The Tories 'Magic Service Tree'

(and how Greenwich fall for it)

Much has been made over the last few weeks by the Tories about the 'Magic Money Tree' (the one which they shook to find £1.5bn to buy off the DUP to stay in power). However the Government believe in another Magic Tree, they think that if you cut spending, magically services will still happen.

In Local Government, spending has been cut by 40%, this has been achieved by actually cutting services, by reducing our members wages relative to prices and, more insidiously by using outsourcing to reduce the pay and conditions of our members.

A perfect example of this is the situation our members face at Home Start Greenwich who run Children's Centres for the Borough in parts of Greenwich. The contracts were given to other providers such as Home Start in 2014 because of government cuts in funding.

The existing staff were told that their terms and conditions would be protected, including their right to a Local Government Pension. Now 3 years done the line, the Royal Borough of Greenwich is cutting the funding to Home Start and magically expecting Home Start to provide more services with less money. The result is that Home Start are saying that the only way this can be done is to strip their staff of their Local Government Pension and replace it with an inferior one which costs them less and will result in a lower Pension for our members when they retire.

Prompt Action by our Branch has put a stop to this for the time being, but the time has come for our Labour controlled Borough to stop this outsourcing nonsense. They are implementing the Tories agenda by pretending that outsourcing services magically maintains services, the only way services continue is because people get paid less and have worse terms and conditions.

The end result of this nonsense is that you can't get enough staff to deliver the services, those that remain are over worked, demoralised and ultimately less efficient, not more, and as far as the whole economy is concerned there are a lot more low paid workers which means less economic activity, lower tax revenues and more cuts. 

Greenwich Unison have had enough of this nonsense and if you have too then get more involved with us campaigning for well paid staff working for the Borough providing high quality services to our local residents.

Schools Funding

 New National Schools Funding Formular will rob London's children of essential funding for their education and poses a massive threat to School Support Staff jobs.

Find out more about Schools Fuding Cuts and what you can do to help stop them HERE

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New Team Member

We are really pleased to welcome Linda Delieu who was recently appointed our new Recruitment and Retention Officer.

Linda says;

'I am the newly recruited Recruitment & Retention Officer. I took up this new post on 10 January 2017 after working as a Community Development Officer with Trust Thamesmead.

I have considerable experience as a workplace representitive and a member of Greenwich Core Officers Group (GCOG). I also chaired GCOG.

I am really looking forward to working with the Greenwich Unison Team and am amazed at how busy the office is!

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a workplace rep or a point of contact please call me on 07824 532 966'

Annual General Meeting 2017

 Thanks to all of you who came to our AGM's

The Unison Reports to members is now available on the AGM page. The Financial report is to follow shortly. We have now submitted our Audited Accounts to the National Union.

Please see dedicated AGM 2017 page for full details

Advice, support and help when you need it at work

We have a network of trained local advisors and negotiators who will provide you with help at work when you need it most, as well as professional legal advisors and experts when appropriate.

CONWAY SCHOOL UPDATE see Conway page and write to Teresa Pearce MP

Latest Newsletter

Branch Officer Contact Details:

All Greenwich UNISON 7 Branch Officers have been issued with a UNISON mobile and dedicated email address that is synced to their mobile to improve contact with members.  If you are unsure who your workplace rep is, please review the list below to determine which Branch officer covers your area.  They will either deal with your issue on your behalf or refer you to a local workplace UNISON rep.  Please contact them directly, or alternatively contact the office 0208 921 5226.

See below for full details:

Simon Steptoe

Branch Secretary

07879 990318 simon@greenwichunison.org.uk

Tracey Higgins

Branch Chair and representation for members working for GS+ and GSS

07881 384397 tracey@greenwichunison.org.uk

Jay Lowman

Assistant Branch Secretary Royal Borough of Greenwich

07879 990269 jay@greenwichunison.org.uk

Clara Mason

Assistant Branch Secretary Schools and Colleges

07818 518934 clara@greenwichunison.org.uk

June Williams

Assistant Branch Secretary for the Private Sector and convener for GS+ Passenger Services at Birchmere

07881 384409 june@greenwichunison.org.uk

Linda Delieu

Recruitment and Retention Officer

07824 532966  linda@greenwichunison.org.uk

Kevin Sullivan

Birchmere convenor

07818 517470

Office

Pauline Revell-Bowles

Office Administrator and ERA accredited Rep

020 8921 5226 unison@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Greenwich UNISON
Riverside House West
Woolwich High Street
London SE18 6DN

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