Message to UNISON members

I am sending this message “bcc” to UNISON members in the Lambeth branch of UNISON employed by OFSTED. I am writing about two matters.

UNISON Convenor

As you will know, our Convenor, Roulla Xyrizos, is leaving OFSTED – she will be sorely missed! We need to elect a replacement to act as Convenor for OFSTED members in the Lambeth branch. Our OFSTED Convenor also represents the Greater London Region of UNISON on the OFSTED National Forum.

UNISON has an agreement with OFSTED to give effect to the legal right for such a trade union representative to have reasonable paid time off work to carry out their trade union duties, for which full training is available. If you would like to discuss the nature of the role please contact myself, Roulla, or our Regional officer, Stuart Barber, to whom I am copying this message.

If you would like to make a nomination – or to volunteer – to take on this role please email me at j.rogers@unison.co.uk before noon on Monday 14 July 2008. In the event that there is more than one nomination the branch will organise a postal ballot of members and I will write to you about the timetable for that ballot at the time.

Consultation on the industrial action

You should have received a consultation document in the post from UNISON HQ. This asks you about your opinions concerning the future direction of the industrial action being taken in opposition to the appalling pay offer made to the trade unions by OFSTED. I would like to encourage you to respond to this consultation document.

I have asked Roulla for her opinions based upon her years of experience in dealing with OFSTED as an employer and she advises as follows;

“I would encourage a series of one day strikes again, and continue with working to rule, and continue with not using cars. In summary: continue with the current industrial action i.e. don't use cars, work to contracted hours, and series of one day strikes. However, this time, if we have one day strikes, I would expect UNISON to alert TV media so that they can film it on the day!... …I also think that as mgt turn the screws with their aggressive response, we encourage members to report this to UNISON so that we can publish this on the national unison website and on our own ofstedinstead blog - and alert the media. I would also encourage members to read the house of commons submission (unedited version).”

I would support Roulla’s view that a strong response to OFSTED as an employer is absolutely necessary.