Since I took over as Editor in June 2001 I have done my best to ensure that we have contributions from across the breadth of our union. I have tried, with the help of many people, to obtain news from all the Service Groups in our region, as well as inviting contributions from all of the Regional SOGs and various other groups too.

At the end of the day (and at the beginning, and at lunchtime...) the region is made up of Branches, which are, in turn, made up of members. For the regional newsletter to be interesting to everyone in some way, it needs to include what’s going on in your corner. So please get in touch. You really don’t need to have the writing eloquence of Jane Austen, or the dramatic style of Jack Higgins, just a clear list of points is all I need. I will string it into sentences, if you haven’t time (or confidence) to write things out fully.

Hope to hear from you soon

Bryony

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

news in brief......news in brief.....news in brief......

Dudley Primary Care Branch Tackle Stress

Dudley Primary Care Branch recently conducted the TUC Stress Survey. 87 of the 137 people who returned their surveys stated that they were stressed by their work, and staggering 66 people, that’s 48% of those who took part felt that the levels of stress they experienced was unacceptable or causing them harm. Details of the full survey results including all of the categories covered are available from Ian Marrey the Branch Secretary or by visiting the Branch’s web-site at www.unisonblackcountryhealth.org/pct/stresssurveyoct02.htm

Farewell to Brian

Rumour has it that Brian Osborne is the longest serving member of staff throughout all of UNISON. He first became in involved at the age of sixteen when he joined NUPE and he has been serving members ever since.

Members from the Police Staff, whom he has supported for many years, wish to say a big THANK YOU for all of his hard work, and wish him an enjoyable retirement.

Handsworth Crisis Centre Recruitment Day. 100% take-up!

On Monday 14th October all 10 workers at the centre joined UNISON. This small recruitment event shows how targetting at the needs of specific members gets them involved.

Borneo Challenge

Trudie Phipott, a Communications Officer who works in the Communication Centre at Warwickshire Police Headquarters at Leek Wootton near Warwick, took part in the Borneo Challenge in September and raised £2500 for Children Today; £800 of which came from police and civilian members of the Service.

Trudie said, "It was an exhausting, but a wonderful experience. There were a few tears, but I managed to complete it all, with the help of a little oxygen during the biking." Forty-two people took part and Trudie was one of only three women that completed the challenge.

Ken Lambert
UNISON Branch Secretary for Warwickshire Police Support Staff

The Regional Web-site gets a Shake Up!

Anyone who has access to the internet will realise the importance of a well presented informative site to give a positive impression of our union.

The first meeting of lay members to discuss proposed changes to the Regional Web-site took place on 7th October, with a positive flow of ideas, here is how it went.

The meeting was arranged after the Recruitment and Campaigning Committee meeting just two weeks earlier. For the next meeting more advertising is going on, to try to encourage as many members as possible to come forward and get involved. It was felt that it would be good to have an initial meeting so that work could be started and I contacted as many Branches and activists as I could. A cross-section of members were able to attend the first meeting with members from Gas, Local Government and Higher Education. As often happens we were top heavy in terms of Local Government members, so we hope that some other members from different service groups will come forward to get involved, as time progresses. I was elected as chair of the group, to liaise with Recruitment and Campaigning and Keith Heron, the member of staff who cares for the web-site.

The members who attended the first meeting decided that they would like to re-design the look of the web-site and proposed many changes. One of the key changes is that a new set of icons (links) will be added to the front page, providing links to information under new headings. There is very useful information on the site already, and the plan is to add to, and extend, the range of the information available.

The new headings will include Service Groups, Branches, and Self Organised Groups. From there members will be able to find out more detailed information about those subjects. We are now seeking contributions, could you help?

To begin with, we would like to work at improving the content of the information about branches. If your branch has a web-site, tell us your web address - we can add a link.

If your branch doesn’t have a web-site then the Regional Web-site is a good opportunity to increase accessibility to information for your members. It is up to each branch what information they feel they would like their members to be able to access, but you might consider it important for members to know:

Branch Phone numbers and e-mail addresses
Names of Branch Officers, perhaps with details about how to contact them, this may help prevent all enquiries being directed to the Branch Secretary!!
Directions to your Branch (please, no maps - we cannot use anything which has a copyright)
Recent Branch Newsletter, in electronic format.
Any other information about your Branch.

Many people have access to the internet, and it can be the first place someone goes when they are seeking information, especially if they work in a workplace without a union representative.

I will write an update to our progress in the next newsletter. If there is any other information you would like to see on the web-site, please send it in!

Please remember that it is no use complaining that the site does not contain the information you think should be there if you have not contributed! So please do send in your contributions and ideas. If you think a particular document should be accessible via the web-site then tell us, and we will do our best to make sure it is there.

If you want to get more involved the next meeting is on:-

Wednesday 11th December 2002 @ 2.30pm at the Regional Office in Livery Street. If you or any of your members would like to come along - please do get in touch. No knowledge of computing required!

Bryony O’Hara

The icons (links) shown here illustrate our starting point. We also plan to add bubbles (screen-tips) to some of them, so that jargon used is clearer to someone who is not used to it.

We would also like to include the Regional Training package and it had been suggested by another member that it would be useful if the Regional Constitution was included. The order of the icons has not been decided, there is only so much we could do in one meeting!

Please note that feedback is important to us, so let us know your thoughts. Which icons should be most prominent? Which do you think are missing?

Contact via e-mail bryonyohara@blueyonder.co.uk or by post to the Regional Office.

Regional Pool

One of the results of the changes in Branch financing arrangements arising from the 2001 National Delegate Conference is the setting up of an allocation of a pool of money to the region for use by Branches on specific time limited projects to aid their development.

The money is allocated by a small committee composed of delegates to the Finance and Recruitment & Campaigning Committees.

So far, 10 Branches have benefited from grants for the Regional Pool ranging from £70 to fund a recruitment initiative to over £9,000 for building works to Branch premises to aid disabled access.

In total £35,775 has been allocated between the branches, leaving just over £7,500 which will now be added to the allocation for 2003.

It is likely that next year's allocation will be greater than last year, so I would urge all readers to think creatively how your branch could use an injection of funds to aid its development.

Any bids should be in line with the following principles:-

Funding should not be for projects with ongoing long term revenue implications.
Any projects should aim to aid branch development and be in line with national and regional priorities e.g. recruitment and retention, member participation.
Funds will not normally be used to employ staff or for projects that should be funded from region or national.

If Branches feel they need help in formulating a bid, they should seek assistance from the Branch Support and Development Team at Regional Centre or from their Regional Officer.

Mark Wood

AUDITOR - Friend or Foe?

Have you ever worried about someone coming to look over your Branch's books? Earlier this year, Worcestershire Community Health Branch was informed that we would be visited by one of UNISON's auditor from London. As Branch Treasurer, it was my job to see that the paperwork was prepared for his visit. Before his arrival, our Branch Secretary was a little anxious, mainly because our Branch had not received a visit from the auditors' department before and wondered what the reason was for their interest.

One day in August, Neil duly arrived at the appointed time and place to carry out the audit. He spent the morning going over the branch accounts, checking paperwork, bank statements and records for last year and the branch statements for the previous two years. He offered advice as he was working his way through the process, but was generally happy with the way things were being managed. He said he would be producing a report when he got back to his office, but in the meantime if I would like to get in touch with Finance in Mabledon Place, they would sent me a cheque for just over £3,000 that was outstanding to us. This had arisen because branch mergers have taken place bringing in new members long before their payments caught up with them - a common problem for many Health branches as continual restructuring of NHS Trusts brings accompanying problems in organising representation for members.

Neil's report has duly arrived along with a cheque for the outstanding balance. The advice within the report will be implemented and is of value to us in running both the Branch and the Branch finances. Best of all is the fact that we can report the outcome to our membership at the next AGM that the accounts have been checked and approved by a Head Office auditor.

Finally, the audit has proved a positive experience for our Branch, not least because of the way Neil conducted the process and listened to what I had to say on various issues. If your Branch finds itself on the list for an audit, don't get too anxious about it - it's likely to be good news.

Margaret Buxton

Establishing a Culture of Learning

Along with project partners UNISON Birmingham Branch, Birmingham City Council and the WEA. UNISON West Midlands has again made a successful bid to the Union Learning Fund, to run a project that aims to establish Lifelong Learning Advisors (LLAs) & Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) in Branches in all English regions.

UNISON has decided to use the Establishing a Culture of Learning Project, as an opportunity to try and establish new workplace representative roles within branches, those of the Lifelong Learning Advisor and the Union Learning Representative. The role of the LLA will represent an opportunity to UNISON branches to recruit members into union activism, who previously may not have had the confidence or belief in their own abilities to get involved. The role of the ULR will represent an opportunity to current workplace representatives or other branch officers, who have an interest and commitment in lifelong learning, to take an active role in raising the profile of learning opportunities amongst members, in their workplaces.

Branches and regions are asked to identify and recruit members to become LLAs and ULRs.

It is thought that potential LLAs could be recruited from those members who have usually completed a UNISON Return to Learn course, a Women's Lives course, a Communication at Work course or other similar courses.

New Government legislation means those members undertaking the LLA and ULR role will be entitled to statutory time off for trade union activities with pay.

Newly recruited LLAs will be able to draw on their own experiences of learning to offer support for members participating on courses.
LLAs and ULRs will promote available courses to workers and recruit members onto courses.
LLAs will be an advocate and champion for learning amongst UNISON members.
LLAs will draw from their own learning experiences, to raise the awareness of the difference learning through the union can make, to UNISON members and other work colleagues.
LLAs and ULRs will raise awareness of lifelong learning issues in the workplace and branch.
ULRs will share a commitment to lifelong learning.
ULRs will be trained to negotiate and represent around learning issue on behalf of the membership.

As the Regional Project Field Worker I am aiming to provide a link between the Regional Centre and Branches. Throughout the duration of the project I will offer support, guidance and advice in the area's of identifying and targeting potential LLAs and ULRs and setting up branch learning and organising plans.

The Project Field Worker will therefore:

Provide assistance with targeting and identifying LLAs and ULRs, setting up branch education teams and developing learning and organising plans.
Offer guidance, research and practical support to branches when needed
Provide a link to regional resources and other regional staff

Branches interested in the Establishing the Culture of Learning Project and members interested in becoming LLA's or ULR's should contact at the Regional Office by post or via my direct line 0121 685 3130.You can also e-mail me on a.ocallaghan@unison.co.uk

Andy O'Callaghan
Project Field Worker

Welfare Training Day Gives Enthusiasts a Boost

On Saturday 2nd November 24 Welfare Officers, and those interested in Welfare, met at the West Midlands Regional Centre.

Margaret Millward, the Chair, led the morning session about the completion of the application for assistance form and the report by the Welfare Officer/Branch Officer at the end. Margaret emphasised that identifying clearly what you wanted for your member was very important. Every section needed to be fully filled and copies of supporting paperwork must be sent to London as this was the key to assisting the member. Having identified the problems it was important in the Welfare officer's report to prioritise the member's needs in bullet point format for the Caseworker's assessment in London and to remember to sign and date it. Judging from the body language of those listening (rapt attention) and the questions asked of the Chair, the serious work done on the casework studies devised and led by Janet Hughes that followed, proved a highly successful morning session. A buffet lunch, which received a lot of compliments, was provided.

The afternoon sessions were given over to a Benefits Briefing By Yvonne Davies Welfare Officer, job-share Sandwell Branch and a presentation of Debt Referral by Keith Teasdale of FCL both important briefings for helping our members, now and in the future.

Margaret Millward, Chair of the Regional Welfare Committee, was supported by her colleagues, Janet Hughes, Vice-Chair, Judith Longbottom, Development Board Member and David Kippest, Committee Member newly elected from the Retired Members section.

All the attendees completed the evaluation form and everyone was positive about its usefulness. The new topics asked for were:

Updates ie more of the same and
interview techniques for teasing out the facts required to complete the UNISON Welfare Application for Assistance form.

All those who came signed up to come again and it is hoped to have regular mailings from the Region to the Welfare Officers and Welfare Contacts with up-to-date information and an annual regional training day. This is why it is so important for Branches to ensure that the Region's RMS has up-to-date names and addresses of their Branch Welfare Officers and contacts.

Jan Bott-Obi
Regional Committee Secretary

“A special 'thank you' to Jan Bott-Obi and to Ann-Marie Davidson, the staff who made our day run smoothly”

Margaret Millward.

UNISON Welfare -
Guidelines for Access to Regional Grants

A member must apply through their Branch by completing the UNISON Application for Assistance form. Someone from the branch who has been designated by the Secretary should help the member fill in the form IN FULL. This could be the elected Welfare Officer, Assistant Welfare Officer, or Senior officer of the Branch or the Branch Secretary. This is essential as a report and Branch Officer declaration are on the final page and must be done before the completed form is sent to UNISON Welfare, I Mabledon Place, LONDON WC1H 9AJ. There are no exceptions to this in any circumstances.

The case must be accepted by UNISON Welfare in London for a grant and they refer the case to the Regional Welfare Committee.

Should the case not meet the national criteria after applying for assistance to UNISON Welfare in London the Branch Welfare Officer or any other designated Branch Officer can refer a case to the Regional Welfare Committee. Each referred case will be looked at on its own merits and Regional Welfare Committee will decide if any assistance from the local fund is appropriate.

The current Regional Welfare Benefits Committee comprises of Margaret Millward, Chair; Janet Hughes, Vice-Chair; Judith Longbottom, Development Board member; Peter Edwards, member; David Kippest, member, Margaret Birrup, member and Janet Bott-Obi, Committee Secretary based in the Regional Centre 0121 685 3106, your first Regional point of contact for information.

For casework queries contact Margaret Millward, Chair Regional Welfare Benefits Committee on UNISON dedicated mobile 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 079 3131 6741 and Janet Hughes, Vice Chair mobile number 079 966 546 391.

Violence and Aggression Working Group -
Making Changes

Last year Walsall Hospitals Branch of UNISON undertook a survey on “Violence and Aggression in the Workplace”. The result of the survey highlighted that 93% or respondents thought that the trust training on violence and aggression was inadequate.

The results of the survey were sent directly to the Chief Executive, Director of Personnel and the Trust Board of Directors. In response, the trust agreed to set up a working group, to look at the subject of violence and aggression and the results of the survey.

The first meeting was held on 9th April 2002. From that meeting and the subsequent two meetings, it has been planned to hold pilot training sessions to improve training and to make it more accessible to staff.

It has also been acknowledged that the Trust has great difficulty in allowing individuals to attend training sessions, due to staff shortages and low staffing levels - which in themselves are health and safety issues and very often lead to violence and aggression to staff. Particularly when members of the public do not receive the service they expect within the time limit they expect.

Another issue covered had been the reporting of incidents including the lack of communication about procedures and confusion about which form should be used. The working group has provided a forum for any concerns that staff have on the subject of violence and aggression. Staff are able to raise issues via their workplace representative or directly to Gary Blakemore. Any staff wanting to contact him can do so on Kingfisher Ward ext 6708/6709 or union office extension 7463.

The Branch wants to thank everyone who helped with the initial survey. The results are now included in the trust’s Mandatory Update.

Gary Blakemore
Branch Education and Development Officer
Walsall Hospitals Branch

Race Action Plan Moving Forward

In April of this year the West Midlands Regional Council adopted a Regional Race Action Plan for the West Midlands Region. This is in order to put into practice the findings of the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry from 1999. This is a far reaching report which is intended to tackle Race Discrimination in all its forms but perhaps specifically in relation to the working environment.

When Jack Straw, then Home Secretary, presented the report to Parliament in 1999 he was very clear in stating that "The McPherson Report [Sir William McPherson was author of the report] challenges us all, not just the Police Service" and, he expressed the determination "to tackle Discrimination wherever it is found" and make racial equality a reality.

UNISON has a proud record of fighting racial discrimination in all of its forms and the Regional Race Action Plan, which will by now have been sent to all Branches in the West Midlands Region, seeks to drive home issues of racial equality.

Tackling Institutional Racism

Many of you will have heard the term "Institutional Racism" since the publication of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report which defined institutional racism as "Collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amounts to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, faultlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people". In view of this, UNISON must be proud to take forward arguments to counter institutional racism and, the Regional Race Action Plan is intended to begin this process. It is clear that all Branches and Committees should take the Action Plan seriously and put into practice those parts of the Regional Race Action Plan which apply to them.

Race Relations (Amendment) Act

This is now in force. It came about as a result of the inquiry and submissions to the inquiry by the Commission of Racial Equality. This Act is now in force and it is incumbent upon all UNISON representatives to ensure that discrimination in the workplace is taken seriously.

In September 2001, UNISON West Midlands Region held a one day seminar in Birmingham on the effects of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry and its effects in the employment field. This was highly successful with some 80 delegates in attendance and a mixture of workshops and keynote speakers. This provided the impetus for the implementation of the Regional Race Action.

Tony Rabaiotti
Policy Services Manager

Second Earthquake Shocks UNISON Regional Centre ?

September 26th 2002 was a real Health and Safety concern for UNISON members. A rumbling sound was heard that amazed everyone in the vicinity.

Was it was the aftershock of the earthquake that hit Brick Kiln Road, Dudley, the previous Sunday?

A Risk Assessment soon revealed that it was the sound of 60 delegates massing in the Regional Centre to attend the Health and Safety Seminar.

Health and Safety is not considered a burning issue so what attracted so many to attend?

As the day progressed it was apparent that the two issues being addressed were real concerns to both Branches and UNISON members.

The first four workshops on "What Support do H&S Reps Require" tackled Organising issues and revealed that H&S reps need access to courses, facilities and paid time-off with help to complete their normal job workload.

Despite a wealth of resources available from UNISON, it is sometimes difficult to access them so additional support mechanisms were identified.

Formal Branch structure with good H&S organisation and communication

Support meetings, internet access, networking and mentoring systems

The second four workshops centred on "Stress in the Workplace" and identified that SUPPORT TO MEMBERS is needed. Delegates worked on action plans to tackle the problem. Outcomes included:

Working party to oversee campaign
Audit of Stress Related Illness

            a) Body mapping to identify symptoms of stress
            b) Audit of sickness Records
            c) Identify Stress Hot Spots from Audit

Action Plan to reduce stress with achievable aims
Poster Campaign
UNISON Stress Awareness Questionnaires
Stress Workshops
Drop in centre/coffee morning to unwind

Training for support network where members can access sympathetic, impartial advice including referral where appropriate to professional help.

The overwhelming response to the day was very positive. A report was issued to Branch Secretaries in November giving a summary of the outcomes of the workshops.

So there you are - Health and Safety can be a motivating issue so long as the topic is relevant to Branches and members.

Frank Woodcock
Regional Organising Assistant

Organise 2002 in the West Midlands

Building on the success of last year’s Organise 2001 Campaign, the West Midlands Region held their first Regional Organising Seminar on Friday, 25th October at Birmingham Council House.

The Organising and Recruitment Campaign has been endorsed by National to help Branches look at the way they organise and recruit within the workplace, and to help Branches to see that this is not something new but in fact is something we may have shied away from over the years.

The aim of the Seminar was to share best branch practice, participate in workshops and pick up tips and ideas for organising and recruiting within the workplace.

The Seminar was attended by 54 delegates from Branches across the services, Health, Local Government and the Private Sector. The event was chaired by Shân Williams, Recruitment and Campaigning Committee.

The morning programme included a presentation from Louise Chinnery, TUC Organiser Academy Co-ordinator with a strong background in organising and recruiting in New Zealand and the UK, following on with a presentation from the two winning Branches of the Organise 2001 Awards last year, Sandwell Health Branch and North Staffs Combined. Both these Branches went on to win a National Organise 2001 Award. The presentation to end the morning session was given by Allan Kerr, National Officer with responsibility for the Organising and Recruitment Campaign.

The afternoon session included workshops around:-

One to One Organising - How to Win Over the Sceptics
Organising Around an Issue
Organising around LifeLong Learning
Replacement Membership System - Used as an Organising Tool

There was even a fun element to the day in the form of a quiz which tested the minds of everyone there but which was nevertheless completed in a spirit of fun with prizes awarded at the end of the day. The day ended with closing comments from Valerie Broom, Regional Secretary.

The comments from delegates summed up the event as being

"excellent" "useful and interesting" "morale boosting, interesting and well organised"

Sonia Burgher
Organising Assistant
West Midlands Region

Best Value: The Redditch Way

We were all confused during the early years: legislation, guidance, replacement for CCT, PFI etc. From the beginning our council set up pilots, with a core team of officers to develop and drive the process towards year one. UNISON were not represented at any of these meetings, and to some extent neither were staff. Once the pilots were completed all staff were invited to attend a series of briefings on the councils programme for best value over the next five years.

Our first review (IT), year 1, was completed early in 2001, and UNISON commented to the inspector that it had had no involvement in this review. However we tackled this through our employer liaison group, and were invited to attend all future year two Best Value group meetings. The meetings will discuss progress and the strengths and weakness of current reviews (six in all). The branch executive had an away day, where we used the UNISON best value training manual; completed exercises on the 4Cs (challenge, consult, compare and complete) and brought in a specialist research officer to explain consultation and compare. We then selected one person to take the lead on BV (Assistant Secretary) and split the six-year two reviews between the rests of the executive (six in all). Each would have at least one review, and in some cases three depending on size.

During year two reviews, we had equal status on two of main reviews (Waste Management, Human Resources,) where we attended all meetings and had limited attendance on the other four. However this did not stop us requesting all draft reports, meetings and evidence. The Council had also set up member challenge panels, chaired by an external consultant, to which UNISON had equal status to question officer decisions in relation to their draft plans. (Of the year three reviews, only Housing has continued with full UNISON attendance at all meetings).

Progress has been different across all directorates, and the level of sensitive information has also varied. Many of the reviews have indicated potential staffing changes, as well as further work in the consideration of outsourcing. The branch now feels that it can work as part of the key teams to deliver best value. Although we still would like more UNISON member input, lack of resources, and key members volunteering their services, have placed the executive in a difficult position on those reviews where we lack the expertise, but we have made great steps forward. What next - Community Performance Assessment!

Ron Colebrook and Roy Banks
Redditch UNISON Branch

International Searchlight

At the West Midlands Regional Council on 13th July a motion from Dudley General Branch raised issues about facism and racism in Europe, including Tipton, Dudley and Stoke-on-Trent. Part of the motion called for publicity for the work of Branches who are campaigning to eradicate facism and racism. If your branch has done some work in this field please do send an article in to the Regional Newsletter and share your work with others.

The motion also encouraged branches to subscribe to Searchlight. The Regional Recruitment and Campaigning Committee is currently putting together an information leaflet about Searchlight and is enquiring about special discounted affiliation fees. We will keep you posted of the results of the enquiries. However, some of you may be asking - what is Searchlight?

In the summer of 1962, in response to a resurgence of open and violent neo-nazi activities, a group of people from a wide variety of political and religious backgrounds met in London to set up the Searchlight Association. Searchlight has appeared as a monthly magazine since 1975. It is now read all over the world. Simon Wiesenthal, one of the greatest of post-war nazi-hunters, described Searchlight as the best English language publication of its kind, anywhere in the world.

Searchlight's aim is to combat racism and neo-nazism, fascism and all forms of prejudice. Searchlight is a non-sectarian organisation in political, ethnic and religious terms. It believes in the broadest possible unity in the fight against racism, neo-nazism, fascism and prejudice.

Searchlight's current work - besides producing an interesting magazine, Searchlight is available for advice and information to any organisation with a genuine interest in fighting racism or fascism. It carries out continuous research to keep up to date with the activities, strategies and memberships of fascist and racist organisations.

Campaigning is a major role, and it has caused or helped cause the cancellation of a number of nazi events.

Searchlight seeks to influence Government Policy, and has given evidence to Governmental Enquiries. It works with the media to highlight issues about racism, and can provide speakers for meetings.

Searchlight also publishes books and pamphlets.

Branches which choose to subscribe to Searchlight will be supporting a positive organisation, and will receive the Searchlight magazine. Subscriptions are £32 for UK organisations, (being checked for a reduced rate!), cheques should be made payable to Searchlight Magazine Ltd, and sent to PO Box 1576, Ilford, IG5 0NG.

You can also look them up on the web at www.searchlightmagazine.com

STOP PRESS... last minute news just in...

FE Staff Take Historic Action

On 5th November UNISON and NATFHE members across England took strike action in pursuit of their pay claim. The Association of Colleges had only offered 2.3%, which would have only put 13p an hour on the lowest paid staff.

The decision to take strike action by UNISON and NATFHE was historic, breaking down the barriers between the teaching and support staff. The unity forged on the picket lines, will present the College Managements with a united workforce, long after this dispute is over.

The joint action on 5th November was well supported across the region, from Stoke in the north, which had massive picket lines, to Hereford in the South. Some Colleges such as Dudley and Tamworth and Lichfield were completely closed. At Tamworth and Lichfield, the decision to close the college was taken after it became clear that UNISON members would not be opening up the College.

The AoC had been saying that they had sympathy with the Staff, but that they were unable to pay more than 2.3% because of the lack of money from central government. This clearly was not the case since 6th Form Colleges, getting the same funding, were able to pay 3.5%. The AoC sympathy disappeared on the Friday before the strike when they attempted to get an injunction against UNISON to prevent the strike on the Tuesday. They failed. But their actions demonstrate that their sympathy was nothing but a smoke screen.

Charlie Sarrell
Regional Officer

In the next edition...

UNISON’s Right to Care Campaign, an important update

Pensions, it affects us all, Regional Retired Members will share their news of the campaign in progress

A diary of the Labour Party Conference...

The New Welfare Regulations will mean a wider range of support for members, our Regional Welfare Committee will share some of the news about the important developments.

This newsletter is produced by the Regional Recruitment and Campaigning Committee.

Shân Williams, Chair.

Please send your contributions to

West Midlands Regional Newsletter
24 Livery Street
Birmingham B3 2PA

or to Shân on shan@unisonfree.net

or to Bryony O’Hara, Editor on bryonyohara@blueyonder.co.uk

UNISON West Midlands’ Mobile Display Unit

“a recruitment opportunity your Branch should not miss!!”

The Region’s Moby has attracted significant interest from Stewards all over the country and as a result it has been used by a wide variety of Branches.

Poster Space TVs and Video Recorders Computer Kitchen

When did your Branch last use it at your recruitment events?

Planning events for next year?

It’s cheaper than you thought, fixed charge for delivery and collection from your event of just £180.00, anywhere within the West Midlands Region.

Perhaps it is time to make that call?

To enquire about bookings call Margaret Trezise or Ann Marie Davidson on 0121 685 4200.