Room 254, 1st Floor,

Port Talbot Civic Centre, Port Talbot SA13 1PJ Tel: 01639 763820

JUNE 2018

Your branch website: www.nptunison.org.uk Email us: unison@npt.gov.uk Search for NPT UNISON

Sign our Petition on Funding Cuts! Neath Port Talbot UNISON branch has called on Welsh Government to reverse the decision to cut educational support funding to Minority Ethnic Achievement Service (MEAS) and the Traveler Education Service (TES).

The Cabinet Secretary for Education has essentially withdrawn funding for these groups under the education improvement grant (EIG). Research shows that Roma and Traveler children have thelowest attainment rates of any ethnic group in Wales and the EIG is designed to support their learning and raise attainment.

Mark Fisher Neath Port Talbot UNISON said, “In NPT we have a percentage of travelers and minority ethnic groups in our schools examples of which are Margam and Briton Ferry who rely on this funding. The council has evidence to show support workers provide a fantastic service engaging with these ‘hard to reach’ learners. We want all young people to be able to reach their potential and support workers are able to champion the needs of all learners, particularly the vulnerable or disadvantaged. They build strong relationships with families, schools and the communities they serve.

“A reduction in funding will be devastating and job cuts are already being discussed with the trades unions. Any redundancy costs will need to be funded from an already stretched budget provision.

“We urge Welsh Government to consult with UNISON and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Welsh Government must complete an Equality Impact Assessment to ensure monies are allocated to those in need.” We are now petitioning Welsh Government and would encourage all communities, Local Authorities and Trade Unions to join our campaign. Our petitions can be found on change.org and Welsh Government ‘Reintroduce educational support funding to MEAS and the TES to Neath Port Talbot CBC’

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Williams AM commitment to equitable in a recent press release she wrote “We don’t write off anyone, or anywhere. We have high expectations, with the right support, at the right time, for all students, schools and settings. As a small country, we can’t leave anyone behind” UNISON asks that the Cabinet Secretary for Education takes her own advice and supports all Students, Schools and Settings and reintroduces this vital funding.

UNISON NPT call on all other Local Authorities, Trade UNIONS and communities to join our campaign, we are stronger together as one voice. Mr Fisher went on to say that this disgraceful decision will affect the most vulnerable people in our society and I call on the Welsh Government to review their decision and put the monies back into Neath Port Talbot also the other 21 authorities before we have redundancies across all 22 local authorities.”

Sign the petition on https://bit.ly/2rnKt0B or scan this QR code to take you to the petition.

Dear Colleagues & Friends,

In February the Branch Committee submitted, on your behalf, a detailed report to the authority on the proposals to cut service provision. We are pleased to announce that following this report UNISON worked with the authority suggesting alternative funding reductions to prevent the need for losing services or jobs and to date there have been no job losses. We are committed to working in partnership with the authority and thank Neath Port Talbot Councillors for their dedication to our authority.

We have also supported our members in Celtic Leisure, NPTC Group, Tai Tairian and other private organisations, we remain committed to protecting our members in these workplaces.

We have just finished the annual school's budgets meetings, this was a stressful and difficult time for our unsung heroes in schools - our fantastic Support Staff. We had several Schools who have had budget difficulties and this has unfortunately meant that there may have been possible redundancies, however, by working inpartnership we were able to avoid such redundancies, we would like to thank all head teachers for being so welcoming to UNISON officials during this time.

Some more positive news… NJC employees accepted the 2% offer on pay from 1st April, this will be a lot more for our low paid members, see our webpage for more information. The workforce agreement also ended on 31st March, this agreement placed some increment points on hold, anyone who was previously on hold will now be able to move back to the top of the increment system. This will result in some staff having 2% plus an extra increment.

We have a very united Branch Committee who are willing to represent and support you, our membership, in difficult times. We thank you for continuing your membership with the biggest and best Public Service Union - UNISON. As a branch we will continue to listen to you, our members, representing your views when attending meetings on your behalf. The branch encourages open communication between Officers and its members and we always welcome feedback on issues. If you are interested in becoming active in our branch then please contact Jane our Secretary or the branch office to discuss further.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Branch Administrator, Laura Tams, for her contribution to our branch over the last four years. Laura has secured a secondment to UNISON in Swansea as a Local Organiser for the next 10 months, she will be greatly missed but we look forward to welcoming her back next March.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, we hope you find its contents interesting and don’t forget that we are always looking for articles so please let the branch office know should you have any suggestions!

Your Branch Chair Mark Fisher

UNISON Cymru Wales’ lawyers, Thompsons, won £92,000 for members in

personal injury settlements in March 2018 alone. Legal support didn’t cost

these UNISON members a penny. Advice, support and help when you need it.

#JusticeAtWork

join.unison.org.uk

UNISON recognises that the use of progressive, interactive and widespread social media sites can be very beneficial both in a work or a personal context. However, are we being less concerned about our rights to privacy when using these sites? The whole idea of social networking is to be involved, connected and in touch with friends and colleagues, and individuals are encouraged to post photos, statuses, where they are, where they’ve been and who they are with. Social media sites work purely on sharing information with others and being less private about our lives. It is acknowledged that social media in our society is widely used but are women members fully aware of the risks of posting for example where they work, live or that they are on holiday? There are widespread concerns regarding members posting where they work on their public profiles and the impact on their job,especially if dealing with vulnerable individuals. There has also been an increase in social media references within disciplinaries in the workplace across the UK. It is also widely known that employers do look at profiles on social media at the point of appointing to a post. We believe that social media sites do not emphasise the risks posed to women when updating their profiles and that individuals could put themselves at risk

without even knowing or considering it. Profiles can provide enough information for someone to become a potential victim of stalking by others who trawl social media sites for these women. The software and applications enable stalkers to track victims through their daily lives and could strike at any time, whether this would be physically, emotionally, financially or other means.

What can we do? ► Make sure you take note of the Social

Media Policy that the council has.

► BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU POST AND WHO CAN SEE IT

► REVIEW YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY SETTING

► Tell your fiends and family to be aware of safety

THINK BEFORE YOU POST - Online Safety

Unite to Fight

We all marched through London to carry on our principled fight To send out a message to Westminster on our workers’ plight That we want fair pay for our workers who work day and night All we want is justice to get a decent working wage that is right

We are all going to work together in our aims and solidarity And we marched on Saturday with all our energy and vitality To demonstrate how much members are suffering financially And to expose this governments policy on pay as a calamity

A happy day for all of us to be marching strong and together Proud to fly our banners and protest regardless of the weather United we will fight all the way and will keep on the pressure For members to be be treated fairly with a decent pay to measure

As we walked through the streets of London some paved in gold Where houses can change for millions every time they are sold We showed our strength by chanting for justice clear and bold Against this governments austerity policies damaging and cold

So it was all good to be there marching along a London street The bands were all good and were all playing int the right beat These millionaire cabinet MPs all deserve to lose there seat Who are against the working class and are looking after the elite

Our thanks to everybody who took part in our demonstration Workers are struggling on low wages and rampant inflation We will not tolerate our members being pushed into starvation With a government in power looking after the rich generation For UNISON from Cllr John Warman (Neath Port Talbot

Council)

At the Rally UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “It’s time for an end to cuts, and to the greed and hate that define this government’s politics.

“Most public service workers – the cooks, the cleaners, the carers, many of them women – earn less in a year than some people in this country make in a day.

“They’ve dedicated their lives to helping others, but they’re worried about the impact of brutal cuts on essential services.

“The sick and the elderly not getting the care they need, the children and young people left behind and jobless, the communities blighted by unemployment and poverty because of a political choice called austerity.

“It’s the care workers, the nurses, the

teaching assistants, and their public service colleagues, who’ve been battered by cuts, yet are expected to do much more with significantly less.

“It’s ordinary people who are suffering. The survivors of the Grenfell tragedy are still homeless a year on. The Windrush generation have been denied the care they need, and told to ‘go home’ by a callous government.

“Ministers said they wanted a hostile environment – so let’s create one for them, the Prime Minister and their politics of austerity.

“Let’s keep up the pressure and crank up the volume on behalf of the millions who believe in honesty, decency, compassion and fairness. The millions of people who know that what this government is doing is wrong, and who want a society for the many not the few.”

The Regional Young Members Forum have been very proactive since the last update. Our Young Members Charter (available from the branch, on Facebook and online) won us both the Eric Roberts Award from UNISON and the TUC’s Young Workers Campaign Award. A very prestigious set of awards for the years worth of work!

Using the money from these awards, we set up a young workers charter awareness concert, headlined by Nia Wyn (check her out on YouTube, and at the upcoming Labour Live concert!). The event was a massive success, with many officials and members getting behind the charter. We aim to show the government that young people have a voice, and that were willing to use it!

If you're interested in being a voice for young members with UNISON, please contact me or the branch for advice, guidance and support. Dave Coleman, Young Members Officer

Last year UNISON won a court case against

the government over employment tribunal fees. These fees were brought in on 29 July

2013 and they meant that overnight anyone who had a problem at work – who felt they

had been unfairly dismissed, for example, or faced discrimination at work – who wanted

access to justice, suddenly had to pay a hefty fee to access it. Their claim form would not

even be looked at unless it included a cheque or was submitted online with a card

payment. The fees started at around £160 for a type A claim, such as wage claims or

breach of contract, and £250 for a type B

claim, covering issues such as unfair dismissal, race and sex discrimination.

There was also a further hearing fee of £230

for Type A and £950 for Type B claims. Appeals at the employment appeal tribunal

attracted an additional £400 lodging and £1,200 hearing fee. Employment tribunals

play a vital role in workers’ rights. They are a

forum where workers (and employers) can seek justice, adjudicated by a legal expert –

an employment judge.Most of our hard-won workers’ rights – which have been fought for

by trade unionists and others over centuries

– are effective only because they can be

enforced through employment tribunals and employment tribunal appeals.

UNISON’s argument in court was that the

introduction of employment tribunal fees was unlawful because the fees interfered

unjustifiably with the right of access to justice under both the common law and EU law.We

also argued that the fees frustrated the

operation of Parliamentary legislation granting employment rights, and

discriminated unlawfully against women and other groups. One of the ways we proved this

was the data that showed less and less people taking out claims. We won the case

on 1 August 2017, with the judges agreeing that the fees were set so high, it “has had a

deterrent effect upon discrimination claims, among others.” And now new data is out for

the number of employment claims since for the months after employment tribunal fees

were scrapped, and we’re pleased to see

that it shows the number of cases going back up.Looking at quarter 3 in 2016 compared to

quarter 3 in 2017, there has been a 64% rise in cases. It’s looking like a return to justice.

Employment Tribunals on the rise again - thanks to UNISON!

We are living in a digital world, with more and more people adopting digital technologies in their working and day to day lives. As part of the Digital by Choice Strategy,digital inclusion across the workforce has been identified. UNISON, and INSPIRE Training have developed a training programme to upskill the Digital Skills of staff across the Authority.

To date 47 individuals from our Domiciliary Care workforce have completed a 2 day digital literacy skills course, with a further 52 staff signed up to attend the courses during May and June.The training programmes are diverse and can be adapted to accommodate learning requirements, for example courses can be delivered on a one to one basis and to account for work commitments, needs and demands.

We would like to acknowledge the flexibility and support both supervisors and managers have shown their staff to date and would like to express our gratitude for this!

James, INSPIRE Training tutor said:

“INSPIRE Training has started Digital Essential Skills training within Neath Port Talbot County Council. The staff members of INSPIRE Training have worked previously with NPT Council with great success delivering essential skills throughout many different departments, they had seen the learners’ confidence grow, which then enabled them to look for extra responsibility within their job roles, releasing their potential! Essential skills includes numeracy, literacy and computer skills.

The course covers how to write a report effectively, using correct literacy skills and touching upon basic ICT to improve the skills needed for their professional and personal lives. Courses are going really well and I have had great feedback from learners who have already studied with us.

INSPIRE Training is working closely with Debbie John from NPT UNISON. She is enthusiastic about quality training and has supported the project greatly. We hope to provide this provision throughout NPT Council and would urge anyone interested to contact Debbie to see if this is possible.”

I have found the employees really positive and receptive of what we’re currently teaching. Laptops are provided in order to make people more digitally aware. Lessons are delivered at the learners’ pace, and with a patient approach. No matter what their current ability level is, they’ll learn something new with us and get a qualification also! I like to thank the employees for making the course enjoyable and look forward to working with more groups in the near future”.

Quotes from some of the Homecare learners:

“A very interesting course, tutors are very approachable and patient.” - Rebecca Bowley, Community Care Assistant

“A really enjoyable course, I found it very helpful for my role.” - Kayleigh Crowley, Community Care Supervisor

“I knew nothing about the Internet or Emailing before this course, but now I would like to attend further IT training courses.” - Janice Busher, Community Care Assistant

“All aspects of the training was useful regarding our future work plans and I found Debbie and James very helpful.” - Belinda Deere, Community Care Assistant

Our first cohort of trainees are invited to a presentation during ‘Learning at Work Week’ in May. The presentation was given by Jonathan Davies OBE (Skills Ambassador for ACT Training).

For more information or if you are interested in undertaking ICT skills training,please contact Debbie John, Lifelong Learning Co-ordinator: d.john3@npt.gov.uk

Improving Digital Skills

NPT UNISON 01639 763820

unison@npt.gov.uk

www.nptunison.org.uk

Postal address

UNISON, c/o Civic Centre,

Port Talbot SA13 1PJ

Personal visits Room 254, First Floor,

Civic Centre, Port Talbot

Branch Secretary / Membership

Officer / Sports & Social Officer Jane Gebbie

0750 864 3052

j.gebbie@npt.gov.uk

Branch Chair / Labour Link Officer

Mark Fisher

0797 125 5130

unisonchair@npt.gov.uk

Assistant Branch Secretary /

Equalities Officer

Sam Alkarnaz

01639 686953 or 0786 653 9456 s.alkarnaz@npt.gov.uk

Branch Vice Chair / International

Officer

Lisa Walters 01639 763925

l.walters@npt.gov.uk

Treasurer / Labour Link Officer

Neelo Farr 01639 862997

n.farr@neath-porttalbot.gov.uk

Welfare Officer

Hazel Dance 01639 684743

h.dance@npt.gov.uk

Health & Safety Officer

Gareth Pennington g.pennin@yahoo.co.uk

Education & Training Officer

Karen Chapman k.chapman@npt.gov.uk

Communication Officer

Alison Lloyd

01639 881635 a.lloyd@npt.gov.uk

Lifelong Learning Officer

Debbie John

01639 685276 d.john3@npt.gov.uk

Young Members Officer

Dave Coleman

0794 785 5039 daicole20@gmail.com

Office Administrator

Hannah Jones

01639 763820 unison@npt.gov.uk

UNISON Direct Hotline

0800 0 857 857 (Freephone)

Open 6am-midnight Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Saturdays

This newsletter is produced by Neath Port Talbot UNISON Branch. Letters, comments and suggestions for future articles would be much appreciated, and should be posted to the branch address or emailed to UNISON. unison@npt.gov.uk Correspondence is not guaranteed

to be published and contents may not necessarily reflect UNISON policy. Designed & printed by UNISON Cymru/Wales Print, Swansea.

WELL DONE JANE! UNISON NOMINATES JANE GEBBIE TO CHALLENGE ALUN CAIRNS The UNISON Cymru Wales Labour Link Committee are proud and pleased to have nominated Jane Gebbie to be selected as the Labour Party candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan constituency at the next General Election.

Labour Link Chair Dan Beard said: “Jane Gebbie is a person that we can rely on to passionately defend public services in Parliament. She is a seasoned campaigner who always stands up for the vulnerable in our society and is not afraid to fight on their behalf. Jane knows only too well how Tory austerity measures have decimated communities and destroyed hope for many. The Vale of Glamorgan is now a key marginal seat and I know that if selected Jane will devote all her time to ensure it returns to Labour at the earliest opportunity”

Jane Gebbie said: “I am so grateful for the confidence and support that UNISON has in my ability to represent the people from the Vale of Glamorgan in Parliament. I have been lucky enough to have spent much of my life working and living in the Vale and I am determined to put something back into those communities. The Labour Party increased their vote across the country in last year’s General Election which demonstrated that socialist policies are popular. I will be determined to regain this seat for the Labour Party if selected. Support from UNISON means so much to me as I know we share the same values and can campaign together to ensure everyone in the Vale of Glamorgan benefits from having a Labour MP who will look after their interests.”