North Lanarkshire Council have launched their budget which finally details what services and jobs the authority is cutting.

More information in the days to come from UNISON. read more...

The Branch AGM is your chance to come along and have a say in the democracy of your UNION.

It is vital that we have as many members along as possible. The AGM is your opportunity to elect the officers who will lead the branch through the year ahead, receive reports on the work of the previous officers and vote on motions that are submitted.

This year, the AGM will take place on:

Monday 4th March
South Dalziel Studios
Motherwell

at 6.30pm

to confirm your attendance, please contact the branch office.

More info to follow.... read more...

UNISON challenges North Lanarkshire Council over damaging cuts Local government union UNISON today challenged councillors in North Lanarkshire to get round the table for talks about their damaging cuts proposals.

The council has been trailing a £73 million package of cuts to vital services – with up to 1400 jobs under threat – but postponed a decision in December following a well attended rally called by UNISON in opposition to the plans. UNISON today described the council’s recent consultation exercise on the cuts as “a sham”.

Mike Kirby, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary, said:

“I joined up with our local branch in North Lanarkshire at the rally in December to demand that the council open up a dialogue with us – because we realise just how damaging that £73 million cuts package they have been planning will be to our communities, our services and the local economy.

“In the continued absence of any meaningful consultation from the council and amid the increasing concerns of the workforce we are asking why the jobs and services should go if the need still exists?”

With just over a month until North Lanarkshire Council must set a budget, John Mooney, UNISON’s local Branch Secretary is calling on the council’s Chief Executive to provide information on the final package of cuts.

John Mooney said:
“Our members are calling our office on a daily basis asking their union for more information on the cuts. With just over a month before the council’s budget day, it’s imperative that we know the details – and that we have the opportunity to discuss alternatives with the council.

“Most importantly, we want to know if there are any other cuts being planned following the sham of a consultation process which took place.”

Mike Kirby reinforced the pledge made in December that if North Lanarkshire Council or any other local authority uses compulsory redundancies to achieve cuts to vital jobs and services, UNISON would ballot for industrial action.

Mike Kirby said:

“The cuts we are facing here and across the UK are not about money but about politics. A politics that hates public services and loves to profit from privatisation. We are calling on our public representatives to engage in a different and better course of action to protect the public services on which we all rely.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Mike Kirby, UNISION Scottish Secretary, 07939 143 355

John Mooney, UNISON North Lanarkshire Branch Secretary, 07880 384 656

Sean Hanlon, UNISON North Lanarkshire Branch Communications Officer, 07880 384 658

Fiona Montgomery, Communications Officer, UNISON Scotland, 0141 342 2877 or 07508 877000

Malcolm Burns, Communications Officer, UNISON Scotland, 0141 342 2877 or 078765 66978 read more...

A number of stewards within the branch have mobile phones and e-mail address which members can use to contact them directly. If the steward you are looking to contact is not on the list below, please contact the branch office on 01698 276291 or e-mail info@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

 

North Lanarkshire Leisure

 

 

William Shearer, North Lanarkshire Leisure Stewards Convenor

07880 385334

williamshearer@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

 

 

Finance and Customer Services

 

Derek Lowrie, Convenor – Finance and Customer Services Stewards Committee

07808 773230

dereklowrie@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

John Mooney. Branch Secretary / Finance and Customer Services Stewards

07880 384656

johnmooney@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

 

 

Housing and Social Work

 

07880 385336Margaret Stewart, Co-Convenor – Housing and Social Work Stewards Committee

 

J Robertson, Branch Treasurer / Co-Convenor – Housing and Social Work Stewards Committee

07880 385337

jimrobertson@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Charlie Ross, Branch Welfare Officer / Housing and Social Work Steward

07880 385338

charlieross@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Peter Sweeney, Housing and Social Work Steward

 07880 384659           

petersweeney@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Alan Love, Labour Link Officer / Housing and Social Work Steward

07880 384664

alanlove@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

 

Environmental Services

 

 

Chris Armstrong, Environmental Services Stewards Vice Convenor

07801 058800

chrisarmstrong@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Sharon Watts, Environmental Services Steward

07801 058808

sharonwatts@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Colin Murphy, Environmental Services Steward

07801 058809

colinmurphy@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

 

Learning & Leisure Services

 

Jim Paterson, Branch Vice Chairperson / Convenor – Learning & Leisure Stewards Committee

07880 384657

jimpaterson@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Sean Hanlon. Branch Communications Officer / Vice Convenor (CLD), Learning & Leisure Services Stewards Committee

07880 384658

seanhanlon@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Jan McKay. Vice Convenor (Libraries)  – Learning & Leisure Stewards Committee  07880 385339

janmckay@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Marie Quigley, Branch Chairperson / Learning & Leisure Services Steward

07880 384665

mariequigley@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Marie Bukkems, Learning & Leisure Steward

07880 384660

mariebukkems@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

 

Nanette Keenan, Learning & Leisure Steward

07880 384661

nanettekeenan@unisonnorthlanarkshire.co.uk

           

read more...

Colleagues

If you require an equal pay claim form you should contact UNISON on 0141 342 2832. If there is an answering machine just leave a message with your name, membership number or national insurance number, and post code and they will get a form in the post.



John Mooney

Branch Secretary
read more...

Dear Member

2012 was a challenging year for everyone involved with UNISON North Lanarkshire. It saw the announcement of the biggest set of budget cuts ever seen in this area with major implications for thousands of our members, and we had to respond in various different ways.

Happily our members and stewards rose to the occasion and we will end the year on a high, with the decision making process on the cuts being cancelled and moved to a future point.

We are hopeful that this will spell good news for many of our members as we believe that some of the cuts that were proposed were unnecessary, and hopefully NLC will be looking at this.

However, the fight is not over and we call for proper discussions to take place with us in this difficult time. Full disclosure and absolute transparency is essential in this process.

So, on behalf of everyone in the branch, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and we hope to see you all at member meetings in the new year and the AGM which will be late February or early March. read more...