2006 Pay Claim
Amicus Pay Line
2006 Budget
Do you have a Workplace Book club or Bookshelf at your Workplace?
Whistleblowing – Examples Needed
Sector Skills Councils: a toolkit for trade unionists
Hear and Now
Association of London Government (ALG) funds Bullying Initiative
2006 Pay Claim
Amicus has rejected the offer of 6% over two years and a further negotiating session is planned for 25th April 2006. Mike Robinson, National Officer said “this offer is inadequate and falls far short of Amicus expectations. We hope the employers are able to make a serious offer at the next meeting†A further report back will be given to all members after the meeting in April.
Amicus Pay Line
Amicus has arranged with the Labour Research Department (LRD) to create a database of information regarding the pay and terms and conditions of all the organisations where Amicus has members. If you need to find out comparative information about salary scales in other organisations, regional allowances, maternity and paternity leave and a myriad of other agreements that would be useful when undertaking negotiations with management, then visit Pay Line at the Amicus web site under the My Amicus banner. It is very easy to register; you just need your email address and your membership number. As part of the recording of information under Pay Line it is vital that reps and officers email/send their settlements or agreements to LRD, in this way we can ensure that information on institutions within the Higher Education sector is comprehensive and covers a broad spectrum of organisations. The only way we can do this is with your help, so please provide LRD with a copy of your current pay scales, terms and conditions etc and always inform them of any salary settlements. To provide LRD with agreements either email to lemery@lrd.org.uk or send to Lewis Emery, LRD, 78, Blackfriars Road , London , SE1 8HF.
2006 Budget
The Chancellor announced a number of packages and initiatives for the Education sector, included in this was £25 million to fund new learner entitlements for all 19-25 year olds studying advance level courses from 2007/8. This will fund a package of support for 19-25 year olds, to tackle the key level 3 skills gap and to provide a seamless transition from the 14-19 phase through to 25, for those young adults who have not achieved level 2 or level 3 qualifications by 19. £11 million will be available to allow the roll-out of the Adult Learning Grant to be brought forward to the 2007/8 academic year, providing maintenance payments to adult learners on low incomes. A further £40 million package will be provided in response to the employment issues faced by low-skilled women, with a focus on skills training and targeted careers advice. £4 million will be allocated over two years (2006-2008) which will focus on building Higher Education partnerships with India , Russia and South Africa . There is a growing need for greater international links in education. A key component is the development of sustainable educational partnerships between UK universities and colleges and other countries.
Do you have a Workplace Book club or Bookshelf at your Workplace?
As part of the Learning and Skills agenda, the TUC via it’s Worksmart web site carried out a survey of employees who would consider using a borrowing shelf or joining a book club if one were set up at work, 9 out of 10 respondents said they would be interested in this initiative and wanted to know more about how to set the scheme up at their workplace. The scheme is very easy to set up; get your employer to provide a shelf or bookcase, maybe in the canteen or staff room, download a copy of the scheme rules, see if your employer will provide some starter books or encourage colleagues to bring in books they have read and enjoyed, download and print off the bookplates on the Worksmart website and stick them in the fly leaf of each book whereby everyone who borrows the book can record their name and any comments they had on the book, hold a launch event and then when the books have done the rounds a few times donate them to a charity like Oxfam that has a network of dedicated bookshops. For more information and a copy of the scheme rules and bookplates, please go to www.worksmart.org.uk/bookswap/
Whistleblowing – Examples Needed
A new guide on Whistleblowing is being produced by the Amicus research department. To assist in the production of the guide we are looking for a cross section of examples/cases of Whistleblowing. If you have experience of Whistleblowing at your workplace, have been victimised by your employer for Whistleblowing or have access to specific case examples of Whistleblowing please email all information to Colin Potter at colin.potter@amicustheunion.org
Sector Skills Councils: a toolkit for trade unionists
The toolkit is aimed at all trade unionists with any involvement in the learning and skills agenda. As well as being a guide to the work of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) the toolkit sets out union priorities and also some key challenges, whilst highlighting the range of benefits that trade unions have gained from their involvement with SSCs. The toolkit has the following information:
Trade unions and the Learning and Skills agenda
What is a SSC and what does it do?
Sector skills agreements
How and why are unions working with SSCs
What are the benefits of working with SSCs?
Working with SSCs – challenges and solutions
How can you get involved with SSCs
For further information and to download the SSC toolkit please go to www.learningservices.org.uk/extras/publications/ssctoolkit.pdf
Hear and Now
RNID and the TUC are warning employers and employees to take hearing damage more seriously in preparation for the new Control of Noise at Work Regulations which come into effect on 6 April 2006. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss and employers have a legal duty to cut down noise and protect their employees from the harmful effects of noise at work. To encourage people to take their hearing seriously RNID are running a campaign called TAKE CONTROL – TAKE THE TEST, this is a five minute sound check that can be taken anywhere you have access to a telephone and will flag up any problems you may have with your hearing or any deterioration in your hearing. The telephone number to ring if you would like to participate with the hearing test is 0845-600-5555 for further information about the campaign please go to www.rnid.org.uk
Association of London Government (ALG)funds Bullying Initiative
A joint initiative between the charity Beatbullying, the ALG, the Mayor of London and Transport for London has been launched this week. The campaign uses the slogan ‘if you can spot it – you can stop it!’ this is intended to highlight the practical steps people who live and work in London can take to stop bullying. Thirty six percent of adults in London have witnessed an incident of bullying, but few know how to help stop it. The campaign suggests practical steps that can be taken to stop bullying. The campaign also has a dedicated telephone helpline 0845-338-5070 between 11am – 4pm and a campaign web site at www.bullywatchlondon.org
This e bulletin has been produced by Janet Golds, Research Officer for the Higher Education sector. If you have any news items or stories you would like included in the bulletin please contact Janet at janet.golds@amicustheunionorg