NIPSA has voiced its total opposi-tion to any attempt to dismantlethe Northern Ireland Housing Ex-ecutive.The union also challenged the view

put forward by Social DevelopmentMinister Nelson McCausland that theNIHE was not “fit for purpose” in the21st Century.In his January 9 announcement, Mr

McCausland had claimed the body was"no longer sustainable or made the bestuse of public money".The Housing Executive is one of

Northern Ireland's largest public bodies,with almost 3,000 staff and 90,000homes.On January 15, NIPSA staged a se-

ries of protests outside NIHE offices aswell as a demo outside Mr McCaus-land’s offices in Belfast. NIPSA Deputy General Secretary Ali-

son Millar slammed Mr McCausland’s“appalling decision” – which will replacethe NIHE with a regional housing bodyand a new landlord function outside thepublic sector – and rubbished his viewthat “the current model” was “simply notsustainable”. She claimed the NIHEwas in fact one of the “few success sto-ries throughout our troubled past”.

Ms Millar pointed out that the NIHEhad been prevented from borrowingmoney by the DFP and the Treasuryand urged the Minister to make repre-sentations to those departments to givethe green light to the Housing Execu-tive to borrow money.She pointed out that this would allow

the NIHE to remain as a single housingbody “serving the needs of all tenantsand prospective tenants”.Previously, the union had firmly re-

jected the key findings contained in a2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers reportinto the workings of the housing body.The union set out its opposition then

to PwC suggestions that the NIHE besplit up into a Strategic Housing Bodywith a separate landlord function.And in a letter to NIHE staff earlier

this month, Mr McCausland insisted hisannouncement was not about “cuttingjobs or saving money” but was about“getting the right structure”.He further stated: “… the functions

that are currently carried out by theHousing Executive are functions whichwill still have to be carried out, grantswill still have to be awarded, propertieswill still have to be managed; all thosedifferent functions will still have to takeplace and it will require staff to do so.”

However, the union pointed out it wasunclear in Mr McCausland’s letterwhether current NIHE staff would becarrying out those functions. In fact,previous letter sent to NIPSA GeneralSecretary Brian Campfield by the Per-manent Secretary had stated therecould be “no doubt” that “this strategicdirection of travel will have implicationsfor existing staff”.Ms Millar commented: “If the Minister

cannot be precise about the impacts atthis stage then NIPSA would questionhow this can allay the fears of memberswho are rightly worried about their fu-ture job security, terms and conditionsof employment, location of jobs etc. “She added that the announcement

had been made against the backdrop ofthe abolition of Housing Benefit andthat this served to increase uncertaintyamong NIPSA members at NIHE.“At this point in time it is also not

clear that the Programme Board haveaccepted that some or all NIHE staff,currently employed in the delivery ofHousing Benefit will transfer to a neworganisation to continue delivering Uni-versal Credit post 2014. Proposals onthis are expected towards the end ofMarch.”

NEWSPAPER OF NORTHERN IRELAND’S LEADING PUBLIC SERVICE TRADE UNION www.nipsa.org.ukTel: 028 90661831JANUARY 2013

NEWS INDEX ESA – AGREEMENT OR MISSED DEADLINE?

SHARED SERVICES FEARS IN FE COLLEGES

TRANSFORMING YOUR CARE –UNION RESPONDS

WHAT WILL WE FACE IN 2013?Page 2Page 2 Page 3 Pages 6/7

NIPSAReports

NIPSA attacks move to abolish Housing Executive

LDT social workers totake industrial actionNIPSA members em-ployed as social work-ers within the LearningDisability Team havevoted to take industrialaction short of a strike.The ballot comes after

management insistedsocial workers droptheir caseload prioritiesto help monitor the careof clients living inRalph’s Close residen-tial home in L’Derry. The unit has attracted

media attention recentlyafter a number of staffwere suspended and aprobe initiated by thePSNI.

A union source said:“NIPSA remains op-posed to managementattempts to rob the fieldsocial work teams of theresources they need tomonitor care elsewherein the Western HSCTrust. “NIPSA believes that

care should be ade-quately resourced andthe Trust shouldn’t beattempting to fix oneproblem while puttingthe professionalism ofsocial workers at riskwithin the Learning Dis-ability Team.”

NIPSA NIHE members and supporters stage a protest outside Housing Minister Nelson McCausland’s office in Belfast

Flying the flag for NIPSA at a NIHE protest.More pictures of province-wide demos pages 4-5

NIPSA Reports 2013 January 07/02/2013 12:57 Page 1

NEWSPage 2 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

NIPSAReportsNIPSA Harkin House, 54 Wellington Park,

Belfast BT9 6DP, Tel: 028 90661831 Fax 028 90665847or email: alison.millar@nipsa.org.uk Editorial contact details: Bob Milleremail: bob.miller@nipsa.org.uk

Correspondence should be sent to the above address.Unless otherwise stated, the views contained inNIPSA Reports do not necessarily reflect the

policy of trade union NIPSA.

REMINDER...Make sure your contact details arecorrect... membership update details on back page

OPINION

MEMBERS in the six Further Educa-tion colleges have expressed con-cern over a management decision toconsider Shared Services for a num-ber of functions across the collegenetwork.While driven by the Department of Em-

ployment and Learning, colleges do havean overall responsibility for the direction ofthe initiative.NIPSA flagged up the increasing con-

cerns of members during a recent meetingwith DEL Minister Stephen Farry and theemployers at the Non-Teaching Staff Ne-gotiating Committee. It is understood that while the union ac-

cepts colleges have worked on a numberof closer collaborations in recent years,there is general unease among membersacross the public sector about theseShared Services reviews. Experience in the Health Service and

other sectors demonstrate that decisionstaken by employers can potentially lead tosignificant upheaval for those staff af-

fected. Added to this are fears that theseservices will be privatised.Minister Farry was challenged directly to

make a ministerial decision that privatisa-tion would not be an option for considera-tion in reviews by his Department or thecolleges. He refused to give such a commitment,

pointing out instead that he wasn’t ideo-logically opposed to private sector involve-ment and that nothing would be ruled outat this stage. Given the Minister’s stated position, the

employers were also reluctant to give anycommitment at present. NIPSA made itclear to both the employers and to Minis-ter Farry that any attempt to outsource orprivatise any of the functions under reviewwould be met with strong resistance fromour membersAssistant Secretary Paddy Mackel told

NIPSA Reports: “At a time when there issuch uncertainty in the workplace and in-creasing and sustained attacks on work-ers’ pay, pensions and job security, it is a

disgrace that any Government departmentor employer would contemplate outsourc-ing work or increasing private sector in-volvement in any functions currentlycarried out in the Further Education sec-tor. “The greedy world of private sector

shareholders and profiteers who aredriven solely by increased profit marginsis not the appropriate delivery model forvalued public education services to thecommunity, nor is it the appropriate em-ployment model for committed public ser-vants who wish to deliver a first classservice to the community based on theneeds of their college students. “Our members deserve better treatment

from their employers.”He added: “The concept of Shared

Services raises enough issues on its ownwithout the additional stress for memberswho now fear that they could find their joboutsourced. A widespread campaign ofopposition will be mounted if privatisationor outsourcing is pursued.”

SO IT looks like the UK is moving towards a tripledip recession. The double dip recession predictedby the trade union movement and many economistshas already happened. Closures of businesses with thousands of job losses con-

tinue to be announced virtually every week in the media.But this has no impact on the Chancellor, George Osborne.He continues with his existing “plan” of reducing the deficiteven though this policy is ripping the economy apart anddestroying the hopes of hundreds of thousands of workingfamilies and young people.His targets include those both in and out of work who de-

pend on state support to keep their families fed andhoused. The recent report by the Trades Union Congress inLondon exposes the myth that the majority of those onbenefit are dysfunctional layabouts who do not want towork. The simple fact that the thousands made redundant re-

cently from HMV, Blockbusters, Jessops, FG Wilson, Pat-ton’s, Hughes and other businesses have been in work andare now reliant on social security benefit also exposes anyargument that people receiving state benefits have chosennot to work.We may well ask how this government can get away with

this blatantly false propaganda and why many citizens canbe duped by the falsehoods peddled by compliant mediapundits. Surely most people have the capacity to recogniselies and untruths when they manifest themselves? The recent publication by NIPSA about the role of the

Taxpayers Alliance and their well-resourced crusade on be-half of the well-heeled and wealthy attempts to shed somelight on the incessant campaign to feed the population witha fantasy understanding of the way the world works.The TUC research reinforces the corrosive effect of this

misinformation. People think that 41% of the entire welfarebudget goes to unemployed people. The reality is that only3% does. People think 27% of welfare benefits is claimedfraudulently – the real figure is 0.7%. People think 48% ofpeople claiming job seekers allowance go on to claim it formore than one year – the real figure is 27.8%.The propaganda and the misinformation are fed to us on

a daily basis. It is insidious. Myths are peddled as facts.But these forces also help form our opinions and when theyuse phrases and terminology such as “skivers”, “shirkers”and “ spongers” they are attempting to enlist us behindtheir project of undermining the welfare state, the social se-curity system and ultimately the very notion of public serv-ices. Their real agenda and objective is what has been called

the Americanisation of our society; a society in which youpay directly for your health care, for your education andwhere it is every man and woman (and their family) forthemselves. It is also a system which provides a market for private

sector companies and corporations to exploit the needs ofcitizens in order to make profit.That is why it is important that the alternative message is

heard. It is primarily the trade unions – not only in NorthernIreland or the UK, but right across the globe – that under-stand the real agenda behind the official propaganda andthe assault on ordinary people. It is the trade unions that recognise the reasons for the

attacks on the welfare state, on public services and publicservants. It is the trade unions that identify privatisation forwhat it is – the transformation of services created to meetsocial need into profit centres.As we enter another year of austerity, of escalating at-

tacks on public services and on those that deliver them andthose who rely on them, let us equip ourselves with the realfacts and continue our work on behalf of NIPSA members,their families and the communities in which we live.

Brian Campfield,General Secretary

Get the facts on benefits and thwart the propagandists

Disability Seminar

THE saga of ESA continues. The de-bate has been going on for longer thansome young people attended the sameschool. Young people barely in their teens at the

time that ESA was first proposed have nowleft school – many have grown beards and,more likely than not, joined the ever-increas-ing dole queues as the education systemand employment and skills policies from gov-ernment continue to fail them. The date of April 1, 2013 – the focus for at

least the last 18 months as the definitivedate for the establishment of ESA – has fiz-zled out, like so many of its predecessors. In an effort not to miss another publicised

date, departmental officials now vaguelyrefer to not being stuck on a specific date

rather indicating that it will “definitely” be es-tablished some time in 2013. So we will now have a full 12 months be-

fore we know whether another deadline hasbeen missed or not? Good old Nero appears to be alive and

well up at Stormont, it would seem.The difficulty for members listening to all

these “commitments” is that they have heardit all before – with all the uncertainty that thisbrings with it. This situation has, of course, been exacer-

bated by the fact that almost 400 staff haveleft the Education and Library Boards overthe last 18 months, predicated on the as-sumption that ESA would be set up by April1, 2013. While this is no longer a realistic date, the

Boards will still remain intact and will main-

tain their statutory duty to carry out the samefunctions and deliver the same service butwith significantly less staff.Assistant Secretary Paddy Mackel told

NIPSA Reports: “Our members have beenthrough a lot over the last number of yearswith ongoing uncertainty over ESA. “If it does goes ahead in 2013, the union

will be engaged in a series of discussionswith both employers and the department, butalso – importantly – with our members to en-sure that their terms and conditions are fullyprotected throughout this process. “We have sought additional resources to

ensure that we can meet the challengeswhich members will face. If ESA is not es-tablished in 2013, then political decisions willbe required urgently to bring stability to Edu-cation.

“In addition, staffing levels will have to besustained at the correct level to ensure thatthe Education Boards and our members con-tinue to deliver a quality service across thesector.”While workshops have been set up and a

range of draft new policies have been devel-oped for consultation in anticipation of ESAbeing set up, there still appears to be a num-ber of hurdles to overcome before the bodybecomes a reality. In the meantime, Paddy Mackel insisted

that NIPSA remained ready “to do everythingpossible” to protect members’ conditions andthat the union was committed to meetingBranch Committees and members over thecoming months “to take on board any issuesthey may have”.

ESA – a final agreement oranother missed deadline?

Shared Services fearsin FE colleges raised

NIPSA members who attended a disabilityseminar organised by the Equality Commission.

NIPSA Reports 2013 January 07/02/2013 12:57 Page 2

THE UK Coalition Government’sWelfare Benefits up-rating Billwas passed by a majority in theHouse of Commons on January8, 2013.This cynical piece of legislation

capped working age benefits at 1%and was preceded by a wave of divi-sive propaganda that sought to por-tray Government acting on behalf ofthe “strivers” as opposed to the“skivers”. Such political barrel scrapping was

summed up in the Daily Express’front page the day after the vote -“Party is over for the Benefit Skivers”.One strand of the Government’s

justification for the benefits “cap” wasthat pay rises had neither beenlinked to nor been higher than infla-tion, therefore it would be unfair forthose in receipt of benefit to receivemore than the 1% uprating. This is certainly from the “brass

neck” school of reasoning, with thevery authors of public sector payfreezes and cuts (the Government)now pretending to be on the side oftheir victims. The actual figures involved also

show how nonsensical this argumentis – attempting to set those on aver-age earnings (whose 1% pay riseequates to £5.01 a week) against anunemployed person who because ofthis 1% cap will see their JobSeekersAllowance rise by 71p. Political commentator Owen Jones

summed up the Coalition’s anti-socialapproach well when he commented,“You have been mugged… therefore,your less deserving neighbour shouldbe mugged too”.As NIPSA has previously high-

lighted, the majority of those in re-ceipt of what used to more properlybe called social security (not welfare)are in work but are eligible for taxcredits and other benefits due to lowpay, are medically unfit to work or arelooking for work in an economic envi-ronment the Government’s own eco-nomic policies are worsening.

In addition, the comparison ofwages and benefits is a strange pointof attack, given the failure of succes-sive governments to link wages andbenefits appropriately. NIPSA Policy and Research John

McVey told NIPSA Reports: “The fallin unemployment benefit as a per-centage of average wages has beenstriking. For example, in 1979 unem-ployment benefit was 21% of aver-age wages – today it is 11%.

NEWS Page 3 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

THE COMPTON Report – Review ofHealth and Social Care in Northern Ire-land, Transforming Your Care – con-tained a total of 99 recommendationsthat constitute the most radical shake-up in health and social care provisionin Northern Ireland in more than 60years.Following the publishing of the report

in December 2011, the Health and SocialCare Board (HSCB) put out its Vision toAction consultation document andsought views on its content by January15, 2013. A Strategic Implementation Planwas also produced.NIPSA has been scathing in opposing

the Transforming Your Care (TYC)process and proposals contained in theconsultation document.Union sources have characterised pub-

lic consultation on the issue as “some-what shambolic”, pointing out thatmeetings have been “very, very poorly at-tended” and that they have not repre-sented the views of the general public inNorthern Ireland let alone carers, usersand providers. Despite assurances that a leaflet would

be sent to every household here – thishad not happened. Added to that, therehad been no effective communicationsstrategy and outreach to communitieshad been described as woefully inade-quate.At one public meeting NIPSA represen-

tatives challenged – and were shocked to

have confirmed – that the HSCB and/orthe DHSSPS were paying external facilita-tors to deliver the TYC message frompublic funds rather than using existingHSC staff who were perfectly qualified tocarry out this exercise. In general, NIPSA emphasised the con-

siderable disquiet felt by many over whatlies behind the initiative with a clear viewemerging that TYC is not about Trans-forming Your Care but Transferring YourCare on the cheap. NIPSA viewed that “openness and

transparency” – one of the guiding princi-ples in taking forward the TYC recom-mendations that was to be achievedthrough regional and local communica-tion and engagement – were being bla-tantly disregarded.After considering both the Vision to Ac-

tion report and Strategic ImplementationPlan, NIPSA’s position was that there waslittle or no scope for agreement with anyof the recommendations. The union wenton to make the following comments andobservations:n The document did not affirm or restatein detail the founding principles of theNHS and their consequences for servicedelivery and change;n There were parallels between the TYCproposals and those currently being putforward in England (post-Lansley Bill) in-sofar as both systems relied upon theflawed assumption of the Commis-sioner/provider split. The mechanisms ofthe internal market were again being rein-

troduced despite evidence of waste andinefficiency that led to the move awayfrom the discredited approach a genera-tion ago;n In terms of the HSC Review, theDHSSPS believes that 95 out of 99 recom-mendations are do-able. This view wasnot shared by NIPSA. With more than 99recommendations in the report, NIPSAsaid it remained sceptical whether transi-tional funding of £70 million over a three-year period would be enough for theimplementation of the new model of serv-ice;n Equally on the 5% shift of funds fromthe Acute to Primary and CommunityCare, NIPSA said it believed this to be in-sufficient and pointed to emerging evi-dence that any monies currently beingreleased were not going to front-line serv-ices. As a result, NIPSA sought a break-down in terms of the distribution of boththe transitional funding and all othermonies moving in the current processfrom the acute to the community budgetto support front-line services. The unionasked for this to be prioritised.n NIPSA also stated the view that thedocument was a vision without a plan. Itwas not costed and that it was perceivedby many as a “sleight of hand” to sug-gest that the initiative was not about sav-ing money but about making best use ofwhat we have – which is clearly very lim-ited resources.n The union also pointed to clear evi-dence that TYC was largely based on fi-

nance and was about saving money.NIPSA highlighted the fact that the firstsigns of this approach were evident in themoves towards re-ablement services,community urgent care, district nursesrotas changing, and the move from insti-tutional care for people with learning dis-abilities etc.In its summary, NIPSA claimed that TYC

was not about choice and personal socialservices but was about doing things onthe cheap, with less skilled staff – whowould have less time to give to serviceusers – working in a health system thathad been systematically eroded over theyears.NIPSA argued that care in the commu-

nity is reliant on a knowledge rich andconfident HPSS workforce, able to deliv-ery quality care interventions without theat hand support models of institutionalcare settings. It was NIPSA’s view that TYC – with its

overarching themes of procurement andprivatisation dressed up as value-for-money initiatives – ran the risk of assetstripping the framework of knowledge,skills and the ethos of public service thathad defined the HPSS workforce, replac-ing key sections of it in a profit-drivenrace to the bottom line. NIPSA insisted that Community Care

could not be done on the cheap andtherefore the union could not support theproposals or recommendations outlinedin the Vision to Action document.

NIPSA responds to (TYC)Transforming Your Care

LGB&T Group7 February, 4.30pm at NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast.

14 March, 4.30pm at NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast.

18 April, 4.30pm at NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast.

9 May, 4.30pm at NIPSA, 54 Wellington Park, Belfast.

All LGB&T Members and Non-LGB&T Members Welcome

Meetings February - May 2013

For more details contact: Email: lgb&t.group@nipsa.org.uk or Tel: 028 9068 6566

Meetings February - May 2013

elfast, B14 M

, Bark, 4.30pm ayy, 4.30pm aebruar7 F

oupLGB&T Gr

elfast

.elfast

elfast

elfast, B14 M

.elfast

.elfast

Ref A4_0038

NIPSA Youth E-zine January 2013

follow us

Sign up to www.nipsayouth.co.uk

Payday LoansWhat’s the problem?

Kris Bailie (NIPSA Youth)

Nestled deep within the beast that is rising unemployment, rising living costs, house repossession, fuel poverty,

frozen wages, malnutrition and ill health lies a dark, relentless and powerful heart: payday loans.

Long-term unemployment among young people has almost doubled since 2008.1 As we head towards becoming the poorest youth for generations, we �nd ourselves �nancially desperate, with a banking industry that has cut us o� from credit like an engorged suckling. Cue an alternative saviour targeting the �nancially starved young with o�ers of “help”: payday loans companies.

The most high pro�le of such companies is Wonga. Wonga states that its client base is made up of “the ‘Facebook generation’ – the couple whose boiler breaks at 7pm, or the teenager who has to �nd money for a Glastonbury ticket”.2 These companies host shiny, catchy advertisements and market their loans as being able to casually and transparently help you with

your mortgage or utility bills to gently get you by until payday. Countless foreign and home-grown payday loans companies currently operate in the sector. However, they distort this great �nancial feast by o�ering people on below-average salaries small loans of around £400 over 30 days, with anything up to a monstrous 5,000% interest. Although consumer credit regulation says that no unsecured loan should exceed £25,000, there is no control on how much interest a lender can charge.

How do we know payday loans are uncontrollable?

The UK lending and pawnbroking industry, worth £100 million in 2004, is now said to be worth between £2 billion and £4 billion

Figures 3 for people calling the National Debt Helpline have increased tenfold in the past two years

The majority of people4 who took out a payday loan have regretted the decision afterwards because they are so damaging to a person’s long-term �nances

Moneyexpert.com calculated that if you borrowed just £100 from Wonga at its APR, after seven years you would owe more than the US national debt (scroll down)

blaste

http://www.nipsa.org.uk/News/NIPSA-Youth-Committee-January-E-zine

Coalition’sBenefitsBill reallyscrapesthe barrel

NIPSA Youthcommitteeproduce ex-cellent four-page leafleton the perilsof pay day

loans and of-fers advice

on what to doabout them ifyou are un-fortunatelycaught upwith them.

See followinglink to

downoad

Keep up to date and visit: http://www.nipsa.org.uk/Home

NIPSA Reports 2013 January 07/02/2013 12:57 Page 3

NEWSPage 4 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

Province-wide protest against abolition of NIHE

A big thank you to allthe contributors whosent in pictures from theprotests against theabolition of the NIHE

NIPSA Reports 2013 January 07/02/2013 12:57 Page 4

NEWS Page 5 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

Province-wide protest against abolition of NIHENIPSA Reports 2013 January 07/02/2013 12:57 Page 5

AS austerity continues at home and inEurope, the experts at Labour Researchexamine what 2013 is likely to bring forunions and their members.Across Europe, the debate over austerity

and its effects on economic recovery willcontinue in 2013. One of the questions at theheart of this in the UK is whether there isscope for a “wage-led recovery”, as theunions and the TUC hope.The TUC’s view is that decent wage rises

are the only sustainable way to drive con-sumer confidence and spending, makingwages, in the words of TUC general secre-tary Frances O’Grady, “fundamental to oureconomic recovery”.There’s no doubt that the public sector is

facing further large-scale cuts and joblosses. Pay rises will again be well below in-flation as employers move on from chancel-lor George Osborne’s pay freeze to his 1%pay cap, although there may be just a littlemore scope for creative deals this year asnegotiators attempt to breathe life back intopublic sector pay systems. There could also be further challenges to

national pay bargaining (as health trusts andlocal authorities look for ways to cut costs),and cutbacks in other forms of payment (in-crements, premia or allowances).But it will be what happens in the private

sector that could have the biggest impact onemployment and on levels of spending thatare still substantially below pre-crisis levels. There’s no doubt that the private sector

has been creating jobs — a cumulative totalof almost one million since the summer of2010. However, it’s unclear how far the private

sector can go in creating more new jobs,particularly as many private sector employ-ers think that the recession could continue orrecur. And there’s also the question ofwhether workers can find full-time jobs, orwill have to accept part-time positions onlower wages again this year. The TUC has pointed out that four of the

five worst-paid jobs employ more part-timersthan full-timers. For major private companies, the main

challenge is long-term growth in demand fortheir products and services, rather than theavailability of external finance. And in thecurrent climate, they seem to be thinkingmore about ways to cut costs than to investin growth. Figures from the Office for National Statis-

tics indicate that a recovery in profitability, al-though not yet back to pre-recession levels,has been achieved by reducing investmentand costs. Firms are reluctant to spend de-spite more favourable credit conditions.These are the sorts of conditions which

last year resulted in private sector earningsgrowth of just 2%, well below the 2001-07average rate. And with RPI inflation still ataround 3% by the end of 2012, that addedup to a continuing squeeze on spendingpower. If the Bank of England is right — and it is a

fairly big “if” given its track record and self-professed “uncertainty” — RPI inflation couldfall in the second half of this year. But if thepriority for most private sector employers iscutting costs, then we could continue to seebelow-inflation earnings growth, stifling thehope of a wage-led recovery. The chances of a big pay rise are

strongest in union-organised sections of theworkforce, with a third of private sector dealsfalling due within the first three months of theyear. That will include some pre-agreed infla-tion-linked deals, which tend to producehigher rises. But as the year progresses it will be the

newly-negotiated pay deals, together withnon-negotiated rates in the private sector,that set the trend, reflecting the state of thelabour market. National Minimum Wage rates, based on

the recommendations of the Low Pay Com-mission (LPC), have a big impact in lower-paying sectors. New rates are implementedin October, but their value should be knownby March or April as the LPC has to report tothe government by the end of February. Recently, the LPC has tended to be cau-

tious, freezing youth rates last year and in-creasing the adult rate by just 1.8%. But thisyear there is a new upward pressure in the

shape of the voluntary Living Wage (LW),currently £7.45 (£8.55 in London). The number of accredited LW employers

can still be counted in the hundreds ratherthan the thousands. But the idea is beingmore widely adopted and will set a new,higher benchmark in the debate over theminimum wage. Pensions will also be part of the equation.

Rising member contributions are eroding thespending power of many public sector work-ers, while 2013 will also see more compa-nies and workers paying contributions underthe auto-enrolment regime.

EuropeIn the rest of Europe, as in much of the last

12 months, the ongoing impact of the 2008financial crisis and the austerity policieswhich have followed from it are also likely tobe at the centre of European trade unionconcerns in 2013.Across the EU, public spending is being

cut with damaging consequences for jobsand living standards. The situation is proba-bly worst in those countries that have had toagree to austerity measures in return for a fi-nancial bail-out — Cyprus, Greece, Ireland,Portugal and Romania. But other countries, like Italy and the

Czech Republic, have also introduced theirown cuts packages. The measures intro-duced by the centre-right government inSpain in particular, which has received exter-nal support for its banks but not a full-scalebailout, seem little different from those im-posed by the “troika” —the European Commis-sion, the European CentralBank and the InternationalMonetary Fund, whichsets bailout terms else-where.In 2013, all these coun-

tries will face the ongoingimpact of past cuts and,based on recent experi-ence, it seems likely thatthe year will bring freshrounds of austerity. This will have a major

impact on public sectorworkers directly affected,but others will also suffer. As the European Com-

mission notes in its latestforecast for 2013, pub-lished in November 2012,“private consumption … isexpected to stagnate inthe EU and to decrease inthe euro area in 2013, asreal disposable incomescome under pressure froma further contraction ofemployment, low real

wage growth and higher taxes”.This in turnwill feed into minimal growth, forecast by theEuropean Commission to be at just 0.4% forthe EU as a whole in 2013.The impact on unemployment is expected

to be even worse, with the unemploymentrate across the EU forecast to rise from10.5% to 10.9% between 2012 and 2013.Spanish unemployment is set to rise from25.1% to 26.6%, while in Greece the joblessrate is expected to rise from 23.6% to 24.0%in the same period.With such devastating consequences, it is

no surprise that government austerity poli-cies have produced growing resistance. Thegeneral strikes in Spain, Portugal, Greeceand Italy on 14 November last year, whenthe European Trade Union Confederation,are likely to be followed by others in 2013 ifthere is no change of course.

UK unionsAt home, unions are likely to face contin-

ued pressure on their organisation and fi-nances as austerity persists. Last year’s union membership figures re-

vealed a fall, largely because of a large dropin members in the public sector, which sus-tained more serious job reductions than theprivate sector. This trend is likely to continue, while the

shift in employment towards more part-timeand self-employment will also exert a down-ward pressure on overall union membership. This may prompt more discussions among

unions about mergers. The TSSA white col-lar transport and travelunion, for example, is seek-ing a merger partner asmembership losses mean itcannot “go it alone” in themedium to long term. The large unions are

likely to develop their part-nership arrangementsformed last year tostrengthen opposition togovernment attacks. ThePCS civil service union andthe Unite general unionsigned a “co-operationdeal”, with PCS generalsecretary Mark Serwotkaindicating that he wantedan “ever closer relation-ship”. Meanwhile, the GMBgeneral union and UNISONpublic services union an-nounced they were workingon an “historic new partner-ship”. This will intensify in the

next few months as theyprepare for the April localgovernment pay negotia-tions, when they hope to

end the current pay freeze.However, the process may be interrupted

by the early general secretary election inUnite, announced last month. There will alsobe a change at the top of the GMB unionwith the announcement by general secretaryPaul Kenny that he is stepping down later inthe year. Meanwhile, unions in the publicsector are bracing themselves for further po-litical onslaught following the relentless cam-paign last year against trade union facilitytime. New rules have already been announced

in the civil service, and there will be pressurefrom the right to restrict facility time in otherparts of the public sector, such as local au-thorities and the health service.

Employment lawDuring the course of 2013, some of the

coalition government’s most significant at-tacks on employment law are likely to comeinto force. For example, from the second half of 2013,

and to the considerable dismay of unions,the employment tribunal service will intro-duce fees, both for lodging a tribunal claimand also for hearing that case (see LabourResearch, September 2012, page 25).Unions and the TUC have slated the

move. UNISON general secretary DavePrentis said it “tips the scales of justice heav-ily towards employers”, denying legal re-dress to those who don’t have the money topay for it. And Brendan Barber, outgoingTUC general secretary, said that the fees“will deter many — particularly those on lowwages — from taking valid claims to court”.The government proposes two levels of

fees — with more complex cases attracting ahigher charge. The more straightforward category of

cases will cost £390 (£160 to lodge and£230 to go to a hearing). The less straight-forward category will cost £1,200 (£250 tolodge and £950 to go to a hearing). And a £60 charge for making an applica-

tion during a claim (such as requesting that awitness summons be made) will also belevied. Even larger fees will have to be paidto go to the Employment Appeal Tribunal(EAT).The government says that tribunal fees will

be remitted (waived) to protect low-paid em-ployees earning less than £13,000 to£23,860 a year (depending on relationshipstatus and number of children). But Barberdescribed the remission scheme as “woefullyinadequate”. And he pointed out that “work-ers will be more likely to be mistreated atwork as rogue bosses will be able to flout thelaw without fear of sanction”.The government is also amending employ-

ment tribunal procedure. Changes include anew claim form (ET1) and employer re-sponse form (ET3); removal of the cap on

NEWSPage 6 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

WHAT WILL WE FACE IN 2013?

Unions in thepublic sectorare bracingthemselves for further political onslaughtfollowing therelentless campaign lastyear againsttrade union facility time.

NIPSA Reports 2013 January 07/02/2013 12:57 Page 6

the amount of costs that can be imposed;and allowing non-legal reps to apply for theircosts to be reimbursed by the other side. Currently the maximum compensatory

award is £72,300 (the basic award, whichequates to a statutory redundancy payment,is separate). However, the government intends that in

future the compensatory award be limitedand that it be capped at either just a year ofthe claimant’s salary, or at between one andthree times the median salary workers earnannually. Currently, that amount is £25,882. There will be a new statutory Code of

Practice and approved model documents onhow to conclude a settlement agreement(the new term for a compromise agreement).And the government plans to introduce somemodel documents — standard letters de-signed for use in making a settlement offerand a model settlement agreement. How-ever, it won’t be compulsory to use thesedocument.Other major changes to employment law

are being considered, including:n the introduction of employee-shareholdercontracts whereby in return for shares (worthat least £2,000) in the employer’s business,employees would forego dismissal and somefamily-friendly working rights (see LabourResearch, December 2012, page 21);n a reduction in the length of the consulta-tion period in collective redundancy situa-tions (see Labour Research, August 2012,page 21);n a requirement in whistleblowing claims foremployees to reasonably believe their disclo-sure is made in the public interest; n judges sitting alone in the EAT, and theuse of legal officers (rather than judges) todecide low-value tribunal claims (see LabourResearch, November, 2012, page 19); andn where an employer has breached theequal pay provisions of the 2010 Equal PayAct, a requirement for tribunals to order anequal pay audit.

Equality In a move described as “reckless” by

unions, prime minister David Cameron toldthe CBI employers’ organisation at the end oflast year that he wanted government depart-ments to stop conducting equality impact as-sessments. This is the process thatassesses how new policies will affect disad-vantaged groups. Outgoing TUC general secretary Brendan

Barber said that the government was “re-

moving an essential measure” for monitoringdiscrimination.The government’s attempts to undermine

equality rules under the guise of cutting “redtape” and “bureaucracy”are certain to con-tinue into 2013. For example, it announced last October

that it is repealing various provisions in the2010 Equality Act, such as making employ-ers liable for the harassment of their staff bythird parties (see Labour Research, Decem-ber 2012, page 19).Employment tribunals are also set to lose

the power to make wider recommendationsto employers in workplace discriminationcases. These amendments to the 2010Equality Act will be made by the Enterpriseand Regulatory Reform Bill. From 8 March 2013, parental leave will in-

crease from three to four months for parentswith a year’s service and who have childrenaged under five (18 if the child is disabled). This policy has already been delayed by

one year. However, in practice, few employ-ees are likely to use this entitlement as it isunpaid.

Health and SafetyAnother year of madness lies ahead in the

field of health and safety, as the governmentcontinues with its cost-cutting agenda, re-gardless of consequences. And new laws to protect workers will face

stiff opposition in this parliament, especiallyafter the announcement that from 1 January2013, the government’s “one-in-one-out” pol-icy against new regulation is to be replacedby a “one-in-two-out” policy. This means that every new regulation that

imposes a new “financial burden” on busi-ness must be offset by reductions of “redtape” that will save double those costs.

The government is set on de-regulatinghealth and safety in the workplace. In April2013, it plans to introduce new rules underthe Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill,freeing even more workplaces from the riskof a visit from the health and safety inspector(see Labour Research, November 2012,page 22). Regular inspections are to be scrapped.

The only businesses at risk of inspection bythe Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or alocal authority inspector will be those operat-ing in so-called “higher risk” fields, such asconstruction or food production, or busi-nesses with a poor safety track record. In another move, branded a “disgrace” by

the TUC, the government has announcedthat it will abolish the right of workers toclaim compensation for injury caused by anemployer’s breach of health and safety regu-lations — a right which has protected work-ers for more than 100 years (see LabourResearch, December 2012, page 23).More damaging developments are ex-

pected in the form of the government’s planto remove health and safety protection forthe self-employed, on which consultationclosed in October 2012, and its plan to “sim-plify” reporting under the Reporting of In-juries, Diseases and DangerousOccurrences Regulations. Safety inspectors’ union Prospect, and the

Faculty of Occupational Medicine — a bodyrepresenting Britain’s occupational healthdoctors — have both spoken out against thesupport of the HSE for removing the report-ing requirement for occupational diseases.Prospect says it is “alarmed at the signals”sent out by this proposal, which would endthe obligation to report on diseases, includ-ing lead poisoning and many disabling lungand skin diseases.The year is also likely to see the repeal of

several important regulations, in particular,the Construction Head Protection Regula-tions and the Notification of ConventionalTower Cranes Regulations, against opposi-tion from unions including Unite, the GMB,construction union UCATT, and safety cam-paign groups.On a more positive note, there will be a

second reading in February 2013 of a TenMinute Rule Bill, backed by retail workers’union Usdaw, to give shopworkers legal pro-tection against violence and abuse — theProtection of Workers Bill . The Bill proposes a new offence relating to

assaults on public-facing workers, carrying amaximum sentence of 12 months or a£10,000 fine. Lastly, safety campaigners have one more

reason to give thanks for Britain’s member-ship of the European Union. Without the Eu-ropean directive on the prevention of sharpsinjuries in the hospital and healthcare sectorforcing the government’s hand, it is unlikelythat the Health and Safety (Sharp Instru-ments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013would have seen the light of day in the pre-vailing political climate. These new regulations will require employ-

ers in the sector to introduce arrangementsfor the safe use and disposal of sharps, aswell as proper training, information, monitor-ing and reporting.

Learning and trainingThe year looks set to be dominated by the

introduction of further education (FE) fees foradults aged 24 and over and proposalsaimed at reforming apprenticeships.From September 2013, and as part of the

government’s further education reform pro-gramme New Challenges new chances,adults aged 24 plus entering further educa-tion will be the first to face a new loan sys-tem similar to that operating in highereducation. Many UK students in FE currently pay 50%

of their tuition fees, while the state pays therest. But from 2013-14 anyone aged 24 or over

who wants to study at level 3 (A- Level orabove), will pay the full cost of their tuitionvia a student loan rather than through anyupfront fees.Controversially, this could impact on ap-

prenticeships, as adults aged 24 plus whoundertake advanced apprenticeships willhave to contribute to the cost of their study— unless the employer takes on the liability.

NEWS Page 7 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

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Across1 Dog covering thing to 25 (4-4)5 Black fish on spit (6)9 Fake one thousand bill (8)10 Bedaubs spikes after kinky practice (6)12 Be quiet ! Something to 25 riding (4,2)13 Something to 25 that's fine in open-air, possibly(8)15 General takes wine back on drunken spree - youcan't predict what he'll 25! (6,6)18 This being made in the lab ? (4-4,4)23 Cooked oat with Trill for a pancake (8)24 Sal returns to new oak to see Aussie treedwellers (6)26 Flashy metal around brown back (6)27 Disease twice said to come from town inGreater Manchester (8)28After first spell Cinders gets things to 25 (6)29 View a candidate (8)

Down1Attempt to hide one pound - something to 25 (6)2 Spike - one out of the sun for ages may say this ?(6)3 Price silly Emu as something to 25 (7)4 Help is what the gambler must have ! (4)6Male sheep and boy in storm (7)7 This beast may have a crush on you if you're un-lucky! (8)8An army, after struggle, rely on inn (8)11 Doctor is bored - take off something to 25 (7)14 Bald old funny geek (7)16 Son tests odd things to 25 on your head (8)17 Good violins - small things to 25 (1-7)19 Non-drinker accepts his extremely large plant(7)20 Show disapproval at things to 25 - baby's thingsto 25 on feet (7)21 Rip off something to 25 (6)22 Thirst badly for something to 25 (1-5)25 Combat round east makes you tire (4)

Brainteaser... Prize crossword by Casper

£50 prize on offer for cryptic crossword winner. Five runners-up will receive £10. All entries withnames and addresses attached to be sent to Editor NIPSA NEWS, Harkin House, 54 WellingtonPark, Belfast BT9 6DP with name, Branch no and address clearly attached.

£50 TO BE WON

Winner of the Nov/Dec NIPSA Reports crossword £50 prize is: D Moore (Branch 301),Dungannon. Runners-up: Debbie Trotter (Branch 560), Dungannon; Grainne Layden(Branch 70), Downpatrick; Robert Brown (Branch 509), Derry; Paddy Largey (Branch312), Omagh; Steven Hall (Branch 24), Larne.

Previous crossword answers: Across:1 Dramatised, 7 Gaga, 9Sauterne, 10 Allure, 11 Steppe, 13 Gardenia, 14 Inhospitable, 17Intransigent, 20 Extensor, 21 Clever, 22 Salami, 23 Cocktail, 25Idle, 26 Mutton bird. Down: 2 Roasting, 3 Met, 4 Torte, 5 Sleight, 6 Diatribes, 7 Goldeneagle, 8 Garlic, 12 Proliferate, 15 Potassium, 16 Anterior, 18Apricot, 19 Expand, 21 Cacao, 24 Tub.

WHAT WILL WE FACE IN 2013?NIPSA Reports 2013 January 07/02/2013 12:57 Page 7

NEWSPage 8 NIPSA Reports www.nipsa.org.uk

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Jack Hart, who has died aged 86, wasa most unlikely, certainly most unex-pected, trade union hero, thrust intothat role on 25 January 1984 when hewas summoned to a meeting of top of-ficials at GCHQ, the government'seavesdropping centre in Cheltenham.He was presented with an ultimatumthat sent shockwaves throughout thetrade union movement.Hart, in his role as chair of the different civil

service union branches representing staff atthe large spy agency, was told that MargaretThatcher had decided to ban all unions atGCHQ; staff must give up membership orface dismissal. This led to a campaign to re-store the unions that united the TUC morethan any other during the 11 years of theThatcher government.Year in and year out, until the Blair regime

restored unions at GCHQ in one of the firstacts after Labour swept into office in 1997,Hart, often with his wife Iris at his side, set up"roadshows" that accompanied the annualconferences of national trade unions. He ranhis stall at the protest rallies held every yearin Cheltenham that were addressed by unionand political leaders. Hart was the indefatiga-ble organiser and mediator, frequently help-ing to iron out disputes over a quiet beer.

Following his retirement, after more than 30years as a radio operator, Hart became sec-retary of GCHQ Trade Unions, establishedby those who refused to give up their rights,and ensured the regular production of thecampaign newsletter, Warning Signal.Hart was born in Rainham, Essex, and at-

tended the Royal Liberty school at GideaPark. In 1945, he was called up, joined theRoyal Corps of Signals and was posted toCeylon (now Sri Lanka) to train as a wirelessoperator with the intention of keeping in con-tact with allied agents planning to bedropped into Japanese-occupied Burma.The war ended before the operations

began, but Hart stayed until Indian independ-ence in 1947, when he returned to Britain. Aformer Royal Signals colleague got in touchto suggest that he might be interested in join-ing "an obscure branch of the Foreign Officewho do things with radios" – a reference toGCHQ, the successor of the wartime code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park, Bucking-hamshire. Its peacetime eavesdropping rolewas not exposed until the late 1970s.Hart took a six-week crash course in Russ-

ian and in 1952 was posted to Cyprus(where GCHQ still has a listening station). Inhis role as radio operator, earphones on hishead, plugged into a receiver scanning theairwaves to listen to Soviet bloc communica-

tions, Hart was posted to Hong Kong and didfurther tours of duty in Cyprus. But his basewas at GCHQ's outstation, since closed, atCulmhead, near Taunton, in Somerset.Hart was among many ex-forces signals

specialists who joined GCHQ in the yearsafter the war. Free from the constraints ofarmy discipline, they regarded membershipof trade unions as a welcome, indeed natu-ral, outlet. They also loyally maintained theofficial secrecy surrounding their work, ofteneven from their families. They deeply re-sented Thatcher's claim that there was a"conflict of loyalty" between being a tradeunion member and working for GCHQ. ForHart and his colleagues, this was the ulti-mate insult.Hart was a keen supporter of cricket, first

of Essex, later of Somerset, and of Arsenalfootball club. He played skittles for the civilservice. He was no great orator, but spokewith sincerity as he helped to keep the cam-paign going with dogged commitment. Hewas prevented by the government from giv-ing evidence to MPs to challenge claims thatindustrial action in 1979 and 1981 had dis-rupted " the constant day and night monitor-ing of foreign signals communications". Hesaid he would have told the MPs that GCHQmanagement had never suggested that anyindustrial action had threatened the agency's

operational efficiency.As if to drive the point home, senior GCHQ

officials went out of their way to praise thework of staff, including union members, fortheir work during the 1982 Falklands conflict.The union ban was almost certainly imposedunder pressure from the US, though this hasnever been officially admitted.Iris died three years ago. Hart leaves a

son, Des, and daughter, Kate.n Jack Hart, radio operator and tradeunionist, born 18 February 1926; died 27November 2012

Jack Hart obituary

Signals specialist who fought Thatcher's ban on unions at GCHQ

NIPSA’s legal advisors arelooking at the potential for aJudicial Review overDARD’s decision to relocateits HQ along with RiversAgency HQ. It relates to the depart-

ment’s failure to undertakeequality screening and anEquality Impact Assessmentbefore Ballykelly was chosenas the new site. NIPSA Official Noel Griffin

told NIPSA Reports: “Prior tothe Minister’s announce-ment, NIPSA raised the issueof the need to undertakescreening and an EqualityImpact Assessment duringformal meetings of the De-partmental ConsultativeForum. “In line with equality legis-

lation, we expected both tobe carried out prior to anyannouncement on the finallocation. “The department has statu-

tory equality duties to meetunder Section 75 of theNorthern Ireland Act 1998.Indeed, its own equality

scheme sets out the actionsthat should be taken to meetits equality duties and to en-sure that equality is centralto any policy and decision-making process.”At various meetings since

September last year NIPSAhas sought an explanationfrom senior departmentalover the absence of anyscreening process or Equal-ity Impact Assessment. De-spite assurances noexplanation has been re-ceived to date.Mr Griffin added: “In the

absence of an explanation,NIPSA had no alternative butto instruct our legal advisorsto take appropriate action.The effect of not carrying outan EQIA is potentially to dis-criminate against personsand may be unlawful. “While the department

have recently advised of itsintention to conduct an EQIA,this does not in NIPSA’s viewrender the decision lawful.We await the department’sexplanation with interest.”

Possible Judicial Reviewover DARD HQ relocation

THE Coalition Against WaterCharges gave the NorthernIreland Assembly’s RegionalDevelopment Committee adetailed presentation on theproposed Water and Sewer-age Services (Amendment)Bill earlier this month.The Coalition told the Com-

mittee it backed the Bill as ameans of ensuring Northern Ire-land households did not faceseparate water charges for thenext three years. However, they pointed out

that in the long term, gover-nance arrangements for NIWater – which exist under a leg-islative model designed for aprivate company – did need tobe addressed.Coalition members outlined

ICTU’s position on the provisionof water and sewerage servicesat the meeting. They said that

proposals to change NI Water’sgovernance arrangementsshould be guided by the follow-ing principles:n Water and sewerage servicesshould be delivered by a bodyclearly within the public serviceand accountable to the peopleof Northern Ireland through theNorthern Ireland Assembly,n NI Water will not be priva-tised, andn No separate household watercharges should be introduced.Coalition representatives under-lined that any future considera-tion of governancearrangements could only goahead after full consultationwith stakeholders – includingthe trade unions – and that newarrangements must meet theprinciple of full transparency ofall NI Water’s capital and rev-enue costs.

CAWC puts its case beforeAssembly Committee

NIPSA Reports 2013 January 07/02/2013 12:57 Page 8