Union organised trams roll out in Edinburgh

The first trams for 60 years rolled out in Edinburgh this morning with 95 per cent of their workers members of a union.
   The success was recognised by the STUC in April when it awarded Unite reps at Lothian Buses the first STUC organising award. The reps were praised for helping tram colleagues set up union structures long before the first passenger was carried.

UNISON deplores SDL festival march

UNISON's City of Edinburgh Branch has issued a strongly worded condemnation of the decision to allow an SDL march during the International Festival. Using its blog, facebook and twitter, the branch is campaigning to build the widest support among members, festival goers and artists for the counter demonstration this Saturday. The statement by Andy Barnett, branch secretary, is below.

Equal Pay Victory: Behind the Headlines

Equal pay hit the headlines big style last week culminating in Friday’s announcement that UNISON had won a settlement for 3,000 workers in Edinburgh. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/
news/content/view/full/125431  As UNISON Scotland mounts an autumn recruitment campaign, what better advert is there for being a member of a union? But amidst the celebrations, it is worth taking a look at the years of work behind the headlines that brought a deal for these mainly low-paid women.

Capital cities join to back public services during festival

Edinburgh and London UNISON members are bringing the acclaimed "A Tale of Two Barnets" film to the city during the Edinburgh festival today to highlight the dangers of wholesale privatisation of council services. The film has had the rare privilege of being shown at the House of Commons and has been warmly received in over 30 showings across the London borough and beyond.

Labour Biggest Party in Edinburgh, Birmingham, Southampton...

Detailed analysis of the local election results can wait, but one obvious conclusion can be drawn from the headlines. What do Edinburgh, Birmingham and Southampton have in common, apart from being large cities with very different histories and economies? All three areas have been the scene of dedicated UNISON campaigning against the ravages of privatisation and cuts. Campaigns that have embraced both the workforce and the communities that they serve.

Sack Lothian PFI contractor says UNISON

UNISON Scotland has called for Consort PFI contactor to be sacked from Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary after a patient had to be sewn up by torchlight when workers power was cut at two theatres - the latest in a catalogue of failures. http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/eri-surgeon-forced-to-operate-by-torchlight-1-2242627

Breaking News: Edinburgh dumps privatisation

Edinburgh Council voted this morning to dump the final two of three huge privatisation plans following a hugely successful union and community campaign. Environment Services stayed in house in November and Corporate services and Facilities contracts were voted down today as the SNP joined Labour and Greens to beat the Lib Dems (SNP coalition partners) and the Tories. Had these contracts gone out, about 4,000 jobs would have been affected - the biggest ever council privatisation in Scotland.

Involving workers key to quality services – not privatisation

Edinburgh Council would do well to learn the lessons of a story in its own staff magazine and vote against two more major privatisations this month.

Claims don't match reality of 'strategic partnerships‏'

As Edinburgh's unions fought off a bid last week for partnership (privatisation) of the council's Environmental Services, the latest European Services Strategy Unit/PPP Database shows "evidence of a large credibility gap between the claims of strategic partnerships in procurement and the reality of high-cost, high-risk, and low performance contracts", according to Dexter Whitfield. http://www.european-services-strategy.org.uk/ppp-database/

In-House: The Right Choice for the Right Reasons

Why the Edinburgh in-house option is 'best value'. UNISON has issued a briefing on why the In-House Environment Option is 'best value' and should be supported by councillors on 24 November: http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/citynotforsale/EnviroBriefng.pdf  . UNISON examines all the privatisation issues in a detailed briefing to councillors and urges a decision made on 'best value' for the people of Edinburgh. Check out the website for full details http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/

John Ross 1955-2011

John Ross, UNISON stalwart, a dedicated Labour politician, and a friend to so, so many, died aged 56 on 22 October 2011. He worked for Edinburgh District Council, then the City of Edinburgh Council for almost 38 years. He was a senior activist in the NALGO Edinburgh City Branch and then in the UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch until his death. He had been Scottish vice-chair of NALGO.

Part of City Not For Sale?

Edinburgh UNISON members are lobbying the council this morning as it meets to decide on the privatisation of cleansing, waste collection and parks. Press reports suggest a change of view by the Lib Dem/SNP administration could see a postponement while more work is done on the in-house option. The branch has been running a huge campaign, engaging the community, with leafleting, lobbies and public meetings. Decisions on two further privatisations involving up to 4,000 jobs are set to follow in the next couple of months. Ten reasons why City of Edinburgh Councillors should oppose privatisation (STV)
. Edinburgh Evening News .  BBC . http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/

‘Big Society’ acts against Edinburgh privatisation

The real ‘big society’ has taken hold in Edinburgh as citizens take things into their own hands by organising public meetings against £1billion privatisation plans.

UNISON exposes Edinburgh privatisation stitch-up

A packed public consultation organised by UNISON last night (27 June) heard calls for Edinburgh's Lib Dem/ SNP council to delay its £1 billion privatisation plans until the public is properly consulted.

UNISON exposes 'grave misconduct' by private bidders

UNISON called for an immediate halt to privatisation at Edinburgh City Council at a lobby of the Council this morning after it was revealed that two of the private bidders had not revealed criminal convictions arising from fatal workplace accidents.