UNISON prepares ‘ robust response ’ to government ’ s attempts to divide the health team
UNISON has reaffirmed its commitment to the One Team campaign for the health service, in the face of the government’s “divisive” actions during the NHS pay dispute, the national executive council (NEC) heard today.
Health members in England are currently voting on the government’s latest pay offer. The ballot closes at 3pm on Thursday 13 April. By the time delegates meet for the national health conference next week, results will be through and next steps will be debated.
In her NEC report, general secretary Christina McAnea said that, ahead of conference, the health service group executive had discussed the Westmin...
Source: UNISON Health care news - April 12, 2023 Category: UK Health Authors: Demetrios Matheou Tags: Article News 2023 year of Black Workers cqc pay health pay local government pay – the National Joint Council (NJC) NEC Source Type: news
Environment agency workers to walk out for four more days, says UNISON
Thousands of Environment Agency workers in England are to strike for four days over pay later this month, blaming government inaction for putting communities, waters and wildlife at risk, says UNISON today (Wednesday).
Despite months of strikes and other action where workers have taken themselves off ‘on call’ incident response rotas, ministers have made no attempt to invite unions in for pay talks, says UNISON.
The union’s latest action means staff working on coastal sea defences, protecting communities from floods, tackling water pollution, waste fires and fly-tipping will strike from 7pm next Friday (14 April). ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - April 5, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release Donna Rowe-Merriman environment agency Source Type: news
Believe in tougher water regulation for England only when you see it
Welcome, then, 34 years after privatisation, to a new era of get-tough regulation in the English water industry. The Environment Agency will have powers to levy unlimited financial penalties on companies for pollution offences. Over at Ofwat, the economic regulator is changing companies’ operating…#environmentagency #ofwat #feargalsharkey #alanlovell #lovell #boardrooms #cma #jefferies #jonsoncox #houseoflords (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - April 4, 2023 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Environment agency workers begin fresh wave of industrial action
Today thousands of Environment Agency (EA) workers in England will stop weekend attendance at incidents such as floods, water pollution, spills, waste fires and fly-tipping.
The industrial action is set to continue for three weeks, with workers refusing to volunteer for ‘on call’ cover between Friday evening and Monday morning.
Where there is a threat to life from incidents such as a major flood, officers will step in as emergency ‘life and limb cover’ has been agreed by the union.
This new wave of industrial action follows a 12-hour walk out in February (pictured), when workers attended pickets out...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 17, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Janey Starling Tags: Article News environment agency Environment agency strike Source Type: news
Antibiotic resistance: where do we go next? - podcast
Climate change and pollution are the latest factors contributing to a global rise in antibiotic-resistant superbugs, according to areport from the UN environment agency. Given that no new class of antibiotics has been discovered since the 1980s, what are our best hopes for tackling these bugs in the future? Ian Sample speaks to the Guardian ’s science correspondent Hannah Devlin aboutgenetically modified bacteria, the potential of plant toxins, and why scientists are hunting for viruses known as ‘bacteriophages’ in birdbaths and sewersClips: CNBCContinue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - February 14, 2023 Category: Science Authors: Presented by Ian Sample with Hannah Devlin, sound designed by Joel Cox, and executive produced by Ellie Bury Tags: Microbiology Science Antibiotics MRSA and superbugs Health Source Type: news
Recap: Second day of EA strikes
Environment Agency workers across the country walked out yesterday, in their second day of strike action over pay this year.
UNISON’s head of environment, Donna Rowe-Merriman, said: “EA members will not be ignored on the issue of pay any longer. They have taken strike action to ensure their issues are recognised by the public – and by their employer.
“Our members will not be pushed from pillar to post – they want action from this government to resolve pay, now, for their families and to prevent more staff from leaving the agency.
“The onus lies with the chancellor – to allow the agency to engage fully wit...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 9, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article Environment environment agency Environment agency strike strikes Source Type: news
NEC hears of ongoing industrial action across the union
The first National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of 2023 heard a long list of all the industrial action that members are currently taking part in, across the UK.
“It’s been a very busy few months,” admitted general secretary Christina McAnea. “I’ll be heading to the South West for our next ambulance strike day on Friday, and we’re working on keeping up the huge media attention and public support that our strikes have attracted so far.
“Our health team, AGSs and regional secretaries have also spent many hours supporting our members on picket lines, and this support will continue throughout the dispute.”
Be...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 9, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Martin Cullen Tags: Article ambulance strikes anti-strike bill Environment agency strike NEC Source Type: news
Environment Agency staff begin 36 hours of action over pay, says UNISON
Thousands of Environment Agency employees begin to ramp up their dispute over pay today (Tuesday) as they begin a further period of industrial action, including a 12-hour strike, says UNISON.
The union is urging the government to stop ignoring the Environment Agency’s “invisible workforce” and begin talks to increase the woeful wages of staff.
Poor pay is forcing increasing numbers to leave essential roles controlling pollution and protecting communities from weather disasters, says UNISON.
From 7pm today (Tuesday), Environment Agency workers belonging to UNISON will start a 12-hour period of action short of ...
Source: UNISON Health and safety news - February 7, 2023 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release Environment agency strike Source Type: news
Donate to support striking workers
The UK is currently experiencing a wave of industrial action as workers struggle with rising inflation and wages that are not keeping track.
And the Westminster government is refusing to hold meaningful talks with unions as general secretary Christina McAnea discusses in her latest blog.
As UNISON members have been taking sustained industrial action for some time now, across different sectors, the union is now welcoming donations to our strike fund.
You can make a one-off bank transfer or set up a regular standing order to:
Account name: UNISON
Account no: 20170693
Sort code: 60-83-01
Reference: If you want your donation ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - February 6, 2023 Category: UK Health Authors: Martin Cullen Tags: Article Ambulance Strike Environment agency strike Strike Action Source Type: news
Blog: Government inaction just leads to more action
An escalation in our industrial action is about to cause more headaches for the Westminster government – an administration that’s already buckling under the pressure.
Working people are standing up for themselves and refusing to quietly accept the pay crisis and a decline in their living standards. In contrast, the government ministers responsible for sorting out public sector pay disputes have gone silent.
There have been no meetings between UNISON and ministers since before 11 January, and it has been weeks since Rishi Sunak protested in the media that his ‘door was always open’.
But is it? No invite has ar...
Source: UNISON Health care news - February 6, 2023 Category: UK Health Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: Article Blogs General Secretary ambulance strikes Christina McAnea Environment agency strike nhs strikes Put NHS pay right Strike Action Source Type: news
The growing importance of the EA
Discussion highlighted the key role of the EA in meeting the UK’s climate obligations and emphasised that a well-resourced agency should be something all parties can agree on in order to ensure the country maintains an environment that is fit for the future, as well as being prepared in the event of flooding and other environmental disasters.
Within this discussion, the need for higher pay was recognised as key for the EA to be able to operate.
Pay in the EA
However, while the agency is now a fourth emergency service, staff have been underpaid and undervalued by the government for over a decade.
The attendees heard that ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 1, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article Environment environment agency Environment agency strike Source Type: news
Unions join forces for Environment Agency strike next week
Thousands of Environment Agency employees belonging to UNISON and Prospect are to take strike action next week in the growing dispute about pay, say the unions today (Tuesday).
Staff working in river inspection, flood forecasting, coastal risk management and pollution control will stage a 12-hour strike on Wednesday (8 February) starting at 7am.
In addition, for 12 hours either side of the walkout, Environment Agency employees will escalate their ongoing work to rule by withdrawing from incident response rotas, say the unions.
This action short of a strike starts at 7pm on Tuesday, and kicks in again immediately at the e...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 31, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release environment agency Source Type: news
Recap: Striking for fair pay in the Environment Agency
Thousands of environment agency workers from across the country took strike action over pay on Wednesday for the first time in the agency’s history.
Environment Agency salaries have fallen by more than 20% compared to inflation since 2010, which means staff are effectively working one day in every five for free.
To make matter worse, workers were only given a 2% pay rise (plus £345) for this financial year, but the previous year, the majority of staff had a pay freeze and received nothing at all.
River inspectors, flood forecasting officers, coastal risk management officers, sewage plant attendants and staff at the ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - January 19, 2023 Category: UK Health Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News environment agency Environment agency strike Industrial action Source Type: news
Ministers must invest in Environment Agency staff or communities will be at long-term risk
Thousands of Environment Agency staff who play a vital role in protecting communities across England will walk out today (Wednesday) as they strike over pay for the first time*, says UNISON.
River inspectors, flood forecasting officers, coastal risk management officers, sewage plant attendants and staff at the Thames Barrier are among those escalating their industrial action after refusing to do voluntary overtime in the run up to and during the festive period**.
Under-pressure staff say they’ve voted to strike over pay because over the years the government’s failure to fund the Environment Agency properly ha...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 18, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release environment agency Source Type: news
Blog: Standing with our members at the Environment Agency
Pay erosion is the common crisis across many public services that’s now resulting in waves of industrial action. The problem is rooted in the political decision, first taken by the 2010 coalition government, to cut funding to our public services.
Successive governments have refused to depart from that decision ever since.
For workers in the Environment Agency (EA), their pay has been devalued by 20% over that time. Mix that with the cost of living crisis, a pay freeze from July 2020 to November 2022, and it’s no wonder workers at the EA rejected the latest pay offer of around 2% + £345.
It’s well below inflation, so...
Source: UNISON Health care news - January 16, 2023 Category: UK Health Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: General secretary's blog News environment agency Industrial action strike Source Type: news
