management team in bonus payments alone.

Note to editors:

London Metropolitan University UNISON branch represents the Professional Service Department staff, including Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical (APT&C) and Manual workers. Our members are directly employed by London Met or by private companies contracted to the University such as MITIE, SGC Facilities Management, Chartwells and Dynamiq. We negotiate for better pay and conditions collectively — for all of the PSD staff, UNISON members or not — we help individuals in trouble and campaign for a fairer, better society.

See here for more:
http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/

For more on the UNISON Living Wage campaign:
http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/campaigns/living-wage-campaign/

For further comment, please call:
UNISON Chairperson, Max Watson: 07793 145 754

A campaign to highlight the issue of abuse to London Met staff has been launched in association with the Students’ Union.

UNISON has taken a lead on raising issues of staff stress, health and safety, and negotiating lone working policies and the introduction of panic alarms, etc. However, as stretched resources and further staff cuts lead to the potential for more abusive behaviour being reported by UNISON members, it is more important than ever to promote the issue.

You can download the poster as a PDF by clicking on the image below. If you would like a high quality version of this poster to put up in your workplace, please get in touch via the Contact Us page.

4 de Marzo a las 13:00, Reunión de UNISON por un Salario Mínimo.

UNISON está promoviendo en London Met una campaña por un Salario Mínimo para todos los empleados de Limpieza, Cantina y Seguridad. Esto significa cobrar un mínimo de £7.85 por hora.

Estamos en negociaciones con Recursos Humanos así como el Rector de la universidad para discutir como se puede conseguir esto. El sindicato os informará de cualquier progreso tras nuestra reunión del viernes.

También vamos a organizar Clases de Inglés ESOL (gratuitas) para aquellos que trabajen en London Met.

¿Quieres estar informado?
Viernes 4 de Marzo 2011 a las 13:00

(se proveerá un ligero aperitivo)

UNISON Oficina: JS3-94

Jewry Street

London EC3N 2EY

UNISON es el sindicato independiente del servicio público, reconocido por la London Metropolitan University. Organizamos estos y otros eventos esperando nuevas afiliaciones. No dudes en contactarnos si deseas saber más, aunque esperamos verte el viernes.

Join UNISON (Spanish)

http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/M2548sp20.pdf

UNISON is campaigning for the Living Wage for all Cleaners, Caterers and Security Guards, at London Met. That means as a minimum, all staff would be on £7.85 per hour.

We are in discussions with the Vice Chancellor and Human Resources from the university about how this can be achieved and our delegation will be reporting back from our meeting on Friday.

Also, we are going to organise (free) English Classes (ESOL) for anyone who works at London Met.

Would you like to find out more?

Friday 4th March 2011

1pm (light refreshments will be provided)

UNISON Office: JS3-94

Jewry Street

London EC3N 2EY

UNISON is an independent trade union for public sector workers, recognised at London Metropolitan, for all support staff. We are providing these events as a union and we hope that you would like to join UNISON, for the full benefits of being a member, to find out more, please get in touch and hope to see you on Friday.

Find out more here.