Staff want to be tested but ministers must be realistic about what is possible. Commenting on the announcement by health secretary Matt Hancock today (Thursday) that the government is aiming to conduct 100,000 tests by the end of April, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Testing is key in the fight against the virus. It’s clear the […]
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Union pressure at City, University of London, helps protect incomes of outsourced catering staff UNISON has welcomed a move by City University – part of the University of London – instructing contracting-out firm Sodexo to pay catering staff on zero hours contracts while City’s campuses are closed for the weeks they would normally have expected […]
Coordinated response needed to protect anxious staff Social care workers across the country are at breaking point with many being given just plastic aprons and gloves to protect against coronavirus as they support the vulnerable and elderly, says UNISON today (Tuesday). Care workers say some managers are either refusing to issue face masks or […]
Tuesday 31 March 2020 Don’t forget to thank school support staff too, says UNISON The hard work of thousands of school support staff providing emergency care for key workers’ children countrywide appears to have been ignored by the government, says UNISON today (Tuesday). Education secretary Gavin Williamson has written to school leaders expressing his ‘deepest […]
The union’s annual delegate conference – together with local government, water, environment and transport, and energy conferences – won’t now happen in June as UNISON members and activists are on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis. UNISON’s annual national delegate conference (NDC), due to take place in Brighton in June, has been postponed because of […]
Tower Hamlets UNISON has suspended strike action planned tomorrow (24th March) in light of the public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus, and urges Tower Hamlets council to meet half way to end the dispute. The dispute is over council plans to sack and offer re-engagement on a disputed new contract called ‘Tower Rewards’ to […]
Updated: 18 March 2020 at 11:50 am As the COVID-19 virus spreads, find out what your rights at work are if taking sick leave or self-isolating. Contact UNISON We have received an increasing number of enquiries on what employers – and members – should do to minimise the risk of infection at this worrying time. […]
As you know we are in unprecedented times and the impact the Coronavirus is having on members, their families and on the services they provide is changing daily. Most universities have now moved to online lectures and tutor sessions, most councils are asking staff to work from home where they can, except for essential services […]
On 25 February the Regional LGBT+ Committee were hosted by Wes Streeting MP in the Old Shadow Cabinet Room at the Palace of Westminster. This event was to celebrate LGBT History Month, and the committee were joined by Labour MPs who used the opportunity to show their support to the LGBT+ community. Wes Streeting MP […]
On Friday 13th March, the regional women’s committee held their annual training day. The event was a great success, and it was fantastic to see so many women from across London attending. There was a varied agenda, including Christina McAnea – Assistant General Secretary, Fiona Llewellyn from Women’s Trust and National Women’s officer Josie Irwin […]