Somerset County UNISON Branch


Home About UNISON Campaigns Pay Claim 2009 Pensions ISiS Freedom of Information Contact Us Conferences Education Equalities Links Need Help? News Scoop! Membership Services Self Organised Groups South West Branch Directory What's On Why Join? UNISON Press Releases from the national website visit www.unison.org.uk/ asppresspack/pressrelease.asp News from the national website visit - www.unison.org.uk/news/index.asp For Somerset County Council News, visit http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/latestnews/ Links to News websites BBC News Channel 4 News Campaign For Press & Broadcasting Freedom www.freepress.org.uk Guardian Unlimited - special union feature www.medialens.org - correcting for the distorted vision of the corporate media The Independent Independant Media Centre 24Dash.com Solidarity magazine - for independent, fighting and democratic trades unionism Public Finance Public Service	News Roundup
	Council mulls cost-cutting plans (22/07/09) A number of cost-cutting measures are being considered by Somerset County Council to make budget savings. More from the BBC UNISON welcomes break in deadlock on local government pay (22/07/09) UNISON, the UK's largest public sector union, today (22 July) welcomed the break in the deadlock on local government pay. Read more in UNISON's latest Press release Council executive to leave role (17/07/09) Alan Jones is to retire at the end of the month after talks with the new Conservative leader of the council. More from the BBC Chief executive of Somerset County Council to leave authority (17/07/09) Chief executive of Somerset County Council, Alan Jones, has announced he will leave the authority after six years.More from www.thisissomerset.co.uk Latest Pay Newsletter (16/07/09) In this issue - details of new prospective pay offer. Read more in UNISON's latest Pay Newsletter. Unions attack council leaders over 'disrespectful' pay offer (16/7/09) Unions tonight attacked local authority leaders for showing "disrespect" to 1.6 million council workers, claiming they were refusing to discuss any pay offer above 0.5%. More from 24dash.com Pay-freeze calls show 'breathtaking cheek' (13/07/09) Calls for a public-sector pay freeze – and the private-sector envy of public-service pay on which they're based – is totally misplaced. UNISON head of local government Heather Wakefield said "Public-sector pay restraint has already led to below-inflation rises in recent years and only frontline catering, cleaning and care jobs are paid less in the private sector than in the public." More from UNISON Meat hygiene workers say yes (10/07/09) After 18 months of negotiation workers in the meat hygiene service have voted to accept an overall payrise of 2.99% backdated to August 2008. This gives 5%, 3% or 2% - people at the bottom of the pay scale would get the most. More from UNISON FE colleges win improved pay offer (06/07/09) Further education workers in England have won an improved final pay offer of 1.5% on all salaries and allowances from 1 August 2009. The improved offer came after intense negotiations with the Association of Colleges and after a previous final offer of 1%. More from UNISON Union welcomes mail decision (02/07/09) UNISON welcomed today's government announcement that the Royal Mail is to stay publicly owned. More from UNISON No to redundancies (29/06/09) More than 50 colleges in England have announced redundancies over the past few weeks. And in the past few days many more colleges have announced plans to close their nurseries.More from UNISON NEC report (22/06/09) The first meeting of the newly elected national executive council scheduled to take place at the end of the national delegate conference was unable to begin. More from UNISON Tories take control of Somerset The Conservatives have taken overall control of Somerset after 16 years under the Liberal Democrats. More from the BBC Bridgwater Against the BNP- 'HOPE NOT HATE' (14/05/09) Anti Fascist and anti racist campaigners met at Unity House to officially respond to the decision by the BNP to stand in Bridgwater for the first time and the outcome was the launch of 'Bridgwater Against the BNP-HOPE NOT HATE' campaign. Read their press release Gaza - 'It's time to stand up' (09/01/09) General secretary Dave Prentis has added his voice to the condemnation of renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza and called on UNISON members and the public to join the national demonstration in London tomorrow. More from UNISON Prentis warns against privatisation sales pitch (08/01/09) These are challenging times for public services, but public sector commissioners need to be very careful about falling for the promises of the outsourcing industry. More from UNISON UNISON offers support to Palestinians (07/01/09) UNISON has followed up its statement condemning the violence in Gaza with a £10,000 donation to Medical Aid for Palestinians' Gaza appeal, and is urging its regions and branches to do the same. More from UNISON End Gaza violence (05/01/08) Thousands of people have marched through cities up and down the country to protest against the Israeli air strikes and attacks in Gaza that have resulted in hundreds of Palestinian civilian deaths and casualties. More from UNISON UNISON Urged to Lodge Appeal Against ET Ruling (12/12/08 Dexter Whitfield, Director of the European Services Strategy Unit, writes to urge UNISON South West to lodge an appeal into the 'special circumstances' that made the council unable to consult with UNISON. Read his letter in full SCOOP! ET finds Council Failed to Consult (12/12/08) Read our December Employment Tribunal News Special! More from the Branch UNISON Statement to County Consultative Conference (09/12/08) More from the Branch UNISON Sets the Record Straight (02/12/08) Following the misleading news releases regarding the Employment Tribunal outcome, the Branch has issued the following press release.More from the Branch Message to members regarding the Employment Tribunal (26/11/08) and recent communications from the CEO which contain certain innaccuracies. More from the Branch Deterioration of Industrial Relations at SCC (25/11/08) Following the recent deterioration in Industrial Relations here at SCC, the following motion was agreed at tonight's Branch Council. More from the Branch Somerset adult social care rated 'excellent' (27/11/08) Adult Social Care Services provided by Somerset County Council are better than any other County Council in the country, according to the latest national performance assessment announced today. More from 24dash.com Employment Tribunal - UNISON vs SCC and TDBC (24/11/08) We now have the full Employment Tribunal ruling which should be read alongside our solicitor's key findings 'Safeguard jobs, homes and pensions (24/11/08) UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has called on the chancellor to use today’s pre-budget report to produce a confidence-boosting package that protects the jobs, homes, pensions and living standards of working people. More from UNISON. War of Words (21/11/08) A war of words is raging between senior politicians in Somerset. The row over a controversial £400m deal has got dirty. More from the BBC Industrial Relations at Somerset County Cpuncil> (20/11/08) Open letter from Regional Secretary, Ian Ducat, regarding the current state of industrial relations at SCC. More from UNISON Southwest Councillors should learn how Southwest One works (19/11/08) The Audit Commission says that Somerset councillors must improve their understanding of the county's £400m joint venture scheme More from Kable Industrial Relations (18/11/08) Letter to Stewards and members regarding the recent suspension of the Branch Secretary by the Council. More from the Branch" Southwest One - Branch Policy (13/11/08) The Branch held an emergency Branch Council today and the following motion was proposed and carried. More from the Branch UNISON calls on government to fund council houses (13/11/08) Cash-strapped councils need money to make sure they can provide people with decent homes, says UNISON. More from UNISON Questions for SCC in respect of the Credit Crunch (24/10/08) Questions about the Icelandic banks, our pension funds and treasury management. More from the Branch Meat inspectors to ballot over strike action (20/10/08) One thousand members of the Meat Hygiene Service will be balloted for strike action after employers refused to give workers their annual pay increase. More from UNISON Somerset County Council agrees £154 million transport bid (20/10/08) Somerset County Council has agreed a list of proposed transport schemes through which it hopes to secure Government funding of up to £154m. More from 24dash.com" Council workers get interim pay rise (17/10/08) Local government workers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are set to get an interim pay rise to tide them over Christmas. Pay News Bulletin No 21 Inflation hits 5.2% (14/10/08) Latest rise strengthens case to reopen public service pay deals More from UNISON Unemployment likely to rise again (14/10/08) A further rise in the number of people out of work in the UK is likely to be shown by official figures later. More from the BBC Eighty-five councils face £750 million losses in Icelandic banking crisis - full list Somerset CC has £25m invested in the Icelandic banking system. Full list of councils affected and £amounts - More from 24dash.com UK house prices in 'biggest ever' plunge (09/10/08) House prices plunged at a new record rate during the year to the end of September - losing 13.2% of their value, Britain's biggest mortgage lender said today. More from 24dash.com UNISON urges government to protect council cash (09/10/08) UNISON today called on the government to protect local authorities from losing millions of pounds of council taxpayers' money held in failing Icelandic banks. More from UNISON Eighty-five councils face £750 million losses in Icelandic banking crisis - full list (09/10/08) Somerset CC has £25m invested in the Icelandic banking system. Full list of councils affected and £amounts - More from 24dash.com Financial & Economic Crisis (08/10/08) read UNISON National Eexecutive Committee statement and UNISON's Reaction press release ‘Protect workers from finance crisis fall-out’ (08/10/08) UNISON is urging the government to balance its £500bn bank rescue package with tighter controls to protect working people. More from UNISON Energy bills are 'unfair to some' (06/10/08) The energy regulator Ofgem has told companies to stop charging customers different rates if they pay by direct debit or pre-payment meters. More from the BBC Charities put ministers in the dock over energy poverty (06/10/08) Help the Aged and Friends of the Earth will launch a high court judicial review today to force the government to stand by promises made in 2000 to eradicate fuel poverty and help millions of households facing a winter of burgeoning gas and electricity bills More from guardian.co.uk Super database could cost £12bn (06/10/08) Ministers are said to be considering spending up to £12bn on the rumoured super database that will record details of every phone call, email and text message of everyone in Britain. More from Public Service UN report criticises Britain's 'demonising' and jailing of children (04/10/08) Too many children are being imprisoned in Britain and demonised as criminals, said a report published yesterday by an influential UN body. In a document presenting more than 150 recommendations, and described by some campaign groups as "devastating", the body set out a detailed critique of Britain's legal and social shortcomings. More from guardian.co.uk Town halls are beating their efficiency targets (03/10/08) own halls have been praised for exceeding their efficiency savings targets over the past three years. Local government minister John Healey said councils were well placed to cope with a slowing economy. More from Public Finance Unions appeal for quick resolution to pay dispute 01/10/08) Local government workers have a right to expect a pay increase by Christmas. More from UNISON. Local Government Unions appeal to ACAS for quick Resolution to pay talks (01/10/08) UNISON, GMB, UNITE, representing 1.5 million local government workers have today (1 October) written to ACAS urging them to begin arbitration as soon as possible, to resolve the long-standing dispute over pay. Read UNISON Press Release Local government pay dispute goes to Acas (26/09/08) The prospect of concerted public sector action on pay receded this week when unions decided to put the local government dispute into arbitration – despite a warning from employers that staff could have to wait ten months for any rise. More from Public Finance Public spending works (23/09/08) It's not news that dedicated local government workers do vital jobs that create vibrant communities, but the benefits go wider than that. More from UNISON UNISON shines spotlight on Murky World of the Public Services Industry (18/09/08) The seismic shift towards private companies providing public services is exposing the Government and taxpayers to enormous financial risks, warns UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union today (18 September). The union is calling on the Government to ditch its fair-weather friendsin big business and call a halt to damaging privatisation. Read UNISON Press Release Scottish council staff to return to picket lines (11/09/08) Local authority staff in Scotland are set for another day of action after talks with employers failed to produce an improved pay offer. More from UNISON It�s time for co-ordinated union action says Mark Serwotka (08/09/08) There is little doubt that the economy is in trouble. But while no one seems keen to accept the blame, there is a general consensus among politicians and employers as to who should pay for it. More from Compass Online Local Government Pay - Negotiating framework (02/09/08) The NJC Joint Secretaries met on 22 and 28 August to continue negotiations on the 2008 -9 pay offer and the review of the Green Book which was agreed as part of last year's pay settlement. Further details in NJC Newsletter No 19 Prentis slams �flawed� PFI (02/09/08) UNISON is calling on the government to abandon its failed private finance initiative (PFI) policy following the latest report from parliament�s public spending watchdog. More from UNISON The way forward for local government (01/09/08) Trade unions and local government employers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales have confirmed their aim to resolve the current dispute over pay "as soon as possible". More from UNISON Scottish council workers strike for a fair deal (20/08/09) Council workers have walked out across Scotland today, as UNISON members stepped up their campaign for a fair pay deal. More from UNISON Pay cut 'a disgrace' (20/08/08) "It's a disgrace that Scotland's hard-working public sector workers are being singled out for a pay cut," UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis told a Scottish strike rally in Glasgow today as around 150,000 council workers walked out in protest at a below-inflation three year pay offer More from UNISON. Unions and employers agree way forward (13/08/08) Trade unions and local government employers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales have confirmed they will meet again next week to continue negotiations on pay and conditions. More from UNISON Local government pay campaign steps up (06/08/08) UNISON is urging MPs to help resolve the local government pay dispute by lobbying the Local Government Association. More from UNISON Council chief denies failure to consult union over IBM deal (04/08/08) Somerset County Council's HR chief has rubbished union claims that he failed to consult them fully before signing a controversial shared services deal with IBM. More from Personnel Today Protecting the workforce (04/08/08) UNISON has welcomed the launch of a model agreement to help secure pay and conditions for academy staff that are at least as favourable as those enjoyed by staff in all other English state schools. More from UNISON Plain speaking on outsourcing (01/08/08) We report this week on two ground-breaking local government outsourcing developments: Somerset's "South West One", behind which stands IBM, and Westminster City Council's declaration that it will be free of IT infrastructure by 2015. More from ComputerWeekly.com Somerset partnership investigated (31/07/08) Somerset CC's ground-breaking shared services venture with IBM faces new questions over its legality amid rising concern about secrecy.More from Local Government Chronicle Latest fuel price hike announced (30/07/08) UNISON is calling on the government to take steps to reform the energy market following the latest round of fuel price hikes. More from UNISON UNISON calls for Audit Commission Report into IBM Project (25/07/08) �The government need to learn from their mistakes with PFI and avoid wasting millions of pounds of public money on inflexible contracts with the private sector. These projects are not a golden bullet for public sector reform, but allow big businesses to cream off profits made from taxpayers� cash. UNISON Press Release SAP user group condemns increase in support costs (25/07/08) SAP has triggered a backlash over increasing the cost of software support for its customers by nearly 30%. The UK & Ireland SAP Users Group condemned the change in the business software company's maintenance contracts. More from ComputerWeekly.com Shrouded in Secrecy - The Somerset Public/ Private Partnership (23/07/08) UNISON has worked closely with ITV�s West Eye View to expose the truth about the secrecy behind the public/ private partnership with three public bodies and IBM. More from UNISON Southwest IBM seeks to stop council divulging �400m contract details (23/07/08) BM, the world's largest IT services company, has sought to stop Somerset County Council from divulging important contract details on a £400m outsourcing deal. More from ComputerWeekly.com & related article Local Government Talks on the Way (23/07/08) UNISON�s Local Government National Joint Committee (NJC) has today (23 July) voted unanimously to back further talks with Local Government Employers, aimed at settling the current dispute over pay. UNISON Press Release Union to enter talks with local govt employers (23/07/08) UNISON�s local government National Joint Committee (NJC) has today voted unanimously to back further talks with Local Government Employers, aimed at settling the current dispute over pay. More from UNISON 999 call centre 'to proceed' (19/07/08) THE man behind the implementation of a new 999 fire call centre in Taunton has said he fully backs the project - even though it won't make the projected financial savings. More from Somerset County Gazette Picket lines 'solid' for second day of council strike (17/07/08) More council workers joined the second day of a strike over pay today, closing thousands of schools, town halls, libraries and leisure centres, and disrupting rubbish collections and other services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, union leaders claimed. More from 24dash.com National council strike brings 'chaos' to key services A strike by council workers closed thousands of schools, libraries and sports centres and halted refuse collections, street cleaning and other services today, with further disruption planned in a bitter row over pay More from 24dash.com UNISON members strike for fair pay (16/07/08) UNISON members say they have no choice but to strike – with the cost of living spiralling out of control, they cannot afford to accept a pay cut. More from UNISON Council workers walk out over pay (16/07/08) Thousands of council staff are striking over pay in their biggest campaign of industrial unrest for years, forcing schools to close and hitting services. More from the BBC National council strike: A region-by-region guide (16/07/08) A 48-hour strike by hundreds of thousands of council workers will hit schools, libraries and refuse collection, close civic offices and sports centres and disrupt other local authority services today and tomorrow. More from 24dash.com Chaos looms over council strike (15/07/08) Schools gates could stay shut and rubbish remain in the street uncollected if council workers walk out in a planned two-day strike over pay. More from the BBC UK braced for day of national strike action (15/07/08) The biggest bout of industrial unrest for years will break out tomorrow when tens of thousands of council workers and civil servants will strike in bitter disputes over pay. More from 24dash.com Council strike: School support staff to walk out over pay (15/07/08) A third of schools are likely to close tomorrow as up to 600,000 local government workers, including school staff, join a 48 hour strike over pay. More from guardian.co.uk A message loud and clear (14/07/08) As UNISON members in local government count down to strike action this week, general secretary Dave Prentis unveiled the new campaigning banners at the union's headquarters in London. More from UNISON Letter of Solidarity and Support from FBU (14/07/08) The following is a letter to UNISON from John Drake, Regional Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union offering their solidarity and support for the strike action A message loud and clear (14/07/08) As UNISON members in local government count down to strike action this week, general secretary Dave Prentis unveiled the new campaigning banners at the union's headquarters in London. More from UNISON Strike solution 'staring councils in the face' (14/07/08) The forthcoming strike by public sector workers could be called off if local authorities used the billions of pounds of reserves they have in their coffers, Unison has said.More from Public Servant Daily Councils could use 'secret billions' to avert national pay strike (14/07/08) Local authorities are sitting on billions of pounds of reserves which could be used to avert a strike by more than 600,000 council workers over pay, it was claimed today. More from 24dash.com A Few Questions for Audit & Resources Sub-Committee (11/07/08) Today the branch submitted a number of questions regarding commercial confidentiality of SWOne and the recent Information Commissioners ruling around FoI requests to Mid Suffolk District Council. Read more 'Talk to us' employers urged (10/07/08) UNISON took the fair pay message direct to council employers today, urging them to reopen pay talks to head off next week's strike. More from UNISON Private markets expose public services (09/07/08) Public services are being exposed to the economic downturn and destructive market forces because of an increasing reliance on a private "public service industry", UNISON warned today. More from UNISON Councils accused of using 'scare tactics' over July strike action (07/07/08) Local authority employers were today accused of using "scare tactics" to try to persuade staff not to join a two-day strike by hundreds of thousands of council workers in a bitter row over pay. More from 24dash.com FE members to vote on pay deal (03/07/08) UNISON is to ballot its 25,000 further education members on a new pay offer (3.2% or £550 whichever the greater) ) proposed by employers. More from UNISON US public service union sends support (03/07/08) UNISON local government members preparing to strike received their first international message of support today, as the US Service Employees International Union pledged its solidarity in the "fight for fair treatment". More from UNISON BT joint venture with Liverpool faces investigation over £15m in service charges (02/07/08) A 10-year joint venture between BT and Liverpool Council is to be investigated by a committee of councillors. Concerns over the £70m per year deal were voiced last week by the Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government. More from Computer Weekly Public Sector Pensions (02/07/08) IN response to the recent correspondent who complained about the level of concil tax given over to the pension scheme for public sector workers. Public sector workers pay tax and council tax too. We all contribute to the pension funds of private sector workers every time we purchase goods or services. More from Somerset County Gazette My 'council', what about 'my pay'? (02/07/08) UNISON today attacked the Local Government Association (LGA) for launching a 'My council' public relations exercise, as 600,000 local government workers prepare to take strike action. More from UNISON Members lobby employers' conference (02/07/08) UNISON members working in local government today lobbied delegates at the Local Government Association conference in Bournemouth. More from UNISON Age discrimination victory for Heyday could resurrect 250 other cases (02/07/08) More than 250 age discrimination claims could be revived in the wake of a European Court of Justice (ECJ) hearing on the challenge to the UK retirement age on 2 July. More from Personnel Today Right to strike over low pay (01/07/08) A leading political publication has come out in support of UNISON members, defending the right of 600,000 council workers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales to strike for a living wage. More from UNISON Civil servants set to join council workers in national strike action (30/06/08) One of the biggest outbreaks of industrial unrest for years will see tens of thousands of job centre workers, coastguards, driving examiners and other Government employees join a strike next month by council employees. More from 24dash.com Unions escalate action over government pay limits (27/06/08) The government is facing the biggest assault yet on its public sector pay policy after council workers in trade union Unison voted for ‘sustained’ industrial action More from Public Finance Council strikes confirmed (27/06/08) UNISON’s industrial action committee has today confirmed that local government strike action will go ahead on 16 and 17 July in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. More from UNISON Unions confirm two-day council workers' strike will go ahead (27/06/08) Union leaders gave the go-ahead today for a two-day strike by hundreds of thousands of council workers which will cripple services next month. More from 24dash.com Council staff will strike on 16 and 17 July (25/06/08) It’s been confirmed that local authority staff will go on strike on 16 and 17 July following the ballot in which Unison members narrowly voted in favour of industrial action. More from Public Servant 600,000 public sector workers threaten to strike (24/06/08) Gordon Brown was facing his most serious strike threat from the public sector last night when 600,000 local government workers voted to take industrial action and reject a 2.45% pay offer. More from the Guardian Local government workers seek 48-hour strike (24/06/08) Union�s industrial action committee will be asked to authorise two-day strike in mid July to start �sustained� pay campaign More from UNISON Local government workers seek 48-hour strike (24/06/08) Union�s industrial action committee will be asked to authorise two-day strike in mid July to start �sustained� pay campaign More from UNISON Local government members vote for action (23/06/08) UNISON members in local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted by 55% to 45% for a programme of sustained strike action over a 2.45% pay offer. More from UNISON Labour's Traditional Supporters Deserting the Party 19/06/2008 Labour�s traditional supporters look to be deserting the Party in their droves, according to an Ipsos MORI poll commissioned by UNISON. UNISON press release Local Government Strike Threat Over Fuel Costs (17/06/08) Delegates at UNISON�s local government conference have threatened strike action if employers do not increase mileage rates. Raed UNISON press release Questions to Scrutiny Committee (09/06/08) Including questions about Pioneer Somerset and concerns around the lack of Union recognition for staff directly employed by Southwest One further details Union adds to questions over county council partnership (30/05/08) UNISON has joined Bridgwater & West Somerset MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger in publicly questioning The secrecy behind SCC's mlti-million pound partnership with computer giant IBM More from West Somerset Free Press Council workers to vote on national strike action (30/05/08) Hundreds of thousands of council workers will start voting today on whether to take strike action in protest at a 2.45% pay offer. More from 24dash.com Waterways workers accept pay deal (30/05/08) Workers at British Waterways have voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay deal for this year which will give them a 3.5% pay rise and an extra day’s holiday. The agreement, negotiated by UNISON and Unite, will deliver total benefits for the coming year worth more than 4%. More from UNISON Strike Ballot Opens - vote yes! (30/05/08) Hundreds of thousands of council workers are poised to vote on whether to strike over a “miserly” 2.45% pay offer. More from UNISON Summer of discontent looms as unions ballot for strikes (30/05/08) Ballot papers for industrial action will be sent to almost 1 million union members in local government this week, amid continuing unrest over the government’s public sector pay cap. More from Public Finance Summer strikes move closer (29/05/08) The prospect of nationwide strikes over pay moved closer today, as UNISON agreed to seek a ballot on strike action from its 100,000 local government members in Scotland. More from UNISON College workers to protest over pay (29/05/08) Staff at further education colleges in England will demonstrate their anger at this year�s below-inflation pay offer by holding lunchtime protests next Wednesday. More from UNISON There for the taking (28/05/08) it's a great time for the big unions to make their presence felt and influence policy - but will they rise to the occasion? Could it be springtime for unions in Britain, after being frozen out of power for so long by the Tories and then New Labour? Gregor Gall asks this question in 'comment is free' from Guardian Unlimited Public sector employees 'do more unpaid overtime' than private sector workers (28/05/08) A study at the University of Bristol found public sector employees in Britain do an estimated 120 million hours of unpaid overtime a year - the equivalent of employing an extra 60,000 people.More from 24dash.com DfT shared-services plan under fire (23/05/08) Plans to improve human resources, payroll and finance services through new shared facilities (supplied by IBM)for the Department for Transport and its agencies could cost £81m over the next few years, instead of saving £57m as planned. More from news.zdnet.co.uk and the National Audit Office report This government has been the most rightwing since the second world war (20/05/08) The prospect of a Tory in No 10 does worry me - but no more so than another term for this cabinet of war criminals - George Monbiot comments in Guardian unlimited College to axe up to 90 staff as cutbacks hit needy stuudents (17/05/08) Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Taunton announced it was reviewing staff "in order to achieve a more efficient organisation that can further invest in front-line teaching and learning".Changes in Government funding also mean West students with profound learning difficulties will now have to pay for a quality of life course which has improved vital communications and other skills. Students on the course include people living in residential and nursing homes. More from Western Daily Press Local Government Strike Ballot is on (16/05/08) UNISON members working in local government in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have been given the green light for a ballot on industrial action after rejecting the pay offer from employers. More from UNISON Ofsted workers strike over pay (16/05/08) One thousand Ofsted workers have walked out today in a dispute over pay, halting inspections of childcare services across England. More from UNISON Result of Pay Offer Consultation (12/05/08) The UNISON consultation on local government pay saw a 54 percent vote to reject the deal. Although narrow, this is a clear measure of the mood to fight given that the ballot said this would mean supporting "escalating all out action". The NJC then voted by 15 votes to 12 to proceed to a strike ballot. ‘2.5% is not enough’ (01/05/08) Further education unions have rejected a below-inflation pay offer proposed by employers at talks today. More from UNISON Ministers have ‘failed to give good reason for pay caps’ (01/05/08) The government has failed to give a good explanation for the current squeeze on public sector pay, an independent pay expert told a conference of trade unionists this week. More from Public Finance Unions gear up for next phase of pay fight (01/05/08) Members of the Public and Commercial Services union will consider escalating their action against the government’s public sector pay cap at their annual conference later this month. More from Public Finance Somerset County Council's Southwest One partnership praised by auditors (30/04/08) Somerset County Council’s process for setting up Southwest One - a Joint Venture Company between Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, IBM, and the Avon and Somerset Police Authority - has been praised by Auditors this week. More from 24dash.com First teachers' strike in 21 years looms (21/04/08) The first national teachers' strike in 21 years is going ahead this Thursday. Last week schools started to send out letters to parents telling them that schools would be closed because they couldn't provide enough staff to maintain health and safety, although some are staying open for children over 16. However, many schools have not yet decided so teachers, pupils and parents won't know for certain until this week. More from Public Servant Daily Local councils face 'staff exodus' over next 10 years (21/04/08) Local councils may struggle to employ enough staff to run services over the next 10 years as a third of its staff are due to retire, according to research published today. More from 24dash.com Report warns councils face chronic staff shortage (21/04/08) UNISON says new research that shows councils will struggle to employ enough staff to run services in the next decade is a perfect illustration of why pay and conditions must be improved. More from UNISON Audit Commission's take on SSPs is 'fundamentally flawed' (18/04/08) The Audit Commission’s recent report, For Better, For Worse, provides a much needed national analysis of Strategic Service-delivery Partnerships. But the report is fundamentally flawed. The report is devoid of any substantive statistics and lacks analytical comparisons and clarity in its conclusions. The exclusion of employment from the study is, at best, inept. More from Public Servant Daily Birmingham City Council workers to stage two-day strike over pay (16/04/08) Council workers will be protesting against the new pay and grading system imposed by Birmingham council at the beginning of the month, affecting 40,000 staff. “Unfortunately we have been left with no option but to call two further strike days on 23 and 24 April,” said Unison regional secretary Valerie Broom. More from 24dash.com Council workers to stage election day strike over pay (15/04/08) Council refuse workers and cleaning staff are to stage two 24-hour strikes over the next few weeks, including the day of the local elections, in a row over pay, it was announced today. More from 24dash.com 100,000 Civil Servants To Strike on 24 April (11/04/08) Over 100,000 Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working across 10 government departments and agencies will be on strike at the same time as other public sector workers, including teachers and lecturers in a one day strike on 24 April in protest at the government's policy to cap public sector pay to below inflation, which will result in cuts to living standards across the civil service. More from the PCS Scotland's local government unions reject three-year pay offer (09/04/08) UNISON and the other two unions representing Scotland’s 220,000 local government workers have rejected a three-year pay offer. The rejection comes after UNISON, the GMB and Unite sounded out members on the deal proposed by the employers, which would give a pay rise of 2.5% this year and for the next two years. More from UNISON Union recommends rejection of 2.45% offer (08/04/08) UNISON’s lay committee overseeing local government talks in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is consulting members on the employers’ final offer, under the local government group's pay consultation procedures, with a recommendation to reject. More from UNISON IBM defends its Southwest One location (07/04/08) Some preparatory work on IBM's local government implementation of SAP is taking place in India, but that the localisation work for Southwest One will take place in Somerset. More from Public Servant Daily Southwest One: Freedom of Information Request (02/04/08) Branch requests for the Full Business Case on the partnership arrangements with IBM. Details to follow. Employers come back with 2.45% (02/04/08) Local government employers returned to the negotiating table today with a pay offer that would leave the lowest paid workers less well off than supermarket staff.More from UNISON Local authority employers make improved pay offer (02/04/08) Local authority employers today made an increased pay offer worth 2.45% to over 1.5 million council workers in a bid to head off the threat of a strike. More from 24ash.com Teachers to strike over pay (01/04/08) The prime minister is facing the prospect of the first national teachers' strike in 21 years after teachers voted to hold a one-day walkout over pay.Up to 200,000 members of the National Union of Teachers will strike on April 24 in a dispute with the government. More from Guardian.co.uk Related link: National Union of Teachers Teachers to stage first national strike for 21 years (01/04/08) Teachers will stage the first national strike in 21 years on April 24, Britain's biggest classroom union announced today. More from 24dash.com Brown suffers big backbench revolt over council house repairs (01/04/08) Gordon Brown suffered one of the biggest backbench revolts since becoming prime minister last night as 28 Labour rebels backed an amendment to a housing bill calling for more resources for council house building and repair. More from guardian.co.uk 30,000 sacked every year for having babies (30/03/08) More than 30,000 women a year in Britain lose their jobs for simply being pregnant, according to a new report calling for tougher action to stamp out sexism in the workplace. More from The Guardian The Town Hall 'Rich List' (28/03/08) The number of "fat cat" council bosses being paid more than £100,000 a year has risen by 25%, new figures show. More from The Guardian Southwest One criticised by MP (27/03/08) Outspoken Mp Ian LiddellGrainger has attacked the way private company Southwest One has been set up More from Western Daily Press MP's anger over services company (26/03/08) An MP has told the Commons he believes public money is being "misappropriated" with a company running public services in Somerset. More from the BBC MP slams Southwest One (26/03/08) WEST Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger today launched an astonishing attack on a new company set up to make multi-million pound savings in public services. More from Somerset County Gazette Police join Southwest One (26/03/08)AVON and Somerset Police Authority has joined Somerset County Council and Taunton Deane Council in the new IBM joint venture admin company, Southwest One. More from Somerset County Gazette Southwest One: Discussion in Parliament (26/03/08) Transcript from Hansard http://www.publications.parliament.uk/ Holocaust Engineers now control Avon & Somerset Police Support Services (21/03/08) What a nice Easter present from the shysters at the Avon and Somerset Police Authority. As of Thursday poison is all that awaits those who trust Avon and Somerset police. more from Bristol Indymedia Southwest One: Further Freedom of Information request 'A slap in the face' (19/03/08) UNISON described a 2.2% pay offer from local government employers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland tonight as "a slap in the face". More from UNISON 'Face up to reality' (18/03/08) General secretary Dave Prentis called on the government to "face up to the reality of inflation" today on the eve of crucial local government pay talks. More from UNISON Prentis calls for a fairer Britain (10/03/08) UNISON is calling on the chancellor to use his debut budget on Wednesday to release the stranglehold on public service pay. More from UNISON Minimum wage rise �falls short� (05/03/08) UNISON has welcomed a 21p boost in the national minimum wage as a step in the right direction, but says it is still too low. More from UNISON Prentis calls for a fairer Britain (10/03/08) UNISON is calling on the chancellor to use his debut budget on Wednesday to release the stranglehold on public service pay. More from UNISON 'Keep pressure on councils,' members urged (21/02/08) UNISON is calling on members in local government to lobby their employers throughout the UK over our pay claim for 2008. More from UNISON UNISON rejects local government pay offer in Scotland (18/02/08) UNISON in Scotland has rejected a three-year pay offer from the local government employers. More from UNISON Risky business (31/01/08) UNISON says the government should heed a study by economic experts which warns against staging pay rises for public service workers.More from our Pay Matters Campaign Education unions submit 6% catch-up claim (30/01/08) UNISON and other further education unions have today submitted a pay claim for 6% or �1,500, whichever is the greater. More from our Pay Matters Campaign The true cost of inflation (30/01/08) UNISON says public service workers are hit hard by soaring housing costs, which the government does not take into account when measuring inflation. More from our Pay Matters Campaign Unions urge new government approach to pay (25/01/08) A delegation led by TUC president and UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis, and general secretary Brendan Barber, told Alistair Darling that it was unfair for public servants to be expected to accept pay settlements that fall short of inflation. More from UNISON AA exits IBM deal early to bring datacentre back in-house (25/01/08)The AA is to exit a �50m seven-year outsourcing contract with IBM early to bring its datacentre back in house. More from ComputerWeekly.com UNISON calls for cap on use of private sector in the NHS (15/11/07) The union's call follows the government's decision to pull the plug on plans to buy surgical treatment centres and diagnostic services.Six contracts have been scrapped, along with an "expensive and underperforming" mobile diagnostic service in the West Midlands. More From UNISON Manchester health workers strike in support of sacked activist (08/11/07) More than 150 health workers in Manchester started selective continuous strike action at midnight last night in support of a UNISON activist sacked for speaking out against health cuts. More from UNISON Ban bullying at work (07/11/07) Ban bullying. That is the simple message of UNISON's campaign to ban bullying in the workplace. More from UNISON Local government dispute ends with pay warning (30/10/07) Local government workers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have slammed this year’s below-inflation annual pay award, but stopped short of outright industrial action at this stage, putting employers and the government in the ‘last chance saloon’ over pay. More from UNISON Union anger as council services go private (06/10/07) Money from Somerset taxpayers may be used to line shareholders' pockets after the county council and Taunton Deane Council signed a �400million contract with IBM, union members claim. More from Somerset County Gazette IBM takes on Council Services (03/10/07) Staff working in areas such as human resources, IT and finance will become employees of Southwest One, a company run by computer giant IBM. Union officials claim the deal was struck in secret and was never fully debated. More from the BBC Unions fear for Police jobs (03/10/07)Union bosses last night revealed they have "grave concerns" about moves by Avon and Somerset police to privatise key parts of its workforce. More from Western Daily Press PFI projects wasting billions, says UNISON (02/10/07) New research confirms extra cost to taxpayers More from UNISON Industrial Action Committee gives go ahead for ballot (19/09/2007) The NEC�s Industrial Action Committee met on 19 September and has given authorisation for an industrial action ballot. More from UNISON Unions dismayed as Brown insists on pay discipline (11/09/07) Union leaders admitted yesterday they felt dismayed by Gordon Brown's first speech to the TUC conference despite the prime minister's promise of 500,000 new British jobs and a vision of making Britain rather than China the driving force for the 21st century. More from the Guardian Pay Campaign Update (11/09/07) For details on UNISON's NJC's decison to ballot, the package that is on offer and our next steps, please read the latest UNISON local government circular Unions attack tax loophole and pay curb (10/09/07) Gordon Brown was warned by union leaders yesterday that the government faces a winter of discontent in the public sector unless it relaxes its tough stance on pay.At the same time they launched a campaign calling for the abolition of rules allowing rich people regarded as not domiciled in the UK to avoid paying UK tax. More from the Guardian Latest Branch ISiS Update (07/09/07) For news from the Audit Commission, ISiS called to Scrutiny, the MAANA report and more please read our ISiS Update (please note this was released prior to the news on the MP/HBS withdrawal) Mouchel Parkman/HBS Pull-Out of ISiS (07/09/07) MP/HBS have withdrawn from the ISiS partnership at the 11th hour. Crunch time for local government pay (03/09/07) Local government trade unions will meet tomorrow to consider a revised pay offer which breaks the government's stated 2% pay limit for public-sector workers. More from UNISON Pay talks restart (20/08/07) Local government employers have agreed to reopen talks with unions over this year's disputed pay offer in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. More from UNISON UNISON sets sights on strike ballot (18/08/07)A crux meeting of UNISON's NJC committee on Monday will decide whether to ballot for industrial action over the local government pay dispute. More from UNISON Law Lords leave elderly out in cold (24/06/07) Families with relatives in care suffered a blow this week when the House of Lords ruled that human rights legislation did not protect the elderly or vulnerable placed by local authorities in private care homes from eviction or neglect. More from the Guardian Government faces united fight on pay (22/06/07) Delegates at the union’s national conference in Brighton this morning voted unanimously for a motion demanding the government abandon its 2% public sector pay freeze. More from UNISON Hands up for council housing (22/06/07) "Rebuild Britain," urged UNISON today, calling for immediate investment in council housing and new homes. More from UNISON Private care homes not covered by human rights law (22/06/07) Private care homes which look after elderly and vulnerable people on behalf of local authorities are not covered by human rights laws, the House of Lords ruled today. More from 24dash.com NEC results announced (11/06/07) Visit UNISON for full results Gordon Brown has 'open mind' about fourth option (08/06/07) Prime-minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown has given his clearest indication yet that he will create a way for local authorities to lead large-scale house building programmes. More from Inside Housing Groundwork laid for strike ballot (06/06/07) UNISON sounds out local government workers over strike action More from UNISON Power trip (25/05/07) New powers for parish councils to appoint members unelected risk further undermining local democracy, says Graham Gardner. More from the Guardian Prime sites for nuclear power stations identified (24/05/07) Study commissioned by government says Brighton, Bristol, Midlands and Oxfordshire should be considered. More from the Guardian Supporting schools staff (23/05/07) "This is a major step forward in UNISON's campaign for a fair and consistent pay structure for school staff that recognises and rewards their vital role in education." More from UNISON Union slams plans to turn staff into police informers (22/05/07) UNISON has rejected proposals to force nurses, social workers and other public sector staff to inform police if they think someone poses a threat of committing a violent crime. More from UNISON Strength and solidarity (17/05/07) UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has called for trade unions to stand together to fight the problems facing public services. More from UNISON Share your story (15/05/07) How has the housing crisis affected you? UNISON wants to know. More from UNISON Pay negotiations 2007: action for branches (24/04/07) Discussions on this year�s pay claim are continuing following the NJC unions� rejection of the employers� offer of 2%. The unions have told the employer that this offer is "insulting and demeaning". More from UNISON "Low pay, no way, NHS here to stay." (24/04/07)Health Minister Andy Burnham was booed and heckled by health workers today at UNISON's Health Conference when he tried to defend the Government's policies on the NHS which threaten to spark a summer of strikes. More from 24dash.com 270,000 public sector workers to stage second national strike (23/04/07) The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union has ordered a 24-hour walkout of its 270,000 members in more than 200 government departments on May 1. More from 24dash.com UNION vows to step up fight against privatisation (22/04/07) Health workers will not sit idly by and watch their health service being dismantled, 'marketised' and sold off to become a pale reflection of the US health system, where the balance sheet matters more than patients' needs. More from UNISON Committee of Enquiry into academies and trust schools (21/04/07) In conjunction with the Anti Academies Alliance (website link below), MPs are holding a Committee of Enquiry into the impact of academy and trust schools. AAA want to hear from all parts of the country to help demonstrate the growing concerns, with the aim of pushing this issue up the political agenda. More from Anti Academies Alliance Defending jobs pay and services (29/03/07) As part of the PCS national campaign to defend jobs, services, pay and conditions, the PCS is calling on all it's members who were balloted in January to take national strike action on 1 May, followed by a two week overtime ban from 2 to 15 May. More from the PCS Tackling the BNP at the ballot box (23/03/07) UNISON will be marching into spring alongside other trade unions, local political parties and community groups, in a major campaign against the British National Party. More from UNISON Health workers rally against NHS cuts (3/03/07) Nurses, doctors, hospital cleaners and other health workers will join a series of protests across the country today to protest at cuts to NHS jobs and services. More from 24dash.com Thousands rally across country for NHS (3/03/07) Thousands of people turned out in rallies, marches, protests and other events around the country today in a demonstration of concern over government policies on the NHS. More from UNISON Special conference to discuss pension plans (1/3/07) Representatives of UNISON members in local government will gather in London next week to discuss the way forward on government plans to reform the Local Government Pensions Scheme. More from UNISON UNISON's submission to ISiS Plenary Panel (16/02/07) Somerset County and Taunton Denae UNISON, presented thier submission to the ISiS Pleanary Panel, Read the submission in full 'Angry' council workers submit 5% pay claim (14/02/07) Unions representing 1.3 million council workers submitted a pay claim for a 5% rise today with a warning that staff are "angry" about their wage rates. The claim, covering employees including care assistants, cleaners, teaching assistants, librarians and refuse collectors, would cost �1.5 billion which unions maintain is affordable as workers have made efficiency savings of over £3billion. More from 24dash.com 'Have a heart - give us fair pay' (14/02/07) 'Have a heart - give us fair pay' was the message when local government unions handed in their 2007-8 pay claim on Valentine's Day today. More from UNISON Flexitime to crack glass ceiling (13/02/07) UNISON has welcomed a government minister's call for everybody to have access to felixible working. More from UNISON Southampton members strike (06/02/07) Southampton careworkers returned to work today at the end of a well-supported three-day strike over council threats to sack them. More from UNISON Southampton Care Staff strike over pay cuts of up to £7,000 (04/02/07) UNISON and the TGWU have called an official three day strike of 240 care workers for the 3rd, 4th and 5th February. The care workers face being sacked on 18 February if they do not accept savage pay cuts - the Council is reducing the wages of care staff by £420,000, with individual pay cuts ranging from £25 a week to £7000 a year. Read further details and please show your support ISiS - Police plan to privatise 500 jobs (02/02/07) Police chiefs are looking to privatise key sections of the Avon and Somerset force in a controversial deal which could see the jobs of up to 500 civilian workers transferred to a multi- national firm. More from Bristol Evening Post Dead weight of market forces, by Dave Prentis (02/02/07) Despite record levels of investment, the public sector is seen to be in crisis. This is because services are suffering from having simplistic market models foisted on them, argues Unison’s general secretary More from Public Finance Protect Public Services rally (29/1/07) The PCS have organised a 'Protect Public Services' rally in Bristol on Wednesday 31 January. They are asking everyone who can to attend and show their support. Please see link for further information - Protect Public Services Rally notice. Special Local Government Service Group Conference (24/01/07) UNISON will be holding a Special Local Government Service Group Conference in London on 6 March to discuss the latest developments in the LGPS. More from UNISON Civil servants' strike timed to hit tax returns (24/01/07) Thousands of civil servants have voted overwhelmingly to stage a one-day strike next Tuesday in a bitter row over jobs, pay and privatisation. More from Guardian Unlimited Ministers urged to stand firm against discrimination (23/01/07) The government must stand by its principles and outlaw discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has told prime minister Tony Blair and communities secretary Ruth Kelly. More from UNISON Hundreds lobby Parliament to defend public services (23/01/07) Prentis promises to defend public services. "Our resolve is clear: We will take action unless this policy is stopped in its tracks." That was Dave Prentis's message to the government today as UNISON activists united with colleagues from across the trade union movement to lobby Parliament in defence of public services. More from UNISON 280,000 UK civil servants to strike over jobs and pay (23/01/07) More than 200 government departments and agencies, ranging from tax offices to driving test centres, will be hit by a strike on January 31 after civil servants voted today to take action in a bitter row over jobs, pay and privatisation. More from 24dash.com Team working is 'way forward' for Somerset (15/01/07) A special meeting of Mendip District Council concluded that improved team working across councils in Somerset is the way forward, not total reorganisation.More from 24dash.com Government raises statutory holiday entitlement (11/01/07) The government today published its plans for increasing the statutory holiday entitlement from four weeks to a maximum of 28 days, a move that was welcomed by UNISON. More from UNISON Somerset Council shake-up 'will cost millions' (10/01/07) Cambridge Professor in report commissioned by our district councils. More from 24dash.com UNISON says NHS pay cuts would harm care (04/01/07) UNISON warns government it won't accept attempts to cut nurses' pay either by moving to regional pay or by using the threat of unemployment. More from UNISON MP's protest highlights unrest against NHS cuts (29/12/06) Cabinet minister Hazel Blears' protest over the closure of maternity units in her constituency has highlighted the widespread opposition against NHS reorganisation. More from UNISON... Mendip votes against unitary authority plans. (12/12/06) Mendip District Council last night voted to oppose plans for a single new unitary authority across Somerset. More from 24dash.com Speak up for public services (12/12/06) UNISON is urgings its activists to support to TUC-organised lobby of Parliament on 23 January 2007 to support public services under attack from various angles. More from UNISON Unions take council to court over equal pay 12/12/06) UNISON and the GMB are in court today in the first stage of a stepped-up campaign for full pay equality in Scotland, after issuing judicial review proceedings against Falkirk council, following the council's decision to sack staff and impose a discriminatory pay system. More from UNISON Government delays pension change (01/12/06) Local government minister Phil Woolas has backed down from his attack on the local government pensions talks. More from UNISON PFI will cost three times as much (30/11/06) Taxpayers will for out �148 billion over the next 25 years for PFI schemes worth just �47 bn, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis warns. More from UNISON The cost of privatisation will haunt us for years to come. (30/11/06) private-sector investment always requires a risk premium and profit-taking. If the government is paying the bill, the private sector will seek to pocket as much public money as possible. Read the full article by Kelvin Hopkins, MP in Guardian Unlimited LGPS - strike ballot threatened (24/11/06) Local government minister Phil Woolas was accused today of a “hostile intervention” that has “spiked” talks at which progress was being made to settle the local government pension dispute. More from UNISON Council pension scheme to change (24/11/06) Details of a revised pension scheme for 1.7 million local authority workers have been outlined by the government. More from the BBC Minister accused of 'spiking' pensions talks (24/11/96) minutes before the employers were due to consider fresh proposals from the trade unions, minister Phil Woolas made a statement in parliament announcing a new pension scheme for England and Wales. More from 24dash.com We won't pay more for less (22/11/06) "Our members won't pay more for less," general secretary Dave Prentis told a packed lobby meeting in Westminster today. More from UNISON Council workers lobby MPs in pensions protest (22/11/06) Dinner ladies, cleaners, school caretakers, librarians and other local authority employees will lobby MPs to warn that planned changes to their pension scheme would have a "devastating" effect. More from 24dash.com Union vows to fight on for pensions fairness (28/09/06) UNISON’s judicial review against the government’s plans to axe the 85-year rule in the Local Government Pension Scheme has been refused, but the campaign goes on, the union has vowed. More from UNISON... UNISON wins over Labour on NHS reform (28/09/06) Delegates at Labour's conference voted overwhelmingly for a UNISON motion condemning the "market madness" of the government's NHS reforms and for the government to back down on selling NHS Logistics to a private firm. More from UNISON... Blair loses council housing vote (27/09/06) The Labour leadership has suffered a defeat at its annual conference in Manchester. Delegates have backed a motion calling on the government to give more money for council houses "as a matter of urgency" More from the BBC... Labour leadership suffers conference defeat over council housing (27/09/06) Communities and Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly pledged yesterday that the Government "can and will" build more homes, including council houses. More from 24dash.com... NHS Logistics workers strike again (26/09/06) UNISON members at NHS Logistics are staging a second 24-hour strike to stop privatisation. More from UNISON... Thousands march against NHS cuts (25/09/06) SOME 2,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Nottingham at the weekend to protest at health service cuts. More from UNISON... The public and the party will pay heavily for marketisation - by Dave Prentis (23/09/06) A blinkered, ideological reform of public services has already created a breach with the voters More from The Guardian... Thousands at city's anti-war demo (23/09/06) Thousands of anti-war protesters have gathered in Manchester for what organisers said was "one of the biggest mobilisations outside London" More from the BBC News... Bring the troops home' plea from anti-war activists (23/09/06) Thousands of anti-war activists joined a huge rally today calling on the government to bring British troops home from Iraq and arguing the public does not want a new generation of nuclear weapons. More from 24dash.com... Privatisation sparks biggest NHS strike in nearly 20 years (22/09/06) The biggest strike in the health service for nearly 20 years began last night at depots across England, where Unison, the public service union, is fighting a government decision to privatise NHS Logistics, the hospital supply agency. More from Guardian Unlimited... NHS Logistics strike a solid success (22/09/06) The biggest health service strike for almost 20 years saw solid support from across the trade union movement today. UNISON members across England walked out in protest at the government's privatisation of their organisation and jobs. More from UNISON... Trident – why replace it? 13/09/06) Britain should not replace Trident - the so-called independent nuclear missile programme - UNISON's Steve Warwick told TUC delegates today in support of a successful motion. More from UNISON...	West Country Weather from the Met Office

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