Communications
REPORT 2005
Website goes from strength to strength but media coverage
getting harder
. Branch Magazine: We have not issued as many as we
would have wanted this year. The magazine takes about three
weeks from writing to getting into workplaces and for major
issues this is too long when developments change so quickly
in negotiations. Where issues need to be communicated quickly,
we have therefore concentrated on specific bulletins on specific
issues, in particular Pensions and Stock Transfer. We have also
ensured that all news goes on the Branch Website
. The Branch Website has become a very important tool
not only in getting out news quickly in situations like the
pensions campaign but also as a resource for more detailed documents.
The site now has over 500 pages and is running at over 750,000
hits a year. Many members use this to update their details and
we are trying hard to build a full email address list to contact
members directly. The site also serves as a portal to the Scotland
and UK sites.
. Media: We continue to try to get our members' views
across in the media but things have been difficult this year.
Some of it seems to be a change in editorial policy at the Evening
News where it has proven harder to get the UNISON view across.
We are constantly surprised at the number of stories concerning
the council where previously we would have been asked for a
comment.
The Housing Stock Transfer was difficult with the News reluctant
to cover the case against transfer until very late in the day.
However we did get good coverage over the festive season on
equal pay. Even though the News chose to run a story with Margo
McDonald saying all that we had said, BBC Scotland, Radio Forth,
The Herald, The Scotman, Daily Record and the Morning Star all
ran with the UNISON story - almost a full house
We also got Stock Transfer coverage in early January. This
campaign was a major success and we produced 20,000 broadsheets,
leaflets, a bulletin and press adverts backed by a successful
bid to the General Political Fund. Thanks to the NEC's Jane
Carolan for her support.
John Stevenson
Communications Officer
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