A colleague in another department requested I pick them up too, which meant a detour and more of my flexi time taken up!  I could cope with that until the confusing (and wrong) explanation of how to get to the pick up point, which left me feeling quite hassled.  Luckily one of my work colleagues tuned in to my irritation and helped me with that, he was able to confirm that I was right in the first place

So the background to what we were doing today:

8 September 2010

Two of the UK’s biggest public sector unions, UNISON and PCS, representing 1.7 million workers, have pledged to forge a powerful alliance to fight back against the coalition government’s cuts to jobs and services.

The unions are joining forces to campaign, co-ordinate and, where possible, take action in unity and support of each other.

The government’s assault on the public sector threatens the livelihoods of 750,000 public sector workers. Job losses are already leading to drastic cuts to services that people rely on especially the poor, the old and vulnerable.

The unions will campaign together to build support for a realistic alternative to the cuts agenda. One that would protect and create jobs to secure the economic recovery, tax the banks, big business and the super-rich. They will also campaign for the non-renewal of Trident, to put an end to wasteful spending on consultancy and agency staff, against expensive privatisation, and to build a fairer society.

The unions are setting up a national liaison group to promote joint activity and co-ordinate a national campaign together. The group will work with the TUC and co-ordinate public sector alliances across central and local government.

To forge the partnership further PCS and UNISON are organising a There is an alternative event with the aim of bringing together trade unionists, politicians, academics, voluntary and community groups.

Today local PCS members joined UNISON members on their Battle Bus which is currently touring the county to promote the message that there is an alternative to the public sector cuts.  It is important for us to campaign together to get results.