Employee Led Mutuals “Pathfinder” Programme in Local Government

In February the government announced that the London Borough of Newham was one of these pilots, creating a new mutual model of delivery in children’s and young people’s early intervention services. We believe that the timing will inevitably lead to its being used as a mechanism for meeting some of the government cuts to our […]

The Green Book and Disabled Workers – A Basic Safety Net

Conference agrees that National Joint Council (NJC) agreements enshrined in the “Green Book” form the very basis of local government terms and conditions for all workers in the service especially disabled workers; we especially value those covered in Part 2. We value our leave arrangements and believe that our sick pay arrangements protect members who […]

Stay in Local Government – No Free Schools or Gove style Academies

Conference is totally against the continuous proposals from the ConDems to make it easier to create Free schools or to have Local Authority schools become Academies and give away more and more community and tax payers assets. The Michael Gove version of so called outstanding status schools being able to become Academies is yet another […]

Social Care Integration with Health

Conference notes the proposals in Scotland to merge social care and health within the NHS. These proposals would see the transfer of Council functions in care for older people and adults transferred from local authority control and merged with health functions within local Health Boards. These proposals claim to build upon the experience of integrated […]

Effect of the cuts in Local Government in Rural Communities

This Conference is concerned that the coalition Government cuts to Local Authority funding are leading to substantial cuts in Local Government jobs. The loss of these jobs and services will have a disproportionate effect on some of the most vulnerable people in society, rural communities, and those low paid Local Government workers who remain in […]

Crisis in Social Work

This Conference notes that despite the existence of reform programmes for social work within each of the four UK countries, the crisis affecting social work staff continues to deepen. Conference notes the deep-seated problems of: 1)Excessive workloads, stress and long working hours 2)Unsafe working conditions and exposure to violence 3)Public and media hostility 4)Escalating need […]

Women Apprentices

Conference notes the report “Apprentices and Gender” produced by the TUC and YWCA in October 2010. Conference is concerned that the report finds that “although the problems of occupational segregation, gender stereotyping, poor careers advice, low pay and lack of progression for women in the apprenticeships system is well documented and well understood, little progress […]

National Express

This Water, Environment and Transport Conference deplores the continuing anti-union behaviour of management at UK based National Express Group’s North American yellow school bus subsidiaries. We note that National Express Group has declined to introduce a freedom of information policy in order to protect the human rights of their employees by being able to join […]

Private Drains and Sewers

This WET Conference is aware that private drains and sewers will soon be “insourced” to the water industry probably by the end of 2011. While the extra work is obviously welcomed as a source to retain existing staffing levels, it is imperative that as well as the work the existing employees who do the work […]

Facility Time in the Environment Agency

This Water, Environment and Transport Conference notes that the Environment Agency is likely to suffer job losses as a result of funding cuts by the coalition via DEFRA. As part of the job losses it is obvious that some of our activists will also be victims of the cuts as will the membership density levels […]

The Role of Workplace Environmental Reps in the WET Service Group Following the Comprehensive Spending Review

This 2011 WET Conference notes that as part of the coalition’s comprehensive spending review was the announcement that the carbon reduction commitment energy efficiency scheme is to become a new carbon tax on public sector organisations like the Environment Agency, British Waterways and Passenger Transport Executives and larger companies like those in the water industry. […]

Undertaking Three Monthly Joint Health and Safety Inspections in the Industries Covered by the Water, Environment and Transport Service Group

The 2011 Water, Environment and Transport Conference notes that Trade Union Accredited H&S or SHE (Safety, Environment and Health) representatives have a legal right to inspect the workplace 4 times per year. Agreeing dates can be a problem, therefore it is recommended that joint H&S inspections are agreed with management as near as practicable to […]

Closure of Final Salary Pension Scheme

This 2011 Water, Environment and Transport Conference is concerned at the actions of Cambridge Water who have closed their final salary pension scheme to existing members as well as new entrants. We see this as a very disturbing development and call upon the Service Group Executive to try to ensure this is not the tip […]

Concessionary Fares

This WET Conference is pleased that to date there appears to be no radical plans to cease concessionary fares by the coalition. We cannot be complacent however, and as the cuts increase across the board with their tenure of office it is vital that the Executive comments on the importance of concessionary fares by producing […]

Water, Environment and Transport Health and Safety Event 2012

The 2011 WET Conference recognises the value of the inaugural service group health and safety event held in March 2010 and the impressive subjects covered in one day by all who attended. Health and safety is rightly seen as one of the most important factors by members in retaining their UNISON membership and it is […]