Branch Christmas Competition 2018 - Results

The branch held our prize draw for our fantastic Christmas Competition and we're pleased to announce we now have our five prize winners for this year.

The prizes this year were:

• an amazing MSI GL62M Gaming Laptop, with NVIDIA GTX 1050 graphics and Intel Core processor. 
• our ever popular Dinner and a Show for Two (x2)
• and our Luxury Christmas hampers (x2)

Our prize winners were drawn by our independent adjudicator on Wednesday and were:

• First Prize:  Raymond Reid
• Second Prizes:  Lyn Mair & Craig Wilson
• Third Prizes:  Spencer Bartholomew & Enohi Ibekwe

Our competition this year was a maze members were asked to help Rudolph find his way through to get his Christmas present.  The options were A: Spinning Top, B: Teddy Bear or C: Wheely Dog.

There were a lot of maze runners out there who got the right answer - the correct answer was B: Teddy Bear.

Congratulations to all our winners, and to everyone out there, have a Happy Christmas and New Year!

Categories: Members | Benefits | Information

Branch Christmas Competition 2018

Once more we are running our fantastic Christmas Competition, which is open to members only for all our current UNISON members at both the Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen.

Prizes this year are an amazing MSI Gaming Laptop. We'll also have our ever popular Dinner and a Show for Two, and Christmas hampers.

We will be sending out competition entry forms by post, but it’s just as easy – and faster – to enter online instead:

• aub-unison.org.uk/christmas  

Don’t leave it too late to send your entry - enter today!

Categories: Members | Benefits | Branch

Higher Education Ballot Result

UNISON members working in higher education in England, Scotland and Wales have voted for industrial action to press their wage claim – but the turnout wasn’t enough to meet the threshold for strikes set out in the 2017 Trade Union Act.

That act does not apply in Northern Ireland, and the union is still awaiting the result of its ballot of members there.

UNISON’s higher education service group executive considered the result in England, Scotland and wales and stated: “We would like to thank those activists, branches and regions that put in significant work to achieve the result.

“Unfortunately and frustratingly the government’s anti-democratic trade union laws, which impose a very high turnout threshold, mean that we are not able to fulfil our members’ wishes.”

It also warned that “this outcome will only further fuel the anger of our members who face yet another year of a below inflation pay rise. No university should be pay any staff less than the living wage and employers should be ashamed that some of their staff are forced to go to food banks.”

UNISON’s higher education branch seminar next week will review the pay campaign, “take heart at the positives and build for the next pay negotiations,” the executive noted.

“This result will inform our approach to next year’s pay negotiations and the employers should be in no doubt that we will again call for action if the HE employers do not meet our aspirations for a fair above inflation pay offer.”

Categories: Pay | Campaigns

Vote YES for Strike Action over HE Pay

Why you should vote YES for strike action... The offer is a real terms pay cut   - The current rate of Inflation is 3.2%; the pay offer just 2%   - Find out how much you have lost using our PAY CALCULATOR We have had years of below inflation pay rises   - HE Pay has fallen 21% compared to inflation in the last 10 years Our pay claim was much higher than the offer   - The joint union claim was for 7.5% UNISON believes we should reject the offer and vote YES for strike action Your ballot papers should be with you by 21st September - if you don't receive them please contact UNISONDirect on 0800 0 857 857  EVERY VOTE COUNTS   We need the strongest possible mandate to show the employers the strength of feeling about the pay cuts in HE  Also, under new Tory legislation, over 50% of members eligible to vote must return their ballot for the vote to be valid.  Don't leave it to one side - return it immediately! Make sure all your friends and colleagues vote YES for strike action. UNISON Higher Education Pay Ballot     UNISON Higher Education

Categories: Pay | Campaigns

Branch Members REJECT HE Pay Offer

The local branch consultation on the national Higher Education pay offer has now closed with members rejecting the employers offer by over a two thirds majority (69% reject, 31% accept).

UNISON’s higher education service group executive said it “was clear that the offer falls well short of its aims. Recent years have seen a series of below inflation pay rises that are making it increasingly difficult for higher education support staff to make ends meet. We ask the employers to think again.”

Branches across the country are currently being consulted and the overall result will be available in August.  If the results elsewhere match those here, the HE Service Group executive will consider what further action is required, and will seek to co-ordinate any action with our sister unions involved in the pay negotiations.  We'll update members as soon as we have further information.

For more information see the the national Higher Education News website.

Categories: Pay | Consultation | Campaigns | Branch

UNISON at Grampian Pride

Today saw the first Grampian Pride march down Union Street in Aberdeen which had hundreds of people proudly raising their rainbow flags and enjoying the sunshine in an inspiring event by the LGBT+ community, joined by their friends and allies from all walks of life.

Our new LGBT branch officers, Craig and Hamish were there along with other branch members in support of the event - it was a beautiful day full of beautiful people - we look forward to next year!  See our facebook gallery for more photos of the event.

Categories: Members | Information | Branch

Aberdeen May Day March - 5th May

Aberdeen's May Day March & Rally for International Workers' Day will be held on Saturday 5th May this year.

The event is organised as always by Aberdeen Trades Union Council. Each year, people across the globe take to the streets to commemorate International Workers' Day, or May Day.

ATUC President, Kathleen Kennedy said, "In our 150th anniversary year we want to make our May Day March and Rally an event to remember.

"We are calling on trade unions, community groups, friends and families to join us with banners and placards.

"We want to give a clear message on International Workers Day that workers matter. We are the backbone of our society and should be treated with respect, decently paid and their workplaces should be safe, healthy and family friendly.

"We shouldn't need to strike to defend our pensions, our pay and our terms and conditions - yet we do. Events like our May Day March show solidarity and support for our struggles."

Please gather at Rubislaw Terrace at 11.00am, to march off at 11.30am down Union Street. A rally will be held in the Castlegate from 12.15pm, with a range of speakers from trade unions, local politicians and community activists.

Categories: Events