Unison Urges Members to register concerns
with MSP's
Glasgow Unison
Members are urged to write to local MSP's and raise concerns
about the proposed merger of colleges
Below, members will
find the text of a 'model letter' they may wish to consider
sending.
[Your address and
phone number]
[the date]
To: [ Your local] MSP
Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Dear
NEW COLLEGE GLASGOW
As one of your
constituents I am writing to ask for your assistance regarding
the proposed merger of Central College, Glasgow Metropolitan
College and Glasgow College of Nautical Studies into the new
merged college.
I am
extremely concerned about the implications of this merger for
employees. Glasgow further education colleges have experienced
flawed mergers or restructurings many times in recent years, and
morale is at an all time low. The lack of information and
consultation in the current process has exacerbated this concern
leaving my colleagues and I stressed and extremely worried about
our future employment prospects.
Our trade union UNISON has raised its concerns on behalf of
employees, however at the time of writing there is still no
clarity in relation to jobs and any potential redundancies. As
you can imagine in the current economic climate this uncertainty
is adding to our concerns.
UNISON expressed the concerns of its members to the colleges'
management in June last year and requested a "full, meaningful
and transparent consultation with the trade unions". This type
of process would have helped alleviate our concerns' and fears
about our jobs and ensure that the problems of past mergers
could be avoided. Sadly there has been no meaningful
consultation so far.
Many of the staff in the sector have already been through a
merger. Glasgow Metropolitan formed from the merger of Glasgow
College of Building and Printing and Glasgow College of Food
Technology. It took two years of negotiations for a set of terms
and conditions to be agreed for the new college. There are
though, still outstanding issues as to hours of work, pay scales
and holiday entitlement 5 years after the merger. For example
some staff work thirty-six and half hours a week and some staff
35 hours per week and holiday entitlement for some staff is 28
days, others 25. UNISON believes that all staff should be moved
to the better set of terms and conditions.
I would appreciate your assistance and request that you contact
the 'shadow board' of the new college to urge them to arrange
full and meaningful consultations with our trade union, so that
we as employees can make informed choices about our future
employment.
I would also request that you raise the issue with Michael
Russell MSP, Minister for Education & Lifelong Learning asking
that he take an interest in the current situation in Glasgow and
urge him to encourage the 'shadow board' to engage in proper
consultation with the trade unions.
Please can you let me know your response and any action you have
taken to highlight the issues I raise in my letter.
Yours
Sincerely
Defend Glasgow Services
Joint Union/ Community Campaign Launched
Over 120 people, members of
community groups and trade unions, attended the meeting called
by the Glasgow Unison branch. The meeting was organised to begin
the fight back against cuts in jobs and services in the city.
At its January budget
meeting, Glasgow City council voted in favour of cuts
totalling £66 million for
the year 2010 alone. This massive cut will see 4000 job losses
over three years and the slashing of funds to voluntary sector projects and to
council budgets.
In response, Glasgow City
Unison has devised an anti-cuts strategy that involves building
links with community groups across the city.
We urge all trades
unionists, members of community groups and service users to join
the ‘Defend Glasgow Services’ campaign.
Campaign Public Meeting
Unison Glasgow office,
Wednesday 10th March
4th Floor, 18 Albion Street, Glasgow City Centre at
7.00pm.
If you are involved in a
campaign to defend a community service please attend the meeting
or contact the Unison
Glasgow Branch for further details.
Add your voice to our campaign for a
fairer society.
Click
here.
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Strong and caring.