Nicole Berrisford, UNISON Branch Secretary, welcomed and thanked everyone for all their hard work and laid out the agenda for the meeting.
Sue Bonser, Schools Convenor said we should be celebrating the genuine support and new friendships formed through the shared campaign, reflected on the continued resistance to the harmonisation of Terms and Conditions as well as the Job Evaluation outcomes.
“It is important to remind ourselves and recognise our achievements; that it was through our union, UNISON’s members, that is YOU… That we were able to secure a further delay to Implementation and gain ourselves 5 extra months on full pay from January to June 2016”
Our strength is that this is a member-led campaign organised by a motivated and empowered group of members who will continue to fight to the end. We are not satisfied with huge cuts to our pay and temporary contracts. We deserve the dignity and security of permanent contracts which recognise our roles and our professional status!
Adrian Morgan, UNISON Regional Organiser, spoke of how the campaign has been noticed and is being followed:
- the employer has noticed the impact of the action you are taking, and they are noticeable by their silence.
- special mention was made at UNISON’s National Conference, so all UNISON branches nationally are watching you and pledging support
- In Durham and Bradford, similar changes are being proposed though Derby is by far the worst and so they are looking at what you are doing to resist and are hoping to replicate your resistance.
- What you are doing is unique, which is why it is important to keep on doing it. You have demonstrated that you are not willing to stand by and allow something to happen and have come together and shown strength and solidarity.
- To rely on the legal argument alone takes time hence why we need this to be a two prong activity. Legal and Moral.
- We have an expert legal team, who are looking at all the documents and considering Equal Pay claims and related legal issues. We are in daily contact with our legal team and providing supporting documents.
- In addition to this, the employer has not met with us for 3 weeks and it appears that they don’t want to talk to us
- We approached ACAS 2 weeks ago and explained what we have been doing and asked them to get involved as we are committed to doing all we can to try and facilitate a resolve to this matter.
- By their silence and their actions it is evident DCC are hoping that you will run out of steam and motivation and return to work and if you allow this to happen, then they have won.
- A meeting has been scheduled to meet with Durham School support staff and UNISON in Durham to share ideas and mutual support. Links are already in place and many DERBY and Durham workers regularly exchange ideas.
- We want you over the next 6 weeks holidays to put forward any new ideas of how we can keep the pressure on when we return in September. Contact the branch and let us know your thoughts.
Here our latest schools support staff update, we cover the following