North west council becomes latest to sign up to ethical care

Knowsley has become the latest council to sign UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter, committing itself and its contracted homecare companies to adequate staffing levels and enough time for workers to care for vulnerable people.

It also means that homecare workers in the north-west England town – who are mostly women – will eventually be paid the living wage, sick pay and for their travel time and sleep-in shifts.

The charter also calls for an end to zero-hours contracts, free training and a clear and accountable process for staff to raise any concerns.

UNISON Knowsley deputy branch secretary James Robinson welcomed the signing on 21 September as “the start of a process”.

He said the union wants “a frank and open discussion about how we can move forward and ensure the signing improves care,” adding that “our branch’s worst casework situations usually come from homecare – there’s lots of bullying and harassment and procedures often aren’t followed.

“Add to that the situation with zero hours contracts and these women often seem quite scared to me – they’re being treated badly, but they’re too nervous to do anything, in case it infringes on the amount of hours they’re given.

“It is going to be a big change. This signing is really a step in the right direction.”

Mr Robinson said the branch recognises that “all the standards cannot be implemented overnight. But the council recently contracted new homecare providers, so now seemed like a great opportunity to get their commitment.

“And the discussion with the workers and employers themselves will set a dialogue in place to implement the improved terms and conditions.”

But in many ways, he hoped the biggest impact of the charter would be on staff retention, because the “elderly and vulnerable people who rely on homecare don’t want to see a different face every day – it might be the only human contact they get.”

Paula Barker, the union’s north west regional convenor, reiterated the point and welcomed the council’s “huge step towards improving working conditions for care workers and in turn, improving the quality of life for the people they look after.”

She added: “UNISON North West is leading the way in highlighting the importance of care work and in fighting to win the pay and conditions they deserve.

“We will continue to work with local authorities across the region to pursue better standards in the sector through our Care Workers for Change campaign.”

• Lewisham in south London also pledged to sign the charter when the mayor and his cabinet met last week.

Download the  Ethical Care Charter [pdf]

UNISON’s Save Care Now campaign

 Care workers for Change

The article North west council becomes latest to sign up to ethical care first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/knowsley-charter/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178547528502

Goldsmiths cleaners celebrate winning a return in house

Cleaners at Goldsmiths, University of London, are celebrating after a campaign led by UNISON, together with staff and students, has seen the employer confirm that their jobs will be brought back in house.

The 100 cleaners had seen their jobs outsourced to private company ISS a number of years ago, but the trigger for the campaign was August’s decision by the company to restructure shift patterns and reduce shifts. This left some of the workers losing more than £600 pay a month.

The college has confirmed that the move back in house will take six months, and also that the budget for cleaning will be increased and there will be more flexibility around shift patterns.

Regional organiser Vicky Lucioni paid tribute to branch secretary Suzanne Stead, branch chair David Ramsey, and local steward Sheila Faucher for the work they have done.

She also praised the union’s “meaningful partnership” with Goldsmith’s senior management – not least, Andy Lamb in human resources – for realising that they “didn’t want a two-tier workforce”.

The union has also seen a boost to recruitment and the branch has gained two new reps.

The article Goldsmiths cleaners celebrate winning a return in house first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/goldsmiths-cleaners-celebrate-winning-return-house/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178547528382

September – and we are on song!

The summer holidays were over, the kids were back at school, we were heading into autumn… But some things don’t change with the seasons. And in September UNISON members remained focussed on the year-round business of sticking up for public services and public service workers.

The union celebrated some well-earned victories. In Basildon, hospital cleaners won their battle for a pay rise. The low-paid domestic staff at Basildon University Hospital had been on the minimum wage after being transferred back into the NHS from private contractor OCS two years ago. But following pressure from UNISON, the cleaners won a 3% pay rise, backdated to April, and they will all be returned to full NHS contracts in December.

That success might give heart to members on the other side of the country, next month, when hospital cleaners, catering staff and porters will be among the staff joining a 48-hour strike at Royal Bolton Hospital, to demand pay parity.

The Basildon victors

Back to September, and UNISON hailed a U-turn on outsourcing by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust as a “fantastic victory”.

The trust had planned to outsource more than 500 non-clinical staff – including maintenance workers, porters, housekeepers and caterers – to a private company it had set up. Many of them had worked for the health service for more than 20 years.

But the trust eventually announced that it was dropping the plans, after opposition from UNISON, the RCN and local MPs.

UNISON northern regional secretary Clare Williams said: “This decision will allow the trust to retain experienced workers. They now have the assurance that all parts of the service are valued equally, working as one team to provide the best possible care for patients.”

The union also maintained its long-term campaigning, on several fronts.

Council workers went to Westminster to tell MPs that local services have reached breaking point and to win support for UNISON’s campaign to #SaveOurLocalServices. The campaign urges the government to use November’s budget to free the funds councils so desperately need.

Some 21,000 council workers took part in a UNISON survey in June, which definitively showed that councils are at breaking point. In turn, that led to almost 60 MPs wanting to talk to local government members on the frontline of the crisis at the parliamentary event.

Labour MP Gareth Snell pictured with UNISON local authority members at Westminster

Meanwhile, in response to the ongoing farce of the Brexit negotiations, UNISON launched guidance for EU members and branches on the new settled status requirements for those who wish to continue living in the UK after its exit from the European Union.

The union also introduced dedicated Brexit campaign pages on its national website, offering news, information and advice relating to UNISON’s efforts to protect the rights, jobs and livelihoods of all its members in the uncharted territory of Brexit. Whatever happens, it’s wise to be prepared.

In further education, UNISON was among the unions and employers coming together to launch a campaign to save the sector.

As the cuts to FE funding bite ever deeper, colleges are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff.

Constant ‘restructuring’, rising job insecurity, unmanageable workloads and declining pay are all adding to the crisis. The Association of Colleges – the employer’s association in England – wants to offer a substantial pay rise, but without a significant injection of funding from central government will be unable to do so.

The campaign will show its teeth in October, when the employers, all the further education unions in England and students will join together to lobby MPs at Parliament for proper funding.

If anyone needed a reminder of why every campaign is an urgent necessity, UNISON published a report containing perhaps one of the most shocking statistics of any report… ever.

It appears that public services support staff – including teaching assistants, hospital porters and police community support offers – are doing more than 40 million hours of unpaid overtime a year. Yes, that’s 40… million.

The figure is the equivalent of 25,000 extra public service staff working full time. It highlights both the impact of years of job cuts and how far workers are prepared to go to keep services running efficiently.

At least frustration with the Tories could be allayed by hope from another quarter. During the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis welcomed the economic alternative put forward by shadow chancellor John McDonnell.,

“Labour has set out a radical, inspiring and achievable alternative to Conservative economic chaos,” Mr Prentis said.

“Working people need a Labour government and an end to Tory austerity rule. It was great to hear the shadow chancellor reiterate his commitment to bringing water back into public ownership. Now it’s time for Labour to commit to bringing all public services back in-house within the first year of a Labour government.”

The article September – and we are on song! first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/september-and-we-are-on-song/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178542090897

Blog: Proud of our union, our party and our essential link

The past few days at Labour conference have been great for both our party and our union. Few Labour conferences would provide such a strong argument for the importance of the Labour Link to UNISON than this one.

This was a conference where the issues under discussion were about real people’s live, and the radical solutions match the urgency so many in our communities feel. Jonathan Ashworth promising to renationalise our NHS, Angela Rayner’s work on expanding free childcare and John McDonnell’s commitment to working people’s representation at the top of their employers structures – these are just some of the ways our movement is rising to the challenges are country faces.

Better still, Labour now has policy – passed unanimously – against privatisation in all its forms. The motion, which I moved on conference floor on Tuesday, not only commits Labour to oppose further privatisation, but to reverse all privatisation within the first year of the next Labour government, putting public services back in public hands once again. This is a change that will have a massive impact on service provision and on the lives of hundreds of thousands of public service workers.

I’m so proud that UNISON, a proud union of the left, is continuing to get the radical solutions to the issues that matter on the agenda of our party. Proud too that conference made sure trade unions kept our voice at all levels of our Party. And proud to support the Labour Leader’s office in their proposals on selections and leadership elections.

And it’s our people that our shaping our party’s future as we head back towards government. Our people – like Angela Rayner, like our UNISON group of MPs, like our dedicated Labour Link activists and our incredible delegation to this year’s party conference. They played a huge part in making this conference a success – showcasing the non-negotiable and essential role of our people, working people, in our party.

That’s just one reason why I’m so proud that my friend Wendy Nichols, who has given decades of her life to UNISON and the Labour Party, as Yorkshire Regional Convenor, NEC member and President – was elected unanimously as Chair of Labour’s NEC for the next year. I can’t think of anyone better for the job, and I know she’ll do us all proud.

(Credit to Jenny Harvey, one of UNISON’s fantastic delegates, for the photo)

The article Blog: Proud of our union, our party and our essential link first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/blog-proud-union-party-essential-link/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178517381352

UNISON reacts to Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to the Labour Party Conference

Commenting on Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“Today Jeremy Corbyn delivered a speech that shows Labour is a radical government in waiting, ready to unite our communities.

“This was a message of hope for everyone in our country – particularly those people UNISON represents. There was something in that speech for every public sector worker covering childcare, healthcare and education. It offered dignity and support for young and old alike.

“Jeremy Corbyn has united the Labour Party, now he’s ready to unite the country and win the next election, which can’t come soon enough.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article UNISON reacts to Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to the Labour Party Conference first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/unison-reacts-jeremy-corbyns-speech-labour-party-conference/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178509446922

Childcare plans will make a huge difference to young families and nursery staff

Commenting on the childcare plans announced by Jeremy Corbyn during his speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today (Wednesday) UNISON head of education Jon Richards said:

“Young families across the country are struggling because childcare costs are such a massive drain on their finances. Free or capped childcare costs would make a huge difference to their lives.

“But childcare can’t be provided on the cheap, and Labour recognises this. Paying childcare staff a decent wage and improving their skills will help ensure that the profession, previously much undervalued, gets the recognition and status it deserves.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Anna Mauremootoo T:0207 121 5555 M: 07903 870786 E: a.mauremootoo@unison.co.uk

The article Childcare plans will make a huge difference to young families and nursery staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/childcare-plans-will-make-huge-difference-young-families-nursery-staff/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178490054977

The NHS needs a Labour government

Commenting on shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth’s speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today (Wednesday) UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“Under a Labour government the NHS and the dedicated people that work for it would at long last receive the proper investment and respect they deserve.

“A commitment to end privatisation and the spiralling costs of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) would mean more resources for a service that’s struggled to cope with the huge squeeze on funding and major gaps in staffing.

“There is no place for the private sector in health, the pursuit of profit should never take precedence over patient care. And Labour is right to commit to scrapping sky high parking charges, put money back in health workers’ pockets and stop private contractors raking in the ca.sh.

“Labour’s commitment to properly fund social care and invest in our overstretched and underfunded mental health services would see the NHS in a much better position to cope with all the extra demands being made of it. The country needs a Labour government.”

Media contact:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article The NHS needs a Labour government first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/nhs-needs-labour-government/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178480595362

NHS cleaners win pay parity battle at Basildon Hospital

Hospital cleaners in Basildon are celebrating after winning their battle for a pay rise with the help of UNISON.

The low-paid domestic staff at Basildon University Hospital had been on the minimum wage after being transferred back into the NHS from private contractor OCS two years ago.

But following pressure from UNISON, the cleaners have won a 3% pay rise, backdated to April, and they will all be put back on full NHS contracts in December.

This will give the 300 staff the same pay as other directly employed hospital cleaners, as well as the same holiday, sick pay and unsocial hours payments as their co-workers at the hospital.

UNISON regional organiser Sam Older (pictured above, on the left) praised Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Trust for “doing the right thing” after two years of union campaigning.

“This is great news for the hundreds of domestic workers unfairly denied a decent wage despite being directly employed by the NHS,” he said.

“This agreement doesn’t just mean more money in the pockets of these hard-working staff – who are absolutely vital to maintaining a safe and clean hospital environment – the sick pay means they won’t be forced to come into work when they’re unwell.

“Above all, it shows the importance of being in a union if you want to win and be treated fairly at work.”

Mr Older paid particular credit to workplace rep Dave Nicholls (pictured, far right) and branch secretary Dave Burton (pictured second from the right, at the front), and he noted that organising at the hospital has benefited and that membership has gone up as a direct result of the union’s campaign over the pay inequality.

The article NHS cleaners win pay parity battle at Basildon Hospital first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/basildon-pay/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178453876367

Bolton hospital staff to stage 48-hour strike for pay parity

Hospital cleaners, catering staff and porters will be among the staff joining a 48-hour strike at Royal Bolton Hospital from 7am on Thursday 11 October, to demand pay parity.

They are employed by a wholly owned subsidiary company of the Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, and are not being paid the nationally agreed pay increase for NHS workers.

While the lowest-paid staff in other hospitals are receiving nearly £2,000 extra this year – a 10% increase – staff in Bolton who do the same jobs are being offered only 2%.

The staff are employed by Bolton iFM. Last week, the regulator NHS Improvement told NHS trusts in England to stop setting up wholly owned subsidiaries until further guidance is issued.

In a ballot of UNISON members, 97% voted to take strike action, with a turnout of 65%.

“Local health bosses are letting hospital workers down,” said UNISON regional organiser Tim Ellis after the strike dates were announced.

“They are trying to preserve poverty pay rates in Bolton, while workers doing the same jobs in other hospitals are rightly getting significant pay rises.

“The wholly owned subsidiary model is now wholly discredited. The treatment of hospital workers in Bolton shows how unfair it is to divide up the NHS team. All NHS staff should be getting the nationally-agreed pay rise.

“Staff feel that they are being treated unfairly and they are determined to see this through. Health bosses need to act quickly and ensure that hospital staff get the pay rise that they need and deserve.”

The government has made £800m available to fund the agreed Agenda for Change pay rise in England, and trusts can apply to use this money to fund pay rises for staff in their wholly owned subsidiaries, if they apply Agenda for Change  terms.

But so far, neither the trust nor iFM have not applied for the government funding that could cover the cost of the nationally-agreed pay rise.

Previous story: Bolton members vote to strike over pay equality (18 September 2018)

UNISON campaign against wholly owned subsidiaries in the NHS

The article Bolton hospital staff to stage 48-hour strike for pay parity first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/bolton-hospital-staff-stage-48-hour-strike-pay-parity/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178450737037

An end to privatisation must be a year one priority for Labour

Opening the debate on privatisation at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“UNISON has always led the fight against privatisation, in the past all too frequently against the New Labour leadership.

“Year after year, I stood at this rostrum, and was heckled and hissed at by New Labour ministers for opposing their privatisation plans.

“Gullible ministers, who’d been seduced by the promises of vulture capitalism, sucked in by G4S, Capita and Carillion, and bedazzled by the chief executives of multinational companies who promised so much, yet delivered so little.

“But much has changed thanks to the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. Those dark days are gone.

“The country must never go back to the time when it was beholden to the profiteers, seduced by their false promises, and by the mantra that private was good and public bad.

“A mile from here stands the Royal Liverpool Hospital – a shell of a hospital, that’s half built, effectively a £300m building site.

“It’s been abandoned by Carillion, the company that everyone said was too big to fail.

“Carillion, a private company that was praised by the Tories and lauded by New Labour, has now left a trail of destruction in its wake.

“Workers were unpaid and apprentices were sacked, and this great city has been left without its promised new hospital. An epic monument to failure.

“And just as Grenfell will forever be associated with neglect, so Carillion will always be associated with greed.

“But at long last the Labour Party is led by those who oppose privatisation of all our public services.

“I’ve waited all my life for this. Our party, led by Jeremy Corbyn – a proud UNISON member, has always stood with us on protests.

“Campaigning against hospital closures, council cuts and privatisation. He’s
the kind of Member of Parliament our party needs, who stands with you when times are tough, and not just when they want something.

“So everyone in this hall, and every MP must get behind our leader, get behind the policies, and get behind the party to campaign for the best manifesto ever put to the British people.

“It’s a party that works not for the rich but for the cleaners, the carers, the cooks, the teaching assistants, nurses, and all other public sector workers.

“They need our party preparing for power, looking outwards, moving upwards and standing united. That’s what our country needs.

“That’s what the children sleeping rough on the streets of cities like this need. And what the dozens of Birmingham care workers who travelled here yesterday need.

“They’ve taken 21 days of strike action, fighting pay cuts, and a cut in their hours.

“We need unity now more than ever, to be united behind radical policies, not outdated dogmas of the past, united behind a leadership that is no longer timid.

“For the first time in a generation, we have the opportunity to be bold and bring public sector workers who’ve been privatised back into local government, and back into the health service where they belong.

“An end to privatisation must be a year one priority for a Labour government, not an aspiration. A day one commitment to end the scourge of privatisation and bring all services back in house.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Clare Santry M: 07944 191479 E: c.santry@unison.co.uk

The article An end to privatisation must be a year one priority for Labour first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/end-privatisation-must-year-one-priority-labour/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178447818137

UNISON welcomes Labour’s radical, inspiring and achievable economic alternative

Commenting on the speech today (Monday) by shadow chancellor John McDonnell at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: 

“Labour has set out a radical, inspiring and achievable alternative to Conservative economic chaos.

“Working people need a Labour government and an end to Tory austerity rule.

“It was great to hear the shadow chancellor reiterate his commitment to bringing water back into public ownership. Now it’s time for Labour to commit to bringing all public services back in house within the first year of a Labour government.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Clare Santry M: 07944 191479 E: c.santry@unison.co.uk

The article UNISON welcomes Labour’s radical, inspiring and achievable economic alternative first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/unison-welcomes-labours-radical-inspiring-achievable-economic-alternative/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178417182127

Birmingham City Council is cutting care workers’ hours at the expense of local people

Dozens of Birmingham care workers are planning to travel to Liverpool today (Monday) to lobby delegates attending the Labour Party Conference over the City Council’s plans to cut their hours.

Birmingham City Council says it needs to save around £2 million and plans to do this by slashing the hours of care staff working for its enablement service.

Under the plans some care staff could see their hours cut from 37 hours to just 14 a week. This would mean that a worker who currently earns around £18,000 a year could lose up to £11,000.

UNISON says these changes could take workers below the poverty line, or leave them with no choice but to look elsewhere for work, which could put untold pressure on the service, if lots chose to leave.

Birmingham’s enablement service helps the elderly and adults who have been in hospital or are recovering from an illness or injury to relearn skills such as washing, dressing and cooking.

Since the cuts in hours proposals were announced at the end of July, hundreds of care workers have been on strike throughout August and September, with further action planned next month.

Care workers say the service has already been hit as their colleagues have opted for voluntary redundancy, which has reduced the number of people they are able to look after. They fear planned cuts could result in more staff voting with their feet, leaving the service unable to cope with demand.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Birmingham City Council seems fixated on cutting costs, while showing little regard for the impact on the many elderly and vulnerable adults across the city who rely on this service.

“While local councils everywhere have undoubtedly been hit by government cuts, councillors have made the wrong decision here. They are unfairly picking on hard-working, already low-paid care staff.

“Councillors’ plans will either leave staff without enough money for food and bills, or mean they’ve no alternative but to look elsewhere for better paid work. With fewer care staff, elderly people across the city could be left high and dry.

“Dedicated care workers don’t want to go on strike but the Council has left them with no choice. Hopefully seeing them out in force will convince any councillors attending the Liverpool conference that they need to rethink their plans, and do so quickly.”

Notes to editors:
Some of the care workers on strike are available for interview:
Caron said: “I lost my partner two years ago so I’m the only one bringing in money to pay the bills. The thought of losing hours is stressing me out. I worry that while we’re on strike people are being held up in hospital.”
Sharon says: “I’ve had to cut down on socialising, and sometimes even food, because I don’t know what the future holds so I need to save all the money I can. Christmas is just around the corner and it’s a constant worry.”
The Birmingham care workers are expected to arrive in Liverpool at around 12.40pm today in time to lobby delegates leaving the conference during the lunchtime break.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Clare Santry M: 07944 191479 E: c.santry@unison.co.uk

The article Birmingham City Council is cutting care workers’ hours at the expense of local people first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/birmingham-city-council-cutting-care-workers-hours-expense-local-people/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178411664142

Public service staff at ‘tipping point’ over unpaid overtime and low pay, says UNISON

Public services support staff – including teaching assistants, hospital porters and police community support offers (PCSOs) – are doing more than 40 million hours of unpaid overtime a year*, says a report from UNISON published today (Monday).

The figure is the equivalent of 25,000 extra public service staff working full time. It highlights how far workers are prepared to go to keep services running efficiently and the impact of years of job cuts. This is despite the intolerable pressures they face as a result of government-led cutbacks, according to the report We Can’t Go on Like This.

The findings are from an analysis of employment data by think tank the Smith Institute. It warns that staff have reached a ‘tipping point’, which could have a knock-on impact on services and local communities.

The report commissioned by UNISON, also includes a survey of nearly 1,000 support staff across the UK working in healthcare (37%), education (35%), local government (19%), the police and justice (4%), and other public services (5%).

More than two in five (44%) of the survey respondents, who include auxiliary nurses, cleaners and caretakers, say they are doing unpaid overtime most weeks.

Some are taking on the duties of colleagues who have been made redundant, while others are working beyond their pay grade without the necessary training, according to the report.

It highlights that the vast majority (77%) believe they are working harder than a year ago, yet more than a third (35%) say cutbacks means they are much less productive than before.

Staff feel demoralised and demotivated as a direct result of austerity because of increased workloads, having to do jobs they are unfamiliar with, and because their managers are unsupportive, according to the findings.

As a result, nearly seven in ten (68%) respondents especially those in health (75%) and local government (72%), believe the services they help run are getting worse in delivering for the public. Some even believe the situation is so bad that there is a safety risk especially to patients in the NHS.

The crisis in the workplace for support staff means morale at work is at rock bottom according to four in five (80%) of those who responded, largely because they feel undervalued by their managers. Three in ten (30%) are actively looking to leave their jobs, and another third (33%) are considering doing so.

The report says that workforce cuts have been ‘disproportionately targeted’ at support staff. This includes those working with vulnerable people with learning disabilities or mental health issues.

UNISON is calling on the government to recognise the important role of frontline staff in delivering public services by investing properly in the jobs needed to deliver high quality results.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Support staff such as healthcare assistants and catering workers are among the lowest paid in public services. All too often they’re overlooked by politicians, despite the vital jobs they do.

“It’s no wonder they feel overworked and undervalued. Many are facing intolerable pressures because of cutbacks, which have triggered staff shortages.

“The government must commit to funding the jobs needed to guarantee safe, high quality services. A failure to act will undermine standards further and weaken public confidence further still.”

Notes to editors:
– We Can’t Go on Like This can be accessed here.
– The support staff survey was carried out in spring 2018 and is based on responses from 905 individuals. The survey is part of UNISON’s on going public service champions campaign.
-* This figure is based on an analysis of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (January to March 2017) by the Smith Institute. They combined the total unpaid overtime hours for staff in a range of jobs including administrators, secretarial workers and teaching assistants. – Case studies (names have been changed)
– Selina, 47, is an information support officer working for a council in the North West. She says: “I believe in the work I’m doing. But me and my colleagues all work over the hours we’re supposed to.
“My daughter needs a new bed and I desperately need new work clothes. But every week I look at my bank account and feel despondent.”
– Jeremy, 52, is a senior healthcare assistant at a mental health unit in the South West. He says: “I’ve a real passion for the work I do. But I feel like I’d walk out tomorrow for a job that paid me more money.
“I’d leave the NHS at the drop of a hat but with my pension and everything I’m totally trapped.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Clare Santry T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07944 191479 E: c.santry@unison.co.uk

The article Public service staff at ‘tipping point’ over unpaid overtime and low pay, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/public-service-staff-tipping-point-unpaid-overtime-low-pay-says-unison/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178400733892

‘Dehumanising’ benefits system must be reformed, says UNISON

Women, working families, disabled people and ethnic minorities are being penalised by unjust policies which undermine their financial independence and leave some destitute, says UNISON.

The union will today (Saturday) call on the Labour Party to campaign for a fair social security system that reverses cuts to work allowances and scraps the current two-child limit on benefits, including Universal Credit.

A UNISON motion to the party’s women’s conference, which is taking place in Liverpool, says measures are needed to reduce the burden faced by low-income households from property costs. These include security of tenure for new lettings, controls on future rent increases, and the building of 100,000 social rent homes a year.

The motion also calls for a scrapping of the so-called ‘rape clause’ in tax credit claims. This policy allows women to claim for a third child conceived through non-consensual sex or resulting from an abusive relationship. However, this forces women to relive their traumatic experiences causing them more distress, says UNISON.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Theresa May still talks about burning injustices. But the real unfairness is that the Conservatives still want to hit people on the lowest incomes.

“They have already cut support for the poorest, for children and for disabled people. These measures have also disproportionately hit women and those from ethnic minorities.

“Universal Credit has been an unmitigated disaster and dehumanises people. This is why we must campaign for a fair social security system.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article ‘Dehumanising’ benefits system must be reformed, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/dehumanising-benefits-system-must-reformed-says-unison/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178335632977

Probation rescue plans will be disastrous

Responding to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) consultation on the structure and services provided by the probation system, UNISON national officer for probation Ben Priestley said:

“This is the last chance saloon for the probation service and rescue plans proposed by the MoJ just don’t cut the mustard.

“Earlier this year, the Justice Select Committee laid bare the failings of the government’s probation reforms, yet astonishingly ministers want to continue with the disastrous split between public and private provisions.

“Before these counterproductive reforms, probation was a successful service. Probation must be put back together, returned to public ownership, and this failed experiment in privatisation brought to an end.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON represents 3,000 people working for the National Probation Service (NPS) and the 21 community rehabilitation companies (CRCs)
– The private firms were awarded contracts in 2014 to supervise non high-risk offenders
– UNISON wants the probation service brought back together, the CRCs returned to public ownership once their existing contracts have been terminated and Her Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Services (HMPPS) reformed

Media contacts:
Anna Mauremootoo T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07903 870786 E: a.mauremootoo@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article Probation rescue plans will be disastrous first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/probation-rescue-plans-will-disastrous/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178320001847

Mismanagement by academy trust leaves vulnerable students and staff facing huge cuts

Large cuts are looming at the TBAP multi-academy trust, which runs schools in London, Essex, Cambridgeshire and the North West, following accusations of financial mismanagement, say education unions today (Friday).

The TBAP trust, which teaches children excluded from mainstream education, plans to cut over £2.5m (14.4%) from its budget, say the unions.

UNISON, which represents school support staff in the chain, recently wrote to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) raising serious concerns about financial management at the trust.

The ESFA warned the trust in January, and has now put TBAP under financial notice to improve management, control and governance in all its schools.

The unions find it particularly worrying that the Department for Education continued to allow the trust to take on new schools, when it knew the trust was in financial difficulties.

Unions say the rush to make such severe cuts will damage pupils and put teaching and support staff jobs at risk. There is also concern that employees who are not made redundant could see their salaries cut.

If jobs go, unions fear vulnerable pupils will need to be taught in larger groups. This could not only disrupt their learning, but also risk their safety and that of staff.

The trust is also suggesting that online learning could be an alternative to the classroom so it can cut back on staff, say unions.

UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “The ESFA needs to do a full investigation into how the TBAP trust got into such a mess, and provide stability for pupils and staff.

“This looks like yet another fiasco over how academies are run, and it raises more questions about what the ESFA does when it knows there is a problem. The ESFA must ensure that pupils are protected and staff don’t see their jobs cut because of financial mistakes made by the trust.”

GMB national officer Karen Leonard said: “Severe cuts would mean vulnerable children losing desperately needed support, violent incidents could increase, and staff will no doubt be fearful that they will lose their jobs.

“Sadly we are at risk of further episodes like this until the government clamps down on multi-academy trust finances to protect the money that is meant for children’s education.”

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “The ESFA must provide a period of stability for staff, pupils and parents and not add to the distress and anxiety caused by its appalling financial mismanagement.

“The situation is completely unacceptable and the proposed cuts will directly harm the quality of education being provided to some of the most vulnerable children.

“The NASUWT opposes any cuts to teaching and support staff, and will be working to find a solution that protects jobs and quality education provision.”

NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “These vulnerable students deserve much better. The Department for Education must act quickly to put effective controls on multi-academy trusts and prevent mismanagement like this.”

The education unions believe the trust is attempting to railroad through a consultation on the cuts – with a final decision on the outcome due as early as the week after next.

Notes to editors:
– TBAP runs 11 academies in England.
– The ESFA put TBAP under financial notice to improve in August 2018.
– The unions are meeting TBAP on Tuesday (25 September). They are calling on the trust to put the cuts on hold to allow for a proper consultation with staff, parents and local politicians, and the opportunity for alternative savings to be considered.

Media contacts:
UNISON Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
GMB Alex Jones T: ‪020 7391 6751 M: ‪07813 541656 E: alex.jones@gmb.org.uk
NASUWT Ben Padley T: 0121 457 6269 M: 07785 463119 E: ben.padley@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
NEU Caroline Cowie T: 0207 380 4706 M: 07879 480061 E: caroline.cowie@neu.org.uk

The article Mismanagement by academy trust leaves vulnerable students and staff facing huge cuts first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/mismanagement-academy-trust-leaves-vulnerable-students-staff-facing-huge-cuts/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178313909727

Midlands college facing financial collapse refused to heed warnings

Responding to news that West Nottinghamshire College has received a financial health notice to improve from the government after requesting £2.1million financial support, UNISON national officer Leigh Powell said:

“It’s a disgrace that financial troubles have escalated to this level. Last year UNISON tried to warn the FE Commissioner and governors about financial mismanagement at the college.

“Senior managers at the college have played fast and loose with public money to the detriment of students’ education, and the future of the dedicated staff who work there.

“Both the college and the FE Commissioner have passed the buck even when 100 members of staff were being made redundant.

“Staff are now left wondering who will be leading the financial recovery plan and how future changes will affect them. An urgent meeting with UNISON, the College and FE Commissioner representatives is needed so that staff and students’ questions get clear answers.”

Media contacts:
Anna Mauremootoo T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07903 870786 E: a.mauremootoo@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article Midlands college facing financial collapse refused to heed warnings first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/midlands-college-facing-financial-collapse-refused-heed-warnings/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178311294492

NHS Earnings Max – get your resources on the UNISON Organising Space

New resources are available in the online UNISON organising space to help health branches make sure that NHS members are getting every penny they are owed to as part of the union’s Earning Max project.

Branches can download and use these to build successful local campaigns and make sure that  members are getting what they are due.

Check out the organising space now

This includes getting members the right holiday pay, making sure they are on the right band for the job, and making sure that they are able to access any other allowances and benefits that they are entitled to.

In addition to the resources available on the organising space, we have also produced a number of Let’s put it right together postcards which are available to order on the UNISON online catalogue.

The postcards can be ordered in a packs of six, quoting stock no 3843, or you each of the postcards can be ordered individually.

Go to UNISON’s online catalogue

If your branch has any victories relating to other Earnings Max campaigns, please publicise these as widely as possible.

You can do this via your branch newsletter, through your UNISON region or by sharing your stories with the union – please email them to the health service group at h.group@unison.co.uk.

You can also use the community section of the organising space to share your successes.

UNISON activists can access the organising space via smartphone, tablet or computer, using the same log-in details as My UNISON. If you don’t already have a My UNISON account, you can register at my.unison.org.uk – you will need to have your membership number to hand.

 

The article NHS Earnings Max – get your resources on the UNISON Organising Space first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/earnings-max/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178311294332

NHS pause of ‘subcos’ long overdue

Responding to NHS Improvement’s announcement today that plans to outsource non-medical staff to subsidiary companies have been paused, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“This whole policy has been a damaging distraction. Valuable resources that could have gone on improving care have been wasted.

“Saving money has been the sole motive for outsourcing jobs to private companies. Cash-strapped trusts have seen it as an opportunity for solving their financial woes.

“But they didn’t anticipate the outrage among staff and including porters, cleaners and those in catering who want to stay in the NHS. Recent threatened action by UNISON at Tees and industrial action at Wigan successfully stopped subco plans in their tracks.*

“The NHS is already set to face another tough winter. Trusts must now plan ahead and work with unions to make the best possible use of resources.”

Notes to editors:
– Wholly owned subsidiaries – or subcos – are private companies established by NHS trusts. They are not liable for VAT payments in the same way NHS trusts are. This has led to accusations that trusts are using them to avoid paying VAT.
– The NHS Improvement announcement on subcos can be accessed here. It has said it will consult on a new approach in October then issue new guidance.
* In July this year, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Foundation Trust reversed plans to transfer 900 workers to NHS subsidiary firm WWL Solutions. This followed a long-running campaign and dispute led by UNISON.

Threatened action by UNISON led to Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust scrapping plans last week to transfer around 600 staff to private firm Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Estates FM Ltd.

Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.u
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article NHS pause of ‘subcos’ long overdue first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2018/09/nhs-pause-subcos-long-overdue/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178284248472

Bolton members vote to strike over pay equality

UNISON members at Royal Bolton Hospital have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action over pay.

94% voted to take strike action, with a turnout of 65, well above the legal threshold for industrial action.

The staff , who work in roles including cleaning, catering and portering are employed by Bolton iFM – a wholly-owned subsidiary of the trust.

Staff have voted for strike action because they are not being paid the nationally-agreed wage increase for NHS staff that is worth nearly £2,000 this year for the lowest-paid workers – an increase of more than 10%.  Bolton iFM has offered only 2%.

“This is an overwhelming vote for strike action and shows the strength of feeling amongst hospital staff,” UNISON North West regional organiser Tim Ellis said after the ballot result was announced.

“It is simply unfair that staff are being kept on poverty pay rates because they happen to be employed by a wholly-owned subsidiary company.”

Directly employed NHS staff doing the same jobs on similar grades are now employed on £8.92 an hour, rising to £9.89 an hour over two years.

Most staff employed by the iFM subco are still being paid £7.83 an hour – except catering assistants who have had an initial pay rise, but are asking for the additional pay rises to be ensured.

The government has made £800m available to fund the agreed Agenda for Change pay rise in England, and trusts can apply to use this money to fund pay rises for staff in their wholly owned subsidiaries, if they apply Agenda for Change  terms.

But so far, neither the trust nor iFM have not applied for the government funding that could cover the cost of the nationally-agreed pay rise.

“Workers doing the same jobs in other hospitals are rightly getting significant pay rises,” added Mr Ellis. “And hospital staff in Bolton should be getting what they are due.

“There is now a real prospect of strike action next month.  Bolton’s health bosses need to act quickly and ensure that hospital staff get the pay rise that they need and deserve.”

Previous story: Bolton hospital workers to ballot on industrial action for pay parity (22 August 2018)

UNISON campaign against wholly owned subsidiaries in the NHS

The article Bolton members vote to strike over pay equality first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/bolton-vote/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178220345017

‘A testament to the strength of feeling’

Getting the message across (l-r): Glasgow homelessness officer Val Newlove, community care officer Clare Copeland, Stoke-on-Trent MP Gareth Snell, Northamptonshire trading standards officer Andy Langford, Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds and social worker Nikki Evans.

“It’s a testament to the strength of feeling,” Northamptonshire council worker Andy Langford said as he surveyed a packed event in Parliament last week. But what was getting council workers, MPs and others so riled? Cuts to local services.

Council workers went to Westminster to tell MPs that councils have reached breaking point and to get support for UNISON’s campaign to #SaveOurLocalServices urging the government to use November’s budget to free the funds councils desperately need to provide those services.

Andy had come from Northamptonshire council, which went bankrupt under the strain of cuts, so he knows the dire situation facing councils all too well.

“We’re now in a situation that we’re not allowed to spend money on services unless they’re considered a safeguarding issue,” he said. “We can’t really provide normal services or do our usual work.

“I came today tell MPs what’s really happening and the personal impact it’s having on staff and the community.“

Some 21,000 council workers took part in a UNISON survey in June, which definitively showed that councils are at breaking point.

See the report of the June survey

In turn, that led to  almost 60 MPs wanting to talk to local government members on the frontline of the crisis at last week’s parliamentary event.

“Councils are at breaking point because they cannot deal with the demand from people who desperately need their help,” commented Labour MP Angela Eagle. “And this is because of cuts.

“People are coming to councils when they’re in crisis, because all the prevention work has been scrapped. It’s a false economy.”

Val Newlove is a homelessness officer in Glasgow. She travelled to London to let decision makers know what is happening in Scotland’s second city.

“Services have been slashed over the past 10 years,” she said. “Cuts have impacted everything that’s involved in homelessness –benefits, mental health and addictions – and in Glasgow it has tripled. The most vulnerable people in our society are all falling through the safety net.

“The government needs to invest in their staff and in the most vulnerable. That’s what they’re elected for, that’s their job!’

The urgent need for central government to prioritise funding for local councils was also evident from the cross-party MPs in attendance. The campaign is pressuring the government to prioritise new funding for councils at the November budget.

Labour’s Matt Rodda, MP for Reading East, said he was supporting the campaign  because

“there’s concrete evidence I can point to locally in my constituency.

“Residents are very worried about the state of local services, the amount of extra hours council staff are having to work and the extra pressure. The difficulty of a smaller number of staff to even keep services running is very real.

“Vulnerable people, people on modest incomes and children all rely on the council for vital services, which are being cut back severely. The council itself didn’t want to, but it was forced cut back because of central of central government cuts.

“I’m joining UNISONs campaign to make the point that local services need investment. We need properly paid staff, who can cope with their workload, pay their mortgage and spend with their family.”

Shadow housing minister Melanie Onn is supporting the union’s campaign because “our public services are the glue that hold our communities together.

“When they disappear, our communities start to break down,” she warned. [We’re seeing the effects of that now in my constituency of Great Grimsby and that comes down to the funding cuts by this Conservative government.

“Until councils get the funding they need, everything from libraries to rubbish collections and looked after children will continue to suffer. The cuts have gone on for too long and communities have paid too great a price for the wrong decisions by this Conservative government.”

Do your bit to help the campaign

https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2018/07/25218_guide.pdfEnough is enough and we need to make the government prioritise new money for councils on the brink of collapse.

Email your MP

Lobby your MP

Download our leaflet and get your colleagues on board

The article ‘A testament to the strength of feeling’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/lg-sos/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178211455947

UNISON launches national staff and patient safety survey

Nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, NHS students, ambulance workers, therapists, and administrative, facilities and technical staff across the UK are being asked to record how their shift goes tomorrow (Tuesday) for UNISON’s annual staff safety survey.

The survey findings, which the union hopes will shed light on the safety and well-being of staff and patients across the health service over a 24-hour period – Tuesday 18 September – will be released towards the end of the year.

Commenting on the recording day, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “This survey aims to show what happens in a typical 24-hour period in the NHS.

“Day in day out, health workers go the extra mile to help the people they care for. This survey aims to capture staff concerns about the safety of wards and patient care, along with the heart-warming stories that help explain why the nation holds NHS staff so dear.”

NHS staff will have seven days to submit their entry about their shift tomorrow via an online survey.

Notes to editors:
– The survey is aimed at all staff – with the exception of doctors and consultants – employed in every part of the NHS, regardless of whether they belong to UNISON.

The article UNISON launches national staff and patient safety survey first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2018/09/unison-launches-national-staff-patient-safety-survey/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178196289332

Blog: Radicalism and ambition

Last week, UNISON proudly took the issues that matter to our 1.3 million members into the TUC. Thanks to UNISON, our movement will continue to campaign on the issues that define the future of our country and public services.

One of the key issues that we took to the TUC Congress in Manchester was our fight against privatisation, and in the coming days, we’ll be doing the same at Labour Party conference.

Complete opposition to the privatisation agenda has always been a demand of our union, and now – after many years when Labour pushed privatisation, rather than opposing it – we have a Labour Party willing to take on the profiteers in our public services.

I was pleased to hear John McDonnell note our fight against PFI last week in his speech to the TUC, but our party can and must go further still, by bringing all public services back in house, ending privatisation once and for all.

It may sound like an ambitious, radical proposal – but given the state of our public services after a decade of austerity, the situation demands radicalism and ambition. And it needs a Labour Party willing to do what’s best for public services, and that’s put them back in public hands

The article Blog: Radicalism and ambition first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/blog-radicalism-ambition/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178196289162

Union hails trust’s u-turn on private company plans a ‘fantastic victory’

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys UNISON members show their opposition to the plans at a mass meeting in August

UNISON has welcomed news that an NHS trust in the north-east has become the latest to abandon plans to move staff to a wholly owned subsidiary private company.

The union hailed the decision by the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys trust – which had planned to outource more than 500 non-clinical staff to a company it had set up called Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Estates FM Ltd – as a “fantastic victory”.

The trust has held staff meetings since announcing its plans, which were due to be discussed at a trust board meeting on 25 September.

Some 600 members of staff, including maintenance workers, porters, housekeepers and caterers, were to be moved to the private company. Many of them had worked for the health service for more than 20 years.

But the trust announced yesterday that it was dropping plans, which had been opposed by UNISON, the RCN and local MPs.

UNISON Northern regional secretary Clare Williams said the decision to drop the plans “is a fantastic victory for us and for the dedicated NHS staff who have been tangled up in the issue.

“We thank local Labour MPs for their support during this campaign.

“This decision will allow the trust to retain experienced workers. They now have the assurance that all parts of the service are valued equally, working as one team to provide the best possible care for patients.”

Previous story: ‘Think again’ UNISON tells North East health trust (29 August 2018)

UNISON campaign against wholly owned subsidiaries in the NHS

The article Union hails trust’s u-turn on private company plans a ‘fantastic victory’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/tees-subco-2/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178078650062

Unions and employers link up to fight for colleges

Unions and the employers in further education have come together to launch a campaign to save the sector.

As the cuts to funding bite ever deeper, colleges are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff. Constant ‘restructuring’, rising job insecurity, unmanageable workloads and declining pay are all adding to the crisis.

The Association of Colleges – the employer’s association in England – wants to offer a substantial pay rise, but without a significant injection of funding from central government will not be able to do so.

In an unprecedented move, the employers, all the further education unions in England – UNISON, UCU, GMB, ASCL, NEU and AMiE – and students will join together on 17 October to lobby MPs at  Parliament for proper funding for colleges.

“Colleges are an essential part of the UK infrastructure,“ says UNISON national officer for further education Leigh Powell.

“Our members want to be able to support young people to reach their full potential, but tell us that they feel desperately undervalued.

“We need improved pay and better training for staff in colleges as a matter of urgency.”

Download and read the Colleges Matter manifesto

The article Unions and employers link up to fight for colleges first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/fe-college-funding/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178075547697

Registration opens for BOAT/UNISON annual seminar

Registration is now open for this year’s BAOT/UNISON national occupational therapy stewards’ training seminar, which takes place on 7-8 November at Aston University, Birmingham.

It will start at lunchtime on Wednesday and finish at 3.15pm the following day.

The annual seminar provides an opportunity for occupational therapy stewards from both health and local government to discuss key employment relations and professional issues.

Seminar sessions will focus on:

• pay;
• the OT career development framework;
• young members;
• health and wellbeing for occupational therapy stewards;
• a guide to pension schemes;
• training on how to have difficult conversations.

More sessions are still to be added to the programme.

Applications are particularly welcome from new stewards, but please note that all BAOT/UNISON workplace representatives should complete the foundation course for new UNISON stewards – ideally before the seminar.

BAOT/UNISON stewards wanting to take part in the training seminar need to be nominated by their branches.

The cost of the venue and all materials will be met centrally. Branches are asked to cover the registration fee for each delegate’s accommodation, travel and food costs.

Registration fees

• Full fee (seminar, all meals and overnight accommodation on 7 November): £250.
• Day delegate fee (seminar only, including lunch): £60 per day.
• Extra accommodation on 6 November and/or 8 November: £88 per night.

Registration and sponsorship is via UNISON branches. Branches are asked to encourage their BAOT stewards to register their place by contacting baotstewards@unison.co.uk for further details. The deadline for registration is 12 October 2018.

The article Registration opens for BOAT/UNISON annual seminar first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/09/registration-opens-boat-unison-annual-seminar/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178075547552

Get ready for UNISON’s annual NHS staff survey

UNISON’s seventh annual NHS staffing survey takes place next week – and for the first time, it includes workers right across the health service, not just nursing staff.

The aim is to capture a snapshot of what it is like to work in the NHS on a typical day. This year, that day will be next Tuesday, 18 September.

The survey is titled How was it for you? We want to know if your day was exceptional or ordinary; the best – or the worst – ever, and how that affects your mental and physical wellbeing.

The survey is going out to all health members in the NHS – private and sub-contracted; nurses, ambulance staff, admin and clerical workers and more. Branches have received a poster to promote the survey (stock number 4001 in the online catalogue) – and if you want to join in and are not a UNISON member, there’s still time to join the union and take part.

The article Get ready for UNISON’s annual NHS staff survey first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/get-ready-unisons-annual-nhs-staff-survey/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178075547377

UNISON is sending out HE ballot papers and calling for yes to strike action

Ballot papers are being sent out to UNISON higher education members from Friday 14 September.

The union is calling on members to vote ‘yes’ for strike action, as the employers’ offer of 2%for most staff (up to 2.7% for others) is below inflation and doesn’t meet the needs of our members, who have suffered years of below-inflation pay increases.

Some employers have moved to ‘impose’ the offer by putting it into staff pay packets before any agreement with the unions has been reached. This is a provocative action meant to undermine our ballot.

UNISON’s higher education service group executive has discussed the move, concluding that some more cynical employers had been goaded on by the national employers’ organisation, the University and Colleges Employers’ Association.

The service group executive is totally opposed to imposition, although recognises that members will welcome any money as they face increasing monthly bills. However, members will see how little this offer is worth when they get the money in their account.

Leaflets, posters and a Powerpoint, together with A4 headed paper to help branches get local messages across, can be found at www.unison.org.uk/hepay2018.

The article UNISON is sending out HE ballot papers and calling for yes to strike action first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2018/09/unison-sending-ballot-papers-calling-yes-strike-action/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/178040553857

NHS England right not to make flu jab compulsory

Welcoming NHS England’s announcement today (Friday) not to make the flu jab compulsory for all staff, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“While it makes sense for staff to be encouraged to get the flu jab, no-one should feel that they have no option but to have it.

“The NHS is still recovering from the impact of last year’s harsh winter. The government has pledged money to undo the damage caused but this has still not been delivered, and won’t be enough to repair services and improve them for the future.

“Staff will always do their bit, but the NHS cannot face another winter reliant on goodwill and faith alone.

“The NHS had been under huge pressure to make the flu jab compulsory. But encouraging rather than forcing staff to take it was always going to be the more sensible approach.

“But flu is not the only illness that staff working in health and care settings are exposed to. Having a clean environment, maintaining hand hygiene and following guidance when handling infectious materials all play a part in reducing risks. ”

Media contacts:
Anna Mauremootoo T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07903 870786 E: a.mauremootoo@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article NHS England right not to make flu jab compulsory first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2018/09/nhs-england-right-not-make-flu-jab-compulsory/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/177973577772

The English NHS pay deal – in six charts

July saw the implementation of the new NHS pay deal in England, negotiated by UNISON and other unions.

The pay deal marked the biggest changes to the NHS pay structure since 2004, when Agenda for Change was introduced.

A lot has already been published about the impact on individuals but in this piece we’re going to look at the structure as a whole and how it benefits staff at different stages of their career.

Beginnings, journeys and destinations

To understand the changes we need to look at the old structure and why trade unions wanted to change it.

It is over 13 years since Agenda for Change was introduced. It introduced a pay system in the NHS based on the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. All NHS roles are evaluated and placed on a salary band, from people like porters and health care support workers on bands one and two, to nurses on band five and biomedical scientists, senior clinicians and managers on bands eight and nine.

But the pay scales we ended up with were far from perfect. For years, staff complained that it took far too long to reach the full rate of pay for their job, and that some of the pay increments were so small they were meaningless.

In addition, big overlaps between pay bands meant that staff on different pay grades could be on the same salary, which was both unfair and a real risk to equal pay.

These issues were compounded by nearly eight years of austerity and pay restraint. Pay did not keep pace with the cost of living and NHS starting salaries fell behind other places, making it difficult to recruit new staff.

That is why UNISON members wanted more than a straightforward pay rise. It was time to refresh Agenda for Change.

The priorities

The changes brought in with the new deal are complex – mostly because the existing NHS pay structure is so complicated to begin with – so here we’re going to break it down.

This pay deal:

• Improves starting salaries
• Increases the rate of pay for the top of each band
• Reduces the length of time that it takes people to get from that starting salary to the top of the band.

Under the new pay deal, everybody working for the NHS will be better off, but the impact on individuals is different depending on whether they are at the bottom, middle or top of their salary band.

Bottom of the band

This is people who are just starting working for the NHS, or who have switched jobs or got a promotion and moved to a new band.

The new deal means that a lot of the lower increments within those bands are being abolished completely, effectively making the starting salaries considerably higher.

This means someone starting a new job as, for example, a physiotherapy assistant (band 3), would have been paid £17,138 under the pay cap but will now receive £17,787, under the new deal.

The increase in starting salary for bands one and two is something UNISON is especially proud of, as it takes the lowest salary above the living wage.

Top of the band

People who have been doing their role for many years will be at the top of their pay band.

This means they have received all the incremental pay rises available to them, and the only way they receive a pay rise is from the annual percentage increase, which is why, during negotiations, UNISON pushed for as much money as possible to be added to the top of the band.

These people will get a 3% rise in their salary from 1 April this year. This means a nurse or midwife (band 5) at the top of their band will receive an extra £500, moving from £29,033 to £29,608 in this year, and to £30,112 next year and £‎30,615 the year after. That’s an increase of 6.5% by the end of the agreement.

Neither top nor bottom

For people in the middle of their band, the key difference will be that they move to the top of their band much faster.

With the old deal it could take as long as eight years to reach the top of a band, but by the end of the new deal it will take a lot less. People on band 2 will now take two years to reach the top of their band, whilst it will take four years for band 5, and those on higher bands like 6 and 7 will take five.

That is not all happening straight away (it’s a big change to switch from eight years to five years) but most staff in the middle of their pay bands will reach the top sooner than they would have done otherwise. And they’ll also benefit from the fact that the top rate is increasing in value, just like staff already at the top.

These people may not see a huge difference in their pay packets straight away, but when they reach the date of their next incremental increase they will see a significant bump in their pay packet.

To sum up, the starting salaries for each band are higher, people will have higher incremental rises, and those at the top of their bands are getting a bigger percentage increase.

Members in Scotland have recently voted for a pay deal, and members in Wales are currently being balloted over a new deal. Both deals would implement the new structure over the next three years. UNISON is putting pressure on the government to allow trade unions and employers in Northern Ireland to hold meaningful discussions about whether and how the deal could be implemented there.

The article The English NHS pay deal – in six charts first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/ps-data/2018/09/english-nhs-pay-deal-six-charts/
via IFTTT

source https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/177944553047