30 August 2010

Dear Colleagues

NOTICE OF EMERGENCY Community and Voluntary BRANCH MEETING:

Friday 3^rd September, 11.00 – 1PM UNISON Centre, Galway House, Belfast. Lunch Provided.

We now know what the Assembly Executive is likely to do as a result of the British Government’s attack on public services and the Welfare State.

In Northern Ireland 40,000 jobs are predicted to go in the life of this Government. These are figures from the NI Executive. The likely split is 30,000 public service jobs and 10,000 private sector jobs. UNISON believes this to be a conservative estimate. As the largest employers are Health and Education, our members will take the biggest hit. This attack will drastically diminish health and education services for all and impact massively on the community and voluntary sector as a whole. It is the fight of all members UNISON.

The attack on the Welfare State is now out in the open also. We now know that 550 jobs are to go in Social Security by the end of March 2011. At the same time the unemployed are being forced to work after a few weeks on the dole. An example of what is happening at the moment is in Dunnes Stores where 15 unemployed people are being made to work for ‘dole’ payment and a little extra. At the same time Dunnes Stores permanent staff have had their hours slashed from 36 per week to 20 per week. The next likely area for the exploitation of unemployed people will be the public sector.

UNISON and ICTU are coming out in protest against the cuts on 29 September. On this day protests will take place right across Europe. We will also be involved in major demonstrations in October when the British Chancellor announces some of the worst cuts we have ever seen.

The survival of our jobs and services is now our No.1 priority. The above emergency meeting is for all members, self organised groups, youth and retired members. We need to go on the offensive now and will be discussing how the community and voluntary branch can respond loudly and publicly to this crisis in coming weeks and months.

Please do your best to arrange leave from work or rearrange any other meetings you have on this date. Most, if not all, employers within the sector will be squeezed in the upcoming cuts and it is in your managements interest to have you in attendance at this meeting. Please confirm your attendance by email to unisncv@googlemail.com and bring your ideas and local information along.

Yours sincerely

Dessie Donnelly

Chairperson: Graeter Belfast Community and Voluntary Branch.