SATURDAY 12th FEBRUARY at 1pm
Queen Elizabeth House, Sibbald Walk
Cost of Living Crisis: Demo in Edinburgh this Saturday
Tag: demonstration
Union’s ‘deep dismay’ over Edinburgh care home closures
UNISON, the union for carers, has expressed deep dismay at the decision to close an Edinburgh care home. The decision was passed by the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (IJB) – which commissions health and social services from the City – at a meeting on Tuesday.
UNISON, Scotland’s largest union, has been campaigning to prevent the closure of five council-run Edinburgh care homes, including Drumbrae. A further four council-run homes – Ferrylee, Clovenstone, Fords Road and Jewel House are all being earmarked for closure but subject to public consultation.
Tom Connolly, UNISON Edinburgh City branch secretary, said: “The people of Edinburgh can feel very let down by this decision to close a much-needed local service, not least the elderly and vulnerable who reside in the care home and now face an uncertain future.
“UNISON will continue its campaign to save public sector-run care homes and prevent them going into private hands. People need to come before profit and UNISON will continue its fight to save Edinburgh’s public run care homes and call for all private run care homes to be brought into the public sector.”
Greig Kelbie, UNISON regional organiser, said: “The decision to close Drumbrae was made without any public consultation and is a real slap in the face to the most vulnerable people in the city.
“UNISON understands there is a substantial waiting list for homes in the area, so if the need hasn’t gone away then why should the services?”
Edinburgh Integration Joint Board is chaired by Labour councillor Ricky Henderson and membership includes local politicians Councillor Melanie Main (Scottish Greens), Councillor George Gordon (SNP), Councillor Robert Aldridge (Liberal Democrats) and Councillor Phil Doggart (Conservative).
McVitie’s workers take the fight for their future to Holyrood
Workers at the closure threatened McVitie’s site in Tollcross will take the fight for the future of their factory to Holyrood today, with a socially distanced demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament ahead of First Minister’s Questions.
The workforce is calling on politicians to stand with them and the community, to demand that David Murray, Managing Director of pladis, participates in meaningful consultation over alternative proposals to the closure of the factory and the loss of 470 local jobs.
A petition to save the jobs has so far received more than 72,000 signatures.
GMB Scotland Organiser David Hume said: “Workers at the McVitie’s site in Tollcross are fighting for their factory and their future, and every day the collective voice of the workforce and the local community grows louder.
“GMB committed to exploring every avenue to save these jobs and bring investment into this business but, if we’re to pursue alternative proposals to secure a future for these workers, we need the decision makers at pladis to come to the table.
“David Murray can’t be allowed to hide out in London while condemning Glasgow to a new generation of manufacturing decline. We’re calling on politicians to stand with the workers and the local community.
“It’s their factory and their future, and they want to fight for it.”
Living Rent: Gorgie Deserves Better protest today
We need more social and affordable housing, not more purpose-built student accommodation. Here’s what you can do to reject the planned development:
1. Come to the new Tynecastle High School at 1pm this Sunday 30th May. Bring signs and masks and follow the COVID guidelines to stay safe:
2. Follow the instructions on our website to send a letter to S1 Developments and tell them what you think of the development directly. Make yourself heard!
3. Join Living Rent to help organise and create change in your area:
Gorgie needs affordable housing! We deserve better!
Show of Defiance: British Gas strike ‘rock solid’ as members prepare to burn their contracts
British Gas workers are burning the new contracts to show graphically their defiance of the imposition of hourly pay 15% below the agreed rate, says GMB Union.
Day six of the British Gas strike was ‘rock solid’ as an estimated 7,000 workers downed tools over the company’s plan to sack them all
Meanwhile angry engineers across the country are set to burn new contracts – which they have been told they must sign, or be fired in March:
In a show of defiance, engineers across the UK will burn new contracts tomorrow (Friday 22 January) at 10am:
London: Havering Town Hall, Main Road, RM1 3BB
Edinburgh: Scottish Gas call centre, 1 Waterfront Avenue, Edinburgh EH5 1SG
Cardiff: British Gas Customer Call Office, 4 Callaghan Square, Tresillian Way, Cardiff, CF10 5BT
Windsor: Centrica HQ, Millstream, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, SL4 5GD
Leeds: British Gas Call Centre, New Bridge House, Leeds, LS11 5BD
Uddingston: Scottish Gas, Murdock House, 29 Bothwell Road, Uddingston G71 7TW
Leicester: 195 Aylestone Road, Leicester, LE2 7QJa
Stockport: British Gas Office, New Bridge Lane, Stockport, SK1 2HQ
Members across the country – picketing at their vans due to the pandemic – will also be filming and photographing their contracts being burned at the same time.
Engineers and other workers will also down tools on January 22, 25, 29, 30, 31 and February 1 in anger as profitable British Gas provokes further disruption for its customers.
British Gas engineers and staff voted overwhelmingly by 89% to strike after boss of parent company Centrica Chris O’Shea threatened to fire them all if they didn’t “accept” cuts to pay and terms and conditions.
The strikes provoked by the company have caused massive disruption already – with an estimated 100,000 homes waiting for service across the country.
British Gas parent company Centrica reported an operating profit (before exceptional items and tax) of £901 million in 2019.
The operating profitability of its UK home heating business rose by 27 per cent in the first six months of 2020.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary, said: “GMB members at British Gas are burning the new contracts to show graphically their defiance of the imposition of hourly pay 15% below the agreed rate – as well as other changes.
“This is yet another attempt get through to Mr O’Shea that staff accepting cuts of this magnitude in a profitable company is wishful thinking in the extreme.
“British Gas has provoked disruption to more than 100,000 households already in the backlog for services. That number will grow due to the seven new strike dates.
“The company needs to put customers and staff first by abandoning wishful thinking and taking ‘fire and rehire’ off the table.
No more cuts to jobs and services
Invite to a meeting
The North Edinburgh and East Edinburgh Save Our Services campaigns are calling an online meeting on Thursday 10th September at 6.30pm. The meeting will discuss how to mobilise opposition to the latest round of cuts in jobs and services.
Register at
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0oceirrD0uGt0TO6s_SIKPshqmgVQVCeC4
It is time to end the cycle of cuts to vital local services in our city. Austerity, outsourcing and privatisation has been pushed down from Westminster via Holyrood and implemented by the City Council for too long. But we need a powerful campaign if we are to be successful.
Since 2012/13, Edinburgh City Council budget cuts have amounted to £320 million. Prior to Covid19 the estimate was that there would be further cuts of £87.3 million by 2023.
These cuts have had a terrible effect on essential services. The most vulnerable, who have also been hit by cuts in social security benefits, have suffered most. Edinburgh has the lowest expenditure per capita on local services in Scotland.
The City Council’s press releases fail to reflect the reality of life for many of Edinburgh’s citizens. Wrapped in the language of ‘savings’, ‘inclusion’, ‘progress’, ‘just recovery’ and ‘sustainability’, they accept that there is no alternative to an ideology that supports a relentless increase in inequality.
Covid19 has added to an already bleak picture with increases in unemployment, child poverty and mental distress. The pandemic has shone a harsh light on the gaps in local services and underlined the importance of key workers and health, social care, housing and education.
Edinburgh Council argues that falling revenues and increased costs as a result of Covid19 now mean that further cuts are required. The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, through which the Council and the NHS administer integrated health and social care, has already agreed cuts of £8 million.
We understand that proposals for cuts will go the Finance Committee on 24th September and be considered at the full Council meeting on 15th October.
These cuts affect individuals, groups and organisations across the city. They will further erode essential services and add to the numbers of unemployed.
The annual cuts in jobs and services that have taken place over the last decade have not gone unopposed. On occasion we’ve been able to deflect specific measures. But each year the screw has tightened.
It is not true that there is no money to fund these services. The Westminster government is choosing to direct it to the big corporations. For example, eleven billion pounds have gone to the private sector for a track and trace system in England that doesn’t work. £600m was handed to Tesco in rate relief (that went straight to their shareholders) while the company is enjoying a sales bonanza.
This meeting can be a first step in building a mass campaign for social justice, push back the cuts and fight for public services.
If our elected politicians wish to truly represent us, then they should join the campaign. If not, they should step aside. Let’s save and rebuild services, save jobs and fight for social justice and an environmentally sustainable future.
Mobilise against the cuts
The North Edinburgh and East Edinburgh Save Our Services campaigns are calling an online meeting on 10th September at 6.30pm.
The meeting will discuss how to mobilise opposition to the latest round of cuts in jobs and services. Edinburgh City Council meets on Thursday 17th September.
To join this event register in advance via this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0oceirrD0uGt0TO6s_SIKPshqmgVQVCeC4
and you will then be sent a link to the Zoom meeting.
It is time to end the cycle of cuts to vital local services in our city. Austerity, outsourcing and privatisation has been pushed down from Westminster via Holyrood and implemented by the City Council for too long. But we need a powerful campaign if we are to be successful.
Since 2012/13, Edinburgh City Council budget cuts have amounted to £320 million. Prior to Covid19 the estimate was that there would be further cuts of £87.3 million by 2023.
These cuts have had a terrible effect on essential services. The most vulnerable, who have also been hit by cuts in social security benefits, have suffered most. Edinburgh has the lowest expenditure per capita on local services in Scotland.
The City Council’s press releases fail to reflect the reality of life for many of Edinburgh’s citizens. Wrapped in the language of ‘savings’, ‘inclusion’, ‘progress’, ‘just recovery’ and sustainability, they accept that there is no alternative to an ideology that supports a relentless increase in inequality.
Covid19 has added to an already bleak picture with increases in unemployment, child poverty and mental distress. The pandemic has shone a harsh light on the gaps in local services and underlined the importance of key workers and health, social care, housing and education.
Edinburgh Council argues that falling revenues and increased costs as a result of Covid19 now mean that further cuts are required. The Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, through which the Council and the NHS administer integrated health and social care, has already agreed cuts of £8 million.
At the Council meeting on September 17th the City Council will discuss further cuts.
‘Pay Up Now’ for NHS staff: socially distanced demonstration tomorrow
UNISON, Scotland’s biggest health union, will hold socially distanced demonstrations across Scotland tomorrow (18 August). The demonstrations are the next stage in UNISON’s campaign for a pay rise for NHS staff.
UNISON Pay up Now campaign is thanking the public and asking them for their continued support for a NHS pay rise.
The trade union is calling on the Scottish Government to reopen the NHS three year pay deal, and for ministers to sit down with the trade unions to discuss a pay rise for all NHS staff.
NHS staff have had real term pay cuts over the last decade with significant extra costs over this pandemic. Including extra childcare costs because they are working extra shifts, extra transport costs because of restricted public transport, extra costs because they have being isolating from family, or even extra laundry costs and buying personal PPE.
NHS staff have been working long hours and many report being mentally and physically exhausted. Their response to this pandemic has been heroic.
Tom Waterson, chair of UNISON Scotland health committee said: “UNISON are organising socially distanced demonstrations across Scotland on Tuesday 18 August to show the strength of feeling of NHS staff about pay.
“The public support for our heroic NHS workers throughout this pandemic has been amazing. Thursday night clapping was hugely appreciated by health workers across the UK.
“However the reality is that NHS workers have seen their pay eroded over the past decade and some NHS staff are amongst the lower paid in Scotland. So please continue your support for NHS workers. They deserve it.”
NHS staff set to protest over pay this Saturday
My name is Claire McKenzie, I am a staff nurse working in the NHS, Scotland. I love, love my job! It has taken me a long time to get here.
I have always wanted to be a nurse from a very young age, but I didn’t go into nursing until I retrained in my 30’S. My working career started when I was 16 as an office junior, living and working in Newcastle.
When I was 19 I moved to Scotland to work on a farm as Farm Secretary after attending agricultural collage. I have worked in various types of administrative roles, working up the ladder and my salary increased accordingly.
When I had my first child, I decided to retrain as a nurse, because I didn’t want to spend the next 40 years working in an office, regretting not fulfilling my dream of becoming a nurse. I spent the next 4 years in higher education to gain my degree in Nursing. I have worked up the banding levels and I am now at the top of my level, as are 47% of the nursing work force.
Working as a nurse is rewarding, but it can be punishing, both physically and mentally – I hear people comment: “you chose to become a nurse, why are you complaining?” I did choose this, but want to highlight that, in order to do my job, I need the support from other staff.
But these staff are non-existent as posts have not been filled – in Scotland, 5.6% of nursing and midwifery posts (3,607) remain vacant as per the figures provided in December 2019.
Wards cannot afford to pay for agency staff (I would like to say at this point agency staff should not be demonised! They have their heads screwed on, knowing their worth and getting paid for it!) unless the ward is running dangerously low on nurses and clinical support staff.
The Scottish Government’s Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act, scheduled to come into force towards the end of 2020, will place a duty on NHS and social care providers to make sure that, at all times, there are suitably qualified and competent staff working in the right numbers looking after the most vulnerable groups in our society. My question is, how?
As a work force, we are running at full throttle, doing a job of two being paid at 2010 rates but living in a world of 2020 expense. As a work force, people are having to pick up extra hours, if you work on the bank you are taxed more because this is classed as luxury earnings – this extra money is not for luxury but for necessity! Where is the work life balance?
When the government announced a pay rise for public sector works, I thought “Yay” recognition at last, only to be very disappointed. Personally, I do not begrudge the pay rise announcement for others; they are entitled to it, I am however very embittered tha,t as a whole workforce, our efforts have been belittled – not by the public, as 77% support the NHS workers to get a pay rise.
As stated, we as a workforce are being paid at 2010 rates, living in 2020 being expected to be able to survive paying for the basics. That’s why as a workforce we are DEMANDING a pay rise, why would anybody take on further work but get paid for less? That’s right, we are the NHS! Enough is enough.
#NHSworkersayno #NHSpay15
To highlight the disappointment, Nurses have rallied together, creating a Facebook group attracting over 70,000 members from all sectors of the NHS (without official support from the unions) and have organised demonstrations across the UK.
So far approximately 33 have been organised to coincide at 11am this Saturday (8 August 2020).
The Edinburgh demonstration will take place outside the Scottish Parliament building in Holyrood.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/314519933024565?view=permalink&id=318609522615606
Brexit: March to Remain this Saturday
Edinburgh4Europe March
Saturday 21 September 2pm
Join us on Saturday, September 21st at 2pm when we march in Edinburgh showing our support for membership of the European Union and especially recognise its ongoing peacemaking role and its work as a mechanism for taking action on climate change!
Share with all your friends and family and colleagues:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1180448458814458/