UNISON members within TMF have this week been mailed a letter from Regional Organiser, Simon MacFarlane with an update on our claim for a pay uplift this year. Below is the text of the letter.
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Dear Member
PAY 2010/11
I am writing to update you on what has been happening with regards to our discussions with TMF regarding a cost of living rise for this year. You will recall that members overwhelmingly voted to support the submission of a pay claim for 2.5% from 1 April 2010.
Following submitting the claim we continually chased TMF for a response to the extent we wrote to the Archbishop Mario Conti expressing our frustration at the delay. This prompted a meeting with Dana O’Dwyer, Chief Executive in September where we were able to have a constructive dialogue on the challenges facing the organisation and some of the frustrations we felt. At a meeting subsequent to this we finally met to discuss pay.
Sadly TMF have advised us that once again they are not in a position to make a pay offer this year. We fully expressed how disappointing this will be to our members who are facing real financial pressure and are staring at an increase in VAT come 1st January. TMF were able to respond in some way to our demands for the pay of the small number of manual workers in TMF to be reviewed and those staff will be written to shortly advising them the outcome of this. Any movement for the lowest paid is welcome but this fell well short of our aspirations.
Living Wage
As you will know part of your claim was for TMF to adopt the Scottish Living Wage of £7.00 per hour now rising to £7.15. Much of the work of TMF is funded by Glasgow City Council which has declared itself committed to the Living Wage, so we intend to seek a meeting with officers and politicians there, calling on them to fund TMF to enable them to implement the Scottish Living Wage.
We also wish to consult with you about how you want us to progress with regards to this year’s cost of living rise. We need to know whether you will reluctantly accept the situation or do you want us to fight on. Please use the enclosed ballot paper to indicate your position. We must advise that we believe that in order to move the employer it is likely that members would have to embark on a course of industrial action and even then there is no guarantee that TMF would make an improved offer. On the other hand if we don’t put up a fight we’ll never know.
It is dispiriting to have to write in such terms to you but it is a reflection of the times and your union's first and foremost duty is to be upfront with you.
Convenor
On a more positive note we have secured agreement from TMF for Alice Lyness your Senior Steward to be seconded three days a week to work on behalf of members at this time. Alice is available to support members and is particularly keen to come and visit you and your colleagues at team meetings etc to speak to you about UNISON and hear about the issues that concern you. Alice is on union duties on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and is based in Govanhill but is often out and about. She can be contacted via Mobile: 07882551134 and via Email. You can use the form sent with the letter to indicate if you would like Alice to visit you or contact you.
On the broader picture of the current financial climate UNISON is spearheading through its Public Works campaign and through supporting the STUC’s There is a Better Way campaign an alternative to the UK and Scottish Governments’ austerity programmes. It doesn’t have to be like this and we need you to come on board with these campaigns. For more info visit http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/index.html and http://www.thereisabetterway.org/ and please complete the enclosed postcard and return it in the envelope and we’ll send it to your MSP.
