Kirklees UNISON is the local branch of UNISON. We are committed to the principles of solidarity, unity and progress. There is no room for division in our movement. Our strength comes from our belief that only by acting together can ordinary working people organise for their mutual benefit. Individually we beg, together we negotiate. The 11,000 plus members in Kirklees UNISON seek to act for the improvement of our life and our defence against those who would reduce it.
Millennials: Avocados, flat whites and Instagram – right? Not quite. The hipster characterisation masks a much starker reality for the houseless generation. Most young workers are contending with low wages, insecure jobs and no voice at work. They need trade unions more than ever. This is why UNISON has voted to make 2019 the year of young workers.
A new suite of resources are available to help you communicate with young workers.
HAPPY RETIREMENT
Two of the branch’s stalwart stewards retired in June 2019 and we wish them well for the future. Stewards are the ‘bedrock’ of this union, and its ‘lifeblood’.
– Dave Spink, Chief Steward at the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service retired after over 20 years as a steward in the branch. For many years Dave was ‘Mr Unison’ at the Fire and Rescue Service dealing with and representing members. He kept the union going at the Fire and Rescue Service.
- Bill Broom, Revenues and Benefits. Bill was a good steward, keen on health and safety and did loads of ‘below the radar’ work on job evaluation. Bill always attended picket lines, demonstrations and rallies.
Thanks to both Dave and Bill for their work for the union. The branch wish them well in their retirement. They are the type of ‘unsung’ union reps who keep the union going.
In Memoriam
Mike Early, former Kirklees UNISON steward and Branch Welfare Officer, died earlier this year. Mike had been a steward of the union at the Careers Service, both when it was part of the council and later when it was a private company.
He was on the Branch Committee for over 20 years. He was for many years the Branch Welfare Officer and undertook the role with compassion and understanding.
He was a wise, humorous and compassionate man.
Our thoughts are with his family. The branch was represented at his funeral.
(Addendum – Mike was on the Branch Committee when I came to work in Kirklees in 1986. He couldn’t have been more welcoming and friendly. He was seen as the union at the Careers Service for many years. I have a lot to thank him for, and I do. Humour emanated from him but he was also a committed trade unionist.
PAUL HOLMES, Branch Secretary)
DURHAM MINERS’ GALA
Last call for the bus to the Durham Miners’ Gala on Saturday 13th July 2019. The bus will call at Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Leeds. We will be departing New North Parade, Huddersfield at 7.30am, Dewsbury Bus Station at 7.50am, Leeds Bus Station at 8.15am and then leaving Durham around 5.00pm.
The bus is free to Kirklees UNISON members and their children (under 16) - £10 for other family members and members of other trade unions.
DONCASTER RACEDAY
This year’s Doncaster Raceday is on Saturday 3rd August 2019. ‘2 for 1’ Grandstand tickets – ticket price of £13 for 2 tickets. (There will be a £2.75 transaction charge for all ticket bookings). The branch will also be running a bus from Cleckheaton, Dewsbury and Huddersfield to the raceday. It will be free for Kirklees UNISON members and their children (under the age of 16), £10 for others. This is a subsidised trip so places will not be available on the bus for anyone who is eligible to be a Kirklees UNISON member and chooses not to be. (Ticket offer closes at 5.00pm on Friday 26th July 2019)
To book race tickets, telephone the Kirklees UNISON branch office (01484 511826) and staff will give you details of how to book. (UNISON members can upgrade to 2 ‘County’ tickets for £30 (the two tickets are normally £32.00 each). Places on the bus can also be booked on the same telephone number (ie 01484-511826).
DAY TRIP TO BRIDLINGTON
The Branch will be organising a coach for a day trip to Bridlington on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2019 for UNISON Members and their families.
The coach will be free to Kirklees UNISON Members and their children (under 16).
The charge for others will be £10 each. As this is a subsidised trip by Kirklees UNISON, seats will not be available for people who are eligible to be Kirklees UNISON members and choose not to be.
Please contact the Branch Office on 01484 - 511826 to book places.
PENSIONS ATTACKS
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation (closing on 31st July 2019) which will allow certain Higher Education Institutions ( pre-1992 Polytechnics such as the University of Huddersfield), Further Education Colleges (such as Kirklees College) and 6th Form Colleges (such as New College and Greenhead College) to refuse membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to new staff. The consultation is about such institutions being given the decision as to whether they allow new staff to join the LGPS - whereas, at present, HE, FE and 6th Form Colleges have to allow new staff to join the LGPS.
Kirklees UNISON has written to our members at FE and 6th Form Colleges (The University of Huddersfield staff are in a separate UNISON branch) informing them of the consultation exercise and asking them to write and object to the Minister. The branch has also written to the Principals of Kirklees College, New College and Greenhead College urging them to object to the proposals.
This could be ‘the thin end of the wedge’. If new staff are not allowed in the LGPS scheme - it is a short journey to existing staff being excluded from the scheme as well.
NEC ELECTIONS
Paul Holmes (Kirklees UNISON Branch Secretary) has been re-elected to the NEC (National Executive Council) of UNISON with 63.6% of the vote in the constituency which he stood (Local Government). Of the 13 candidates that Kirklees UNISON nominated in the NEC election, 9 were elected.
DURHAM MINERS’ GALA
The branch are running a bus to the Durham Miners Gala on Saturday 13th July 2019 - the bus is free to Kirklees UNISON members and their children (under 16), £10 for other family members and members of other trade unions.
UNISON DISABLED MEMBERS’ CONFERENCE
The UNISON Disabled Members’ Conference in 2019 is held in Brighton from the 2nd – 4th November 2019.
If anyone wishes to express an interest in going as a delegate can you please contact UNISON Branch office. We can send up to 4 delegates.
The closing date to register is 25th July 2019.
RECRUITMENT
336 new members had joined Kirklees UNISON this year by the end of May 2019. This is a 20.54% increase on last year’s figures at the end of May 2018 (280).
In fact this year’s recruitment figures for this branch at the end of May 2019 were the highest since 2010.
UNISON’s Education and Training programmes aren’t just for union activists – the courses include:
Essential Development (for activists)
These courses are aimed at members who have recently become activists in the union and are looking to develop their role as a steward or branch officer.
Courses include recruiting members, keeping members informed, how to raise issues in UNISON, proportionality and fair representation, interviewing members and understanding how grievance/disciplinary procedures work, health and safety, becoming a UNISON Learning Representative, equalities, negotiating skills, running a branch, welfare, training for branch finance and tutor training.
Courses for individuals
Open University Courses – one day courses on autism awareness, mental health awareness workshop, dementia workshop Women only courses – one and two day courses on building confidence in women, women’s assertiveness, pathways into UNISON Return to Learning – aimed at giving an opportunity to get back into learning, developing new skills, build self confidence.
Women’s Lives (for women only) – aimed at women who have been away from learning for a long time.
Free ‘Taster’ Workshops – an introduction to UNISON learning – building confidence, building confidence (for men only), assertiveness habits, job applications workshop, creative writing; everyday living/everyday numbers, pre-retirement workshop Future Learning Opportunities (all members) Basic IT Skills Free taster opportunities – National Extension College (NEC) Power up your number skills
UNISON Learning Grants – are available to develop yourself and UNISON offer the following grants for members who are studying at their own expense.
Learning grants of up to £200 (including GCSE’s, A-Levels, BTec, Foundation and undergraduate degrees, and most personal and career development courses) Open University - grants of up to £200 for a 30 point course and £300 for a 60 point course Personal learning development grants – of £300 for School Support staff and Care Workers Certificate and Diploma grants – up to £300 for members on trade union and labour movement or Women’s Studies courses
UNISON and the Open University – working in partnership Whether you’re looking for ‘short bites’ or non-accredited learning or an academic qualification – the partnership offers learning opportunities in:-
Free distance learning courses with recognised accreditation in:- Adult Social Care, understanding autism, understanding behaviour that challenges, principles of business administration, principles of caring planning, introducing care for children and young people, common health conditions, counselling skills, customer service, dementia care, care and management of diabetes, dignity/safeguarding in adult and social care, principles of end of life care, equality and diversity, information/advice and guidance, principles of working with individuals with learning disabilities, prevention and control of infection in healthcare settings, awareness of mental health problems, nutrition and health, understanding the safe handling of medication in health and social care, understanding Safeguarding and Prevent and principles of Team Leading.
Copies of the UNISON Full Education Programme can be obtained by telephoning the branch 01484-511826 or 01924-438188. You can also contact the branch’s Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator (Michael Pogson) on 01484-511826 for further information on all UNISON’s education courses.
Over 8,000 school staff, nursery workers, care workers and catering/cleaning staff (the majority of whom are UNISON members) in Glasgow Council struck on 23rd/24th October 2018 in the largest equal pay strike since the Equal Pay Act was passed (in the early 1970’s).
UNISON and the GMB had pursued litigation through all legal avenues, all of which backed the union. But, after 10 months and more than 20 meetings, UNISON/GMB members said that enough was enough. UNISON members voted 90% Yes for strike action (in all areas except home care) – the homecare members in UNISON, in a separate ballot, voted 99% Yes for strike action. Perhaps the Council, which is SNP-controlled, now knows the true strength of our members’ feelings on this issue. All 9 bin depots in Glasgow were
shut as bin workers (mostly men) refused to cross picket lines.
Negotiations are now ongoing with the Council.
Cleaners, catering staff, porters and security staff in UNISON, and employed by iFM (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Royal Bolton NHS Trust), are now to receive NHS pay rates after taking strike action.
The settlement will see the minimum hourly rate increase from £7.83 to £8.95 immediately and reach £9.92 by the end of 2020.
The pay rise will be backdated to April 2018. It’s worth £2,000 this year for the lowest paid and £4,000 a year for full-time staff by 2020. The employer has now offered to pay the NHS “Agenda for Change” pay rates to iFM staff – when they had previously refused to do so.
Vicki, a cleaner for iFM at Royal Bolton said “We all work in the NHS.
It is only right that we will all be on NHS pay. We are no longer invisible. We are strong.” and proud. We stuck together and we won”.
Free table tennis is available for Kirklees UNISON members every Wednesday dinner time (between 12 noon and 1.00pm) at the KAL Leisure Centre, Springwood, Huddersfield.
All you have to do is turn up – free table tennis bats/balls are provided at the venue.
(We are looking for a Kirklees UNISON member to help organise the table tennis because the previous ‘organiser’ has moved work location. Please telephone, the Kirklees UNISON office if you are interested in undertaking this ‘role’.)
All UNISON members in the Council who go directly from home to their first call and/or leave their last call and go directly home, please contact Dean Pye (Steward) at the Huddersfield Branch Office on 01484-511826, for a legal case form to lodge their case for potential back pay.
Anyone who does sleep-ins as part of their work please contact Dean Pye (Steward) at the Huddersfield Branch Office, on 01484-511826, if you think you are not being paid correctly for the hours you are at work. (For a “sleep- in” your total pay must be at least £7.50 per hour – however it is made up, even if you slept the whole shift and were not disturbed.)
Kirklees UNISON run a monthly lottery. The price of each lottery number is 25p per week per number.
The monthly prizes in the draw are:
1st prize = £175
2nd prize= £150
3rd prize = £ 75
4th prize = £ 50
5th prize = £ 30 x 5
This lottery is only open to Kirklees UNISON members. You can have as many tickets per week as you want.
If you want to join the lottery please contact the Kirklees UNISON branch office on
01484 511826
These two courses are a fantastic free opportunity for UNISON members who have been away from learning for a long time. The courses are run in a friendly and supportive environment with the support of a Workers Education Association tutor experienced in working with Adults.
Return to Learn (all UNISON members)
This course consists of 12 study group sessions run in the evening for two and a half hours and one residential weekend. The course is designed to help you gain skills and confidence to study, learn or do something new. This course will start this Autumn at two venues :
Monday evenings at Barnsley Town Hall
Thursday evenings at Orange Box in Halifax Town Centre.
Women’s Lives
This course consists of 10 study group sessions run in the evening for two hours and one residential weekend. Women’s Lives is a course designed for women who have been out of education for some time and have had few educational opportunities in the past. This course is for women with busy lives, families and other commitments. Many women are used to looking after other peoples’ needs. This is an opportunity to set time aside for you! This course will run this Autumn from the following venues:
Wednesday evenings at Huddersfield New College, Huddersfield
Tuesday evenings at Swarthmore Centre, Leeds
Wednesday evenings at The Circle, Sheffield
If you would like further information about any of these two courses please ring Michael Pogson on 01484 511826.
Granville Williams and Sue Williams being presented with Kirklees UNISON commemorative plates at the last Branch Committee meeting for their work with ‘With Banners Held High’.
Kirklees Learning Group is a partnership between Kirklees Council and the Joint Trade Unions (UNISON, Unite and the GMB) with the aim of improving the literacy and maths skills of Kirklees employees.
Through the Learning Group we are able to offer courses up to level 2 (GCSE / O Level equivalent) in both Maths and English functional skills. The courses are delivered by Kirklees College at both Dewsbury and Huddersfield sites and usually run for a period of 15 weeks. These courses are free and, in most instances, Kirklees employees will be able to attend these courses in work’s time. If you are interested in improving your Maths and English skills, then please contact Michael Pogson (Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator) via the Branch Office on 01484 511826.
This Branch has a commemorative plate to recognise the miners who were on strike during the 1984/5 Miners’ Strike.
The plate (priced £20) can be bought by any Kirklees UNISON member. On the back of the plate you can have a 'personalised' inscription of two lines. Or you can have no inscription on the back at all.
To obtain a plate (priced £20) please contact the branch office on
01484 511826.
Why not get money back on everyday expenses such as trips to the dentists and opticians? (plus a whole range of therapy treatments and other cash paying benefits)
You can get cover for Optical, Dental, Specialist Consultation, Complementary Therapies and Chiropody and Physiotherapy, Health Screening, Parental Stays, Worldwide Cover plus more (with cover for up to 5 children included with every plan).
You can claim 100% money back on your bills (13 weeks’ after your first payment). Telephone Kirklees UNISON Office for a leaflet with details.
To claim all you need to do is complete a claim form and return it with your receipt and you will receive your money back in a few days, cheque or bank transfer.
UNISON’s own insurance company (UIA) provides:-
Telephone the Branch Office for a form
Do you have an NHS dentist?
Get £500 of dental cover with the NHS plan exclusively available to UNISON members and their families. Get money back each time you visit your NHS dentist, meaning no more costly treatment bills. Plus, as an exclusive offer, join today and get immediate cover.
Find out more
Discounted car insurance for UNISON members is available from LV (Liverpool Victoria) Insurance. Last year 10% of new UNISON customers at LV paid £186 per annum or less for their car insurance.
Breakdown cover is also available to UNISON members for £72 per annum.
Telephone 0800 756 8154 (car insurance) or 0800 756 8692 (breakdown cover) for a quotation. (Textphone 18001)
(Motorbike Insurance, Classic Car insurance and Caravan insurance – 0800 032 0535)
All Kirklees UNISON members are reminded that there are free Badminton and Table Tennis facilities for Kirklees UNISON Members at Huddersfield Leisure Centre, Springwood, Huddersfield between 12 noon and 1.00pm on Wednesdays. Rackets/bats etc can be provided. Please contact Leslie Bhola (01484 – 221000) if you require further details or merely turn up on the day.
UNISON’s own holiday centre at Croyde Bay, North Devon has now got a 50% low-paid members’ discount available for its chalets and hotel (subject to availability).
If the total household income for a household for a single person/couple is less than £18,000 per annum (before deductions) or, for a family living in the same property, is less than £28,000 per annum, then you will be able to get a 50% discount. (This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Evidence of income must be provided to confirm eligibility).
To find out more telephone - 01271-890-890 or go to www.croydeunison.co.uk.
DISCOUNT FOR UNISON MEMBERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH VAUXHALL
0% APR representative/flexible finance, plus Vauxhall lifetime warranty (100,000 miles).
Also discounts on Vauxhall insurance and genuine Vauxhall accessories.
All these offers are available for all eligible family members too!
Please contact the Branch Office on 01484 511826 for details.
UNISON Welfare is UNISON's registered charity. We are a unique confidential service offering advice and support just for UNISON members and their families:
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