Author: Stirling Websites

Carol O Hare presents donation to The Ladies of the Rock

Carol O Hare, representing Stirling UNISON, made a generous donation of £250 to The Ladies of the Rock. The donation will be used to support The Larder, an organization operating from the Bannockburn Community Centre, which provides food for individuals on benefits, low income, or facing financial difficulties due to the current cost of living crisis.

Elaine Marshal and Dorothy Morrow, members of The Ladies of the Rock, were pictured alongside Carol during the donation presentation. This collaboration between Stirling UNISON and The Ladies of the Rock highlights the importance of community support during challenging times.

The Ladies of the Rock is a non-profit organization comprised of local volunteers who are dedicated to helping those in need within our community. Their main focus is providing food assistance to individuals who are facing difficulties during the current climate. To learn more about their initiatives and how you can support their cause, please visit their Facebook page.

Members should receive their digital consultative ballot over the next few days. If you have not received your ballot by Thursday 16^th November 2023 you need to call UNISON direct on 0800 0857 857 and ensure we have an up to date e-mail address and address for you and so that you do not miss further communications and digital ballots. If you do not receive your ballot by email by Thursday you need to contact the branch directly by e-mailing thomsonl34s@stirling.gov.uk with your UNISON membership number you will then be forwarded your unique ballot link. Members should also check their junk and clutter e-mail boxes as your ballot may have went directly into these folders.

Strike Pay Update

We have been made aware by payroll that some have had strike pay deducted from their pay this month and some have not. If you have had a strike pay deduction on the 15^th November 2023 then you should claim your strike pay/hardship payment now. If you have not had a strike pay deduction this month then you should keep the forms and claim as soon as your deduction is made on the 15^th December 2023.

It is essential that all striking workers have notified UNISON of their up-to-date e-mail address. If you are unsure or have recently changed your e-mail address, you need to contact UNISON direct on 0800 0857 857 to update your details now.

All members that have taken strike action in wave 2 should now have received the link directly from UNISON to claim up to £70 strike pay. If you have not received this then you should e-mail the branch directly e-mail thomsonl34s@stirling.gov.uk

In addition, any member who suffers net basic losses of more than £70 per day must also complete the attached Hardship form to claim from the branch hardship fund

– any such payment will not exceed the normal net basic pay. We will also require a copy of your payslip from the 15^th October that displays your strike pay deduction with this form (the period that includes deductions from your pay). You can get this on the Councils system ERIN. If difficulties in accessing ERIN, payroll may assist in getting you a copy. Payslips are usually online before payday (this may enable you to complete forms/return earlier to us to process).

Hardship Form

The fastest and simplest way to get the Hardship form and copy of your payslip to us is by e-mailing the completed form to us (see attached) with an attached screenshot of your payslip that shows your strike pay deduction. If difficulties in accessing ERIN, payroll may assist in getting you a copy.
Completed Hardship forms and proof payslip should be sent directly to our Branch Treasurer Andy Douglas e-mail douglasa@stirling.gov.uk
 
 
If members claiming from the Hardship fund have difficulties accessing a computer or printer or if you are having difficulty in completing the form or require assistance please contact the branch directly by contacting
Lorraine Thomson,

UNISON Stirling,

Branch Secretary:- 

E-mail address  thomsonl34s@stirling.gov.uk  Branch tel.  01786 233093 or mobile 07826903559

Please note our Branch Office at Viewforth will be open to members claiming strike pay on Thursday 16^th November 2023r to enable members to pop in with Hardship forms and any strike pay queries should they need to.

You are invited to attend the 2023 Scottish Black Members Networking day, which will be held on Saturday 28^th October 2023 at our Edinburgh Office. 

Your networking day is an amazing opportunity to meet your Scottish Black Members Committee, Black Members Officers and Activists from across Scotland.  Your voice and opinion is vitally important as UNISON members shape our committee, vote on important decisions and promote equality in the workplace. 

UNISON Black Members includes members with Asian, Arab, African, Caribbean and other Black or mixed ethnic origins or backgrounds.

Come along and get involved! There is no need to prepare a report or be an expert, all you need is yourself and enthusiasm to make a difference to Scottish Black Workers.  

Please see details below and register your attendance. We look forward to seeing you.  

This week we have seen our fellow workers from Schools and Early Years settings on the picket lines striking for Fair Pay for all. Bannockburn Primary and High School, Balfron High, Braehead, Borestone, Callander, Fallin Primary, Raploch Campus, St Ninians Primary and Nursery, Stirling High, McLaren High, and Wallace High all came out on 26, 27, and 28 September, many bringing their children and some also brought their dogs along.

The public honked their horns and waved, and some local people came along with flasks of tea and coffee showing support for our members who are striking for fair pay for all council employees.

Many of our members also joined the rally held at the Scottish Parliament building on Wednesday 27^th where they united with members from all over Scotland to protest against Cosla’s latest pay offer.

UNISON won’t trade pay for jobs and vital services that our communities rely on.

Today saw the first day of Stike action throughout Scotland. Stirling workers turned out early to stand up and be heard. Below you can see pictures from the schools and the picket lines. Please support your fellow workers, they are striking for all local authority employees for fair pay

This afternoon, after our initial deadline and COSLA’s additional extension, we received a further revised offer from COSLA see below.

The UNISON local government committee has met to consider our response to this revised pay offer.  Our committee has decided:

• The strike action planned for next week will proceed.
• The revised offer will be put to members in a consultative ballot (further details on this will follow)
• The recommendation to members in that consultation is to REJECT the offer.

We have written to COSLA outlining this and giving them our reasons for doing so (attached).

We are in the process of communicating this to the press and members but please feel free to share this on your social media channels.