UNISON is the biggest trade union for people working in housing. Our members work in housing associations, trusts, groups and co-ops in the London and South East area.
We held our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 12 February at the House of Commons 2013 AGM
May Day 2013
May_Day_March_London_2013
The TUC launched a Campaign for Jobs, Growth and a New Economy on May Day, Wednesday 1st May.
A jobs guarantee for young people, spreading the living wage across the public and private sectors, putting communities not profits at the heart of public services, an creating a stronger voice for workers in the management of companies. Campaign Plan
London union members show solidarity with Turning Point strike action in Staffordshire and Stoke
London demonstration in support of Turning Point StrikersUNISON members showed their soldidarity by demonstrating outside the London headquarters of Turning Point on Friday 26 April.
Strike action was taken when Turning Point told staff they will be sacked if they refuse to sign new contracts which drastically cut pay and conditions. Dave Johnson, UNISON Head of Business and Enviornment said: "Workers cannot afford to have their pay reduced in this way. they have rent, mortgages and bills to pay - it is not an option for them to cut those down. It is time for Turning Point mnagers to see sense and start talking to UNISON. A race to the bottom is not the way to attract or retain decent staff."
The Peoples Assembly
The People's Assembly Against Austerity
The Peoples Assembly brings together campaigns against cuts and privatisation with trade unions in a movement for social justice.
It aims to develop a strategy for resistance to mobilise millions of people against the Con Dem government.
The Assembly meets on Saturday 22 June 9.30 to 5.00pm
Central Hall, Westminster
The branch is sending 5 delegates. Other members can register and attend as well.
Stop the bedroom tax
Don't make the poor pay with their homes to subsidise tax breaks for the rich. If the billions lost to corporate tax dodgers and very rich individuals were collected instead of cutting tax collectors' jobs then we could take care of the sick and the vulnerable, easily.
The housing crisis is not the fault of the poor. By encouraging more house-building the government could boost employment and ease the housing shortage.
UNISON members protest against Metropolitan's proposals to cut supported housing salaries
Thursday 8 November
UNISON members protests against cuts
Protestors: Low Pay No Way
Supported housing workers together in UNISON
TUC March for a Future that Works Saturday 20 October
Demonstrating down Whitehall
Disability rights protesters stop traffic at Marble Arch
Giving it to Starbucks
Trafalgar_Square
Branch Members Protest Against the Far Right
We are Waltham Forest demo
On 1st September 2012 the EDL attempted to march through Walthamstow. The community led counter demonstration "We are Waltham Forest" numbering over 3000 saw off a few hundred from the EDL. The disorderly EDL group had to be led by police through back streets as their route had been blocked, and their "rally" at Walthamstow town hall was abandoned in chaos.
However the EDL is not dying with dignity. They are attempting to come back to Waltham Forest on 27 October in a further attempt to inflame community relations. "We are Waltham Forest" will be back to meet them. This time the council is calling on the Home Secretary to ban the EDL march, and it that fails the council itself will encourage the local population to mobilise against the EDL. This is supported by the local paper the Waltham Forest Guardian.
The branch will be at the anti-Fascist demo so look out for the branch banner on the 27th. Details of the meeting point will be posted.
The Race to the Bottom
Lobby of the Broadway Board Meeting
Employers push ahead with cuts to terms and conditions to position themselves to undercut competitors bidding for Supporting People Contracts.
One Support staff face pay cuts of upto 25%. In a consultative ballot UNISON members voted to reject the employer's latest proposals on phasing the cuts at £2000pa. There are concerns about the employer's failure to consult meaningfully.
UNISON is seeking legal advice on FamilyMosaic's proposals to cut terms and conditions for staff working in Supported Housing despite the organisation being financially sound.
Branch Secretary John Gray:"I think it is almost inevitable that there will be serious and sustained industrial action and further conflict. A small number of rogue employes are leading a race to the bottom and actively undercutting good employers.
Workers in our sector are begining to realise that they cannot depend on TUPE or employment law and that as a last resort they will have no alternative but to take action to defend not only their own pay and conditions but also to protect our clients and retain quality services"
UNISON Regional Organiser Colin Inniss said; "We're consistently finding employers are under pressure from commissioning bodies... but rather that standing up to them and negotiating they are just rolling over."
UNISON steward Jason Peart:"What is happening is the whole sector are competing against each other when they should be coming together on this issue. All the organisations within the housing association sector need to be highlighting to the commissioners the impact that these cuts are having within the sector. It is not helpful that senior managers across the sector place bids for contracts at a price that is not realistic to maintain the high level of service we offer to our clients. Frontline staff are being pushed to the limit with many changes to staffing, terms and conditions and pay which confirms how commissioners and mangement continue to be out of touch with what is happening at the front line level."
UNISON fighting for decent PENSIONS 30 November 2011
HA branch at Highbury Corner
Thamesreach picket
UNISON members joined thousands of public sector workers on strike 30 November to defend their pensions. Pensions Day of Action
Branch members held pickets at Circle Housing in Highbury and ThamesReach in Aldgate, then joined the TUC march to Victoria embankment. At Highbury station the branch had a high visability presence on the roundabout and station forecourt, enlivened by Sarah's jive lessons. ThamesReach pickets were supported by UNISON members working for several other housing associations. Photos on facebook.
