Communications

Campaigning for our services

The need to act quickly, turning out bulletins often in a matter of hours, has been a feature of branch communications this year.

Special leaflets and bulletins for School Meals, Cleaning, Grounds Maintenance and the Recreation Trust pay wrangle have had to be turned round overnight to get information to members, or to counteract rumours and propaganda.

Branch magazine

These bulletins were in addition to UNISONNews, the branch magazine. It won fame again in ‘98 by winning ‘Best Entry Using a Computer’ in the national UNISON competition. There have been seven regular magazines in the calendar year with two specials and numerous sectional bulletins.

The move to a four page mag with lots of short stories and briefings, seems to have been successful, given the feedback. It still leaves room for eight or 12 page issues when needed, like after national conference.

Several departments do their own newsletters and these need to be encouraged. In a branch our size, members need local news.

Distribution is a headache with all the restructurings and workplace moves and I know the branch office staff have had their work cut out. My thanks go to them for their commitment to this thankless task.

Branch website

The branch website (http://www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk) has been a great success. Set up in February 98 it has a host of information and helplines and has already won acclaim and a mention in Labour Research’s booklet on setting up websites. There have been thousands of ‘hits’ this year, and lots of people using it to join UNISON.

Media strategy

The branch’s media approach has made sure that we get a great deal of local and national coverage, often to inform our members as much as to inform the public.

Among many other stories, we succeeded in getting a full page platform in the Evening News to counteract the misinformation about the Private Finance Initiative in schools.

Our media strategy has four main thrusts. Being proactive, being co-operative and trustworthy with the press, making sure the right person speaks on the topic, and always remembering we are speaking for UNISON.

‘Serving Scotland’ Campaign

The main thrust since December has been UNISONScotland’s ‘Serving Scotland’ campaign for public services in the run up to the Scottish Parliament.

We are planning joint branch initiatives, but most of all we need members to get involved with human stories that show how good public services can be if they are directly provided, democratically accountable and adequately resourced.

John Stevenson

Education

More stewards on courses

There has been a marked increase in the number of members going on Stewards and Health and Safety courses in 1998.

This is a good sign and one which needs to be built on. The procedure for getting course information out to stewards and processing applications has been improved which means that those who apply get on the courses they want. The achievement is due in no small part to the work done by Nicky in the Branch Office.

Priorities

A training priority for ‘99 is that of convenors. I believe that convenors have an important role in the branch, including training and education. They need to have specific training tailored to their needs which recognises the work and responsibilities they carry and their role as a link between stewards and the branch officers.

Other branch based training could look at PFI, Best Value and specific training on grievances and disciplinaries. UNISONScotland continues to offer a range of useful courses and a new and welcome development in ‘98 was the National course for Voluntary Sector members held in London.

I will not be seeking re-election in 1999 as I need to concentrate my time on my Voluntary Sector commitments. I wish whoever takes on this important task well for ‘99 and I want to record my special thanks to Nicky for the work she has done in 1998.

Stephen McCullough

International Relations

Building international solidarity

Our first year as job-share International Relations Officers has zoomed by so fast we’ve hardly had had time to say ‘international solidarity’!

The role of the International Relations officer is a) to increase members’ knowledge and understanding of international issues and b) to keep the branch informed on international issues. There is no committee to organise activities, however, but perhaps there should be.

The branch was involved in a couple of international do’s:

Cuba - We welcomed two Cuban trade unionists on a UNISON Scotland sponsored visit. Kenny and I with other branch officers met them over lunch where we were able to chat to them via an interpreter, before they were taken to the Peoples Story museum and a tour of the City Chambers.

National Conference - At national conference Eileen attended a meeting and reception for our international guests and spoke with two members of the South African Municipal Workers Union.

The branch receives many appeals for financial help and international solidarity. Russian coal industry workers who had received no wages for several months wrote seeking financial support. We heard from the Nicaraguan human rights organisation CENIDH, which provides bail, legal representation and publishes reports on human rights abuses in their country. They were appealing for desparately needed funds for emergency cases.

The war in Bosnia continues to devastate communities in the region. Independent of each other several women UNISON members attended a meeting in Edinburgh to hear women from Scribrenica describe what it is like in their country ravaged by war and violence and where thousands of men and boys are missing.

We get regular information from Community H.E.A.R.T., a South African Community Health charity based in London with which the branch has close links. They have sent details of their two-week Rainbow Study Holiday Tours to South Africa for groups. Looks a wee but pricey but extremely exciting. One free place for groups over 15. The idea of our branch organising a members’ visit to South Africa is entirely possible if there is sufficient interest from members. Think about it!

UNISON’s International work is very much directed in conjunction with the UNISON’s sister unions on the ground in the countries where struggles are taking place. We believe internaitonal solidarity needs to be much more up front in the branch and would like to see fund-raising events and meetings organised in the future.

Eileen Penman, Kenny Spence