Take action against the new police bill
This week, the Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill resumes its journey through the House of Lords.
UNISON members are encouraged to take action against this new legislation, which will hand police unprecedented powers, and will drastically impact the right to protest and hold the government to account.
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: Each measure against the elements of protest cumulatively amounts to an attack on a fundamental building block of our democracy.
To lower the threshold of criminal offending to such a low bar seriously erodes the rights of free protest under Articles 10 and 11 of the ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 10, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Janey Starling Tags: Article Policing and Crime Bill Source Type: news
UNISON supports legal challenge over UK s use of PPE suppliers
UNISON is backing the call for a judicial review into the UK governments decision to continue using a Malaysian company accused of human rights abuses as a supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS.
The union is also supporting a crowdfunding scheme to finance the legal effort.
As reported in the Guardian, the London-based law firm Wilson Solicitors has filed for the judicial review at the High Court, following the selection of the UK subsidiary of Malaysian company Supermax as one of the approved suppliers in a new Ł6 billion contract for disposable gloves for NHS workers.
Supermax has faced persistent a...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 10, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Demetrios Matheou Tags: Article News Covid-19 human rights international procurement Source Type: news
It s time to nominate your local service champion
UNISONs awards for local service champions are launching today, giving members the opportunity to nominate someone working in local authority services who has gone above and beyond.
Its a great opportunity to celebrate all of the staff in local government who support us at every stage of our lives, as well as highlighting how just how valuable the services they provide are.
Last years winner was Jenny Evans, a senior customer services representative at Frodsham Library, in Cheshire.
Shes worked in libraries for 40 years and said: I started at 16 and was taken on permanently in October 1979, and I havent stopped worki...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 10, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Janey Starling Tags: Article News Local service champions Source Type: news
Government guidance for schools increases Covid risk and threatens learning, warns UNISON
Using support staff to cover for teachers isolating with Covid is the wrong approach to dealing with the school staffing crisis and ensuring pupils education continues, says UNISON today (Monday).
This week, the Department for Education (DfE) issued guidance encouraging schools to use support staff more flexibly as children return after the Christmas break.
UNISON recognises that the rapid spread of Omicron is causing high numbers of staff absences in schools and that learning must continue for pupils. However, the union says using low-waged employees as teachers on the cheap amounts to exploitation and is inappropriate...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 10, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release coronavirus schools Jon Richards teaching assistants Source Type: news
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Photo © Niklas Maupoix/CC
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was a giant of the struggle against apartheid. A tireless defender of human rights, he lived out his faith through action, driven by his love for all of humankind.
When Nelson Mandela and other liberation leaders were imprisoned or forced into exile, Desmond Tutu found himself at the forefront of the struggle. His rapid rise through the ranks of the Anglican Church gave Archbishop Tutu a global platform to expose and challenge the devastating injustices...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 6, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: General secretary's blog News equality racism working internationally Source Type: news
NHS running on empty because government refuses to address staffing crisis, says UNISON
Responding to the publication today (Thursday) of the Health and Social Care Committees Clearing the NHS backlog caused by the pandemic report, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
Staff shortages have left the NHS running on empty throughout the pandemic. The government showed blatant disregard for the early warning signs, and its continued refusal to publish an independent assessment of workforce numbers counts as wilful negligence.
A properly-funded staffing plan is the single most important step ministers can take to relieve pressures over the next few years. The NHS must be given whats necessary to boo...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 6, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release covid NHS Sara Gorton Source Type: news
Testing changes must not be used in isolation, says UNISON
Responding to changes announced by the UK Health Security Agency today (Wednesday) removing the need for a confirmatory PCR test for asymptomatic Covid cases in England, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said:
Public service workers were already under huge strain to maintain services and Omicron absences have ratcheted the pressure to new levels.
These changes to testing requirements must be carefully managed to avoid further spread in environments such as hospitals and care homes. And they have to be alongside precautionary measures such as effective PPE and risk assessments.
Staff need to be given access...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 5, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: Article covid Jon Richards public services Source Type: news
We will be there for our members in 2022
Im sure we all wanted to start January with hopes for a better year ahead, but thats a bit difficult when Boris Johnson is still in charge in Westminster.
What that means for working people, and all trade unionists especially our members in UNISON who the government relies on to deliver almost every part of their pandemic response is that they will continue to carry the burden of politicians failings.
Despite Boris Johnsons years spent in politics, and the decades that some politicians have spent walking around the corridors of power in Westminster, they continue to take the work of public service workers for grant...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - January 5, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: General secretary's blog News Source Type: news
UNISON calls on employers to review COVID-19 protections
UNISON is calling on employers to review their COVID-19 risk assessments and put all reasonable measures in place to reduce the risk of exposure to those who cannot work from home, given the highly infectious nature of the Omicron variant.
The latest data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revealed that 645,000 workers reported suffering from a work-related illness caused or made worse by the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, including high levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
UNISON members are key workers on the front line, in hospitals, care homes and schools, but also refuse workers and members...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - December 20, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Amanda Kendal Tags: Article News Covid-19 health and safety Source Type: news
Unions  slam college employers over 1% pay offer
Five unions representing staff in English further education colleges have today (Thursday) condemned the decision by the Association of Colleges (AoC) to submit another 1% pay recommendation for staff, the thirteenth below inflation offer in a row.
In a joint pay claim submitted in October this year, the unions (UCU, UNISON, NEU, Unite and GMB) called for an increase in pay that moves to restore the 35% cut in pay staff have suffered since 2009. The claim would also close the £9,000 pay gap between schoolteachers and further education lecturers.
In addition, the unions called for the foundation living wage (cu...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - December 16, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release further education Mike Short pay Source Type: news
Sandwell leisure employees strike  again in contracts row
UNISON members from Sandwell branch took further strike action today, 14 December, in what is now the longest running industrial dispute in Sandwellâs history.
Members from Portway Lifestyle Centre and Tipton Leisure Centre picketed outside their workplaces after voting by 85% on an 83% turnout to continue their fight against Sandwell Leisure Trustâs fire and rehire policy.
In March 2021, Sandwell Leisure Trust fired and rehired all 280 staff in order to remove them from national pay, terms and conditions.
UNISON members took three one-day strikes in April, June and August to fight against the decision. This fourth day...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - December 14, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News Industrial action West Midlands Source Type: news
Omicron: Extending our solidarity to PPE supply chain workers
Itâs still uncertain how badly the Omicron variant will take hold in the UK this winter. But with an extraordinary NHS crisis already upon us, we are reminded of how vital PPE is to saving lives.
Pre-pandemic, PPE global supply chains were already known to be riddled with trade union and human rights violations, but it has worsened in the past 20 months. Forced labour has increased, authoritarian governments have used the pandemic to further restrict organising, and collective bargaining agreements have been ripped up and thrown away.
The medical rubber gloves manufacturing sector is one of the worst offenders. Itâs ch...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - December 6, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: Blogs General secretary's blog Covid-19 human rights international PPE procurement Source Type: news
UNISON statement on the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes
UNISON has responded to the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and the conviction of both Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes for his murder.
The union sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Arthur, everyone in the local community and all those affected by this incredibly sad case.
Every childâs life is precious, and we all need to learn from what happened in this terrible tragedy.
UNISON therefore welcomes the announcement of a national review into the circumstances of this case and hopes that lessons will be learned that will benefit children at risk in the future.
While we await the outcome of that review ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - December 6, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Martin Cullen Tags: Article News children's services Source Type: news
Council and school workers deserve much more than below-inflation pay offer as strike ballot begins
UNISON will today (Wednesday) begin to ballot more than a third of a million council and school staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for strike action over their âinadequateâ pay offer.
The union is recommending employees â including refuse collectors, teaching assistants and social workers â vote âyesâ to strike action.
These workers have kept services running in local communities throughout the difficult months of the pandemic and deserve a decent rise, says UNISON.
Most staff have been offered just 1.75% by local government employers, with 2.75% for those on the lowest pay level. As the rate of infla...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - December 1, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release local government NJC pay Source Type: news
Government must not dither and delay again over pay, says UNISON
Responding to the commencement today (Tuesday) of the next consultation on health workers pay by the NHS Pay Review Body, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
âStaff are facing what could be the worst winter ever. The patient backlog continues to rise, staffing shortages are worsening by the minute, and now thereâs uncertainty over the impact of the Omicron variant.
âWhat NHS employees need is the promise of a fair pay rise. The government mustnât dither and delay like last time. Ministers have to ensure a fair wage boost is top of their to-do list.
âA properly funded pay award will help the NHS withstand pre...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - December 1, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release nhs pay Sara Gorton Source Type: news
