Stop seeing unions as the enemy, says UNISON
Commenting on government plans for union ballots outlined by the chancellor today (Friday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The government must stop demonising unions and seeing them as the enemy. Strikes are a symptom of the cost of living crisis.
“Instead of making it harder for employees to secure decent wages, ministers should be talking to unions about ways to solve problems.
“Attempting to tie unions up in knots while pulling out all the stops for city elites just shows workers that the government is not on their side.
“By threatening every employment right won through...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 23, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release strikes union rights Source Type: news
UNISON reacts to government energy package for businesses and public sector bodies
Commenting on the government’s plan to help cut energy costs for businesses, charities and public sector organisations, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This package is too little too late. Public bodies are still vulnerable because of a general lack of cash.
“Many schools, care homes, councils and hospitals have already had to make tough decisions, selling properties or cutting staff to afford their energy bills.
“All this could have been avoided. Better management of the UK’s energy market and an ambitious programme to make public buildings, businesses and homes energy efficient would have m...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 21, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release Christina McAnea energy bills energy efficiency Source Type: news
Vitamin D Supplementation May Reduce Symptoms of Depression
TUESDAY, Sept. 20, 2022 -- Vitamin D supplementation may help reduce symptoms of depression, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published online July 11 in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
Tuomas Mikola, from the... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)
Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News - September 20, 2022 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
UNISON takes the government to court over law allowing the use of agency workers to break strike
Legal action against the government over new regulations allowing agency workers to replace striking staff has been launched by UNISON.
The union issued proceedings with the High Court last week (13 September), triggering the start of a process seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision. UNISON is arguing that ministers’ changes are unlawful and should be axed.
Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg has 21 days to respond from the date the case was lodged last Tuesday.
UNISON is arguing the government’s change to the Conduct Regulations 2003* is unfair and based on unreliable evidence. These regulations ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 20, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Garfield Myrie Tags: News Press release agency workers legal action Source Type: news
Blog: There is no future on a dead planet
The devastating impacts of the climate emergency are felt across every part of the globe, but they fall heaviest on the disadvantaged.
UNISON doesn’t need any persuading that climate change is real, dangerous and destructive. There is no future on a dead planet, so we need commitments and action now from government and employers. And if the transition to net zero is not just, workers and their families will suffer.
We are determined to be part of the necessary change. Trade unions are the only force that can ensure urgent policies and measures deliver a fair transition.
Green UNISON Week is our time to highlight these is...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 20, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Demetrios Matheou Tags: General secretary's blog News climate change COP26 green unison Source Type: news
The death of Her Majesty The Queen
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Everyone’s thoughts will be with the royal family at this sad time. I’d like to offer UNISON’s sincere condolences.
“The Queen has given a lifetime of exemplary public service and her loss will be felt deeply across the whole of the UK and Commonwealth.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
The article The death of Her Majesty The Queen fir...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 8, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release Christina McAnea Source Type: news
Waiting times won ’t reduce without fixing workforce issues, says UNISON
Commenting on new figures showing record waiting times for NHS treatment in England, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Thursday):
“If the new Prime Minister’s serious about tackling problems in the NHS, that must start with a serious plan to keep hold of existing staff.
“Services cannot run themselves. Without a way to persuade exhausted employees to stay and new people to join, the outlook is bleak for anyone needing the NHS.
“Committing to increase health pay above inflation is now critical. Without that, waits and delays are likely to get a whole lot worse.”
Notes to editors:
R...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 8, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release nhs pay Source Type: news
Fund energy help by taxing firms making most from crisis, says UNISON
Responding to the government’s energy plan announced today (Thursday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“At long last, the government has acted. A bill freeze should have happened months ago. Instead, millions have endured sleepless nights terrified of the winter ahead.
“The companies raking in billions from soaring energy costs should pay their share. Another windfall tax would be fairer than handing huge debts to future generations.
“Putting bills on ice isn’t enough though. Bills will still be almost double the amount they were last year.
“Long-term energy efficiency measu...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 8, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Sophie Goodchild Tags: News Press release energy bills Source Type: news
Headteachers fear losing increasingly vital teaching assistants as cost-of-living pressures bite
Teaching assistants are still filling the gaps left by specialist staff during the pandemic and providing vital emotional support to students and parents, according to a UNISON-commissioned report published today (Thursday).
From Covid to the Cost of Living provides a snapshot of the way Covid has fundamentally changed the role of teaching assistants, says UNISON.
The report also captures headteachers’ concerns that chronic low pay is driving more teaching assistants out of classrooms to better paid, less stressful jobs in other parts of the economy.
The report challenges Liz Truss’ government to d...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 8, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Garfield Myrie Tags: News Press release covid Mike Short teaching assistants Source Type: news
Strikes called off after improved COSLA pay offer
Strikes across Scotland have been suspended after UNISON secured an improved pay offer from the local government employer, COSLA, which the union will put to members with a recommendation to accept.
In intense late-night negotiations on Thursday with the first minster, the deputy first minister, Scottish government and COSLA, UNISON negotiated a number of improvements to the employer’s offer.
This included an increase in the overall value of the pay offer to £600m, full consolidation from the date of implementation and that the calculations will be based on a 36 rather than a 37-hour week.
The new offer
• An incr...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 5, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article cost of living Scottish local government Strike Action Source Type: news
Boosting funding and pay are the best ways to fix NHS staffing
Commenting on new figures showing a record number of vacancies in the NHS in England, and government changes to health targets, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said today (Thursday):
“Staffing shortages are getting worse by the day. That means constant struggles to fill rotas and move people to where they’re most needed.
“The government needs a long-term answer to workforce pressures. Ignoring targets that show the public how safe and effective their NHS services are won’t fix the underlying funding gap. Nor will removing the people needed to manage the never-ending juggling act.
“Any solution to the workforce ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 1, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release NHS NHS staffing Source Type: news
Help There for You raise £1m to support members with energy bills
In response to the unprecedented surge in the cost of energy bills, UNISON’s charity, There for You, is calling on branches to donate to its energy support fund. The union aims to raise £1m by the end of September.
The money will be used to support members over the winter months. The union anticipates there will be high demand for support. Earlier this year, There for You’s annual winter fuel grant was increased by 50% and yet the fund was still over-subscribed in a matter of days.
With Ofgem recently announcing the new price cap, average annual energy bills are expected to reach £3,549 from 1 October. This is an...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - August 30, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News there for you winter fuel grant Source Type: news
Proper wage boost the answer as inflation reaches new high
Responding to the release of the latest inflation figures showing a new 40-year-high, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said today (Wednesday):
“The cost-of-living crisis has become a living nightmare for millions of working people.
“Wages are slumping at a record rate while prices and bills shoot up. But the government and those angling to be the next PM appear indifferent to the plight of those struggling to make ends meet.
“Ministers are deluded if they think workers can put up with yet more misery. Above-inflation pay rises are essential to rescue families on the brink.”
Notes to ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - August 17, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release cost of living inflation Source Type: news
UNISON launches new pay campaign role for activists
UNISON has created a new activist position called ‘pay campaign contact’.
The new role is intended to be a special pay campaign workplace contact, who will receive information of UNISON’s pay campaigns and distribute it locally to members and non-members.
This network of contacts will hopefully increase the visibility of these campaigns, as well as recruit and build workplace organisation around the issues.
This should help to strengthen the union, get the vote out in future ballots or consultations, and maximise the organising and recruitment potential in UNISON’s pay campaigns. It is similar to the a...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - August 15, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Amanda Kendal Tags: Article News pay pay campaign contact Source Type: news
Energy price freeze is right move for cost of living pressures
Responding to Labour Party proposals to freeze energy bills through an extended windfall levy on oil and gas companies, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Monday):
“Millions of people are suffering financially and it’s going to get worse without emergency action.
“Families and households, particularly those on low wages, may never recover from disastrous energy hikes.
“Labour’s plans are a positive start to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, reduce bills and control inflation. They’re in stark contrast to the government’s inertia and failure to grasp the struggles of working people.”
...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - August 15, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release cost of living energy prices Source Type: news
