Speech by Simon Macfarlane on Personalisation to Community Care Providers Scotland Conference on 25th November 2010 (as part of a debate on whether workers had been dealt a full hand or no hand by personalisation).
UNISON’s position on personalization is clear - we support it, we have policy in support of personalisation; as recently as 2nd November our first ever Community Conference for our new dedicated voluntary sector service group passed a motion clearly stating our support for the principles of genuine personal choice and control and independence in personal care. The motion also though set out our real concerns around the impact on the personalised workforce and the funding and quality of care.
This is entirely consistent from a union that has equality at its core and has pioneered self-organisation and vigorously addressed access issues within its own organisation.
So UNISON’s position is not that the work force has been dealt no hand, our concern is much more that the current construct of personalisation is in danger of becoming a house of cards due to inadequate resources.
UNISON has long been engaged in the personalisation agenda and the challenges it brings. In the past, UNISON was wrongly criticised for what was seen as our opposition to direct payments, and assertions were made that our members discouraged their take up.
To counter this in 2006/7 UNISON met with various representatives of disabled people’s organisations, such as the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL), Scottish Personal Assistants Employers Network (SPAEN), and the Scottish Consortium of Direct Payment Support Organisations (SCODPSO). A joint statement followed confirming our support for the principle of independent living. More importantly, all parties agreed to work together on areas of mutual acceptance.
The statement acknowledged that direct payments had a legitimate role. However, it was clear that direct payments were not a substitute for other flexible and responsive public services, and were not appropriate for all people’s needs. It was further agreed that direct payments must complement a range of public services and must not be used to cover for inadequacies in public provision. Additionally the organisations agreed to jointly promote union membership.
UNISON believes that the personalisation and transformation of social care has been introduced without adequate funding, with the focus being on reducing the cost of supporting individuals and reducing the proportion of provision in the public sector and potentially the voluntary sector.
In England which is further down the track of personalisation the evidence is clear on the impact on staff personalisation is having:
The National Minimum Data Set for Social Care in England shows that between December 2008 and February 2010 the following occurred to pay rates in the following posts:
Care Workers at NVQ 1 or 2 level saw their pay in the private sector drop from £6.30 to £6.00, in the voluntary sector it dropped from £7.04 to £7.03 and in the public sector is went from £6.80 to £7.73.
For higher graded staff the results were equally stark. Senior Care Workers above NVQ2 saw their wages drop in the private sector from £6.85 to £6.80, in the voluntary sector from £8.34 to £8.08 whilst in the public sector they rose from £9.11 to £10.69.
In Scotland I’ve spent the last 18 months in brutal negotiations with many organisations here today, seeing pay freezes, redundancies, terms and conditions slashed, and so far I have seen no evidence that a move to personalisation will lead to any reversal of this trend.
There is an issue that personal and privatised care has not increased the quality and choice of care for all care recipients, it has also produced a sector of the care market and workforce that is unregulated and provided little incentive for employers to invest in a well trained and paid workforce.
Not all service users wish to take a Direct Payment and become an individual employer. UNISON believes that individual service users would benefit from the option of paying for a Personal Assistant (PA) but not being their direct employer. This could be done by local authorities or voluntary organisations directly employing a pool of PAs which service users can select from. In this way PAs would be employed by the local authority and not budget holders acting as micro employers.
In Scandinavia models such as this are common and they offer significant benefits to the person requiring support and the personal assistant.
We need workforce remodelling agreements both at national level and at employer level. The direction of travel is clear and the key stakeholders are broadly signed up to this. So we need the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and Health Boards to set out some minimum standards and safeguards for individuals needing support, workers and providers. There is an opportunity for some joint work between CCPS and UNISON here.
It is incumbent on voluntary organisations to be clearer and louder about the need for care services to be adequately resourced and in particular about the pay and conditions of workers in the sector. It isn’t right to portray pay freezes as evidence of the voluntary sector’s efficiency. Poverty pay and poor conditions are simply inimical to high quality personalised care. The right to a personalised care service can’t be an unfettered right, it comes with significant responsibilities. Many will need help and assistance in meeting those responsibilities and the voluntary sector has a unique and crucial role in assisting people to get the personalised support they need whilst acting in an ethical and responsible manner.
It doesn’t have to be like this. Personalisation can and should be introduced with adequate funding and safeguards for staff. The voluntary sector needs to get active in campaigns such as UNISON’s Public Works and the STUC’s There is a Better Way campaigns. There’s too much fence sitting going on when many of the people you and our members support will be deeply affected by benefit cuts and the myriad of other cuts.
So I say to you don’t let personalisation tumble like a pack of cards. Join with UNISON and the STUC in campaigning for a better settlement for public services however they are provided. If your organisation doesn’t yet recognise a union, come speak to me about how we can work together to make personalisation work for service users, organisations and staff.
Thursday, 2 December 2010
TMF Pay update
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.
********************************************************
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.
********************************************************
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.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
UNISON office now established in TMF
UNISON's TMF Convenor, Alice Lyness now has an office within Govanhill project and can be contacted there between 9 am - 5pm, Monday to Wednesday, diary permiting.
If you wish to meet with Alice at the office please telephone for an appointment. Alice's contact details are opposite.
If you wish to meet with Alice at the office please telephone for an appointment. Alice's contact details are opposite.
Thanks to Paul Kelly former Convenor
UNISON's TMF stewards committee would like to record our thanks and gratitude to our former Convenor, Paul Kelly who was an active member and steward for many years.
Paul contributed a great deal to UNISON's development within TMF and worked hard to ensure members had a voice within TMF.
Unfortunately his project closed earlier this year, due to the cuts that are affecting all voluntary sector employers, and as part of this closure, Paul is no longer in employment with TMF.
Thanks Paul, your are sorely missed!!!!
Paul contributed a great deal to UNISON's development within TMF and worked hard to ensure members had a voice within TMF.
Unfortunately his project closed earlier this year, due to the cuts that are affecting all voluntary sector employers, and as part of this closure, Paul is no longer in employment with TMF.
Thanks Paul, your are sorely missed!!!!
Thursday, 28 October 2010
VIDEO: Ska against the cuts
A lunchtime share for you. We’ve been humming along to this new tune from Captain Ska, a very catchy song in which the band let us know in no uncertain terms their views about the coalition government’s plan of public spending cuts.
Click on the Captain Ska link.
Click on the Captain Ska link.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
A message from Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary
Today, we are beginning to see the shape of the coalition government's cuts agenda - half a million jobs axed in the public sector; services slashed to the bone and a brutal attack on the welfare state.
And it looks like local government will take the hardest hit.
George Osborne's Comprehensive Spending Review announcement contains only the headlines. The reality of what they will mean for public service workers and their families will be revealed piece by piece over the next few months as our devolved governments, local councils, police authorities, hospitals, schools, voluntary organisations and others struggle to make sense of the massive budget cuts they have been dealt.
Today's headlines are about job cuts - the government admits to half a million in the public sector alone. Other commentators say 600,000. And economists warn that the private sector is likely to suffer a similar level of job losses as councils and others cancel contracts, shut down projects and search for ways to cut expenditure.
And even those areas the government claims to be protecting are already under pressure - in the NHS alone, £20 billion of cuts are to be found.
Across local government, health, education, housing, police, all of our public services and the private sector that relies on them: a million jobs - axed.
Behind every one of those jobs is a real family dealing with real hardship. A million public service roles - vanished.
And for each service lost - communities losing the real services they rely on. And an economy taking another hit as our families tighten their belts and cut back our own spending. Women are estimated to use three quarters of the services or benefits being cut. That is the legacy of this spending review.
A million less jobs, £4.6bn in lost tax revenue. A million less jobs and £6.1bn increase in benefit payments. An 'austerity budget' that adds £10.7bn a year to the annual deficit and almost entirely wipes out the apparent £12.5bn saving to the public sector pay bill.
These are challenging times for everyone who works in our public services and for all those who rely on them. Our services, our jobs, our pay and our pensions - all under attack.
UNISON has been speaking up for public services. Our Million Voices campaign has warned that the effects of cutting so hard and so fast will ravage our communities. We have protested that public service workers should not be made to pay for the excesses of the bankers and speculators who caused the economic recession.
Today, we are seeing the big picture of the cuts agenda. In the coming weeks, we will see more detail. But I wanted all our activists and representatives to get the union's first take on the spending review as soon as possible.
See our first glance summary of the key issues for UNISON here.
In the coming weeks and months, we have hard work to do. Our members will be anxious and fearful for their jobs. We will have to represent our members and their concerns as well as continuing to put the pressure on government and employers through local campaigning.
We will have to work with public service users and community groups to make sure that we speak up for vital services.
But we will meet this challenge as a strong, united union, determined to speak with one voice whether locally or nationally, with one aim. To defend our public services and the people who provide them. Together, in UNISON, we will meet this challenge.
Dave Prentis
And it looks like local government will take the hardest hit.
George Osborne's Comprehensive Spending Review announcement contains only the headlines. The reality of what they will mean for public service workers and their families will be revealed piece by piece over the next few months as our devolved governments, local councils, police authorities, hospitals, schools, voluntary organisations and others struggle to make sense of the massive budget cuts they have been dealt.
Today's headlines are about job cuts - the government admits to half a million in the public sector alone. Other commentators say 600,000. And economists warn that the private sector is likely to suffer a similar level of job losses as councils and others cancel contracts, shut down projects and search for ways to cut expenditure.
And even those areas the government claims to be protecting are already under pressure - in the NHS alone, £20 billion of cuts are to be found.
Across local government, health, education, housing, police, all of our public services and the private sector that relies on them: a million jobs - axed.
Behind every one of those jobs is a real family dealing with real hardship. A million public service roles - vanished.
And for each service lost - communities losing the real services they rely on. And an economy taking another hit as our families tighten their belts and cut back our own spending. Women are estimated to use three quarters of the services or benefits being cut. That is the legacy of this spending review.
A million less jobs, £4.6bn in lost tax revenue. A million less jobs and £6.1bn increase in benefit payments. An 'austerity budget' that adds £10.7bn a year to the annual deficit and almost entirely wipes out the apparent £12.5bn saving to the public sector pay bill.
These are challenging times for everyone who works in our public services and for all those who rely on them. Our services, our jobs, our pay and our pensions - all under attack.
UNISON has been speaking up for public services. Our Million Voices campaign has warned that the effects of cutting so hard and so fast will ravage our communities. We have protested that public service workers should not be made to pay for the excesses of the bankers and speculators who caused the economic recession.
Today, we are seeing the big picture of the cuts agenda. In the coming weeks, we will see more detail. But I wanted all our activists and representatives to get the union's first take on the spending review as soon as possible.
See our first glance summary of the key issues for UNISON here.
In the coming weeks and months, we have hard work to do. Our members will be anxious and fearful for their jobs. We will have to represent our members and their concerns as well as continuing to put the pressure on government and employers through local campaigning.
We will have to work with public service users and community groups to make sure that we speak up for vital services.
But we will meet this challenge as a strong, united union, determined to speak with one voice whether locally or nationally, with one aim. To defend our public services and the people who provide them. Together, in UNISON, we will meet this challenge.
Dave Prentis
Monday, 18 October 2010
UNISON’s National Skills for Life Survey
UNISON is interested in finding out about the skills, confidence, attitudes and needs of our members in relation to literacy, numeracy and computers. This will help us to inform the development of the UNISON Skills for Life Strategy to support our members.
We would encourage UNISON member's to participate in this survey, It should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and all responses will be reported anonymously.
To participate in the survey click here.
We would encourage UNISON member's to participate in this survey, It should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete and all responses will be reported anonymously.
To participate in the survey click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)