North Somerset Youth Services Cuts - Appeal to Supreme Court

The following is a press release issued by Public Interest Lawyers:

In a judgment handed down today the Supreme Court set aside the finding of the Court of Appeal on costs and ordered North Somerset Council to pay Aaron Hunt two thirds of his costs before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. The appeal to the Supreme Court was brought following the Court of Appeal’s finding that although the Council had acted unlawfully in relation to a decision taken in February 2012 to reduce funding to youth services in the North Somerset area by 72% over a three year period Mr Hunt was not entitled to relief on the basis it was too late to revisit the Council’s budget for that financial year. Mr Hunt, a keen user of these services, had challenged the Council’s decision on the basis, among others, that the decision making process was illegal as it had failed to comply with its statutory obligation to consult with young people.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, found that the Court of Appeal had fallen into error and was wrong to find against Mr Hunt on costs as he had won the argument on the substantive issues in dispute. The Supreme Court’s decision on costs is an accurate reflection of the fact that the concerns raised by Mr Hunt about the Council’s decision making process were validated in the Court of Appeal.

A spokesperson for Public Interest Lawyers said –
While the Court of Appeal found that Aaron was right to challenge the Council’s unlawful decision making process, it failed to properly reflect that finding in its decision on costs. Today’s Supreme Court judgment on costs vindicates Aaron’s challenge to the Council’s February 2012 decision. As Lord Toulson noted in the Court’s judgment, public law is not about private rights but about public wrongs. Where a claimant successfully challenges a public wrong committed by a local authority, that claimant should expect to recover their costs. The Supreme Court has given the final decision in this case, with the result that Aaron has succeeded in his challenge and has had the bulk of his costs awarded to him. It is hoped that in the future the Council will give appropriate consideration to the criticisms made of it by the Court of Appeal and ensure that any future decisions taken, whether in relation to youth services or any other important public service, will respect the views of those within the North Somerset area as well as the law.

Padraig Hughes, Public Interest Lawyers

Judgment here: https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2014-0023.html

Proposal to Cut Pay Enhancements - Consultative Ballot and Members Meetings

North Somerset UNISON members will soon be balloted on the latest proposals regarding the reduction to overtime payments and enhancements. Please make sure that you take part in the ballot and return your ballot paper by 30th July. In the meantime we have set up a number of meetings for members to find out more:

15th July at 1 pm in the Town Hall room 1.05
16th July at 1.15 pm in Castlewood room G08
23rd July at 12.45 pm in Castlewood room G08

End Austerity Now Demonstration

A couple of members of North Somerset UNISON travelled to London with colleagues from the NUT for the End Austerity Now demonstration. We joined 250,000 people from all over the UK who marched from the Bank of England to Parliament to demand an end to austerity.

We heard some great speakers including: Charlotte Church, Liz Carr, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Caroline Lucas MP, Marina Prentulis, Christine Blower, Shappi Khorsandi, Francesca Martinez, Steve Turner, John Rees, Sam Fairburn, Martin McGuinness, Mark Serwotka, and Len McCluskey amongst others.

Here's a few photos from the day:

UNISON Local Government Conference - Some Reflections

Two delegates from North Somerset attended UNISON's Local Government conference at the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow on 14th and 15th June. Our union debated many motions, including: Local Government Cuts and Finance, Privatisation, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), Devolution, Co-ops and Mutuals, the attacks on facility time, Organising in Schools, the Living Wage and Local Government Pay, We heard inspirational guest speakers - John Hilary from War on Want, and Vincent Ncongwane, General Secretary of Swaziland TUC. We attended a fringe meeting on the impact of TTIP on Local Government, and a demonstration in support of Robert O'Donnell - a UNISON Rep victimised and sacked by the SECC only days ahead of our conference starting - so too late for us to transfer it elsewhere in protest, although a the President of UNISON read out a statement at the beginning of conference informing the SECC that if a way forward is not found, UNISON will withdraw any future business from the SECC and encourage other trade unions to do the same.

With the election of a Tory government we're certainly going to have a lot on over the next few years - with more attacks on our pay and conditions, more cuts and privatisations of local government services, and more attacks on our facility time. The Trade Union bill aims to make it almost impossible to strike with restrictions on ballot turnouts, unless we are able to mobilise our members. One delegate from Islington branch called for demonstrations across the country on Emergency budget day - 8th July, followed by an industrial action ballot over pay before Schools break up for the summer holidays, and industrial action in the Autumn on the day that the Trade Union bill gets its first reading in parliament.

During the conference we also got the news that Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington, had just in the nick of time received enough nominations to stand for Labour Leader. All trade union members must become Trade Union Affiliated Supporters and use their vote to elect a Labour Leader, who will stand on an Anti-Austerity platform. Tomorrow, on the 20th June, tens of thousands of people will take part in the End Austerity Now demonstration in London, marching from the Bank of England to Parliament. A demonstration will also take place in Glasgow. This must become the start of a massive campaign to end austerity and kick out the Tories - we cannot wait another five years in the hope of a Labour Government.

UNISON members - help choose the next Labour Leader

If you are a UNISON member and want to choose the next leader of the Labour Party you need to register as a Trade Union Affiliate Supporter. You can do that for free by going to the following link:

http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/our_voice

Voting ballots will be sent out on Friday 14 August, so you'll need to register by then.

You can find out more about the candidates at this link:

http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/leadership

End Austerity Now National Demonstration 20th June - Coach from Weston super Mare, Gordano & Bristol

The coach will leave Locking Road car park in Weston super Mare at 7.30 am, picking up at Gordano Services at 8.15 am, and Anchor Road, Bristol at 8.45 am.

Tickets cost £5 for NUT members, £10 for non NUT members.

Demonstrators will assemble at the Bank of England and march to the Houses of Parliament.

If you're interested please contact secretary@north-somerset.nut.org.uk

The Tories are coming after your Trade Union - what are you going to do to stop them?

No-one (except the Exit poll) predicted that we would wake up today to find a Tory government, albeit with a small majority. I thought my worst nightmare was a Tory-Ukip coalition! Locally, although the Tories have lost 1 high profile councillor - Exec member Jeremy Blatchford, they still have an overwhelming majority at North Somerset Council - 36 out of 50 councillors.

What does all this mean for UNISON members? Quite simply it means another 5 years of attacks on our public services, our jobs, our terms and conditions and our rights as trade union members. Here's what the Conservative party manifesto says about trade unions:

"We will protect you from disruptive and undemocratic strike action

Strikes should only ever be the result of a clear, positive decision based on a ballot in which at least half the workforce has voted. This turnout threshold will be an important and fair step to rebalance the interests of employers, employees, the public and the rights of trade unions. We will, in addition, tackle the disproportionate impact of strikes in essential public services by introducing a tougher threshold in health, education, fire and transport. Industrial action in these essential services would require the support of at least 40 per cent of all those entitled to take part in strike ballots – as well as a majority of  those who actually turn out to vote. We will also repeal nonsensical restrictions banning employers from hiring agency staff to provide essential cover during strikes; and ensure strikes cannot be called on the basis of ballots conducted years before. We will tackle intimidation of
non-striking workers; legislate to ensure trade unions use a transparent opt-in process for union subscriptions; tighten the rules around taxpayer-funded paid ‘facility time’ for union representatives; and reform the role of the Certification Officer."

Now is the time for UNISON members to stand up to protect their trade union. Now is the time for you to get more involved in your trade union. If you're not a member, now is the time to join a trade union. Don't let them take away everything that has been fought and won by working people over the last 100 years.