London Met Uni UNISON members voted to campaign vigorously in defence of our pensions at an Extraordinary General Meeting on Wednesday 21st September.

In a meeting described as ‘inspirational’, and with ‘lots of solidarity on display’, members pledged to stand up to and send a powerful message to the government: “Hands of our Pensions!” (see photo)!

Members also reflected on the so far largely successful fight against job cuts at London Met – having reduced the compulsory redundancies from 86 to 15 in the last S188 – and our ongoing dispute with management. Eddie Rowley, a steward from Student Services, who introduced the motion against job cuts, described how they had massively reduced the numbers of UNISON members at risk of compulsory redundancies.

Members also heard solidarity greetings from Paul Howell, branch secretary of Middlesex University UNISON Branch, who have just balloted for industrial action against widespread job cuts. The message was read out by Ros Hanmer, newly elected LGBT officer, who gave an impassioned speech reminding those more senior staff who were not members and were now taking advantage of the voluntary redundancy scheme (worth twice as much as was initially offered by management), and that they should be thankful to UNISON for fighting for and winning this scheme. Ros ended her speech imploring all members to play a role in recruiting new members to the union and the need for a well organised workforce to increase our strength.

UNISON members also discussed the importance of not only winning the Living Wage – as we had become the 13th University in London to do so – but also the need to further organise outsourced workers and passed a motion calling for a nationally coordinated Living Wage campaign. Newly elected Communications officer, Ivan Orgaz described the other issues workers face that the Living Wage alone does no address, such as sick pay or pay rates and the need to organise often vulnerable migrant workers to protect against exploitation.

The main topic of debate was around a motion which was passed unanimously – introduced by Alex Tarry, Assistant Secretary and a Pensions ‘Champion’ – condemning the governments attacks on our pensions and pledging to campaign for a yes vote in the pending national industrial action ballot and to remain united with all public sector unions in the build up to industrial action. Having warned members of the danger of the attacks on our scheme – the government wants to make us pay more, work longer and receive less – we agreed to sign up many new members to our campaign and to establish pensions ‘champions’ and ‘pensions contacts’ in as many workplaces as possible in the build up to industrial action.

The meeting also heard from three guest speakers: 1) Ben Thomas, UNISON national officer, who presented information on the LGPS dispute; 2) Hayley Garner, a steward from Southampton District branch who have now been taking industrial action for over 20 weeks (http://www.soton-unison-office.org.uk/), and from; 3) Jon Rogers, who brought solidarity greetings from the National Executive Council and Lambeth Local Government branch. A collection was held and £225 raised to go toward the Southampton Branch hardship fund.

Claire Locke, President of the Students Union (and UNISON member) proposed a motion on continuing to build strong support for the students’ movement in their campaign against £9,000 fees and to support the call for a national demonstration against fees on 9th November.

A minutes silence was held at the start of the meeting to remember Pete McGreal, a H&S rep and well respected member of the branch committee, who was killed after being knocked down as he was cycling to work the day before our strike action in June. http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/2011/07/remembering-pete-mcgreal/

Introducing the meeting, Chairperson Max Watson paid tribute to Pete, and to all the stewards who had led a hugely successful year’s campaigning so far:

“I’ve no doubt we’ll be able to meet the challenges ahead of us, continue to grow, continue to building our successes, learn from our mistakes, and maintain a strong, leading position in partnership with our sister unions on campus,” he said. “We have a new committee about to be elected – once again we’ve attracted new reps who have come on board thanks to our visible campaigning work and who have seen us delivering results, and wish to help out.”

“I’m proud to stand by that new team – some new faces, some returning back onto the committee – and with an almost full compliment of officers, this is a sign of a very healthy branch. Nationally and at London Met in particular, UNISON is a powerful force to be reckoned with!”

The meeting ended with a brief photo shoot and to warm applause an upbeat meeting of a flourishing union branch came to an end. The new stewards committee, duly elected, can be contacted here:
http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/officers/

You can see all four of the motions passed here:
http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/2011/09/egm-im-no-mug/
Want to get invovled in the campaign to Protect our Pensions? Go here:
http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/protectour.asp

Want to get involved in the union branch? Find out how you can help in our campaign? Missed the meeting but want to claim your UNISON mug? Get in touch! http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/contact/

UNISON is asking its members to vote YES in the ballot for industrial action to protect public sector pensions.
Current proposals mean that most people will pay more and work longer to get a pension that will be worth less.  UNISON has tried to negotiate in good faith for secure and affordable pensions – but ministers won’t listen.
Public service pay has been frozen while inflation soars. There have been widespread redundancies, cuts to pay and conditions and closures of the vital services our communities rely on.
This unprecedented attack on pensions is the final straw.
UNISON is balloting for strike action initially to start on 30 November. We are also working with other trade unions and community groups to organise local and national protests in support of public sector pensions.
We need a big YES vote and a high turnout to send a clear and united message to ministers that “enough is enough” and to help persuade them to withdraw their current unfair and unjustified attacks on pensions.

The ballot opens on 11 October and closes on 3 November.
Please spread the word so that your colleagues in UNISON vote YES in the ballot. There are posters and leaflets to put up and hand out, and plenty of information and FAQs on the website. There will be a ballot hotline open from 17-31 October on 0845 355 0845.
Please vote YES to protect your pension.

Below is a video shot at our recent Branch EGM of our members sending a clear message to the Government – “Hands off our pensions!”

¡El Salario Mínimo No es Suficiente!
Moción 2: Universidad LondonMet, Asamblea General, 21 de Septiembre
Esta Asamblea comunica:
• Que el actual salario mínimo es de £5.93 por hora;
• Que el actual salario mínimo de Londres (LLW), marcado por el GLA, es de £8.30 por hora;
• Que el actual salario mínimo de UK (LW), marcado por los estándares de ingresos mínimos, es de £7.20 por hora;
• La Universidad LondonMet actualmente paga el LLW tras una campaña liderada por UNISON que insistió que todas las subcontratas sean como mínimo pagadas esto, beneficiando de manera positiva a los empleados de la cantina, limpieza, seguridad, así como otros trabajadores internos tales como algunos de las bibliotecas y algunos baristas.
• Gran cantidad de empleados subcontratados son inmigrantes;
• La moción de 2008 en la conferencia de Enseñanza Superior “Justicia para los Trabajadores Contratados” que promulgaba una campaña nacional contra las desigualdades;
• El Comité de Enseñanza Superior de la región de Londres de Octubre 2007 acordó: hacer campaña en contra de trabajadores de primera y de segunda en la Enseñanza Superior; extensión del NFA a los trabajadores contratados; apoyar una iniciativa de reclutamiento enfocada a este sector; buscar el reconocimiento del sindicato cuando no existan acuerdos; destinar fondos para atajar barreras lingüísticas para reclutar y proveer un training que permita desarrollar nuevos representantes de entre los empleados subcontratados;
• La Universidad LondonMet es ahora una de las 13 instituciones de Enseñanza Superior en nuestra región que se han comprometido a pagar el salario mínimo de Londres (LLW) incluyendo: Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), London School of Economics, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Birkbeck College, University of London Union, School of Hygiene, Institute of Education, Goldsmiths College, London Business School, University College London, University of East London, Kings College London.
• Escuelas de Formación Continuada que se comprometieron a pagar el LLW son, entre otras: City and Islington College, Norlington Boys School, ARK Academy, St. Charles 6th Form College.
• También UNISON Scotland consiguió en enero de 2011 un salario mínimo de  £7.29 para NHS Scotland.
• Existe un incremento significativo del Salario Mínimo Nacional, que donde es implementado, representa una victoria importante para los trabajadores mientras el salario del sector público sigue congelado;

• Secciones y regiones de UNISON – cuando se implicaron en la campaña para ganar el LW – han organizado y afiliado nuevos trabajadores de las subcontratas. LondonMet UNISON tiene ahora un significante número de trabajadores de la cantina, limpieza y seguridad debido a la campaña por un Salario Mínimo.
•El proyecto de UNISON “Mano de Obra Escondida” (www.unison.org.uk/hiddenworkforce/) comenzó a contactarse con aquellas secciones que ganaron la campaña de Salario Mínimo y produjeron material para otras secciones;
•En consonancia con la política nacional y cooperación con el proyecto “Mano de Obra Escondida”, el Grupo de Servicio para la Enseñanza Superior de UNISON ha acordado apoyar la campaña pro Salario Mínimo lanzada en octubre en la Universidad London South Bank;

•Que en particular, Citizens UK y London Citizens han jugado un rol principal en muchas campañas pro Salario Mínimo incluyendo entre otras LondonMet y UEL. Sin embargo, esta asamblea también comunica:

•Que ganar un compromiso por un Salario Mínimo puede contraer retrasos en su implementación (como en UCL o Senate House) y que la patronal puede y tratará de encontrar maneras de recortar los términos y las condiciones en el desembolso del Salario Mínimo (despidos, reducción de horas);
Esta asamblea está convencida:

•Que ganar la  campaña por un Salario Mínimo no es suficiente: los trabajadores necesitan estar afiliados para conseguir dignidad en el trabajo. Otros asuntos importantes del ámbito laboral para trabajadores subcontratados como salario por enfermedad, vacaciones, salario de supervisor y otros asuntos que no son tratados por la victoria conseguida en la campaña por un Salario Mínimo.

•UNISON no puede permitir otros luchar por un Salario Mínimo sin nuestra involucración. Por esto debemos hacerlo completamente con aquellas organizaciones y campañas que tal vez de otra manera no tendrían un interés en organizar la mano de obra en los sindicatos; que UNISON por consiguiente debe estar en el centro de las campañas por un Salario Mínimo de una manera activa.

•Una campaña por un Salario Mínimo puede convertirse en una herramienta central en la lucha contra la subcontratación, al presentar la privatización de una manera menos atractiva para estas compañías, y puede abrir a la larga una campaña para traer de vuelta a casa esos empleos ahora subcontratados.

Esta asamblea resuelve por consiguiente:
•Centrarse en organizar los trabajadores subcontratados de la LondonMet (cantina, limpieza, seguridad, etc.) para ganar un reconocimiento de UNISON en estas secciones subcontratadas y que tal reconocimiento total debe incluir derechos de negociación, horas extras pagadas, vacaciones, horas sindicales para estos representantes, etc. ;

•Comunicar al Comité de División del desarrollo de las estrategias para ganar reconocimiento de UNISON al afrontar asuntos de nuestros miembros mas allá de aquellos de paga – incluyendo clases de inglés (ESOL) para empleados de la limpieza, confrontando injustas pagas para los supervisores de la cantina y precariedad e inseguridad para aquellos de seguridad; esta estrategia debe estar basada en el reclutamiento y organización de los trabajadores hacia un alto porcentaje de afiliación (superior al 50% de la mano de obra);
•Asegurarse que aquello trabajadores inmigrantes vulnerables  son apoyados por el sindicato y publicitar de manera regular la línea de apoyo (http://www.unison.org.uk/migrantworkers/ 0207 121 5676)

•Reproducir nuestro material en español para comunicarnos con los trabajadores inmigrantes en la limpieza; incluyendo secciones de nuestra web, boletín de noticias, etc.

•Explorar maneras de integrar completamente a los trabajadores subcontratados en nuestra División y alentar a los representantes de los trabajadores subcontratados a estar completamente integrados por el Comité de División;

•Requerir que los términos de esta moción sean considerados por la Conferencia de Educación de Enseñanza Superior de UNISON, corregidos en la apropiada manera;

•Instruir a los delegados de la división de Londonmet UNISON para apoyar, a niveles regional y nacional, campañas y políticas pro Salario Mínimo;

•Apoyar completamente nuestras universidades y escuelas vecinas en sus campañas por un Salario Mínimo (tales como Senate House);

•Alentar al Grupo HE de Servicio Executivo a liderar una  campaña nacional pro Salario Mínimo y apoyar el lanzamiento de tal campaña en la Universidad London Southbank (LSBU);

•Buscar apoyo y guía del sindicato tanto regional como nacional para ganar reconocimiento de los trabajadores subcontratados en LondonMet;

•Buscar apoyo de otras divisiones de UNISON para esta moción en la conferencia HE así como la de Delegación Nacional y conjuntamente enviar al sindicato a hacer campaña pro Salario Mínimo;

•Facilitar una plantilla para hacer campaña en centros laborales para ganar apoyos para las políticas pro Salario Mínimo de UNISON; promocionar materiales producidos por el proyecto “Mano de Obra Escondida”, organizar asambleas e incluir demandas de salario; relacionarse con las organizaciones comunitarias y otros sindicatos dentro del TUC que hayan tenido un rol relevante con alianzas para continuar con el trabajo ya empezado con la campaña pro Salario Mínimo – incluyendo Citizens UK y sus divisiones EG London Citizens, East London Citizens, etc.

•Para celebrar los logros de la campaña pro Salario Mínimo y la diferencia que hace en las vidas de tantos trabajadores – pero seamos claros:
¡El Salario Mínimo No es Suficiente, Esto Es Solo el Principio!

Propuesto: Comité de la División de UNISON de la Universidad LondonMet

Back reads: "I'm no mug, I'm a member of UNISON."

Claim your free mug at the General Meeting on Wednesday (see photo).

There are four motions to this meeting.

Agenda: Extraordinary GENERAL MEETING FINAL AGENDA

Motion 1

Fighting Job cuts at London Met and beyond

Motion 2

Living Wage Motion September 2011

Motion 3

United Action to Protect our Pensions

Motion 4

Support the National Student Demonstration

UNISON stewards are holding Protect our Pensions / recruitment stalls at each of London Met’s main buildings this week and next, from 8.30am til 10am.

We are highlighting the great pensions robbery and recruiting new members to UNISON every day. UNISON members and non-members are worried about their jobs, Pay and especially their Pensions too. But only UNISON members are actually campaigning to defend the LGPS – what are non-members doing to protect their pension?

If you are concerned about paying more and receiving less of your Pension under the government’s proposals, ‘Don’t get Angry – Get Active!’

Become a Pensions Champion for your workplace – see here fore more on our ‘Protect our Pensions’ campaign: http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/protectour.asp and find out how to get involved: http://www.unison.org.uk/pensions/getinvolved.asp

We are anticipating having to take national industrial action over pensions next term, so it is crucial that our records are 100% up to date. You can do this online by going here: http://www.unison.org.uk/membership/update.asp or call 0845 355 0845

Please come and say hi to your local reps at our stalls this week and next, and give the newsletter (http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/2011/08/autumn-newsletter/) to non-members and ask them to join us – because together we are stronger!

Visit our stalls at each building between 8.30am -10am at the following times:

Plus badges, oyster card holder, stickers etc. pop by and say hi any time from 8.30 till 10am at the following times:

• Wednesday 7th September    Tower Building
• Thursday 8th September        Rocket / Admin Block
• Friday 9th September            Stapleton House
• Monday 12th September        Calcutta House
• Tuesday 13th September       Goulston St.
• Wed 14th September             Moorgate
• This 15th Sept                       Commercial Road
• Friday 16th September           Central House

See you over the next two weeks, or at our EGM on Wed 21st September http://www.londonmetunison.org.uk/2011/08/eg/

Middlesex University UNISON Branch has given notice to Middlesex University of their intention to ballot for strike action over the threat of 200 compulsory redundancies at the University. The use of compulsory redundancies will potentially bring the total number of job losses at the University to 300, and represents a loss of 15% of the University workforce. See more here: http://www.unison.org.uk/education/pages_view.asp?did=13365

London Metropolitan University Branch Committee sent this message of support last week:

We have also invited a speaker from Middlesex UNISON to our EGM on 21st September to discuss how we can support each other in our ongoing battles against job cuts.

The branch are planning a summer get together and get away to sunny Southend on Saturday 17th September 2011. The deadline to reserve a place is this Friday, 9th September. Feel free to reserve a place for you plus family / partners / friends.

The branch will be covering the cost of travel which will be by train from London Liverpool Street.

Travelling by train will offer people the flexibility to leave Southend at a time that best suits them. RSVP to susan.lloyd@londonmet.ac.uk to reserve a place before Friday 9th.