Local Government Service Group Conference
19-20 June 2011
National campaign against college cuts
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Inez Teece
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Duncan Smith
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20 June: Inez Teece, Scottish Regional Delegate, highlighted
the "astonishing 10.4%" cuts to funding in Scotland as Conference
supported a range of measures to defend the jobs, pay and conditions
of UNISON members working in colleges across the UK.
"These cuts will reduce courses, increase class sizes and reduce
much of the support for disabled students," warned Inez.
She condemned Scottish Colleges refusal to engage with the Scottish
government to discuss national bargaining, resulting in 40 individual
negotiating bodies across Scotland.
"This service has been divided and they are trying to conquer,"
she said. "Without good quality further education, with confident
and capable staff, we will not have the educated and skilled workforce
we need to rebuild this so-called big society."
She called on the union to bring the colleges together across
Britain. "Together we will have a much better chance of defending
our further education, not just for our members but for the future
of our country."
Colleges promoting the green agenda
Conference also recognised the the important role that colleges
have had in taking forward the green agenda and fears that this
could be sidelined because of the cuts. It agreed measures to
support colleges to continue their role in reducing workplace
emissions.
City of Edinburgh's Duncan Smith supported the green agenda but
expressed some concerns about proposals for home working and warned
that it could be used for the employers' benefit rather than the
employees. He told conference that it can be a "hidden subsidy
for employers looking for budget cuts" as employees pay higher
fuel bills and home insurance costs. There are also health and
safety issues and the potential for employees to feel isolation
and stress.
"It may also affect our ability to fight the cuts," said Duncan.
"We develop the confidence to resist because of common experience
with others in the workplace."
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