Scottish Water staff to strike for four days in November
UNISON sent notices to Scottish Water this week, to inform it that members will be taking strike action for four days starting on 10 November.
The strikes come after UNISON members at Scottish Water voted overwhelmingly (78%) for action over a pay and grading dispute earlier this month.
The dispute comes after Scottish Water proposed changes to employment contracts without properly engaging with unions, causing anger amongst staff. The union says the proposals will cause years of wrangling over pay grades and push the lowest paid onto even lower wages and cause significant problems around equality legislation.
UNISON has ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 31, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News Scotland strike water Source Type: news
Disabled members look towards the general election
UNISON’s disabled members conference opened in Edinburgh at the weekend with a review of the union’s achievements over the past year in relation to disability equality, but also a disturbing picture of the problems that continue to be faced by members.
Amanda Sweetlove, deputy co-chair of the disabled members committee (pictured above), moved the annual report to delegates of what was their largest ever conference.
Ms Sweetlove reported that the committee had been “extremely busy” building on the successes of the 2022 year of disabled workers and embedding its focus on disability equality into all of UNISON’s wor...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 30, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Demetrios Matheou Tags: Article News disabled members Source Type: news
UNISON officer and activist recognised by health journal
Each year the HSJ (formerly the Health Service Journal) names the 50 most influential Black people in health policy in England over the upcoming 12 months.
The list is published to coincide with Black History Month which this year is themed Saluting Our Sisters. This year, the HSJ has recognised two UNISON women in the top10 – Helga Pile, UNISON’s deputy head of health, and May Parsons, a prominent health activist in the union.
Helga Pile
Helga was recognised partly for her key role in this year’s NHS pay dispute, noting she was often the public face of UNISON on TV and radio throughout the strikes (pictured a...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 24, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News awards Black history month health Source Type: news
Blog: Trade unions wouldn ’t be the same without Black Britons
Throughout history, the contributions of Black people have been overlooked and ignored. But Black History Month and UNISON’s Year of Black Workers are all about getting Black people’s achievements recognised and appreciated all year round.
Key Black figures have been at the forefront of fighting for social justice and equal rights in the UK. They’ve been instrumental in developing Britain’s culture, art and society as we know it now.
During this year’s Black History Month, we’ve been celebrating their achievements, but particularly those of Black women, as community builders, trade unionists, change makers and ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 24, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: General Secretary's blog News 2023 year of Black Workers Black history month equalities Windrush Source Type: news
UNISON appoints new regional secretary in the South West
Kerry Baigent has been appointed as the new regional secretary for UNISON in the South West, the union has announced today (Friday).
She started in her new role this week and takes over from Joanne Kaye, who retired earlier this year.
Kerry joined UNISON in 2014, initially working with the union’s health, local government and university branches in the Plymouth and Exeter areas. For the last five years, she has been managing UNISON’s Dorset and Somerset teams.
Prior to joining UNISON, Kerry worked as a firefighter for 21 years, and was also active in the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).
She was the first female ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 20, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release South West Source Type: news
Second Much More Than You Are exhibition fights ‘ bandism ’
The second annual Much More Than You Are exhibition was held at Newham University Hospital on Saturday to celebrate the full NHS team.
The event was launched last year by Newham Healthcare branch committee and, after its overwhelming success, has been turned into an annual celebration. According to branch secretary Chris Akaluka (pictured above), the idea of the event was to combat a culture of ‘bandism’.
Explaining the term, he says: “Bandism is a term I coined to describe the phenomenon where staff on higher bands may look down on those on lower bands.”
The day allowed people to demonstrate the diverse range of a...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 17, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News Greater London Region health One Team Day Source Type: news
UNISON votes for further school strikes in Scotland
UNISON, Scotland’s largest local government union, has today (Monday) announced a rolling programme of strike action in schools across the country in the coming weeks.
It comes after UNISON members voted overwhelmingly to reject Cosla’s pay offer, with nine in ten workers (89.92 %) voting against the offer in a consultative ballot.
UNISON will now move to a rolling programme of action in schools, and early years establishments linked to schools, from Shetland to Stranraer. Dates will be announced in the coming days.
UNISON’s Scottish secretary Lilian Macer said: “No one takes industrial action lightly. It...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 16, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Cosla Lilian Macer Scotland Source Type: news
Winter flu and COVID-19 vaccine programme 2023/24 – tell us what’s happening.
We want to hear from branches working jointly with employers to support this year’s Winter flu and COVID-19 vaccine programme.
Unlike last year, these vaccinations are voluntary. UNISON supports vaccination in health and social care. The vaccines are safe, and we encourage all members who do not have a medical exemption to get their jab because, for some, flu and COVID-19 are unpleasant illnesses. However, for many, they can be very dangerous and even life-threatening.
Frontline healthcare professionals are more likely to be exposed to the viruses, which can then be passed on to those who are at greater risk of serious i...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 12, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Hassan Govia Tags: Article Source Type: news
UNISON condemns violence in Israel and Gaza and calls for international law to be upheld
UNISON joins the international trade union movement, including the International Trade Union Confederation, in condemning the appalling violence against civilians in Israel and Gaza. We send our condolences to all those who mourn the loss of loved ones and call for the immediate safe release of those who have been kidnapped.
Israel has been devastated by a brutal and heinous attack that has claimed the lives of many hundreds of innocent civilians. Gaza is being subjected to an intensification of the 16-year blockade, with access to water, electricity, medication and food being denied by the Israeli government. The resumpt...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 11, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article international Source Type: news
Numeracy commitment will mean investment in staff
Commenting on shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson’s proposals to boost maths skills in younger children, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Tuesday):
“Numeracy is a skill for life. Ensuring children feel comfortable with numbers from an early age will reap dividends throughout their education and beyond.
“Delivering these practical plans will mean much-needed investment in a well-trained early-years workforce, which deserves both decent pay and career opportunities.
“Labour’s commitments would improve children’s prospects in the crucial early years, unlike the Conservatives who&...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 11, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release early years primary schools Source Type: news
Social care would be transformed under a Labour government
A national care service would transform the lives of millions of people, as well as dramatically improving the careers and fortunes of workers delivering vital support, says UNISON today (Monday).
Labour’s proposed overhaul of the sector would herald fairer pay and reverse the growing job vacancy trend that means thousands of people are currently unable to get the social care packages they desperately need, the union says.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“In Boris Johnson’s final departing insult to the country, he had the cheek to claim t...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 9, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release national care service Source Type: news
UNISON condemns water firms ’ attempt to increase household bills
UNISON has condemned calls from private water companies in England and Wales to increase bills to customers in order to invest in infrastructure and has reiterated its call for the industry to be renationalised.
The water industry has faced widespread criticism in recent years over the high volume of raw sewage discharges and the environmental impact on the rivers and seas – after paying huge dividends to shareholders instead of investing.
Despite funding of £56bn announced last year by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to tackle storm overflows – and topped up to £60bn in September this ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 4, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Amanda Kendal Tags: Article News water water industry water ownership Source Type: news
Supreme Court ruling is a victory for underpaid workers
Many UK workers could be entitled to thousands of pounds unfairly taken from their pay following a landmark Supreme Court ruling today (Wednesday) in a successful challenge brought by UNISON.
Prior to this, workers who consistently received incorrect pay could only make a claim at an employment tribunal for the most recent underpayment. They could also include similar underpayments on previous occasions, but not if there was a gap of three or more months between them.
Today’s ruling means many workers will now be able to challenge ongoing linked underpayments in their wages.
They will be able to do this even if there ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 4, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release supreme court unlawful deduction of wages Source Type: news
Blog: To preserve our safety, we must protect police staff
UNISON members working in the police and justice sector are spearheading a new ‘We Are Police Staff’ campaign.
The campaign will demonstrate our unwavering commitment to promote and defend the rights of police staff, who are tirelessly working in police forces across England, Scotland and Wales.
This will be no fleeting effort, but a long-term initiative that aims to make a profound impact over time.
We’re launching it officially this week, at the police and justice service group conference in Edinburgh, where I’ll also be pleased to address our members, to talk about how we can make the most of our campaig...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 3, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: General Secretary's blog News police staff Source Type: news
UNISON condemns ‘disgraceful’ approval for North Sea oil field
© Bill Kasman
UNISON today joined environmental campaigners and others in condemning the “disgraceful” go-ahead for a new oil and gas field off the coast of Shetland.
The UK’s oil and gas regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority, has granted permission to Oslo-listed Equinor and the British firm Ithaca Energy to develop the Rosebank field.
The Guardian reported that green campaigners, including Greta Thunberg, had called on the UK gove...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 27, 2023 Category: Food Science Authors: Demetrios Matheou Tags: Article News Energy green unison Source Type: news
