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AGMs were a success!
March 23rd, 2018Further to the three successful and quorate aggregate Annual General Meetings I am as the returning officer writing to advise the outcome of the elections for officer positions. The only position that required a vote was the position of Branch Secretary, following the counting of the voting papers I can advise that Grant Coltart has […]
Read More...UNISON AGM Agenda – Amendment
March 15th, 2018Please note that the approval of new Branch Constitution has been moved to item 1, so the new Agenda is as follows 2018 AGM AGENDA Branch Constitution Appointment of Chairperson Guest Speaker: John Gallacher, Scottish Organiser, UNISON Appointment of Scrutineers Minute of AGM meetings held March 2017 Matters arising from the 2017 AGM meetings […]
Read More...AGM 2018 Calling Notice
February 26th, 2018UNISON AGM 2018 – CALLING NOTICE The venues are: Monday, 19th of March 12:00-13:30, Lecture Theatre, DGRI 17:30-18:30, Georgetown Library, Dumfries. Coffee and cakes available from 17:15 Thursday, 22nd of March, 17:30-18:30, Stranraer College. Light Buffet available from 17:15 We are seeking, nominations for Branch Officers and Stewards posts and Branch motions. The relevant […]
Read More...Dumfries Trade Union Council events: One Day Without Us and the Chinese New Year
February 13th, 2018For this year’s One Day Without Us event in Dumfries – to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions made by migrants to our lives in Dumfries & Galloway – the organisers are collaborating with Dumfries & Galloway Multicultural Association (DGMA) in a joint event at the former Bakers’ Oven in Dumfries High Street (next to W […]
Read More...UNISON on Scottish Budget, Tax & Pay
February 2nd, 2018The Scottish government has secured a deal with the Greens to pass its budget proposals ahead of a Holyrood vote. Finance Secretary Derek Mackay had been in negotiations with opposition leaders to find backing for his plans, which include changes to the tax system. The deal with the Greens will see an additional £170m going […]
Read More...Alternatives to Further Cuts
January 24th, 2018A brief on UNISON’s alternatives to public budget cuts can be found here
Read More...Latest Retired Members’ Newsletter
January 17th, 2018Four your copy in pdf format, featuring WASPI campaign and latest news, please click here
Read More...Early Retirement and Voluntary Severance (ERVS)
January 15th, 2018Our Council faces significant budget challenges over the next 3 years as reported to Full Council on 12 December 2017. From a net budget of £350m, our Council will have to deliver a further £50m over the next 3 years (£70m already saved over last 6 years). This is a significant challenge and management […]
Read More...Local Government Pay Claim 2018 submitted
January 12th, 2018Trade unions representing local government workers across Scotland (UNISON, Unite and GMB) have submitted their pay claim to local government today. The pay claim was submitted to COSLA (employers) by the Trade Union side of the Scottish Local Government Joint Council for the period 1 April 2018 to 31st March 2019 at a meeting of the […]
Read More...Winter Fuel Grant 2017-2018 available
December 6th, 2017There for You’s Winter Fuel Grant launches on 4 December 2017 and runs until the closing date of 16 February 2018 One-off grants may be payable up to £50 per eligible household. Applications without a membership number and the relevant documentation attached will not be processed. Applicants must have paid a minimum of 4 weeks […]
Read More...Meeting Future Health Needs in Dumfries & Galloway – a Trade Union Perspective
August 31st, 2017The September meeting of Dumfries Trades Union Council (DTUC) on Monday 4th September will hear a detailed report from Dumfries & Galloway UNISON health service branch secretary, James Beattie, on some of the challenges currently facing NHS Dumfries & Galloway, which provides health services for 146,500 people across an area of 2,400 square miles. “The […]
Read More...Youth Beatz
August 25th, 2017Our Young Members Officer, Sean, and Assistant Branch Secretary, J’an, have recently attended the Youth Beatz Festival in Dumfries. They did this to engage with young people with regards to their rights in the workplace and to promote the Unison Scotland’s Young Members Committee’s Bullying Advice Guide. The event was a wonderful day for Dumfries […]
Read More...Pay up now Campaign update
August 22nd, 2017For years now, public service workers have seen their pay held back by government in the name of austerity. First a freeze, then a cap, saw public sector pay rise by just 4.4% between 2010 and 2016, while the cost of living rose by 22%. That is no way to treat UNISON members – hard […]
Read More...Further Education Stewards Retirement
August 2nd, 2017It is with sadness we note two of our long-time Stewards in Further Education now retiring. June McLachlan and Shirley Sephton have both been active members of UNISON for some time and have been Stewards for a number of years. They are both very knowledgeable and helped each other, as well as helping a lot of the […]
Read More...WASPI campaign
July 27th, 2017Margaret Rinington’s 602,000 strong e-petition about the state pension age is about to provide a quantum leap for the legal rights of 3.48 million women. With these legal rights uppermost in our minds, we invite all #50sWomen to write ‘DWP’ letters to help with legal challenges. WASPI have a “Guide to DWP Complaints”, produced by top London […]
Read More...UNISON LEGAL VICTORY SEES EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL FEES SCRAPPED
July 26th, 2017UNISON Legal Services has been successful in its challenge to Employment Tribunal Fees. Today, the Supreme Court, the UK’S highest court, ruled that the Government acted unlawfully when it introduced fees to bring claims in the Employment Tribunals in England, Scotland and Wales. Since 2013, workers have had to pay as much as £1,200 plus […]
Read More...UNISON and the WASPI campaign
July 18th, 2017UNISON champions fair pensions for all public sector workers. We’ve linked up with WASPI(Women against state pension inequality) to achieve pension justice for women who have been unfairly penalised by the equalisation of the state pension age with no fair transitional arrangements. For decades the state pension age (SPA) for women was 60. An increase to […]
Read More...School Uniform Grant
July 14th, 2017Struggling with School uniform costs ? We want to help as many people as possible. Many people do not know but here at Unison we are not just here to help you with work place issues . Get help with the cost of school uniform this summer . Further information can be found using the […]
Read More...Further Education Recruit a Friend
July 13th, 2017RECRUIT A FRIEND *** WIN ANOTHER £100 CASH **** Get a friend to JOIN the UNION and have his or her say in important pay and conditions issues affecting their job. Click here or on the graphic for the application form and email completed aplications to i.gil@unison.co.uk. That new member will receive a BALLOT PAPER in the current consultation […]
Read More...Training for Council Employees
July 6th, 2017We are currently in the process of arranging training courses for local government staff in dementia and dyslexia awareness . These courses will be run through the new Lifelong Learning Partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Joint Trade Unions . At this stage we are just looking for expressions of interest . Please […]
Read More...Queen’s Speech
June 22nd, 2017Below is our briefing on the Scottish implications of the Queen’s Speech as it impacts on UNISON members. ebrief Queens Speech June 2017
Read More...UNISON WILL SMASH THE PUBLIC SECTOR 1% PAY CAP
UNISON will smash the public sector 1% pay cap
Read More...Industrial Action Ballot Results
June 2nd, 2017The result of the Industrial Action ballot for UNISON members in Scottish local government which closed yesterday was announced today. The result was a 62.7% vote in favour of industrial action. Details below: • Number of votes cast; 15,214 • Number of yes votes; 9,540 • Number of no votes; 5,662 • Number of spoiled […]
Read More...SJC Pay Claim ballot for Industrial Action opens
May 11th, 2017Local Government members ballot for industrial action opens today and closes 30th May. Remember due to inflation the 1% pay increase is actually real terms pay cut and this is unacceptable . UNISON Scotland and the branch recommend that member vote to take industrial action . Our members give 100% and they deserve more than […]
Read More...Local Government Pay Offer – Update
April 10th, 2017UNISON Members have overwhelmingly voted to reject the employers’ pay offer in a consultative ballot – the results were To reject the offer 77.6% To accept the offer 22.4% Dougie Black, regional organiser for UNISON Scotland, said: “Local government workers have suffered years of pay restraint and their pay is worth far less now than ten […]
Read More...MANIFESTO FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN SCOTLAND 2017
April 3rd, 2017On Saturday 1 April 2017 UNISON Scotland launched its manifesto for the local government elections – it calls for sustainable funding for local government; local delivery of services; investment in social care with direct monitoring of care services and sufficient weighting to fair work in contracts and adoption with UNISON Ethical Care Charter; protection of […]
Read More...SJC Pay Offer and Consultation Ballot
March 13th, 2017On Thursday the 9th of March the Local Government Committee considered the final offer made by the employers in respect of SJC Pay and unanimously decided to recommend REJECTION of the offer. The committee also agreed to consult our members in a digital online ballot commencing 17th March and closing at 12 noon on 7th […]
Read More...New Council Budget
March 2nd, 2017The new Council Budget announced by the Labour administration and supported by the SNP Group and some Independent Councillors from our initial read continues the no compulsory redundancy policy, and requires no savings from Terms&Conditions. Also, some of our Budget savings suggestions from members were adopted. We are in the process of scrutinising the details […]
Read More...AGM, Thursday 9th of March 2017
February 23rd, 2017AGENDA Appointment of Chairperson Guest Speaker: Mike Kirby, Scottish Secretary for UNISON Appointment of Scrutineers Minute of AGM meetings held March 2016 Matters arising from the 2016 AGM meetings Treasurer’s Report, Accounts & Appointment of auditor Branch Officers Honoraria Election to Branch Posts and Delegations Branch Assessment Motions (see overleaf) AOCB with Question and […]
Read More...Branch Secretary’s perspective – Council Reshape
February 8th, 2017In June 2014 (Full Council), the Chief Executive brought forward a report providing financial information to assist elected members to develop a five-year financial strategy and a three-year budget. This report was developed further and was approved by elected members at Full Council on 18th Dec 2014. The ambitious proposal for the reduction of directorates […]
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