Palestine - time to act on the real message of Christmas

'Greetings from the Holy City of Jerusalem', read the Christmas card to us from Mohammad Aruri of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU). http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/dec04/2.html

A message of peace from a far from peaceful part of the world. A message of hope at a time of despair for Palestinians. And a message of respect for other's traditions, religions and cultures that is tragically missing at home and abroad.

Capital audit confirms resources are the key to child protection

http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/nov04/17.html
UNISON's long campaign in Edinburgh to expose the lack of resources affecting child protection and child care work has been confirmed by an expert external audit of child protection. 

The council has responded positively by accepting all the recommendations and immediately pumping new money into buildings and IT support.

John Stevenson, Edinburgh UNISON branch secretary, said, "We welcome this action but it has been a long haul. We took a grievance to councillors as long ago as 2001 about this, and we argued that the O'Brien report into the death of Caleb Ness was flawed and had missed this point.

Can't praise nursery nurses highly enough

Nursery nurses have been an example to every other trade unionist throughout this dispute with their good nature, solid organisation and real commitment to the future of early years care and education.

They have achieved a 10 point pay rise, a substantial lump sum and one in three can go on to higher grades. That is the best I have seen achieved by any group in the last 20 years.

Child protection risk must be recognised

UNISON Scotland has called for the Scottish Executive to set up a standing system for inquiries into child protection crises as part of a plan to address the problems of social work across Scotland. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/siumay04.html#3 

The call was made by Edinburgh's John Stevenson at a UNISON Social Work Conference and in evidence to the Scottish Parliament Education Committee.

You never hear about social work until something goes wrong

You never hear about social work until something goes wrong. As many politicians admit, it is not a vote-catcher. Who wants to hear about families in crisis, children at risk, the elderly needing care or people with disabilities relying on support to keep their independence? (Opinion piece Evening News 27 April 2004)

Child Protection and the Trade Union

UNISON SOCIAL WORK CONFERENCE GLASGOW 24 MARCH 2004. Asking me to speak on Child Protection and the Trade Union is a dangerous thing because those who know me also know that I can bore at length on both at the drop of a hat. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/socialwork/conf24mar.html

Child protecton: Time for calm analysis

UNISON Deputation to City of Edinburgh Council Meeting 16/10/03 On the Inquiry into the death of Caleb Ness. Let me say first that it is with immense sadness that UNISON comes with this deputation today. Before I say anything else, I think it is important to let you, and the public know how social workers - and indeed many staff and managers throughout the Council - have been feeling about the awful death of Caleb Ness. http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/socialwork/swaddress.html

It's been a good day this week

UNISON Conference 2003: It's been a good day this week. Wednesday saw the best of Conference with a real debate on the political funds. But after that, it did get a wee bit shaky.

However, the passion of Stephen Lewis' contribution as UN special envoy on HIV/AIDS will live with many of us for a long time.

As usual Scotland played a major part in all the big debates. Jane Carolan, Mike Kirby and Pat Rowland to name just a few. Karie Murphy and David Connor played major roles on opposite sides of the political fund debate.

Emergency motion as Suu Kyi arrested again

http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/siujune03.html#13
The democratically elected leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been arrested again by the 'junta', heralding a sinister new crisis in the country. 

UNISONScotland has already called for Suu Kyi to be given honorary UNISON membership to raise the profile of human rights abuses in Burma, and UNISON's Edinburgh Branch is planning an emergency motion to National Conference. UNISON already has a campaign backing sanctions against Burma.

Child Protection Act

Conference 2003: This is just a brief contribution to ask that the NEC consults with the Scottish Region and the Scottish Trades Union Congress before issuing the guidance the motion asks for.

While the legislation in England & Wales broadly mirrors that in Scotland, there are significant differences between the 1989 Children Act and the Scottish 1995 Act. There is also a brand new piece of legislation in the Scottish Child Protection Act.

'Not in our name' say UNISON thousands

With estimates of up to 90,000 people rallying against war in Glasgow on 15 February, it was the biggest event to be seen in Scotland in modern times. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/siumar03.html#4 

But it hasn't stopped there. Over 7,000 people turned out in Edinburgh on 6 March to an early evening lobby of the Scottish Parliament as two marches from across the city merged.

UNISON Mela sponsorship celebrates diversity and all that's best in Scotland

The late Hamish Henderson's celebrated anthem to freedom, peace and friendship - 'Freedom Cam A' Ye' - brought the house down at the UNISON sponsored 'The Roses Turn to Bloom" concert at the Edinburgh Mela last week. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/siusep02.html#9

Best wishes as Denis returns to South Africa

Denis (left) with John Stevenson and John
Nelson at Edinburgh City Chambers circa 1995

http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/siujune02.html#10
After 17 years in Britain, Denis Goldberg, is going back to his South Africa homeland - not to retire of course, but to become an advisor to the Minister of Water and Forestry.

Denis has won enormous respect in UNISON and has become a great friend of the union, first working for the ANC in London, then setting up Community HEART - the charity working for health, education and reconstruction training in South Africa.

Removing the causes of terror more effective than all the tanks and bombs

John McFadden

Grave concerns about the international situation were heightened at the STUC as continuing reports of the attacks on Palestine came through first hand from trade unionists. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/siumay02.html#5 

A few weeks ago, John McFadden, Scottish NEC member, and union President Veronica Dunn, were on a UNISON delegation to the Middle East where they met both Palestinian and Israeli trade unionists.

Avoid the cycle of killing

http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/siu/siusep01.html#2
By the time you get this issue the USA may have identified the people behind the 11 September atrocity. USA/ NATO may already have taken action. 

Either way the long-term problems that terrorism feeds on will not have been tackled. That requires an internationalism, a reason, an understanding and a commitment to justice and humanity rather than merely national interest.

How union members rallied round

9/11 From Scotland in UNISON September 2001
Within minutes of the tragedy, construction workers contacted Bob Walsh of the Iron Workers Local 40 with offers of help. By the time the National Guard called the union, 1,000 union members were available. 

The union set up three teams of recovery workers to be rotated including volunteers from Local 78, experts in asbestos handling.

Extremists exposed?

Yes, you read it first in Scotland on Sunday, UNISONScotland is riven with extremists in the strangest quarters. On 10 December, SoS produced a cracking article that almost collided with facts on a couple of occasions. Yes, they spelled the names right - but that's where it stopped.

So who are these extremists uncovered by the intrepid broadsheet?

Scones

Scones - makes 6 - 8

Ingredients
8oz self raising flour
2oz cold butter
Pinch of salt
Heaped teaspoon baking soda or bicarb
5 fluid oz cold milk.

Pass the banner and make it shine more brightly

At this year's UNISON Conference, retiring General Secretary Rodney Bickerstaffe gave a special interview to SiU editor John Stevenson. In it, one of the most significant union leaders in the last 35 years, shares his analysis of the past and his vision of the future.

We stand on giants' shoulders, said Rodney Bickerstaffe as he spoke of how the trade union movement had got to where it stands today.

Big bad UNISON - we must be getting it right!

UNISON is a big bad thing if press reports, councillors comments and even other unions are to be believed. http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/un/unsep98.html 

We are accused of being locked in the past with quaint ideas like protecting jobs and conditions, fighting for publicly funded and accountable public services and trying to save the taxpayer from the £billions wasted on the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and privatisation.