#joinunison for better pay, terms & conditions!
If you are a Clarion UNISON member and have not received an invite check what contact details and permission we have at https://www.unison.org.uk/my-unison/ also email @unison@clarionhg.com for this link".
Hat tip Clarion UNISON Facebook page "Solidarity to Unite Housing association members taking strike action over their pay cuts. Hopefully Clarion UNISON members will be taking similar action next month".
"Nearly 60 workers at Freebridge Community Housing, based in King’s Lynn, were balloted by Unite the Union to take part in industrial action.
The 7,000-home landlord offered employees a 5% pay increase and a £500 non-consolidated payment, Unite claimed. The union argued that this represents a real-terms pay cut with retail price index inflation at 10.7%.
The striking workers are responsible for providing home maintenance repairs and estate services, Freebridge said.
Many of the workers, who perform roles including cleaning, are paid little more than the national minimum wage and are struggling to pay their bills, Unite said.
The nine strike days are 21, 29, 30 and 31 August and on 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 September.
“Dear Clarion UNISON member,
We are aware of the worrying correspondence Clarion have sent you regarding “Defined benefit pensions closure - next steps”.
It is disappointing to hear Clarion are attempting to move into a dismissal and re-engagem.ent process, but rest assured we are taking legal action on this.
Whilst we appreciate the unnecessary stress you are being subjected to, Clarion have agreed that all members will be entitled to trade union representation at these 121 meetings to be held via Microsoft Teams. You will not get representation from us should you not be a member as at the date of your meeting.
Please do not hesitate to contact us (within 48 hours receipt of your meeting invite) as members, should you require trade union representation from us or reasonable adjustments made to your meeting.
We are running a consultative ballot of members regarding the defined benefit pension closures, and the further industrial and legal action we are taking. Completion of this ballot can only be done visiting the link below via logging into your work Microsoft Office account. Please submit it by 5pm Monday 31 July 2023. Please contact us directly should you not be able to meet this deadline due to absence etc.
If you impose a change to a contract before getting agreement you will be breaking the agreed contract ('in breach of contract').
In some circumstances, an employee's actions might count as agreeing to ('affirming') the change if:
· they continue to work under the changed terms and conditions
· they do not inform you that they do not agree to the change
However, if an employee does not agree with an imposed change, they might decide to:
· temporarily work to the new terms and conditions, but make it clear they are challenging the change ('working under protest')
· resign and make a claim of constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal, if they feel the change significantly breaks their agreed contract (a 'fundamental breach of contract')
If an employee works under protest, they continue to work under the changed terms, but make it clear that they do not agree to the change and take steps to challenge it.
An employee should make it clear to you that they're working under protest. They should usually do this in writing on a regular basis, for example every time they get paid.
They should normally only work under protest for a short time so they can formally raise their concerns with you or take legal action if you do not resolve their concerns.
For example, depending on the circumstances, an employee could decide to make legal claims against the organisation for:
· damages for breach of contract at a civil court
· 'unlawful deduction of wages' at an employment tribunal, if the change affects their pay
· discrimination, if the change means they are treated unfairly in relation to certain 'protected characteristics' under the law
If you impose a change that makes an employee's terms and conditions significantly worse than before, they might be able to claim unfair dismissal while continuing to work under the changed terms. This is a very complex claim. You should get legal advice if you're in this situation.
If you impose a change after not being able to reach agreement with a recognised trade union, the trade union might consider:
· taking industrial action – for example a strike, refusing to take part in certain activities, or a 'work to rule' where employees do no more than what they're contractually required to do
· supporting individual employees to make claims to a court or employment tribunal
Kind regards,
John Gray Joseph Ogundemuren
Clarion UNISON Convenor Clarion UNISON Deputy Convenor
Safety Rep & Pensions Champion Clarion Housing Association
UNISON NEC Member
To
Branch Committee at UNISON Imperial College branch,
The
Regional Convenor team have been updated on the successful ballot result and
strike action planned by your members over pay starting tomorrow.
As the cost-of-living crisis worsens, particularly in London, we support you in your fight for an improved pay offer and send our solidarity and support to you and your members taking action to address this.
With
best wishes for a successful outcome for your members.
Sent
on behalf of Yvonne Green, Regional Convenor and the Regional Council Officers
UNISON
Greater London Region
However, we also discussed how we can get the message out to our members about the UNISON benevolent fund called "there-for-you" which is about to open its annual "get help with School Uniform costs" cash grant application process. This is means tested.
UNISON is I believe the only major trade union that has its own self help charity dedicated to support its members. This week I had to refer a member who is off sick due to a disability (and on reduced pay/zero) to to see if they are able to get assistance to pay their rent and avoid eviction.
On the day only - online applications. Up to a max of £150. Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month) OR: In receipt of means-tested benefits.
"The 2023 School Uniform Grant Programme will open twice on 1 June 2023 at the following times:
1000 applications at 8.30am
1000 applications at 5pm
Applications will be made online. You cannot apply before these times.
A link to apply online will be added to the bottom of this webpage when the grant is live.
Please ensure you read the below information to see if you are eligible before making an application.
Applicants must:
Only one application per household will be considered.
And EITHER:
OR:
In receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:
*by household income, we mean income from: salary payments, student finance payments, state retirement pension, occupational or private pensions, child maintenance.
What can I get help with?
We can help with a one-off grant of £50 per school aged child, up to a maximum of £150. We want to make this fund go as far as possible and help as many members as we can. Please only apply if you are in financial difficulty. There is a limited amount in the School Uniform Grant Fund.
What if I don’t know my membership number?
We cannot accept applications without a membership number. This can often be found at the bottom of any emails you have received from UNISON.
Alternatively, please contact UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.
How will you contact me?
Acknowledgement
Successful online submissions will receive an automated message confirming your application has been received. If this doesn’t show in your ‘inbox’, please check your ‘junk/spam’ folders.
Processing time
You should not expect to receive an immediate decision. It could take up to 8 weeks before you hear from us. We will require further evidence to support your application and we will be in touch via email to request this. Please do not send chasing emails as we will be unable to respond.
If I have recently received a grant can I apply?
If you have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 01 December 2022, excluding the Energy Support Fund and Winter Fuel Grant, you will not be eligible to apply for a School Uniform Grant.
How do I apply?
All applications should be made online. Make sure you have your membership number to hand.
Applications are currently not open
If you are unable to complete the application due to an accessibility issue, please email: sug@unison.co.uk or call UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.
Any questions?
Contact us via email: sug@unison.co.uk
It was yet another, well organised and well supported LAS picket. Congratulations to their Branch Secretary Eddie Brand, and their stewards and regional support staff including our Regional Secretary, Jo Galloway. The pickets were confident, knew what the battle was about and what to do on a picket line.
I see also from other social media reports that some LAS pickets are tomorrow setting off as volunteers to Turkey to help out as paramedics with the dreadful recent earthquake. Last year the branch helped organise a convoy to Ukraine to deliver much needed medical supplies and equipment.
I have been on various picket lines in my time in the Labour Movement and the UNISON LAS are by far the best organised I have ever attended.
Our ace UNISON Head of Health, Sara Gorton, gave short speech to the pickets thanking them for all they are doing to save our NHS.
Well done to this patient for calling him out!" #NHSPay #CROYDON (hat tip Joel Bodmer UNISON Greater London Regional Officer supporting 3 front line Health branches)
