Newsletters

WELCOME

This is the editorial from the autumn 2007 newsletter from Essex County Unison. We hope shortly to put the whole issue on line but in the meantime if you want a paper copy please contact Branch Office

Some of you may have already seen some new television adverts Unison has created emphasising the union’s tiger like approach to employers but at the same time its caring attitude towards it’s members individually. That important distinction is reflected in this edition.

Pay and pensions affect the majority of our members and Unison has been and is defending them fiercely.

Elsewhere in this newsletter you will see evidence of how Unison has been able to protect the position of individual members, for example, in settlements the union’s lawyers have achieved for injured members. Unison also provide a wide range of insurance and other services to its membership.

Essex County Unison has a large and growing membership in a wide range of workplaces in the private as well as the public sector but we cannot be complacent.

Some question the need for trade unions – arguing they are outdated in this day and age. The evidence set out in this newsletter shows the opposite. If you aren’t a Unison member you could be without protection at a crucial time.

The report the Branch commissioned on Essex County Council’s transfer of care homes to Excelcare shows how crucial is the role of the union in protecting its members during and after the transfer. More details on this are on page 9. The report shows that either the County Council’s procurement process was deficient or that ECC pressed on regardless

The size and strength of the Branch allows us to do this but to maintain and enhance that strength we need to continue to recruit more members in ECC and other workplaces we cover.

Author: Andrew Coburn