Another university signs up to living wage

UNISON workers in South Wales are celebrating the fact that the university has become an accredited living wage employer – so no-one who works on its campuses earns less than £9 an hour.

Today’s announcement that the University of South Wales has been accredited by the Living Wage foundation marks the end of a six-year campaign.

Workers who are directly employed by the university have been paid the living wage for the past four years, but now that has been extended to those who work for contractors.

“This is good news for all support staff at the university,” commented UNISON branch secretary Dan Beard, “from those in departments, through security to cleaning and catering, and we thank the university for working with us on this.”

He also thanked “our friends” in Citizens Cymru, who worked closely with the branch on the issue, bringing their experience of working with UNISON branches at other accredited universities: Cardiff, Aberystwyth and the Open University.

The union believes that the University of South Wales is the first post-1992 university in Wales to become an accredited living wage employer. It is the 200th living wage employer in Wales

The branch says it is “looking forward” to working closely with the university on implementing the remaining commitments outlined in the Welsh governments’ Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains.

Mr Beard said today’s news is a clear sign of how Wales’s “proposed Social Partnership Act could function, “with trade unions, employers and government working together”.

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Inspiring the next generation of allied health professions

Health Education England is working with NHS Health Careers and The WOW show to inspire the next generation of allied health professions (AHPs) in a live broadcast of the WOW show on Wednesday 26 June 2019 at 10am – you can see a preview to the show here.

This fast-moving interactive online magazine show will showcase the full range of AHP professions, including Operating Department Practice, to encourage interest in AHP careers.

It will be watched live by 100s of school children up and down the country and be available on demand for use in schools and at home immediately after the show airs.

Two previous shows, featuring art therapy, speech and language therapy, OT and orthoptics in a learning disability setting and therapeutic radiography and prosthetics & orthotics careers, have been the most watched Wow Shows on-demand videos and are still being viewed regularly.

The WOW show also has resources and lessons plans to support teachers and careers advisors.

To support the supply of the next generation AHP workforce, HEE are also working with Inspiring the Future where you can sign up as an NHS ambassador.

Why not sign up at www.inspiringthefuture.org and offer a small amount of your time to talk to local schools and colleges about AHP careers?

Please share and retweet the WOW resources on twitter using the hashtag #ahpcareers

AHPs will be vital to the delivery of the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan – read more in Suzanne Rastrick, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for NHS England’s latest blog.

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Blog: Reinvigorated for the year ahead

Our National Delegate Conference (NDC) which took place last week in Liverpool showcased so much of what makes our union great.

We discussed some of the biggest issues facing our country, our public services and the wider world – and developed a plan of action focussed on the priorities of UNISON members for the year ahead. We heard from hundreds of UNISON members who made countless inspirational speeches – learning more about each other’s lives and the struggles public service workers are facing each and every day.

Spending a week at our special conference with UNISON members always leaving me feeling reinvigorated for the year ahead – and reminds us all what we’re fighting for.

The week ended with the election of a new Presidential team who will lead our union for the next twelve months. I’m looking forward to working with President Josie Bird, who was elected alongside Senior Vice President Sian Stockham and Junior Vice President James Anthony. I know they’ll all do a great job representing our union and standing up for our members.

Thank you to everyone who attended the conference for your involvement, your passion and your dedication to our members – whether it was your first time at NDC, or your 26th, you are the beating heart of this union.

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Fighting sexual harassment and standing up for disabled workers

Delegates took part in an impassioned debate on sexual harassment in the workplace in the final session of national conference in Liverpool, while also voting unanimously for 2021 to be designated the Year of Disabled Workers.

Pat Heron (pictured), speaking on behalf of women’s conference, argued that, with over a million women members UNISON must lead the way on fighting sexual harassment.  “We must lead the way,” she said, “encouraging our branches and our women to come forward.

“We are all complacent if we don’t speak out,” she said.

“Members need to know UNISON will support them so they can be confident to report it to their union rep,” she continued. “Anyone at any time can suffer sexual harassment. Too often it’s not treated seriously, but treated as a joke.”

Arguing that four out of five people did not report sexual harassment in the workplace for various reasons – “Because your manager thinks it’s funny, because your job depends on keeping quiet…” – Ms Heron also pointed out that, in the aftermath of high-profile, celebrity cases of sexual harassment, “we have the responsibility to ensure that the sexual harassment discussion is about ordinary people in ordinary jobs.

“And if we think UNISON is free from sexual harassment in our structures, we should think again. We must have zero tolerance.”

A speaker from Milton Keynes branch gave her personal experience of sexual harassment, including being groped in the street at the age of 14. She argued that there was a lack of clear process in the reporting of sexual harassment in the workplace and that “UNISON should be leading the way on this”.

“We need to better educate managers,” she said. “UNISON should lead by example. Nobody should leave a job they love because of a boss or a customer or a colleague. They shouldn’t spend the day dodging the man who doesn’t get the message. I’m calling time up on sexual harassment in the workplace.”

Clare Dixon from the NEC said that sexual harassment “belongs in the dustbin of history” while James Tattershall, police and justice Lancashire branch, said he was speaking in the debate, “as its important for men to show support”.

2021 – The Year of Disabled Workers

In the debate on making 2021 the Year of Disabled Workers speakers argued that the current Year of Young Workers had paved the way for disabled members to raise their profile in a similar way.

For the national disabled members, Kath McGuinness said that, according to the government estimate of 156,000 UNISON members being disabled was “probably higher”.

“We face real problems at work,” she said. “Disabled workers find it more difficult to get a job, are paid less when they are in one and are often hounded out of their jobs.”

“The national disabled committee has already done lots of work, but let’s make UNISON the number one union for disabled members.”

Maggie Griffin from Greater London said that pay parity was so important for disabled workers. “We are not a tick box exercise,” she said. “We are real workers like everyone else. We need to raise our profile so much more. Not just in the workplace. And especially among young disabled people.”

Another speaker pointed out that not all disabilities are visible whilst there was a higher proportion of disabled workers in public sector. “The Year of Disabled Workers is a golden opportunity for UNISON to support disabled members.”

Nicola Moran, a young worker from the West Midlands, said that the Year of Young Workers was proving inspiring and empowering. “The Year of Disabled Workers seems a great supportive thing to do next,” she said.

“We need to raise disabled voices and show the union is an equal one. The government stands on disabled people again and again. We are diverse and we are strong. Let’s show it.”

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Conference agrees to fight changes to the LGPS

UNISON pledged to oppose the government’s latest attack on public service pensions in the last session of national delegate conference in Liverpool on Friday afternoon.

The government is proposing changes would allow higher education institutions, further education colleges and sixth form colleges in England to choose not to offer pensions via the local government pension scheme (LGPS) to new staff.

Mike Heinz of the national executive council moving the emergency motion declared that it was, “purely a political act and only targeting members in England,” and that it was the result of lobbying from vice chancellors and set a dangerous precedent.

Mr Heinz argued that the issue wouldn’t affect just education members: “This is the thin edge of the wedge. Other employers will ask the government for similar opt-outs. This is the fight for our pension scheme as a whole.

“And we need to recognise it’s a fight for the whole union, not just one part of the union. Now is our time to make sure those that come after us are not deprived. No matter what service group you are in, this is our issue.”

Denise Ward, who chairsof national HE pension board, noted that staff at Stafford University have already taken six days of strike action on the issue and that the proposals could affect the financial viability of the scheme for future members.

“We need to nip this in the bud,’ she said. “And it will most effect women and the low paid. We must stop this spreading across all sectors.”

Andrew Langford from Northampton local government branch noted that the LGPS is the fifth largest pension scheme in the UK, with 5.8 million members, and said the proposals are “a cynical Tory attack on the LGPS”.

He argued that if the proposals were accepted, colleges and post-92 universities “will no longer be considered public service employers” and a two-tier workforce will be created with new starters “being offered inferior and less cost effective schemes”.

Other speakers noted that the proposals were an attack on the pension rights of working people delivering public services and that while initial figures suggested approximately 3% of LGPS membership was at risk, this could grow to 20% of potential membership if later extended to all admitted and scheduled bodies.

Conference agreed that if not challenged, the proposals would discriminate against support staff, particularly women and the low paid, and will lead to many retiring into poverty with a cost to the individual and state in the form of additional benefit payments.

Earlier story: UNISON issues pension warning for university and college workers (05 June 2019)

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Admin officer Josie Bird elected as new UNISON presiden

UNISON’s National Executive Council (NEC) has elected Josie Bird, a local government worker from Newcastle, as president at the union’s annual national conference in Liverpool.

Josie has been an administrative officer at Newcastle City Council for 18 years and an active member of UNISON for 17 years.

She has served as junior and senior vice president over the past two years and succeeds outgoing UNISON president Gordon McKay.

Josie said: “I’m very excited to be president but it’s a little daunting as Gordon will be a very hard act to follow.

“As far as I know I will be the first president to come through the young members’ structure, so this shows the union’s achievements in succession planning.

“As an activist I have always wanted to support members and people in the workplace generally but I think what I have enjoyed most is the international work. It gives you a much broader perspective and it is important to have a big vision. We believe in building a better world as well as helping the working class people on our doorstep.”

Born in Newcastle, Josie has lived there for most of her life and been chair of the city’s local government branch for around 15 years. She became the young members’ officer only months after joining and branch chair within 18 months.

The activist hopes that during her year-long presidency the union will support Nomadesc. This human rights organization, already backed by UNISON’s northern region, supports indigenous people in Colombia who have been displaced within the country.

Josie will hold the position for a year. She is joined on the presidential team by Sian Stockham from Abergavenny as vice president, and James Anthony, a registered nurse from Birmingham, as junior vice president.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864 794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Sophie Goodchild T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk

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Conference sets campaigning tasks on universal credit

Opening a debate on ending “social insecurity”, Angela Hamilton for the National Executive Council (NEC) said that she was “proud to see the donations for a local [Liverpool] food bank – but ashamed that such need occurs”.

The UK is the sixth richest country in the world, she pointed out, “yet one where the UN has said poverty is a political choice”.

On the last morning of national delegate conference, Ms Hamilton voiced her contempt of the Conservative politicians who “smile as they visit food banks ”– or cry – yet don’t understand or refuse to acknowledge how the massive rise in food bank use relates to the damage being done by their party’s policy of universal credit.

Universal credit does not stand alone, though, but is destructive in conjunction with other things – not least, zero-hours contracts and insecure work.

“People might n­ot be queuing outside the shipyard for work, but they are sitting by their phone, waiting for it ring with a few hours work,” she noted.

Ms Hamilton listed a number of examples of the dire situations that people are being forced into by universal credit issues, including that of a nurse who had to sell her children’s toys to feed them.

“It’s time to put a stop to the devastation of universal credit and put in place something that is fit for purpose.,” she told delegates.

“Let’s get rid of this awful government … and make sure the most vulnerable in this society get the support that they deserve.”

And no consequences have been as dire as those for the people who have died as a direct result of benefits sanctions or errors – in many cases, ending their own lives in utter desperation.

Kathleen Kennedy for the national disabled members’ committee highlighted the particular problems that universal benefit causes for disabled people, including the punitive punishment system where, for instance, one could lose benefit because of a missed appointment – irrespective of the reason for missing that appointment.

Joan Weaver from Wolverhampton local government told conference that the government’s removal of pension benefits from mixed-age couple, where one is retired and the other not, and moving such couples onto universal credit was another cause of problems and decreased income.

James Anthony for the executive commented that, while universal credit was causing particular problems, it was important to remember that it was not the sole cause of problems … “this Tory government was cutting benefits anyway”.

Rebecca Smith of Newport, South Wales said that universal credit “puts down and keeps down” those who are struggling in our society.

She spoke of the trap it creates where, if you work a few more hours, your benefit gets cut. To escape such penalties and that trap, she said that personally, she would have to work 47 hours a week – which is impossible with two young children.

In backing the motion, conference instructed the NEC to campaign on a number of points, including:

• ending the five-week wait for a first payment;
• the extension of protection to those that ‘naturally migrate’ to universal credit, to honour the commitment made in the 2010 white paper;
• measure that ensure the financial independence of women;
• repealing the two-child limit;
• removing the freeze on benefit increases.

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UNISON urges an end to the ‘ongoing crisis in social care’

UNISON delegates in Liverpool today spoke of the continuing crisis in social care, whose workers are “almost universally underpaid, largely undervalued and often exposed to exploitation”.

They vowed to continue the union’s campaign on behalf of the sector, its clients, and the people who work tirelessly to keep it afloat.

Although social care has been relatively protected compared to other council services, care spending per adult resident has fallen substantially since 2009-10.

The union believes that the sector faces a “perfect storm” in which the impact of years of chronic underfunding has been worsened by increasing demand and the knock-on impact of cuts to other key public services, such as housing and welfare.

Nearly 90 people die each die while waiting for social care. There are 8,000 fewer care beds than three years ago. And a record 1.4 million older people do not receive the level of care they need.

Despite the cuts, the union believes that were it not for the ongoing dedication and commitment of the social care workforce, “the sector would have imploded completely”.

James Anthony (pictured) of the NEC told delegates: “Even before austerity, social care was on the brink – privatisation, underfunding, fragmentation, way down the political agenda, always the poor cousin of the NHS.”

And a decade of austerity has since “ravaged” the sector, he added, not least because hedge funds put profit before people and care companies have collapsed.

Although the government had been forced to consider the issue, Mr Anthony noted that its promised green paper had been delayed five times and was still to be seen. “The Tories can’t even set out what they think the options are for social care.”

Mr Anthony said that UNISON’s aims were for a well-resourced service, collectively funded, staffed by highly skilled professionals who were properly paid, and firmly based around the needs of the client.

He also said that UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea was heading a cross-service group programme aimed at recruiting and organising social care workers.

“UNISON will not let social care staff down. They are not an easy group to organise, but we are determined to get it right.”

Retired member Sheena Gordon said that the plight of elderly people was one reason why dealing with social care was “a matter of urgency”.

She said: “With an ageing population, many elderly people, including UNISON retired members, are dependent on social care to enable them to have dignity in later life.

“Properly funded social care would also enable people to remain in their own homes.”

A member from Sefton branch said it was care workers who were “staving off the crisis with their tireless hard work and dedication, meeting clients’ needs with too little time and too few resources”.

Another, from Salford, was clear why the Tory government had dragged its feet over the issue.

“The Tories have no interest in social care,” he said. “They don’t care because they don’t use it. And they don’t care because they are only interested in the rich.”

Lilian Macer from Scotland said that more than 200,000 people worked in social care in Scotland, 7.7% of the workforce. Of those, 82% were women.

“These are a dedicated workforce in precarious contracts of employment, “she said.

Ms Macer told delegates about the social care inquiry carried out by the Fair Work Convention in Scotland, which has reported a culture of zero-hours, unpredictable working hours and unstable earnings.

The inquiry has recommended that the Scottish Government support a new sector body ensuring a voice for the sector and collective bargaining.

The union agreed to campaign with the Labour Party, charities and others for:

• Social care to finally receive the proper funding it deserves, particularly from the 2019 Spending Review, as part of a longer-term plan to ensure parity with the NHS in terms of access of services and its status within society.

• Any spending boost to be accompanied by meaningful reform of service delivery – to improve the system for staff and those they care for.

• Highlight the current plight of care workers and service users, particularly women.

• Social care workers to be recognised as highly skilled professionals entitled to decent pay and working conditions, proper support and supervision, high quality training and clear pathways to career progression.

It was also agreed that social care remain an organising and recruitment priority for the union.

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Rebuild our communities and end violence

A UNISON member working for United Utilities had his van stolen while he was loading his tools into it, and the perpetrator then tried to run him over with his own van.

That was just one example of the violence and aggression UNISON members can experience on a daily basis, Brian Morgan-Strutton told the union’s national delegate conference in Liverpool.

The United Utilities delegate was speaking in a series of linked debates on violence and aggression – at work, on the streets and in the wider sense – on Thursday.

Marl Turner of Four Seasons Huntercombe branch shared the experience of a young female member whose jaw was broken when she was assaulted by a patient. The attacker was taken to court “and she was awarded the princely sum of £200 compensation”, he noted.

Members had similar tales from across all the union’s service groups and sectors, whether they work in social care, call centres, libraries, the health service or elsewhere.

Bolton delegate Julie Tudor is a social worker who has worked directly for the council and for an outsourced arms-length company. She experienced assaults when in the public sector as an outsourced worker.

“We support everyone’s right to go to work without fear of assault,” she said.

“We are constantly told violence comes with the job – well, no it doesn’t. Nobody should be expected to tolerate violence and aggression in their workplace.”

And NEC speaker Luisete Batista declared: “An assault to any worker is an assault to all of us.”

Conference agreed to promote the union’s guidance on the issue, to get employers to sign up to the UNISON Violence at Work Charter and to campaign for stronger legal protections with proper enforcement.

Download UNISON’s Violence at Work Charter

Violence doesn’t just happen in the workplace though, and in a debate on gun and knife crime, Peter Daley of the housing associations branch highlighted the fact that such crime “has an impact on victims and their families, of course, but also on UNISON members, whatever their service group,” as they deal with the aftermath of attacks.

That was illustrated by Carol Garfield from Birmingham who told of a teaching assistant colleague at a pupil referral unit where a boy had been murdered in a machete attack in the school car park.

During a routine pat-down – “yes, pat-downs are becoming routine” – the TA found a gun hidden in a pocket. She later asked her management to supply a stab vest for protection.

“What is the world coming to when a TA needs to ask for a stab vest to feel safe?” asked Carol.

They say knife crime is a disease,” Sarah Walsh from the national young members’ forum. “We refute that. It’s not a disease, it’s a symptom of vile Tory austerity.”

But Mandy Burgess of Greater London called on cities across England to follow the example of Glasgow, noting that the Scottish city had seen an 81% reduction in knife crime “by treating it as a public health issue” rather than a law and order one.

And Sarah Walsh stated: “This is not a lawless Britain, it is a let-down Britain.

“Cuts to social care, to the youth work profession and the abolition of Education Maintenance Allowance , plus fewer bobbies on beat, are the root causes.

“These young people deserve a brighter future, let’s work to give it to them.”

Conference expanded on the effect of cuts to vital public services in a debate on austerity and public safety.

Introducing the debate, NEC speaker Sarah Crowe said: “We’ve heard a lot about violent crime and what public service workers should do about it, but we’ve not heard about what government has done to public services.

“A stitch in time saves nine,” she added, but government cuts are turning into gaping wounds.

“A decade of austerity has cut services back to the bone, it has left communities less safe and vulnerable people without the help they need.

“A cut to one service affects all services. UNISON knows that public safety and justice is fundamental to a society.

“We know that public services are at the heart of a society that cares for everyone and leaves no one behind.”

Looking ahead, Joanne Moorcroft of Cheshire police staff branch demanded: “Ending austerity has be about reinvesting in community policing and probation, but also has to be about the causes of crime.

“We need to end austerity and rebuild our communities.”

Conference committed the union to campaigning for an end to austerity and proper funding for the full range of public services, including youth services, and working with others on specific strategies to tackle gun and knife crime.

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Keir Starmer: “The public should have the option to remain”

Labour’s shadow Brexit minister Keir Starmer today told UNISON national conference delegates that he expected the party’s leadership to state “very soon” its intention to campaign for remain should there be a referendum on a Brexit deal.

The party leadership earlier this week declared its belief that the public should have the final say on whatever future agreement the Tory government secures with Brussels on the UK’s exit from Europe – or ‘no deal’ if that is what’s offered.

On that, Mr Starmer told a fringe meeting in Liverpool that the country was faced with a likely new prime minister, in Boris Johnson, for whom a hard Brexit – “bad for trade, bad for public services, bad for workplace rights” – was a best case scenario and, failing that, would accept a no-deal Brexit, “which is even worse.”

That’s why, he said, “Whatever the next Prime Minister puts forward, it’s got to have the consent of the public… Or to remain.

“We need that lock, that safeguard. We can’t proceed any further unless the public says it’s alright.”

When pressed by Labour MEP Judith Kirton-Darling, and a UNISON member from the floor, Mr Starmer then went further.

“I think we will very soon say openly that we want to campaign for remain. But I want to do it as one.”

The leadership was currently in discussions with, among others, trade unions.

Either way, he added that a referendum alone would not “settle” the Brexit question.

“If we are going to go to a second referendum, it can only be done by making a very bold offer to the country at large of how we are genuinely going to transform the lives of those millions of people – who voted to leave but also to remain – for whom the status quo is not working.”

Ms Kirton-Darling said that the bullish declarations by Tory leadership candidates of being tough in their EU negotiations were misguided.

“Negotiation are based on good faith and trust. We have already done a good job of undermining both of those things,” she said, urging her party “to make a radical case for remaining in the EU.”

James Anthony of UNISON’s policy committee said that any campaigning direction taken by the union would, as ever, be put to the membership.

The danger to the economy, workers’ rights and the Northern Ireland peace process were all front and centre of a busy morning of Brexit debate in Liverpool.

Delegates voted for a motion reaffirming the union’s “six tests” for any Brexit deal, regarding health and safety; protecting public services from a bad economic deal that will prevent growth of the UK economy; keeping public services out of global trade deals; safeguarding employment rights; maintaining existing equality and human rights; and preventing a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and upholding the Good Friday Agreement.

Roz Norman of the East Midlands said of the dangers inherent in trade deals with the US, had a message for Donald Trump: “Our NHS is not for sale. Keep your dirty hands off it.”

Ms Norman added: “For UNISON, protecting public services and workers is at the forefront of an EU exit. But we’re well aware that the Tories have no regard for these things. We need to keep it at the top of the agenda at all times.”

The motion states that the government itself now admits that any type of Brexit deal will make the country poorer, with its own impact assessments predicting that economic growth will be lower over the next 15 years.

And there remains grave concern at the cost for public services. A recent report predicted that by the end of the Brexit transition period the NHS could be short of 51,000 nurses – enough to staff 45 hospitals.

Said Ms Norman: “That’s an absolute disgrace”.

The motion was passed. But among the speakers against it, Antonia Bright of SOAS said: “At the end of the day we need to talk about stopping Brexit. Young people are vastly against Brexit. It’s their future more than anyone’s and they need to know, what did we do to stop it?”

During a debate on the effects of Brexit on the Northern Ireland peace process, many spoke passionately of their fear of returning to the violence of The Troubles, should there be a return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Gabrielle Carton of Northern Ireland region said: “This isn’t just about goods, tariffs and trade, it’s about people and peace.

“Make no mistake, the enemies of peace are waiting in the wings to attack any kind of border infrastructure.

“If the UK is leaving the EU the only way to protect our peace process is to keep an open border on the island of Ireland and to protect our rights in the backstop.”

Former UNISON president Margaret McKee told delegates that the contenders in the Tory leadership election “don’t understand the unique and complex issues at stake. Or they don’t care.”

She said that UNISON members still suffered from sectarianism in their workplaces.

“Brexit risks not just putting back physical borders but deepening the divide of two communities never properly reconciled…To weaken the backstop would be an unforgivable act against the people of Northern Ireland, who have suffered enough.”

Connor Morrison said he was born in 1969, the year The Troubles started, and remembered gun fire, explosions, and being searched on the way to the shops as a regular part of his childhood.

“The Good Friday Agreement was not the final step towards lasting peace but a fundamental step on which all other steps will be made,” he said. “If we allow a hard Brexit to remove that, my 11-year-old son is going to think that gunfire and explosions and soldiers on the streets is normal. I don’t want that for him.”

 

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Conference unanimously gives LGBT the + factor

UNISON’s constant strive for equality and inclusion took a big step forward in Liverpool today, as national delegate conference backed the move to rename the union’s LGBT group as the LGBT+ group.

Introducing a motion for the national LGBT committee, Anu Prashar told delegates that, “when I came out, it seemed as though I only had two options – lesbian and bisexual.

“In my youth, ‘queer’ was a term of abuse … young people have taken it back from the bullies and made it positive.”

She said that “adding a letter here and a letter there” to ‘LGBT’ was not the solution, while, as a Black person, she was keenly aware that people in different ethnic communities don’t always use the very Westernised words that make up ‘LGBT’.

In Indian culture, for instance, there are many ways for people to define their sexuality and gender.

“Our remit will not change,” she said, before adding that the name change will bring UNISON in line with the TUC and the Labour Party.

Dave Cosgrave from Imperial College thanked his branch for submitting a supporting motion on the proposal. His is a small branch that had not put a motion forward to NDC before.

The name change would be “too late for me,” he said. “I’ve reluctantly come to terms with being ‘gay’ – sleeping with other men was water off a duck’s back, but in the 1970s, I was a punk rocker and I was most definitely queer!”

Jennifer Black for the local government service group executive emphasised that there is no definitive list of words that people use to help them self identify – “language continues to evolve,” said Ms Black, “… and people will find more ways to identify”.

Promoting such inclusivity has “never been more important,” she added, as we are living in a country that is going to the politics of the far right – exclusion and division, with a rise of hate crime against LGBT people in the last two years.

For the NEC, Sean Fox reminded conference of the painful process of changing from the union’s original lesbian and gay (LG) group to a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group delegates, saying: “I am exceptionally proud to see so many people sitting ready to speak for this motion – and nobody waiting to speak against it.

“We believe in inclusivity. This union was one of the first places I could feel safe as a gay man.

“People have the right to define as they see fit – not be placed in boxes.”

The motion passed unanimously. And a short while later, to applause, cheers and hugs, conference also backed the necessary rule change – also unanimously.

Mike, Laura and Adam

Three UNISON activists from the North West region, all of whom had been campaigning for the rule – and name – change outside conference all week, were jubilant.

Laura said: “It’s massive to know we’re an inclusive union. A lot of my members identify as different genders, non-binary. It just means that now they’re included and they can feel confident that they can come to us as a union, for advice and support … it’s just massive.”

Mike noted: “It makes the self-organised group more inclusive and, rather than come back, year after year, to add different letters, the ‘plus’ will cover everybody.”

For Adam: “It’s been fantastic to see the support from the whole union, supporting the LGBT+ campaign; understanding what it means, understanding why it’s so important for us to have had this rule change.

“It actually means, in terms of societal change, we’ve got a whole union full of people supporting us, supporting the LGBT+ movement. That’s why it’s so great that it has passed.”

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Lewisham Council commits to tackling abuses in global supply chains

Lewisham Council will today (Thursday) become the second local authority in the UK to be affiliated with Electronics Watch, the independent monitoring organisation for global electronics supply chains.

It will join over 300 public sector organisations around the world working to end the abuse and exploitation of workers involved in the supply of electronic items.

UNISON has devised a four-year plan to work with UK public bodies to eliminate the use of goods which are sourced or produced through modern slavery and other abuses of workers.

Around £250 billion is spent by public organisations in the UK annually on the procurement of items such as electronic goods and uniforms, as well as catering and construction.

UNISON is working with Electronics Watch and international unions to highlight and remedy poor practice that leads to the production of work equipment falling short of international agreed workers’ rights.

Lewisham Council will sign an agreement at a fringe meeting today (Thursday) during UNISON’s national conference in Liverpool. The event will be attended by Lewisham’s Mayor Damien Egan and Harpreet Paul from Electronics Watch.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “UNISON congratulates Lewisham Council for taking a lead on this vital issue. We’re encouraging all local authorities to do the same and affiliate to Electronics Watch.

“People want to know their workplace computers and the uniforms they wear haven’t been made by workers suffering horrendous conditions.

“Councils, local hospitals, universities and schools across the country must think about how their goods are sourced. UNISON will use its unique position to bring public bodies together with organisations like Electronics Watch and international unions to improve the lives of workers in supply chains around the world.”

Björn Claeson, Director of Electronics Watch, said: “We are delighted that Lewisham has affiliated to Electronics Watch.

“Lewisham increases the strength of an international network of affiliated public buyers to tackle modern slavery and other labour abuses in their electronics supply chains.”

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham, said: “By affiliating with Electronics Watch, Lewisham Council is building on its commitment to tackle modern slavery and procure more ethically.

“The complexity of councils’ supply chains means that tackling modern slavery and exploitation in them is a huge challenge.

“That is why it is so important that local government and unions work in partnership and use collective buying power to protect workers’ rights and scrutinise every level of the supply chain.

“That means preferring to work with organisations that respect Freedom of Association, so workers are empowered to understand their rights and unionise to protect them.”

Notes to editors:
– The Local Government Association ICT procurement guidance strategy and the report Ethical Procurement in UK Local Authorities, produced on behalf of UNISON by People & Planet, the largest student network in the UK campaigning for social and environmental justice and an Electronics Watch partner. Both documents recommend local authorities consider joining Electronics Watch.
– Electronics Watch is an independent monitoring organisation that helps public sector organisations to protect the rights of workers in their electronics supply chains.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
– Earlier this month Theresa May pledged to extend the Modern Slavery Act to the public sector. As a result, local authorities will be compelled to report on their policies and procedures in ensuring modern slavery does not exist in their supply chains.
– UNISON’s national conference is taking place from 18-21 June 2019 at the ACC in Liverpool.
– Tower Hamlets Council was the first local authority to become affiliated with Electronics Watch.

Media contacts: 
Anthony Barnes (UNISON) T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Damien Egan (Mayor of Lewisham) T: 020 8314 6193 E: damien.egan@lewisham.gov.uk
Björn Claeson (Electronics Watch) M: 0748 0050 341 E:  bclaeson@electronicswatch.o

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Win an overnight stay in London plus tickets to the Our Health Heroes awards

As part of the Our Health Heroes awards and One Team campaign, UNISON and Skills for Health are giving away a fantastic prize, exclusively for UNISON members.

The awards are taking place at London’s Science Museum on 20 November and you and a friend can be there, together with an overnight stay, courtesy of the Zetter Townhouse hotel.

The UNISON branch with the highest number of qualified nominations for the Our Health Heroes awards will win this amazing prize – to treat one of their branch members and a companion to a stay at the hotel on the evening of the awards, and to attend the ceremony as special guests.

But hurry, nominations close on 29 June.

Adam Kay, best-selling author of This Is Going To Hurt, will be at the awards, along with guest host Dr Dawn Harper, presenter of Embarrassing Bodies and Born Naughty.

So get nominating for a chance to win this incredible prize!

 

Terms and conditions

• The prize is for one night’s stay at one of the Zetter Townhouse properties in London on the night of 20 November – one room only. A gift voucher will be arranged to supply to the winners.
• The prize also includes two tickets to the Our Health Heroes awards 2019 to be held at London’s Science Museum on 20 November.
• The prize will be awarded to the UNISON branch that provides the highest number of completed nominations to the Our Health Heroes awards.
• In the event of a tie, the winning branch will be chosen at random from those with the most nominations.
• The prize is non-transferable and not of any monetary value.
• The winning branch must allocate the prize to one UNISON member of the branch. The person who is allocated the prize can then decide whether to bring a friend, family member or colleague.
• Under no circumstances will multiple rooms be available, and only two tickets will be available for the awards.
• Nominations for Our Health Heroes must be made by the 29 June 2019, and must be a complete nomination in order to be counted towards the competition.
• The judging panel at UNISON will verify the branch that members are associated with in order to confirm the winning branch.
• Travel and subsistence are not included in the prize.
• Your name, and contact details will be used to notify you if you have won.
• UNISON will use the winner’s personal data in any publicity, including social media coverage, it creates around the awards event.
• UNISON’s privacy policy can be found at: https://www.unison.org.uk/privacy-policy/

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Win a fabulous mini break!

Equality is one of UNISON’s core values and every year, we ask our members about the issues affecting them. This then helps our campaigning work.

Last year thousands of members took part and helped inform briefings for the union’s service groups and self-organised groups on key issues for their bargaining and organising agendas.

The survey runs annually and is not just for activists, so please get involved – and encourage as many of your workmates and family as possible to take part.

And as a thank you for taking part you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a mini break in beautiful Devon at UNISON’s own Croyde Bay Holiday Resort.

Take the survey now

The survey takes five to 10 minutes and you can complete it anonymously. However, if we don’t have an email address for you, you will miss out on the prize draw and the chance to win two nights in a family room at Croyde Bay.

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Health staff are suffering serious sexual harassment at work

Nurses, care assistants, cleaners and other NHS staff have suffered lewd sexual insults, groping and even rape while at work, according to research published by UNISON today (Thursday).

Being leered at or subjected to offensive ‘banter’ and suggestive gestures are regular occurrences for some of the nearly one in ten (8%) healthcare staff who reported being sexually harassed in the past year.

Verbal abuse (64%), such as unwanted remarks and jokes was the most common complaint, according to the report It’s Never Ok, released on the penultimate day of UNISON’s annual conference in Liverpool.

Nearly a quarter (22%) of the healthcare staff reporting harassment said they had been sexually assaulted. Some had also been the victim of criminal offences such as rape, up-skirting*, indecent exposure or inappropriate touching.

The findings in It’s Never Ok are taken from a much larger survey of 8,000 health workers and their experiences at work. It highlights the psychological trauma suffered by the 700 staff who responded to say they’d suffered sexual harassment in the past year.

Some have even contemplated suicide, self-harmed or been driven to either leave their job or look for another, which UNISON says adds to the ongoing NHS staffing crisis.

This shows the need for a tougher approach from government against employers who fail to tackle sexual harassment, says UNISON. It wants to see a change in the law so employers are also responsible for protecting their staff against harassment from for example patients or those working for contractors.*

It’s Never Ok reveals that the vast majority of those targeted were women (81%) and incidents mainly involved perpetrators who were older (61%) than their target, and often employed in more powerful roles (37%).

Acts of sexual harassment were most often committed by colleagues (54%). A quarter were committed by other workers (24%) and two fifths (42%) by patients.

Nearly a third (31%) who had been sexually harassed said it had occurred on a regular basis and more than one in ten (12%) weekly or daily.

The psychological impact can be devastating for some, according to It’s Never Ok. More than half (55%) ended up isolating themselves or avoiding colleagues/situations at work and more than a third (35%) said the harassment affected their mental health or confidence (34%). Others (40%) have ended up wanting to leave their job.

However, more than a quarter (28%) kept quiet about the harassment and only one in five (20%) reported it to human resources or their managers. Reasons for not reporting included the belief that nothing would be done (49%), they would be dismissed as oversensitive (37%) or the perpetrator would retaliate (24%).

Incidents described by survey respondents include: three reports of rape and one involving threats to rape; a team member upskirting a colleague then ‘accidentally’ sending the video to another member of staff; and an employee being sent nude images of colleagues via the online dating app Grindr.

Commenting on the report, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Staff should never have to face any kind of abuse, let alone sexually motivated insults and attacks.

“Many nurses, cleaners and administrative workers feel they have to put up with appalling behaviour as nothing will be done. This is generally because the perpetrators are in a position of power – or believe they are untouchable.

“The workplace which should be a harassment-free zone and employers who fail to act should be held to account.”

Jess Phillips MP, who sits on the Women and Equalities Select Committee, will be speaking at a fringe event at the UNISON conference in Liverpool later today, said: “The #metoo movement might have attracted a lot of attention but it doesn’t mean sexual harassment has gone away. It certainly hasn’t for women working in public services – far from it as this research shows.

“For too many women sexual harassment is deeply entrenched in workplace culture. It needs the government to take action so employers are called to account.”

Notes to editors:
– It’s Never Ok can be accessed here. Below are some of the experiences of survey respondents:

“One of my team upskirted a colleague then sent the video recording to another member in the team by ‘accident’.”

“A colleague touched my groin during handovers to ‘show’ where a patient had pain. The same person also touched around my side to ‘search’ for keys that I had in my pocket.”

“While I was on placement a patient attempted to take my tunic off, but none of the staff on the ward did anything.”

“I left the organisation. The nurse who made me feel uncomfortable made things awkward and I hated working on the same days as her.”

“As a result of my experience, I am now more wary about treating patients that are intoxicated or under the influence.”

“It was an incident that spooked me. I now purposely wear a larger uniform and feel myself tense up if we’re called to the area where the patient lives.”

– Hannah is a care worker from the South East. A male colleague she gets on well with would touch her arms and legs while they cared for patients. At first she thought it was accidental, as they sometimes have to be in close contact to assist patients. Then he started making comments about how attractive she was. She told him she wasn’t interested but he carried on and one day kissed her.

She reported him and he was reprimanded. Now the atmosphere is so cold when they work together she feels anxious and sometimes doesn’t want to go to work. The situation is so bad she’d rather lose money by changing shifts than be around him.

– Sally is a hospital administrative worker from the South West. She’s part of an all-male team and says she enjoys the banter with colleagues and can more than hold her own. But a regular visitor to her office has, over a number of months, made several inappropriate comments about her appearance and how much he’s attracted to her. She initially brushed off his comments but he recently asked her if she’d ever fancy a ‘one night stand or a quickie’. Although shocked and upset, she’s reluctant to report him because she doesn’t want her colleagues to think she’s weak.

– UNISON’s annual delegate conference is taking place from Tuesday 18 to Friday 21 June at the ACC in Liverpool.

– The survey for It’s Never Ok was carried out in May this year and received 8,487 responses from staff working in healthcare across the UK including nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, admin workers and cleaners. Of those responses 695 (8%) said they’d been sexually harassed in the past 12 months.

– Upskirting is a criminal offence that typically involves someone taking a picture under another person’s clothing without their knowledge. It is punishable by up to two years in prison.

– *In 2013 the government repealed section 40 of the Equality Act 2010. Before this, employers were liable if they had been made aware of three incidents of harassment but had failed to act. In 2018 the Court of Appeal ruled that third party harassment (by patients or contractors) was no longer covered by the Act. That’s why UNISON is campaigning for the reinstatement of section 40 of the 2010 Act.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes  M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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Zimbabwean union leader talks of battle against injustice

The president of Zimbabwe’s Commercial Workers Union, Barbara Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa, brought UNISON delegates to their feet today with an impassioned speech that described both the hardship and the defiance of her country’s workers.

“We are not going to suffer and die in silence,” she said. “We will peacefully protest until our cries have been heard.”

UNSON’s senior vice-president Josie Bird said that Ms Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa was one of the most powerful international speakers she had ever heard at conference. And many in the hall seemed to agree.

In February this year Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam International all urged Zimbabwe’s President Mnangagwa to “urgently take concrete and effective action to address the deteriorating human rights situation and increasing risk of a humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe.”

Ms Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa, who is also national secretary of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) women’s advisory council, today spoke from the front line of that crisis.

She told delegates that the strong bond between UNISON and ZCTU was centred on the former’s solidarity, “first during our struggle for liberation, and in more recent years fighting against the denial of workers’ and human rights by successive governments.

“At the end of 2017, when our military rulers replaced president Mugabe with their own man, president “crocodile” Mnangagwa, many hoped for a new dispensation. Instead the denial of rights in our country has worsened.”

The Zimbabwean government’s “vicious economic policies are hitting workers hard”, she said, with many families unable to afford more than one basic meal a day, and items such as sanitary towels an “unaffordable luxury”.

At the same time, the crackdown on opposition to such policies and others has increased.

“The killing of innocent citizens, mass arrests, torture, harassment, imprisonment, anti-union discrimination, the denial of freedom of association and assembly and the use of live ammunition have all become the order of the day,” she said.

“The situation resembles a war zone in a country that is not at war.”

Among the incidents she described were:

• Protests following the controversial 2018 general election, during which the army and police attacked demonstrators, killing six, and showered the ZCTU offices with bullets;
• The arrest of 169 trade unionists over protests against income tax rises. The ZCTU president and secretary general were charged with treason but acquitted after international condemnation;
• Further protests this January, against a rise in the cost of fuel, in which 17 people were killed, 90 injured and thousands arrested. The ZCTU officials were again charged with treason and are currently on bail.

The dignified Ms Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa briefly lost control of her emotions when she commended those in civil society who have offered their solidarity to workers.

And again, when she told delegates: “Security forces are again using rape and torture as a weapon to silence and destroy our women leaders.

“But as we say in southern Africa: ‘When you strike a woman, you strike a rock’. And we will continue fighting until we are liberated.”

A symbol herself of such determination, Ms Gwangwara-Tanyanyiwa said she was proud that, in such a patriarchal society, she was one of three women union presidents in ZCTU.

“And there are many more strong women waiting to lead our unions.”

• During an afternoon of international debates, delegates also celebrated the 60^th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, praised the achievements of the country since – notably in health care and education – and agreed a motion that will see the union campaign for an end of the US government’s “cruel and illegal” blockade of the island.

They also approved a motion on “curbing corporate power”. In particular, the union intends to campaign for the realisation of the UN General Assembly’s proposed ‘binding treaty on transnational corporations with respect to human rights’.

Despite efforts by the EU, US and Australia to kill the treaty process, UNISON believes it represents a “once in a lifetime chance to secure binding international rules that start to turn the balance of power, at last, in favour of people over corporate profit.”

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Centrica jobs cuts are a ‘terrible blow’ but there’s a solution

Commenting on the announcement today (Wednesday) that 700 jobs are to go at Centrica, UNISON national energy officer Matt Lay said:

“This is another terrible blow for a workforce that’s already seen hundreds of jobs go. It’s a catastrophe being repeated up and down the country as all the major energy suppliers axe staff in a desperate attempt to stay afloat.

“But it doesn’t have to be this way. If the government took the retail arms of the big six energy firms into public ownership these jobs could be saved. The staff could then help us all go green and ensure the UK meets its target to be carbon neutral by 2050.”

Note to editors:
– Earlier this week UNISON published Power to the People, a report calling on the government to nationalise the parts of the big six energy firms* that sell energy to customers to help the UK hit its carbon neutral target by 2050.
– The big six energy firms are British Gas (Centrica), SSE, E.ON, EDF Energy, Npower (Innogy) and Scottish Power (Iberdrola).

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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Housing isn’t a crisis, but an emergency

A passionate debate at UNISON’s national delegate conference saw the union put forward a range of measures to tackle the housing crisis – or, as one speaker put it, the “housing emergency”.

The debate in Liverpool, which continued over two days saw Gasimo from Islington report that “there are 170,000 homeless families in London alone”. It’s a problem that “affects health, family life and child development”.

Given that, “it’s not a crisis, it’s an emergency”.

Jane from Port Talbot pointed out that, in 2019, it’s a disgrace that “not everyone has a safe, warm and dry place to place their head at night”. The Westminster government had a “harsh and uncaring focus” – highlighted by the recent UN report showing increasing poverty in the UK.

Phoebe Watkins from Camden called for “a mass council house building programme, the like of which we’ve not seen for 40 years.”

To win it, “campaigning is essential”.

Pat Heron from the women’s conference highlighted the particular problems faced by women who have experienced domestic abuse and are fleeing it.

And for the NEC, John Grey pointed out that the problem is not a lack of physical buildings: “It’s about the money. The truth is, a lot of housing costs too much.

“Our members need truly affordable housing, near their place of work.”

He cited rents of £1,000 a month for a two-bed flat in east London – from social landlords. “The 80% of market cost doesn’t mean affordable,” added Mr Grey, who recalled the mass building programme of a century ago, “for a land fit for heroes” after WWI.

“Why is it in this country, that we can only build affordable homes after war?” he asked. “If we can do so in 1919 and after 1945, we can do so now.”

Rosie McGregor from national retired members told delegates that, in England alone, “we need to build 34,000 a year until 2031 to deal with this.”

She went on to dismiss the mantra of downsizing: “Downsizing to the coffin? I prefer to say ‘right-sizing’ to their needs.”

Among the recurring themes was the need for a Labour government.

Valerie Bosman-Quarshie from London mentioned empty buildings that increased the sadness at seeing people on the streets. She also mentioned those homeless people who are having to sofa surf.

Ken Curran from Yorkshire and Humberside described the housing market as “completely broken – and our members are suffering as a result”.

People “urgently need more protection from rogue landlords … ripping off people,” often for housing benefit.

Young member Jemma Tucky from the south east, said that she and her fellow members cannot afford a home of their own.

She works in Oxford, the most unaffordable city in the UK, with an average house price of £387,000.

Public service workers cannot afford to live in the area they serve and are having to use foodbanks to get by.

Harriet Morton from Lincolnshire – a mother and carer to a three-year-old who suffers from a mental health problem said that her wages barely cover childcare costs, so she certainly hadn’t got “two grand for the deposit on a private rental property”.

On the housing register for three year, she lives with her parents.

Sean from Hastings – one of the most deprived areas in the south east – described how he and his wife live on the third floor of a social housing block.

His wife is disabled and, with no lift, is flat-bound. Their daughter had moved back in recently because, after complaining to her private landlord about mould in her basement flat, she’d been evicted under a section 21 notice, that requires no justification.

It emerged that the landlord had done the same thing to other people too, as soon as they complained.

Sean also said that Londoners were coming to live in Hastings and commute to the capital because of the cost of housing there.

Yet that meant that, in four years, the market value of his late mother’s house in Hastings has risen from £145,000 to £195,000.

Conference called on the NEC to:

• continue to make the case for decent, secure, safe and affordable housing;
• work with Defend Council Housing, Homes For All and Axe The Housing Act to campaign for increased building of council homes;
• highlight the cost of housing in pay campaigns to ensure that our members have additional income to pay for their housing costs, and campaign for £10 an hour minimum wage;
• lobby the Westminster government and devolved administrations on the issues.

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Young workers: “You need us and we need you”

This is UNISON’s Year of the Young Worker and conference heard that there has never been more of a need for young people to join a trade union.

With zero hour contracts, poverty, low pay, insecure housing and massive student debt – the challenges facing young people are huge.

Evidence shows that being a member of a trade union has huge benefits, with workers in the public sector earning 8% more if they are in a trade union and  unionised young workers earning up to 39% more.

The problem though, is that many young workers are not aware of trade unions, of their benefits or how to get involved.

At conference, a stream of young members – many of them first time speakers – took to the podium to express their anger that they are not currently entitled to paid facility time for union activities and to demonstrate their commitment to social justice.

Sarah Walsh said: “Facility time is the bedrock of trade union organisation. It ensures members get the right support at their most stressful time.

“We know facility time is under pressure, but it is the statutory right of reps to carry out trade union activities in the workplace and this should be extended to young workers and equality reps.”

Jamie Golbert from East Midlands Young Members’ Forum added: “With young members, anything other than formal meetings with human resources or management is not recognised.

“This makes it difficult for young workers to get started as activists and can lead to burn out. Employers are using facility time as a bargaining chip. It should be our right.”

A speaker from the Young Members’ Forum said: At a time when Black workers are facing increased harassment at work and discrimination is on the rise, equality reps need paid facility time.

“Research shows that when women’s officers organise, women feel empowered. When Black members have time and space to organise, we challenge racism, and where our young workers fight, they receive quality training and progress. Otherwise there’ll be an erosion of rights and a race to the bottom on pay and conditions.”

Sioba Begin added: “Young black members are the most under represented of all groups here today. We need to think about how we can recruit young black activists. Young black workers have suffered work casualization and cuts to benefits. Young workers need unions and unions need young workers.”

And a speaker from Eastern region said: “We’re using the Year of the Young Worker to plan activities across the union to recruit and encourage activism. We’ve produced videos, postcards, posters to explain to young workers who we are and how to get involved. In August, we’re holding a Unity Festival for young members with music and entertainment, which is really exciting and is attracting a lot of interest.”

A Young Workers’ Forum representative pointed out that only 2% of activists are young workers: “Young members need to be given the tools, support and mentored to get involved.

“The creation of a mentoring scheme working with the Young Workers’ Forum and the regions could be the start of a lasting legacy for the future.”

Nick Hillman from Poole branch shared his experience of running training for young workers: “We ran a training group for all apprentices – one on mental health and one on well-being.

“Young people from all walks of life came along. They spoke to a counsellor for two hours and this, in turn, led to new members joining UNISON. But we need to turn these new members into activists. One member did attend a training event where he was treated as an adult and asked for his views. His confidence has grown and he’s taken on more responsibility and come up with ideas.”

Andrew Baker from Northern region added: “We have to show young people that we believe in them, before they will believe in us.”

And Janie Corm from Northern Ireland said: “I was on a temporary contract for four years. I’ve been a member of UNISON now for five years. I was encouraged by UNISON to put my name forward as a steward. We organised a campaign challenging youth poverty and I’m about to do my first disciplinary.”

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Ending violence at work

Victim Support UK and ACCESS for Living have become the latest third sector organisations to sign up to UNISON’s End Violence at Work Charter.

The charter is a campaign to get employers in the Community sector (charities and housing associations) to take violence against staff seriously.  It follows concerns raised by UNISON members that some employers were telling staff to “put up with” being assaulted at work because it was “part of the job”.

The charter specifies 10 simple steps, covering training, prevention and support which all employers should be able to take, showing they take violence against their employees seriously.

Victim Support and Access for Living are the 45th and 46th employers to sign up. Many major UK charities have already signed, including Action for Children, RNIB and WM Housing Group.

UNISON believes every third sector organisation should be able to sign up.

Three UK councils – Liverpool, mid-Suffolk and Southwark – have also made signing the charter part of their commissioning process, showing they expect service providers seeking contracts to sign up to the charter.

UNISON hopes more councils will follow them.

Find out more about the charter.

Victim Support UK

Access for Living

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Bridging the gender pay gap

Almost 50 years after the Ford machinists went on strike at Dagenham, the UK still has one of the worst gender pay gaps in Europe. Angie Roberts, of the National Executive Council (NEC) said: “We call on the government and employers to take urgent action. Reporting introduced in 2018 has exposed the true gap in gender pay. The fight for equality is far from over – in fact – the gap is getting wider.”

Wendy Trueman, from Salford city branch, said: “It is scandalous that men are still paid more than women.  Whether you’re Billy ending with a ‘y’ or Billie with an ‘ie’ you should be paid the same.

“We need to be willing to hold employers to account, such as the public sector women workers have in Glasgow. Their success this year sent a strong message to employers and underpaid staff alike – that workers are stronger together.”

This £548 million deal agreed by Glasgow Council in April was a major victory for low paid women workers, most of whom work in caring, catering and cleaning across the city. The agreement represents compensation for the pay lost due to a discriminatory pay and grading system, which had been in place since 2007.

Speaking at the conference, one of the Glasgow city branch members, said: “Striking was not an easy decision, but the fight has to go on for social justice. This was a fight that had been going on for 12 years,” she said. “After talks in 2018 broke down, we knew we had to take action. It was about recognising our equal value.

“Our cause resonated with those fighting for justice well beyond Scotland’s borders. We received solidarity from trade unions around the world. This settlement and the payments some workers will receive are life-changing sums of money.”

Another speaker, from Northern Ireland, said that regulation is as important as pay settlements: “Cleaners at the Royal Victoria Hospital brought an equal value case which we won and was secured in law. But it didn’t include how pay recording would happen – and this is a problem moving forward.”

Several speakers highlighted the additional injustices faced by Black women and those with disabilities. Black women earn 14% less on average and more likely to be employed on zero hour contracts.

Catherine Kennedy added that disabled workers are paid around £3,000 a year less than non-disabled women, as well as facing significant barriers to getting a job.

The motion includes bringing together current research on the persistent and underlying reasons that contribute to the pay gap and to lobby the government to bring in measures that support women better in the workplace.

“We know women bear the brunt of caring responsibilities for older relatives and for childcare. We know that many employers only accept applicants for higher paid jobs if they work full-time. We know that women in part time jobs are being denied opportunities,” said Sarah Taylor, of Cymru/Wales branch. “It is the approach of employers to recruitment that is the problem.”

Another measure that could help is improving gender pay reporting. UNISON welcomed its introduction in April 2018, which forced organisations with 250 employees or more to publish gender pay.

However conference argued that the measure should be extended to include companies with far fewer employees. Most care agencies, which are notorious for underpaying workers –  the vast majority of whom are women  – are currently exempt from gender pay reporting due to their smaller size.

In Scotland, there is an expectation that organisations with 20 or more employees will provide detailed data and in Wales, companies with more than 150 employees report gender pay.

At present, Northern Ireland, has no pay gap reporting and UNISON will campaign for it to be introduced rapidly once a government is re-established.

“UNISON is well-placed to champion change. We are in a strong  position to campaign and negotiate for improved policies and practices, both nationally and locally.

“Smashing the gender pay gap must be at the heart of all collective bargaining if progress is to be made,” said Ms Roberts.

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Blog: solidarity has never been more relevant or more necessary

It was an honour and a pleasure to address our annual conference once again yesterday, and talk about a word that means a great deal to me, a word that defines our union – solidarity.

Around the world, our union is known for its solidarity. At home, we show our solidarity to each other every single day. Everywhere I visit, branches across the land, I am humbled by what I see. We’re a union of compassion, caring and kindness. A union of solidarity.

We care about each others lives – that’s what sets us apart. A union full of people with their own challenges in their own lives, but still coming together to achieve more for each other than we ever could alone. Real, lasting, personal solidarity.

My life in this union, well over forty years, has been about that solidarity. I’ve been part of our union all my adult life – for me, it’s never a job, it’s a way of life. And the driving force that keeps me going is solidarity for our people and our class.

It’s a word they say is old fashioned, no longer relevant – but for me, solidarity has never been more relevant or more necessary. It’s what keeps our union strong. It’s what makes me proudest of all about our great union. And it must always be at the heart of everything we do.

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Crisis in social work revealed by new UNISON survey

Social workers say they are no longer able to do their jobs effectively because of years of repeated cuts that have created a crisis in the sector, according to a survey published by UNISON today (Wednesday).

The survey found an overwhelming number (95%) felt they could not perform their jobs properly due to the combined effects of reduced services and the social conditions created by austerity.

Eight out of ten social workers say they’re forced to work unpaid overtime simply to keep their services going and fewer than one in five (17%) say their workload is manageable.

UNISON says the survey of more than 1,000 social workers shows the devastating effects of the government’s cost-cutting, as key community services are now barely effective. Ministers must act to put more money into local government before it’s too late, says the union.

Austerity is making it harder for councils to intervene in cases early which means families can be at a crisis point before social workers become involved. And the effects of financial misery caused by changes to the benefits system have made even more people vulnerable, says UNISON.

According to the survey:

• More than half (56%) are thinking of leaving for jobs that would be less stressful.
• One in four (25%) social workers are working more than seven hours overtime each week.
• Eight in ten social workers (80%) say local people aren’t receiving the help and support they need at the right time.
• More than two thirds (68%) of social workers say jobs have been cut in their department in the past two years.
• Nearly two thirds (63%) say that the council is not delivering quality services.
• Four fifths (80%) are regularly working beyond their contracted hours.
• More than nine in ten (92%) say budget cuts have let to staff morale plummeting.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Social workers are dealing with the most vulnerable in society. When they say there are problems we all need to listen, and the government especially.

“These are skilled and dedicated staff who care passionately about helping families in difficult circumstances. It adds further to their stress and anxiety if they feel people down.

“A culture driven by targets and financial needs, combined with unmanageable workloads and financial cuts is creating problems that could tear apart communities, and put vulnerable children at risk.

“There is a crisis in social work after almost a decade of cuts to local government. Ministers must act before the system and the people it cares for are damaged beyond repair.”

Notes to editors:
– Quotes from the survey respondents:
“If we treated people with broken legs like we treat people with broken minds there would be a national outcry. It is an utter scandal” – social worker, Leeds.

“We are now making decisions based on what we have available or can afford, rather than what a child needs or stalling where possible to allow a child to reach an age where they no longer qualify for a service” – social worker, Crossmichael, Scotland.

“We struggle to deliver vital services to young children and families because of the cuts. Nurseries are closing down, contact centres are shutting. There is a complete lack of venues to do direct work with families” – social worker, Worsley, north west England.
– The report containing the findings, Social Work at Breaking Point, can be accessed here.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

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For UNISON, it’s solidarity forever, pledges Dave Prentis

If it’s Tuesday afternoon at national delegate conference, it’s time for the general secretary to take the floor.

But conference is never about one individual and in Liverpool today, Dave Prentis closed his speech by inviting dozens of members who have taken part in winning industrial action over the last 12 months to come forward.

As green and purple flew, delegates stood as one, applauding and cheering, with Liverpool anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone reverberating around the hall.

It was the perfect illustration of the solidarity that was his theme; the perfect illustration of how UNISON is helping more members achieve more than any other union in the UK.

Mr Prentis warmed up with a spot of gentle banter, apologising to Everton fans for Liverpool being the home of the “European football champions (It’s a shame I’m from Leeds)”, before touching on some of the city’s proud history.

“It was here in 1756 that the Liverpool shoemakers organised the first recorded strike. It was here in 1848 that the first trades council was formed,” he said.

“Liverpool – a city that knows the true meaning of solidarity. Like UNISON – the union with solidarity at its core.”

That, said Mr Prentis, was just like the solidarity the union has shown, and will continue to show, the Hillsborough families in their fight for justice.

The solidarity the union has shown with the people of Grenfell Tower in the two years since that calamitous firestorm – and will continue to show.

“Our solidarity has no borders,” said Mr Prentis.

Across the world, UNISON reaches out, resists, fights and never gives up, from Colombia to Turkey to Palestine.

Internationalism, he said, is the heart of our union; solidarity its bedrock.

And no more so than in the fight against the far right.

“The past year we’ve had to fight harder than ever. On the streets, but also in workplaces. Protecting our members. Fighting for their right to live free from fear, free from cheap jibes, free from racial slurs.

“Our members from the EU told to ‘go home’.”

Mr Prentis said that Brexit had unleashed “the stench of extremism … new faces spouting age-old hatreds.

“Our fight against bigotry, racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism can feel like an uphill struggle.

“But if we are bold, if we are strong – if we stand in solidarity, we will win” he pledged, to heartfelt applause.

It was the union’s duty to tackle the “hateful violence” of the Football Lad’s Alliance and “toxic Tommy Robinson”.

Playing it safe would bow to the wishes of the rich and powerful and the results would be dire, he warned: narrow-minded nationalism, a no-deal Brexit and Trump.

“United together, we will put the racists back in the gutter where they belong!”

To more applause, he pledged that for UNISON, the Good Friday Agreement and peace in Northern Ireland would remain paramount, with no hard border and no watering down of equality of citizenship.

Of Brexit, Mr Prentis said that, for the union’s members, “there’s no such thing as a left-wing no-deal Brexit.

To loud applause he told conference that, “for our members, no deal is a bad deal!”

“It would hammer our members, with Trump and his vulture capitalists waiting in the wings to destroy our public services.”

Since the politicians have failed, the only option left must be to take the decision back to the people, where it belongs.

Describing the Conservative leadership contest as a cross between “I’m a Nonentity, Get Me Out of Here and Britain’s Got No Talent,” he said that “what the country needs is a general election … that will sweep away this terrible government.

“Our members need a Labour government like never before: a Labour government which has the capacity to transform our country, our economy, our society.

“Yet I also have demands of Labour. I want our members to be listened to.

“Our union demands that all privatisations, all outsourcing be ended immediately when they take power.

“And I demand a year one commitment – in line with Labour Party conference policy – that all services and all our people be brought back in house.

But then Mr Prentis turned to how UNISON has become the biggest union in the UK; the fastest growing union in western Europe – an achievement founded on being a union of compassion and kindness. A union founded on solidarity.

And he concluded with celebrating what solidarity means in reality, paying tribute to striking members around the UK, from Wigan to Wrightington, Sirona to Sandwell, Camden to Calderdale, AFG to AQA, Birmingham to Bradford and on and on, before inviting some of those to join him in front of the rostrum.

Conference rose and applauded and cheered.

“UNISON – Britain’s biggest, Britain’s best – solidarity forever!”

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