UNISON is urging members and supporters in the South West to back a lobby of Swindon council next Thursday and urge it to back down from plans to end facility time for union reps.
The council claims it is ending paid facility time for joint branch secretaries Bob Cretchley and Karla Bradford as an “efficiency saving”, but the move will save less than a fifth of one percent – just 0.167% – of the council budget.
A statement from the UNISON South West region declares: “UNISON will not stand by and let this attack happen.
“We will challenge it by every means necessary, by rebutting the council proposals with hard facts and figures, by lobbying every member of the council and senior officers with our case, by industrial action if necessary and supported by our members and by making this a huge issue in the forthcoming council by elections.”
Last year, UNISON in the south west successfully fought off an attempt to derecognise the union by Plymouth council, helped by support from across the union and the wider public.
Now the union is asking for similar support to see off this latest attack.
What you can do
- Support the lobby of the souncil on Thursday 23 February, 6.0pm, Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon SN1 2JH.
- Write to the council chief executive Gavin Jones at Swindon Borough Council, Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon SN1 2JH (email gjones@swindon.gov.uk) or council leader Roderick Bluh at the same address or (email rbluh@swindon.gov.uk) expressing your opposition to these proposals and your support for UNISON in Swindon.
- Send a message of support to the UNISON branch (email unisonswindon@swindon.gov.uk)
- Tweet the council on @Swindonnews, using the hashtag #tradeunionrights.
Find out more at the UNISON regional website here and here.
Facility Time – guidance for UNISON branches [pdf document].
