Prime Minister should take responsibility and not blame others for care home failings, says UNISON

Tuesday 7 July 2020 For immediate release Prime Minister should take responsibility and not blame others for care home failings, says UNISON Responding to comments by the Prime Minister that care homes did not follow procedures during the pandemic, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said today (Tuesday): “It’s despicable for Boris Johnson to blame incredible, dedicated care workers for his […]

Become a health & safety rep

Everyone has the right to a safe workplace. No-one should be injured or made ill because of their work and employers and government should aim to ensure that work is a positive experience that keeps us healthy. UNISON health and safety representatives make a huge difference. Research has shown that workplaces with union recognition and health and safety […]

Turn appreciation and applause for NHS staff into an early wage rise, say health unions

Friday 3 July 2020 For immediate release Turn appreciation and applause for NHS staff into an early wage rise, say health unions The government should build on the huge public support shown for the NHS during the pandemic by giving health workers across the UK an early pay rise, say health unions today (Friday). The 14 unions […]

Show your appreciation and thoughts for the NHS and key workers

People around the UK are being urged to celebrate and commemorate health, care and other essential workers this weekend to mark the 72nd birthday of the NHS. It will culminate in what is hoped to be the biggest ever clap for carers on Sunday (5 July) as the country shows its appreciation for the health […]

UNISON staff to strike after Tower Hamlets Council contract talks collapse  

Tuesday 30 June 2020 For immediate release UNISON staff to strike after Tower Hamlets Council contract talks collapse    Thousands of Tower Hamlets Council staff are to strike next month after managers vowed to push ahead with a plan to sack and re-employ staff on inferior contracts , says UNISON today (Tuesday).  Strikes opposing the council’s Tower Rewards Package, which could see 4,000 workers potentially worse off as a result of plans which include cuts to travel allowances and out of hours payments, will take place on Friday 3, Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 […]

Healthcare Student Update June 2020

Dear UNISON Student We’re writing to give you a further update on the situation for student nurses and midwives in England. This applies only to student nurses and midwives, arrangements for AHP students will be dealt with separately.  You’ll recall that emergency standards for nurse education were introduced in the spring to enable student nurses and […]

Doctors at Homerton Hospital sign letter calling on management to rethink outsourcing deal

170 doctors at Homerton University Hospital have written to Trust CEO Tracey Fletcher in support of their outsourced colleagues. UNISON has been campaigning for cleaners, porters, security and catering staff to be brought back in-house. The Trust recently announced its intention to sign a new five-year contract with global outsourcing giant ISS. But doctors have […]

UNISON sets out to recruit more safety reps amid COVID crisis

UNISON is launching a new campaign, Be on the safe side, to recruit more safety reps in workplaces across the UK – as the need for them becomes greater than ever. The union has campaigned tirelessly on health and safety issues to protect its members at work during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also supported its safety […]

Step up, stand up and speak out against racism

Read our letter to AFSCME here The murder of George Floyd and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities has focused attention on inequality and racism. UNISON head of equality Gloria Mills looks at the union’s role. UNISON head of equality Gloria Mills provides some context on racism in the UK and explains how the union […]

Blog: A major disappointment – but just the latest for Black people

Gloria Mills, UNISON equalities national secretary, on why the report into the impact of COVID-19 on Black people is a “major disappointment” We must recommit to fight racism in all its forms – that was the very clear message from UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis last week after the murder of George Floyd and the […]