NEWS

From all of us in the Branch Office –

We would like to wish all our members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

The Branch Office will be closed from Monday 24^th December until Wednesday 2^nd January 2008

Have a great break!

PAY 2007

It’s now been confirmed that the vast majority of staff will get the backdated increase in with their December pay.

The only exceptions to this are those who are downgraded by the Single Status process (because they will be on “mark time” protection, meaning they won’t get the pay award this year) and those for whom the Job Evaluation process hasn’t been completed, who will receive the increase once their grading has been finally determined.

SINGLE STATUS

For our latest update and details of the Appeals Procedure please click here.

PAY 2008

The NJC Committee have now asked branches to consult with their members on the basis of a claim next year for a 6% increase, with a “substantial increase” for the lowest paid. The Branch Executive Committee has agreed to recommend to members that we support a claim for a flat rate increase of £1200 per annum.

Your Steward should be contacting you within the next week to seek your views. If you haven’t got a Steward and wish to make your view known, please email us at branchoffice@croydonunison.co.uk

I would urge all members to support a flat rate claim, not a percentage increase. This is the only way to truly address low pay.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

Dates have been set for the Branch Annual General Meeting. We will be holding the first meeting in The Council Chamber on Wednesday 20^th February at 12.30 pm and the second on Thursday 21^st February, in the Friends Meeting House (opposite Taberner House) at 4.30 pm. You will only need to attend one of these meetings and an hour’s paid time off to attend is permitted for members employed by London Borough of Croydon.

VICTIMISATION OF UNISON ACTIVISTS

Michael Gavan and Karen Reissmann (UNISON activists in Newham and Manchester respectively) have both been sacked recently. The actions of their employers clearly seem to have been a reaction to legitimate trade union activities. We have also seen a UNISON steward in Barnet sacked by Fremantle, in the middle of a dispute over Fremantle’s slashing of staff wages and other conditions.

A meeting was held on Tuesday 11^th December in support of Michael, Karen and the Fremantle workers. A full report regarding this will follow shortly.

PENSIONS

The Government Regulations on the Scheme can be found on the Pension Update Page

You can also log-on to the UNISON National Website www.unison.co.uk for more up to date information.

SOCIAL CLUB

Progress on the new Club has been slower than hoped but discussions are still ongoing. It is hoped that it will be located in the Central Complex, possibly in the Fell Road Offices. Getting the location and the set-up right is vital to the Club’s eventual success.

With respect to Chatsworth Hall, the snooker and pool tables are shortly to go into storage. The Council will be refurbishing the premises for other uses. In the meantime there is still some furniture such as tables and chairs and sundry glasses in the building – if you are interested in any of them please let Phil Young, the Club Secretary, know.

In the meantime we are embarking on a programme of fund raising in order that we are ready for the new Club once it becomes a reality. We are holding our usual Christmas Raffle for a hamper and a variety of smaller prizes.

Tickets (50p each) are available from the UNISON Office, through Shop Stewards and we intend selling tickets in Taberner House over the next few days.

We are currently planning to organise a ‘100 Club’, Quiz Nights and possibly a party in the New Year - further details to follow.

In order for the club to be a success it is important that we can rely on all for your support so please support our efforts!

You can contact the Club Secretary, Phil Young, at phil.young@croydon.gov.uk.

ANNUAL REPORT

You can still read the Annual Report here.

CALLING ALL DISABLED MEMBERS…….

If you would like more information please contact our Disabled Members Officers, Kay Kakad at kaushalya.kakad@croydon.gov.uk

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS………

We are always looking for more members to get actively involved in the Branch. There are many areas where members don't have a local Steward.

So - if you would like to get more involved in the Branch and its decision making, take part in negotiations with management and represent members, why not become a Steward or Health and Safety Rep?

We won't throw you in at the deep end. There are many courses available that are organised through the TUC or UNISON and they run throughout the year. You will also have the support of the Branch Office. Time off for full training is available, please contact the Branch Office for more details or e-mail branchoffice@croydonunison.co.uk

ARE YOU GETTING IT?

Please let us know in the Branch Office if you have changed your address, either by phone on 8760-5435 or via e-mail to branchoffice@croydonunison.co.uk it’s important we keep your records up to date so that you are fully informed on matters that could affect you.

If you are prepared to be a workplace contact for us, which involves handing out UNISON information, Newsletters etc to your fellow UNISON members again please let us know in the Branch Office.

We want to make sure all our members are informed on what's happening in the Branch.