Supreme Court judgment stops bad bosses from punishing striking workers
Judges have told employers they’ll no longer be able to discipline their staff for taking part in legal strike action in a UK Supreme Court ruling today (Wednesday), says UNISON.
The union, which took the case on behalf of care worker Fiona Mercer, says the government must now act quickly to change the law and ensure no other employees are treated unfairly.
Today’s judgment follows a two-day hearing in December. UNISON took the case to the Supreme Court to overturn an earlier Court of Appeal decision. The union had argued this had left the UK in breach of international law and striking employees without proper prot...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - April 17, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release Fiona Mercer Strike Action supreme court Source Type: news
Pay is key to persuading staff to stay in the NHS
Commenting on new analysis analysis by researchers at the University of Bath published today (Thursday) showing the extent to which NHS are looking for work outside the health service, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said:
“When some NHS workers are earning just a penny more than the minimum wage, it’s little wonder many don’t feel like staying.
“Supermarkets are paying higher rates and can offer staff discounts and much less stressful jobs.
“But a prompt and decent pay rise could persuade demoralised staff to stay so vacancies don’t worsen.
“Proper investment in the NHS would also help relieve some o...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - April 10, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release nhs pay NHS staff Source Type: news
Why insourcing isn ’ t always a win
On the final day of UNISON’s health conference, delegates heard a series of debates on defending the NHS against privatisation.
Tam Hiddleston for the service group executive warned that, while “we invariably think of insourcing as a positive,” some insourcing “is about private operators being brought into the NHS.”
UNISON needs to be very careful to monitor “any wider implications for Agenda for Change pay and conditions,” he continued.
Chris from London noted: “What’s the point of insourcing people and you just change their uniforms?”
Moving a motion on mega trusts for the Eastern region, Glen Carring...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - April 10, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Amanda Kendal Tags: Article News 2024 National Health Conference healthcare students insourcing national young members forum outsourcing privatisation Source Type: news
Let more NHS staff work flexibly to help solve staffing crisis
NHS managers should do more to allow staff to work in flexible ways, including having more control over shift patterns or doing compressed hours*, says UNISON today (Wednesday).
Data from a new UNISON survey** shows a significant proportion of healthcare workers are not being given the alternative work patterns they’ve asked for.
The survey found two-thirds (65%) of women employed in healthcare across the UK who’ve asked for different work arrangements had their requests agreed in full.
But more than one in five (22%) were unable to obtain flexible working. A further one in eight (13%) had their requests ini...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - April 10, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release 2024 National Health Conference flexible working NHS staff Source Type: news
Health: ‘ The government treats us like April fools ’ on pay
Business at health conference turned to pay on Tuesday morning.
First, conference discussed an emergency motion on NHS pay 2024-25. The motion pointed out that once again, the government has failed to conduct annual pay reviews in a timely fashion.
Moving the motion, James Anthony of the SGE said: “Like clockwork, in April, everything goes up. Bills council tax, everything. Except, like clockwork, NHS pay.
“Once again the government treats us like April fools.”
He highlighted that Band two members are now paid just one penny above the minimum wage: “A whacking 55p below the real living wage.”
The motion noted the...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - April 9, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News 2024 National Health Conference nhs pay Source Type: news
LGBT+ equality is top priority at health conference
The opening debates at UNISON’s health service group conference, which began this morning in Brighton, emphasised the union’s equalities work.
In the conference’s opening motion, the national LGBT+ committee addressed the Year of LGBT+ Workers and its importance in embedding LGBT+ equality in health.
Moving the motion for the committee, Adam Williams (pictured above) took the opportunity to stress the great work that has been done by the union on LGBT+ equality, but pointing out that there is still much needed, given that LGBT+ people experience significantly greater risks of abuse and violence.
He urged dele...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - April 8, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Amanda Kendal Tags: Article News 2024 National Health Conference LGBT Year of LGBT Workers Source Type: news
Government ’ s approach to care visas allows dodgy employers to exploit migrant staff
Commenting on the publication of a report from David Neal, the previous inspector of borders and immigration, on the social licensing scheme for care worker visas, UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said:
“The government doesn’t understand social care. If ministers had even a basic grasp of the sector, they would have reformed it long ago. But instead, the inept approach to the awarding of care visas has given dodgy employers total freedom to exploit overseas staff at whim.
“Thankfully, many migrant care workers are becoming wise to poor treatment by some of the more unpleasant operators in the sector.
“Th...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 27, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release Gavin Edwards social care Source Type: news
Scientists turn to AI to make beer taste even better
Researchers in Belgium use artificial intelligence to improve taste, but say the skill of the brewer remains vitalWhether you prefer a fruity lambic or a complex Trappist, Belgian beers have long been famed for their variety, quality and heritage. Now, researchers say they have harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to make brews even better.Prof Kevin Verstrepen, of KU Leuven university, who led the research, said AI could help tease apart the complex relationships involved in human aroma perception.Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - March 26, 2024 Category: Science Authors: Nicola Davis Science correspondent Tags: Artificial intelligence (AI) Computing Technology Beer Food Science Source Type: news
Low-paid health workers shouldn ’t have had to strike for one-off payment, says UNISON
Commenting on the government funding that will now allow thousands of health workers to receive the one-off payment given to NHS staff last year, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said:
“Low-paid health workers shouldn’t have had to go on strike and lose money to win the cash that’s rightfully theirs.
“Nor should they have had to wait many months for the one-off payments their directly employed NHS colleagues got months ago.
“Private firms, social enterprises and wholly-owned subsidiaries taking on NHS contracts should be driven by motives other than pure profit. Any contractor or organisa...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 26, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: mchappell Tags: Article News health workers local government funding NHS Source Type: news
Government neglect of care has led to low level of public satisfaction, says UNISON
Commenting on the findings from the British Social Attitudes Survey, published by the King’s Fund and the Nuffield Trust which show falling levels of public satisfaction with social care, UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said:
“The government has stood back and watched as social care slides further into crisis. No wonder satisfaction levels are plummeting.
“Generally, staff aren’t treated well and with poverty pay rates all that’s usually on offer, many don’t hang around for long.
“Carers are often left to get on with looking after their relatives or friends, without getting th...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 26, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: mchappell Tags: Article News government national care service social care Source Type: news
Opinion: Why the fight for Waspi pension justice is far from over
By UNISON’s senior national equality officer Josie Irwin
A whole generation of women has been badly let down by politicians.
Changes to pension law in 1995 and 2011 delayed the state pension age for 1950s-born women by up to six years. Many received information about the change with just one year’s notice. Some received no notification. An estimated 3.8 million women waited up to six years longer to receive the state pension.
Last Thursday (23 March), the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman reported that the Department of Work and Pensions had failed to communicate the changes adequately and recommended that...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 25, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Josie Irwin Tags: Article Blogs low-paid women pension age pensioners state pension WASPI Source Type: news
Coffee drinkers have much lower risk of bowel cancer recurrence, study finds
Exclusive: Scientists say people with disease who drink two to four cups a day are less likely to see it returnPeople with bowel cancer who drink two to four cups of coffee a day are much less likely to see their disease come back, research has found.People with the illness who consume that amount are also much less likely to die from any cause, the study shows, which suggests coffee helps those diagnosed with the UK ’s second biggest cancer killer.Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - March 23, 2024 Category: Science Authors: Denis Campbell Health policy editor Tags: Bowel cancer Coffee Health Medical research Food Science UK news World news Source Type: news
Tax relief for NHS staff – don’t lose out!
We know that the current cost of living crisis, years of below-inflation pay increases and inadequate mileage reimbursement rates mean that our members working in the NHS are under an increasing amount of financial strain. And we know that for many of our members, all of this means every penny matters when it comes to making ends meet.
That’s why we want our members to benefit from our longstanding agreement with HMRC, which allows for health members working in certain professions to claim tax relief for cleaning their uniforms, and for nurses and midwives – their shoes and socks.
You may also be eligible for tax reli...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 15, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Cleopatra Parthenoglou Tags: Article Source Type: news
Proposals that seek to limit the right to peaceful protest must be rejected, says UNISON
UNISON is extremely concerned at recent reports that Lord Walney, the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, has proposed that MPs, councillors and Labour-affiliated unions cut ties and no longer engage with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
UNISON completely opposes these proposals and limits on the right to peaceful protest, and urges the government and opposition parties to reject them.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign does not support protests outside the homes of elected representatives.
UNISON defends the right to peaceful protest outside MPs offices, town halls and Parliament. It...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 12, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Martin Cullen Tags: Article antisemitism Gaza international Islamophobia Israel NEC Source Type: news
Community conference told: ‘ You are the stewards of the New Deal ’
UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards opened the union’s national community conference in Chester on Saturday before introducing shadow deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, who gave a speech to delegates before taking questions.
Mr Richards took aim at the recent Conservative government budget calling it “fantasy policy making, and a low piece of political theatre”.
“What did it offer to support the work that you or our members do? What about housing – an issue seen as the number one priority by younger workers?
“Where were the provisions to support people struggling with rapidly rising rents? Where ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 12, 2024 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News 2024 National Community Conference and Seminar Community and Voluntary Sector Source Type: news
