What is devolution and why is it important?

DON'T BE LEFT IN THE DARK

Devolution is one of the most fundamental changes to the way decisions are made for local areas and how public services are funded. click the below link to read a non bias explanation from the Local Government Association.

Click to Shine a Light on the Answer  

National march to save the NHS from destruction - March 4th.

National demonstration
called by HealthCampaigns Together and supported by most major unions

• For a fully funded, publicly owned, NHS & social care service
• No cuts, no closures, no privatisation
• End the pay restraint for NHS staff

Book your seat on the Oxfordshire transport online http://ouh.org.uk/bookings/March4.html or call 07503169657
Transport organised by Oxfordshire UNISON Health branch and Banbury GMB.
We must fight to save the NHS from destruction. The threat is real. It is happening now. Hospitals, GPs, mental health, ambulance and community services are on their knees.
Rather than address the crisis in the NHS the government is accelerating it with planned cuts of £22 billion pounds with its 'Sustainability and Transformation Plans".  These plans will see whole departments, even hospitals close.  

In Oxfordshire 200 beds at the Oxford University Hospitals Trust are earmarked for closure, along with downgrading of Horton maternty services , community hospitals and mental health services.

Private companies are gaining an ever greater foothold within the NHS. Years of pay restraint has seen the value of NHS staff salaries reduce by 14% since 2010. The Government’s Sustainability and Transformation Plans are a smokescreen for a massive programme of hospital and community service closures, and are its latest instrument for privatisation.

The NHS is one of our greatest achievements. We cannot allow it to be undermined and ultimately destroyed. Join us on Saturday 4 March and send a clear message to this Government.

“the NHS will last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it.” Nye Bevan - founder of the NHS

Fight against tribunal fees goes on

Fight against tribunal fees goes on

The long-awaited government review of the introduction of employment tribunal fees has finally been published by the Ministry of Justice.

The review finds that: “While there is clear evidence that ET fees have discouraged people from bringing claims, there is no conclusive evidence that they have been prevented from doing so.”

Public services union UNISON is taking the fight against the introduction of fees through the courts and its case is due to be heard in the highest court in the land — the Supreme Court — at the end of March.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The introduction of fees was a terrible decision. The Lord Chancellor should be big enough now to accept her department got this one badly wrong.

“Tribunal fees should be scrapped immediately, before any more law-breaking employers escape punishment because wronged workers simply don’t have the cash to take them to court.

“Unfortunately it’s now much harder for people who’ve been treated unfairly at work to seek justice. Women have been the biggest losers, bad bosses the undoubted winners.

The review’s findings were also slated by the Law Society, the representative body for solicitors in England and Wales.

Law Society president Robert Bourns said: “The minister asserts there is ‘no evidence to suggest’ the fees are limiting access to justice — but the evidence in his own report suggests that tens of thousands of people are slipping through the cracks.

“The truth is employment tribunal fees have had a chilling effect on the number of people able or willing to bring a case against their employer.

UNISON press release

Review of the introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunals (pdf)

Apprenticeship - know your rights

Apprenticeship - know your rights eNote

The new interactive eNote “Apprenticeships – know your rights” explains why a quality apprenticeship is a great way to earn money while developing skills for a rewarding career. It explains that new apprentices will be entering the world of work but learning as they do so, studying for a qualification, and possibly a degree.

This eNote is a self-contained module that contains a mixture of text, video and quizzes. It lasts for 10 minutes and can be returned to as many times as you like

Apprenticeship Enote

UK Pride dates

UK Pride dates

The dates for 2017 Pride events taking place across the UK can be found by following the link below.

The TUC want as many LGBT+ activists and allies at Pride events to demonstrate the trade union commitment - and continued fight - for LGBT+ equality.

UK Pride website

National Demonstration

South East Region 20 February 2017 National Demonstration #ourNHS no cuts|no closures|no privatisation Our National Health Service is at breaking point. On the backdrop of continued cuts and closures, private companies seek to gain even more of a foothold within the NHS. Continued pay restraint has since the value of NHS staff salaries reduce by 14% since 2010 and there are now 25,000 nursing and 3,500 midwifery vacancies in NHS England alone. Visit there website and find out how you can get involved. Join UNISON and other health unions on the 4th March in London and march to protect YOUR NHS Date: March 4 2017 Time: 12pm Location: Tavistock Square If your branch has organised a coach please tell us so we can organise a UNISON South East block on the day. Contact Kieran Pearson

Get active in your branch

Why get active in your branch

Getting involved in your branch offers a chance for you to influence the decisions of the branch – and in turn make a difference in your workplace.

Volunteering brings personal benefits too:

• you can get free training and learning opportunities – and time off work while you learn;
• you gain valuable experience in new areas;
• you can create a better workplace and better public services;
• it looks good on your CV.

How to get active

If you want to help out, why not offer to lend a hand from time to time? What you do depends on how much time you have. You might be able to help get the room ready for a meeting, hand out information or put up posters advertising branch meetings. Just  speak to your local branch. Whether it’s a particular campaign that interests you, or a group, or just being part of the everyday running of the union, your branch will be able to help you get involved.

We are here for you.

Every member of UNISON belongs to a branch. Why not get active by going along to a branch event to meet other UNISON members and find out what the branch is doing? You’ll be made very welcome and it’s a great chance to find out more about what the union is doing for you.

email us on office@oxfordcityunison.com  and come and join us

For some reason this link only works when you use Google Chrome and not widows, i am working on a solution.

Please support us and Oxford City Council, working in partnership

One Oxfordshire's proposals to create a unitary county will mean the voice of Oxford will be lost, and could see services under threat. Our petition says: #HandsoffOxfordCity!

Sign the petition -hands-off-oxford-city here

We want to make you aware of a massive threat facing Oxford City.

Oxfordshire County Council has put forward proposals to abolish Oxford City Council, along with all the other councils in Oxfordshire, to create a remote unitary county council covering all of Oxfordshire.

Our concern is that these proposals will mean the voice of the City will be lost; Oxford will no longer have control of decisions over vital services in the City.

You may not agree with everything we do, but we are proud of our record.

Please sign this petition to register your opposition to the unitary county council proposals.

This is not about what political party you vote for, it is about whether Oxford remains in control of local services for local people.

'If it ain't broke don't fix it': Councillors launch campaign to save Oxford City Council from Control

COUNCILLORS have launched a campaign to prevent Oxford City Council from being sucked into unitary rule.

Members of the council's Green party are fighting against the One Oxfordshire proposal, which would abolish district and city councils and replace them with one 'super council'.

Leader of Oxford's Green group Craig Simmons insisted that, while other authorities might be struggling to make ends meet, the city council has been 'efficiently' dealing with its own business.

He said: "The city council is a cost effective, efficiently run local authority that pursues its own agenda. While other councils in the county, and the county council itself, has been cost-cutting and privatising services, the city council is unique in retaining control over service delivery.

To read full story from this is oxfordshire click here

Great reading, makes lots of sence

Message from Cllr Barry Wood, leader of Cherwell District Council:

"The belief that children are our future is not just a line from a popular song – it’s a true fact and statement.

"Cherwell and Oxfordshire County Council both offer services for children but the key difference between the two authorities is their commitment to investing in these services.

"Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for education – which is obviously a statutory service - but it also has a responsibility to provide “sufficient” children’s centres. However, the county has taken this responsibility lightly – cutting the number of council-run children’s centres in half from March this year.

"The impact of this is far reaching; it’s not just the children who suffer but the parents who find support and companionship in such surroundings. Quite often, the most vulnerable members of society find solace in these services; yet the county has still made the decision to ignore protests from the public and cut the funding.

"Is that a council you want running all services in the future?

full article from Barry Wood 

Disappointment with County Labour Councilors

Please see our updated post, to show our solidarity with the city Labour councilors, who we have for many years worked in partnership with.

This Morning , Bob Price Leader and Deputy Leader Ed Turner of Oxford City Council invited us along to a Labour Group Meeting at County Hall as they see us as being part of the same political family and thought it would help in the meeting, but the Oxfordshire County Councilors took a very different view and asked us to leave.

We were asked by Cllr Price and Cllr Turner to put forward the concerns of our Members/employees and residents from the the City Council. BUT upon arrival we had the door initially shut in our faces!! David and myself, are not only Senior Trade union officials of the branch, but also Labour party members and supporters, we were disgusted that the Oxfordshire County Labour Party could behave in such away, they seem to forget that the Local elections are nearly upon them and this does not help if they are seeking re-election!! we were told in no uncertain terms that they were not prepared to listen to our concerns at this time, regarding their proposals for One Oxfordshire.

If this is the way that they treat their Trade Union Supporters and members and not forgetting their total disregard of the view of the residents in Oxford!!! then how on earth are they going to represent the views of the whole of Oxfordshires residents should their bid be successful! they certainly don't want our respect that's for sure!!!