Friday 19th June 2015

The rise and rise

of food banks

T here was a time when people

begging for food were also

homeless, without a job,

holding out a desperate hand to

those who did have employment.

In 2014, such distinctions have

become blurred. It is estimated that 13 million people – one in five – live in

poverty in the UK. And over half of

families in pover ty are now

working households.

In the world of ConDem austerity,

having a job is no guarantee of being able to put food on the table.

With job cuts, pay freezes and down-

g r a d i n g – e x a c e r b a t e d b y

rising food prices and a benefits system that fails to keep pace – the age of the

food bank is upon us.

The Trussell Trust, a charity that

co-ordinates the UK's largest network

of food banks – more than 400 –

reports that it fed more than 900,000 people in 2013-14, a third of whom

were children.

In 2010, that figure was 61,000. Those

numbers continue to grow. And they don't even account for the countless

food banks outside the trust’s network.

Two new food banks are launched

every week.

"Most people assume that this only affects the stereotypically needy –

people already on benefits, people not

working, one-parent families," says

Tracy Lamy-Edwards, a UNISON assistant branch secretary in the East

Midlands.

"But we're beginning to understand that it's also people at work ­– low-paid

w o r k e r s , y o u n g w o r k e r s ,

apprentices. And retired people too.

Our members.

"We have members whose pay has

been cut and cut, their jobs regraded, hours cut, maybe they've

been made redundant. Eventually they

may get more financial assistance

through benefits. In the meantime, they have an immediate need that pushes

them and their children into food

poverty.

"It could be the person you're sitting

next to at work, who you have no idea

is being forced to go to a food bank."

Demetrios Matheou This article was first published in the summer 2014

issue of U magazine

96. Foodbanks and Food Poverty

Direct attack on trade unions

14. You may or may not have heard of a government paper called

“Cabinet Office Guidance on Trade Union Facility Time”. This paper

applies to all Government offices and departments and purports to set out

a principle for the allocation of trade union facility time.

A paper that effectively trumps any existing agreements.

Ignore it at your peril.

It challenges our ability to function within UNISON and to represent our

members.

Equality Facility Time

13. Currently equality representa-

tives have no legal right to time off

to undertake their trade union

equality duties. The TUC argued in

a 2005 submission to the former Women and Work Commission that

trade union equality reps (in

UNISON this would include Equal-

ity Co-ordinators and SOG officers)

should be given the same statutory

rights as learning representatives—

paid time off for training and for

undertaking their role. Training

included developing the necessary

knowledge, skills and confidence to

undertake the role effectively and

capacity building for effective engagement with employers.

Conference requests the National

Executive Council to discuss facility

time for equality reps with the TUC

with a view to raising it with the

Labour Party and to work with

Labour Link to influence the Labour

Party to commit to the extension of

facility time to equality reps.

The Impact of the

Economic Crisis on

Workers in the Public

Sector

30. The last five years have seen the

Coalition Government use the economic

crisis as a means of devastating the

public sector. The Government’s

austerity measures, in response to the

global crisis have been extreme and

harsh. The cuts in the public sector are

too quick, too deep and causing

devastation to the services that they

provide, resulting in slashing vital

support on which individuals and

communities rely.

This government has pledged to cut

730,000 public sector jobs by 2017 and

to cut spending by £80bn, and already

the North East has seen 59,000 public

sector jobs lost.

Millions of working people’s jobs, pay

and pensions are under threat

Conference calls upon the NEC to

Campaign, Protect and Promote

Increase in

the basic

state pension

60. Conference is very concerned that the Basic State Pension

(BSP) has remained below the poverty level for many years.

In April 2014, it was increased to £113.10 per week for a

single pensioner, a rise of £2.95 per week. The National

Pensioners Convention statistic for the poverty level is £175.

The deficit of £64.90 is appalling! The BSP in the UK is

still one of the lowest in Europe (4th from bottom)

although we are the 7th richest nation in the world.

I can't believe that it's 10 years ago in this very city at this very conference that I

first appeared to my union as a Trans woman. I recall the dizzying blend of

excitement, fear, exhilaration, fear and fear, as conference drew near. Those fears

necessitated a plan, one which revolved around merging into the crowd. Should

plan A not work, unconvinced that I would feel accepted or I could cope at all, I left myself an Plan B escape kit. I stowed some sneaky other gender clothes at the

bottom of my case, and arranged for dual gendered, double sided credentials, with

my new improved name and photo on one side, my old name a picture on the

other. This gave me the option to chicken out. To chicken out of my coming out.

To this day I believe I my be only delegate in our conference history

to have had a double gendered ID badge.

The first hurdle was coming out in our region. I was already a 15

year veteran as an activist and a regular at regional events. I did

prepare a few of my regional colleagues and friends but no where

near enough. So it was with trepidation that I attended our pre

conference meeting. Of course my plan for a discrete slink into the

back of hotel conference was sunk when we arrived 5 minutes late

with the only chairs available right at the front of the meeting. So

with a bump, and a barge and sorry and an excuse me I got to my

seat with all the subtlety and grace of a disoriented hippo. Once the meeting's formalities were over and we were free to chatter away

over the soggy sandwich buffet, I was given the warmest and most

heartfelt of welcomes that anyone could wish, from my all my

regional friends. That comforting acceptance from my region was an

important decision affirming milestone, which I will never forget.

That night those nagging fears melted away and later, with glee, I taped over the "chicken out" side of my ID.

As an introvert at heart I still hoped that I would get though conference unnoticed hiding behind my heavily fringed

wig, however this was dispelled on the first days trott down the station ramp to the conference centre when I spied a

huge throng of LGBT activists in t shirts, with balloons and leaflets emblazoned with the slogan LGBT NOW. It was

the culmination of a concerted campaign urging members to agree to a rule change that would form new Self Organ-

ised Group , an inclusive new LGBT group, with that letter T standing out to me as if in highlighted and underlined in

bold type. 2005 was one year on from the hugely disappointing previous attempt to expand UNISON's Gay and

Lesbian SOG. 10 years ago there were so relatively very few out Trans members in our union (and indeed society) that

I had never met another similar soul. So my coming out coincided with UNISON's LGBT members being front and

centre in our union as never before. But, hey, as I've now learned since, when you're six foot two (plus heels) Trans

woman you may well stick out above the crowd, but the view is damn well worth it.

In the last decade our LGBT SOG and its Trans members have prospered to

become so integral to our union. I could say we are now part of the furniture,

albeit the most fabulous and ornate of pieces. I find it so utterly, brilliantly,

heartening that we now hear so many Trans voices at conferences, contributing across the all the debates not just LGBT matters. UNISONs

LGBT group may have had a stuttering birth but our union should and must be

proud of what LGBT members have achieved. Fighting for equality, winning

battles, changing hearts and minds, and yes, while society may have

transformed for LGBT people, there are still a more battles for us to fight and

more attitudes for us to confine to history.

UNISON's LGBT and me

The 10th Anniversary

Jenny Harvey, Staffs Community Health

Branch Secretary

FIGHTING FOR

THEIR LIVES

Carmen Mayusa

General Secretary

of Columbia

Health Workers

Union paid a visit

to the National

Delegates

Conference this

week.

Carmen fights against privatisation and

outsourcing in her country.

As a health worker, as are many delegates

here this week has been imprisoned for her

union activity which maybe one or two have

faced.

Carmen has seen 4 brothers and many

extended family members assassinated for

their trade union activity. Hopefully, none of

us have faced or ever wish to face!

Colombia is reported to be the most

dangerous place in the world to be a trade

unionist.

Some of you may have listened to her speech

yesterday and hopefully were inspired by her

dedication to the Workers Union.

Dave Auger

Inspired by strong

women speakers

Shelly Francis

Assistant branch Sec

Birmingham Local Gvt

Shelly has been a unison member for the past 10

years and a shop steward for five became elected

as Assistant Branch Sec in her directorate

earlier this year.

First time at National Delegates Conference here in

Glasgow has been really engaged with the debates

and felt very inspired by strong women speakers.

Shelly has said that listening to the first time

speakers and their passion for the Trade Union has

given her the courage to speak at her next

conference.

International visitor Paul Moist, President of the

Canadian Union of Public employees addressed the

delegates and visitors yesterday and it brought a tear in my eye, when ali’s from across the globe

spoke so passionately about working as one.

Paul donated a £5000 cheque in support of the

Glasgow Strikers and received a standing ovation

at the end of his speech.

Listening to brothers and sisters from across our

delegations has given me lots of energy and ideas to

use back at our branch, says Shelly.

If your branch is not affiliated to Justice for Columbia, please do so. Support the

Peace Process, call for a bilateral ceasefire.

Write to your MP & MEP and ask them to stop criminalizing TV and to stop calling them

Terrorists.

Jenny Martin

Staffordshire West Midlands Probation Branch

Late on the night of the 2nd December 1984, the lives of residents of a town in central India

called Bhopal were changed forever.

A leak of highly toxic gas from the local pesticide factory run by Union Carbide (now taken

over by Dow Chemical) drifted over the town, immediately killing 2200 people.

2.12.84 BHOPAL

changed forever

One fifth of the half-a-million people

exposed to toxic gases in December 1984

continue to battle exposure-induced chronic

illnesses today and the death toll,

currently at 25,000, continues to rise.

S ome reports estimate that

t he d i s a s t e r h a s

subsequently claimed up

to 30000 lives, with the leak

causing almost 560,000

injuries.

Prior to the leak, unions had

a le r t ed management t o

problems at the plant as early as

1976. A series of small

incidents affecting workers

continued.

Then disaster struck and the gas

was released.

There is still groundwater

contamination from the aban-

doned chemical plant today.

People are still affected by this

disaster 30 years on.

Compensation was paid to

affected families, with families

of those who died receiving on

average just $2200.

The cause is uncertain, but the

plant suffered from chronic

under investment, inadequate

equipment and safety regula-

tions. In fact, 70% of the em-

ployees at the plant were fined

before the disaster for failing to

deviate from safety regulations.

The people of Bhopal suffered

30 years ago and that suffering

is still continuing.

Stewart Tranter

Staffordshire University

Vice Branch Secretary

Glasgow in the industrial revolution

In the 1820s, Glasgow’s population was growing fast, with immigrants

moving to the city from the Highlands, and many fleeing from Ireland’s

potato famine. The growing demographic provided the city’s industrialists

with a vast pool of cheap labour. The availability of work attracted many

other immigrants to Glasgow from all over Europe, contributing to a di-

verse culture. Industry boomed in the city, in particular; soap-making,

distilling, glass-making, sugar, cotton and tobacco. However, this success

was short-lived, with these industries (cotton and tobacco in particular)

becoming threatened by tough competition from America, and, closer to

home, cities like Manchester. However, rising in the face of adversity and earning the moniker of ‘resourceful’ Glasgow honed its strengths in a wide

range of ‘heavy industries’ making it a leading city in ship and locomotive

building. As testament to this Glasgow produced one fifth of the world’s

ships from this time up until the beginning of WW1.

Industrial Downturn in the 20th Century

In contrast to the booming industry and glowing reputation Glasgow en-joyed before WW1, the post-war city spiralled into a serious economic

downturn, now classed as a “depressed area”. Though in this era the city’s

industries did produce some important ships (the Queen Mary, Queen

Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth 2 being the most famous), it was becoming

painfully obvious that a big change in structure for the city was due. This

led many of the city’s workers into careers in the service industry

Glasgow in the 80s & 90s

The ‘80s and ‘90s proved to be somewhat of a cultural renaissance for

Glasgow, culminating in it winning the award for European City of Cul-

ture in 1990. Leading up to this the SECC was opened and the Glasgow Garden Festival was hosted, meaning that many impressive and beautiful

buildings and structures were erected. Because of the award local authori-

ties invested in improving Glasgow, with a large chunk of this going on

the building of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Glasgow Gangs

Glasgow is rather renowned for its darker side too, with a troubled gang

culture in some areas of the city, especially due to the city’s football ri-

valry. In 2002, the World Health Organisation designated Glasgow the

murder capital of Europe. You can read all about that here

Places of interest and their history

Glasgow’s medieval cathedral is one of its most famous attractions. Con-

struction commenced in 1136, with the first stone being dedicated to King

David I and it has been a dedicated place of worship for the last 800 years.

The cathedral is set apart from others in Britain by its extensive and im-

pressive collection of post-war stained glass windows, frequently given

the accolade of the finest in Britain! Source: http://www.history.co.uk

Tweets from around the country

#uNDC15

@stokepix :bigbird hits the roof

at conference and stops play—

coffee break

@unisontweets :Hundreds stage demo in support of

Glasgow homelessness workers on strike over pay

@andy0892 :Eeee young members, full of fantastic ideas!

@Jenksy : After many conferences I’ve developed a

Pavlovian exited murmur response to a clanged handbell.

Plays havoc if near a town cryer

@Unisonsw : As usual all the

excitement is at #uNDC15 Thursday

Rules Debate #GeeksRuleTheWorld

@lucieHyndley : Our conference

team are heroes. Really, they

should have cloaks. Never stop

helping & ensuring NDC runs

smoothly

@UnisonSW : South West one of the

hardest hit regions by public sector

job losses, made worse by high cost

of living.

@unisoncambs :Rules rool !

#UNDC15 an afternoon of rule changes, sometimes con-

troversial, sometimes tedious but never a bore, honest!

@unisonbridgend :you’d think that Glasgow City

Council would be concerned with the lack of business

lost from TU Conferences

@GwyneddUnison :Great to meet my fellow tweeters

over lunch

@jonrogers1963 :Good to see a speaker against at

#uNDC15 however much I disagree with him. A debate is

when disagreement is aired (not when we all agree)

@UnisonMcr :We demand decent work and decent pay

for all citizens—Paul Moist of CUPE

@jokbristol : really moved by Domestic Violence

debate at NDC. Back at hotel, 50 Shades of Grey

advertised on TV as “romance” film #rage

@ellathorp :Just had to go for a little dance by the

Yorkshire flag. Couldn’t sit down any longer! How do

people do this every day at work?!

@Tim_ISA :Anyone managed to get a coffee into the

conference? I need caffeine but don’t want to leave

#tweetstreet inside the hall

@katrinamurray71 Ritaconneely have we entered the

conference time warp

@BDCunison :Slipped out of NDC for a quick caffeine

reload. #dontcallanothercardvote

@joannegeorge39 :Fame at last

@bikeranimal :gosh what there was a

bang outside so conference has

stopped play for a while until it’s

checked out!

@unisonnorpol :Poor bird!! Bet it’s

got concussion after that bang!

@marcequnison :@unison_Csh

proud to say I am a first time

delegate and first time speaker

against the motion and won!

@Unison_global :

Global solidarity in

action as

@CUPENatPres from

@cupenat donates

£5000 to Glasgow

homeless workers

strike fund.

Keep your tweets coming

#uNDC15

From the National Delegates

Conference 2015 in

Glasgow

Have you been inspired by anything you have heard at

National Delegates Conference?

Have you taken away ideas for your branch?

Is there something we can do to improve for

future conferences?

Your views, comments, ideas or concerns

are really important to us.

Please let us know via email

or

by telling your stories via

facebook,

twitter #uNDC15

or any other social media platforms.