View this email online
eFocus -The weekly newsletter for all activists Comments from Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary Photo: Dave Prentis
Quotes I wish you and your families a peaceful Christmas and a happy new year. While you are enjoying the festivities please spare a thought for the legion of public sector workers who will be working hard over the holiday period...
Full comments
 22 December 2008
UNISON member wins case against lawyer
Thousands of council and NHS workers in Scotland who signed up with Newcastle-based lawyer Stefan Cross to fight their equal pay claims are in line for windfall payments after a home help took him to court and won.

UNISON's Scottish secretary Matt Smith said: "The unions have always warned against the false allure of commercial solicitors who claim that they can deliver compensation more effectively or quickly than a trade union."




  THE WEEK

Council appeal over discrimination ruling succeeds
(19/12/08) Union welcomes decision on Islington registrar who refused to carry out civil partnerships

Council axes jobs for Xmas
(19/12/08) Union condemns employer over redundancies

Social workers need better support
(10/12/08) UNISON responds to Lord Laming's inquiry into safeguarding children

Working time opt-out vote welcomed
(10/12/08) UNISON responds to Lord Laming's inquiry into safeguarding children

  PAY MATTERS

No review for health pay
Pay Review Body's decision not to re-open three-year deal 'disappointing'

Local government pay arbitration
UNISON responds to a public announcement by employers

  ORGANISING

Keeping your head above water
When branches employ staff to do essential work, becoming an employer can cause difficulties. It doesn't have to

A lean, mean organising machine
This year's branch assessments give activists a chance to examine their branch structures and make these work better

  IN UNISON

BNP and nursing ideologies incompatible
Nurses should be subject to the same disciplinary rules as the police when it comes to membership of the British National Party, says Mick McKeown of UNISON's national nursing sector

Campaigning to keep the LGPS
UNISON will launch a major campaign in the new year to counter claims that the LGPS is unsustainable and should become a defined contribution scheme

Overpayment of NHS pensions
Around 51,000 NHS pensioners may be affected by the recent government announcement that there has been an overpayment of pensions

Employment help for branches
UNISON has launched a new scheme to help branches who employ staff

LGBT conference decisions
Record of decisions from the LGBT conference held in Bristol from 14-16 November 2008

Diary stocks low
You can still order diaries and year planners for the new year - but hurry, stocks are low

10 years of the National Minimum Wage
A UNISON-sponsored seminar considering the National Minimum Wage as we approach its tenth anniversary

UNISON cleaners awards and conference
If you work as a cleaner in the NHS, or manage cleaning teams, you can't afford to miss this top level conference

Coming events
Coming events: including seminars on working to promote equality for disabled staff

Training
Activists' training in your region and nationally

  KEY CAMPAIGNS

Equal pay
Positively Public
Migrant workers

UNISON eFocus is issued to all registered UNISON activists with a valid email address on the RMS system. If you are receiving this in error, or your email address is changing, please go to: Changing your email address

Want more info? Visit our website at www.unison.org.uk for comprehensive news, info and updates on UNISON's campaigns and information. If you need help or information fast, call UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845.

For the latest information and back-up when bargaining with employers, sign up to the union's Bargaining Update, Key Statistics, Companies Update and TUPE Update monthly emails here

Feel free to download or copy this info for personal or trade union use, but please do not post this bulletin to a public forum as it may contain information for registered users only.

To ensure UNISON newsletters are not classified as junk, add auto.email@unison.co.uk to your address book. Click here for more information: Adding eFocus to your contacts

Have you missed out on an edition of eFocus? Visit the archives for all the previous editions. Click here for details: UNISON eFocus archive

UNISON
UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9AJ, United Kingdom.
Tel: 0845 355 0845. Web: www.unison.org.uk