UNISON to recommend acceptance of NHS pay offer
Commenting on the 2022/23 and 2023/24 pay offer to NHS staff in England, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
“It’s a shame it took so long to get here. Health workers had to take many days of strike action, and thousands more had to threaten to join them, to get their unions into the room and proper talks underway.
“But following days of intensive talks between the government, unions and employers, there’s now an offer on the table for NHS staff.
“If accepted, the offer would boost pay significantly this year and mean a wage increase next year that’s more than the governmen...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 16, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release nhs pay Sara Gorton Source Type: news
Bristol healthcare assistants win over £1m in re-banding victory
Over 2,000 healthcare assistants in Bristol hospitals have been re-banded from Band 2 to Band 3 and received up to £4,000 backpay after a UNISON campaign revealed they had been performing clinical duties and patient observations above their grade.
This is the latest victory in UNISON’s ‘pay fair for patient care’ campaign, which saw hospital workers in Manchester win significant back pay last year.
The union has now won significant backpay for members working in the two biggest hospitals in Bristol: North Bristol Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust.
Workers with over four years’ ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 16, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Janey Starling Tags: Article HCA pay HCAs health pay fair for patient care Source Type: news
‘ We need to outlaw fire and rehire forever, ’ declares UNISON community conference
Delegates gathered at UNISON’s community conference in Bournemouth on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 March to pass key motions on fire and rehire, low-paid workers being charged for DBS checks and sick pay for social carers.
Fire and rehire
One of the first motions passed was on fire and rehire – a hostile employment practice where an employer seeks to terminate workers’ existing contracts and rehire them under new terms.
Delegates heard how the tactic has been prevalent in the community and voluntary sectors for decades, and without proper legislative protection employers will continue to use this dodgy practice.
Dismissa...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 9, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Janey Starling Tags: Article 2023 National Community Conference and Seminar fire and rehire low-paid social care Source Type: news
Christina McAnea is one of this year ’ s 100 Women in Westminster
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea is one of this year’s 100 Women in Westminster.
Women in Westminster: The 100 celebrates the achievements and the valuable role women play in public life by recognising one hundred women from across the world of Westminster, who are not only influential in their own field, but who possess the talent and platform to inspire the next generation to make a difference in Westminster and beyond.
Ms McAnea attended a reception in parliament last night to celebrate the event. Commenting on her listing, Ms McAnea said:
“It’s incredibly humbling to be part of this list of inf...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 7, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Janey Starling Tags: Article Source Type: news
Survey: Have your say about your choices at work
UNISON has partnered with the Work Foundation at Lancaster University to research the decisions people make about work and the choices available to them.
There is a survey available for UNISON members to take. The findings will contribute toward UNISON’s wider policy and campaigning, helping the union fight for the right changes and support for members.
The researchers are interested in understanding what factors affect people’s decisions when deciding to take on work and what improvements could make employment fit people’s needs better.
UNISON policy officer Michelle Singleton said: “Real choice in the work we...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 7, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Janey Starling Tags: Article campaign flexible working survey Source Type: news
Health unions to consider invite from government to enter formal pay talks through NHS staff council
Commenting on the invitation received today (Thursday) from the government for health unions to attend formal pay talks, chair of the union group on the NHS staff council and UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
“Health unions will need to clarify the basis upon which talks can get underway through the NHS staff council.
“This includes understanding the status of the unilateral talks that have taken place with the Royal College of Nursing.”
Secretary of the NHS group of unions and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy assistant director of employment relations Elaine Sparkes said: “Once the ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - March 2, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Lucy Shaddock Tags: News Press release nhs pay nhs strikes Put NHS pay right Source Type: news
Joint union statement: Acas higher education talks
Today (Friday 24 February) the five unions UCU, UNISON, Unite, EIS and GMB, representing staff working in UK higher education confirmed that talks via the conciliation service Acas will continue into next week.
The joint unions have continued to push employers, represented by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), on the issues of pay, workload, casualisation and equality pay gaps
Some progress has been made in establishing agreed terms of reference for negotiations on reviewing the higher education pay scales
Talks via Acas will continue into next week on the terms of reference for negotiations on w...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 24, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release HE pay Source Type: news
Blog: Celebrating our Black LGBT+ activists
This month we lit up our UNISON Centre in Pride colours to celebrate all our LGBT+ members during LGBT+ History Month.
As this is UNISON’s year of Black workers, I also want to celebrate our Black LGBT+ activists, both from our past and present, who’ve led the way in the struggle for equality and LGBT+ rights both within UNISON and across the UK.
Rizwan Sheikh was a leading activist in lesbian and gay, and Black members groups. He became a senior activist in his region and then nationally. He was very proud to be the first Black co-chair of UNISON’s national lesbian and gay committee (as it was known at the time, now...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 24, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Martin Cullen Tags: Article General Secretary's blog 2023 year of Black Workers Christina McAnea lgbt history month Source Type: news
Nurses, paramedics, blood collection workers and other NHS staff in new strike over pay, says UNISON
Nurses will join blood collection workers, healthcare assistants, cleaners, porters and ambulance staff in a new day of walkouts over pay next month, says UNISON today (Wednesday).
The union says the strike on Wednesday 8 March is a serious escalation of the dispute and a direct result of the government’s failure to hold proper pay talks with health unions.
Health workers at NHS Blood and Transplant, Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool Women’s Hospital and the Bridgewater Community Trust will now be among those now walking out for the first time.
They’ll be jo...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 22, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Sophie Goodchild Tags: News Press release NHS pay rise nhs strikes Source Type: news
Pay proposal will worsen the NHS dispute
Commenting on the Department of Health and Social Care’s submission today (Tuesday) to the NHS pay review body recommending a maximum pay rise of 3.5% in 2023/4 for health workers in England, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
“If the government was actively trying to worsen the crisis in the NHS, it couldn’t have done better than this.
“Vacancies are at an all-time high and this pitiful pay suggestion does nothing to solve the growing staffing emergency. The Scottish government has already offered significantly more to its NHS workers.
“Worse still it could prove the final straw for staff alr...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 21, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release nhs pay nhs strikes Source Type: news
Ditch the pointless, spiteful strike laws and focus on helping patients by solving disputes
Commenting on an official impact assessment published today (Tuesday) that suggests new anti-strike laws could lead to greater disruption, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“Everyone could see through this pointless piece of legislation from the off. It’s spiteful, poorly thought-through and simply seeks to demonise dedicated public servants.
“It’s a pity ministers haven’t invested as much energy into solving the disputes. Instead they’ve opted for petty attacks on key workers and their unions.
“Rather than worsening industrial action with laws no one needs or wants, ministers should be throwin...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 21, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release minimum service levels bill strike laws Source Type: news
Blog: An electric atmosphere at Northern Ireland strikes
I arrived in Belfast last night, ready to spend today with striking health and care workers. After radio interviews with BBC Radio Ulster and Foyle, I arrived to a packed picket line.
Together, we marched from the Royal Victoria Hospital, joining other marchers on the way to a rally at Belfast City Hall. The atmosphere was electric. An energy driven by their determination to put an end to poverty pay and the silence from politicians in power.
Northern Ireland’s healthcare workers have taken a difficult decision to go on strike. So it’s no surprise they’re ready to be loud about the bold steps they’re taking.
From t...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 21, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: Article General Secretary nhs strikes Northern Ireland Source Type: news
Third day of NHS strikes in Northern Ireland
A third day of NHS strike action in Northern Ireland is taking place today (Tuesday), with thousands of UNISON members in the six arm’s length bodies of the health trust out on pickets, including staff at the Northern Ireland ambulance service.
Speaking of the dispute, Anne Speed, UNISON head of bargaining and representation in Northern Ireland, said: “While the political stalemate continues health staff and patients are paying a price.
“The inertia from the secretary of state speaks volumes. Taking direction from Westminster, who also appear to be doing nothing, is just not good enough.”
At 9:30am UNISON members i...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 21, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News health NHS nhs strikes Northern Ireland Source Type: news
NHS staff across Northern Ireland take third day of action in strike over pay
Health and social service workers across Northern Ireland are staging a third 24-hour walkout tomorrow in the ongoing dispute about pay and staffing, says UNISON today (Monday).
Nurses, ambulance staff, healthcare assistants, homecare workers, porters and staff in other NHS roles will be on picket lines and joining marches to five rallies taking place across Northern Ireland tomorrow.
NHS and care staff in Northern Ireland have so far staged a one-day strike in December and another last month (26 January).
Tomorrow is the third time they will have walked out. They’ve also been taking action short of a strike (...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 20, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release nhs pay nhs strikes Northern Ireland Source Type: news
The government must talk to unions and the women in charge of them to solve strikes
Announcing a significant escalation of the NHS pay dispute today (Friday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea told delegates in Bournemouth attending the union’s annual women’s conference:
“Every ambulance trust in England and Northern Ireland, bar one, is ready to take action in the next few weeks, in the fight for decent pay and the future of the NHS.
“The Westminster government needs to take stock. It must take a serious look at the damage and disruption it’s causing to the NHS, the public and staff.
“My message remains the same. Talk to unions. There is still time. Only genuine talks, about pay for...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - February 17, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release 2023 National Womens Conference Source Type: news
