Blog: Ten years of the Equality Act and still fighting

This October is the 10th anniversary of the Equality Act in Great Britain, and COVID-19 has shown why it is still so needed.

As a UNISON activist in a voluntary sector branch, I rely on the Equality Act when representing members – including disabled members discriminated against and facing dismissal because of sickness levels, lack of disability leave or reasonable adjustments.

I have also used it to prevent discrimination happening in the first place, working with employers to introduce accessibility passports for disabled workers.

The Equality Act was a fantastic achievement. Years of trade union campaigning and a Labour government won us a single law covering all equality strands, including disabled and LGBT+ women like me.

But the act hasn’t had an easy 10 years. It originally included a socio-economic duty to stop discrimination against poorer and working-class people, but this was never made law.

COVID-19 has shown that socio-economic discrimination is still a massive problem in the UK. The A’ level and GCSE fiasco in the summer saw poorer youngsters being marked down compared to those in private schools – but the Equality Act doesn’t cover this.

In 2013, the Tory-led coalition government went to war on the Equality Act as part of their ‘red tape challenge’. They removed the protection from being harassed by clients, contractors and members of the public, and they deleted the right to claim discrimination on more than one grounds – for example, as both a woman and a disabled person.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was also stripped of funding and left without capacity to carry out enforcement.

One of the key aims of the Equality Act was to prevent discrimination happening in the first place, rather than just picking up the pieces afterwards.

It requires public bodies to give “due regard” to the need to avoid discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all protected groups. This is called the public sector equality duty. One way to stick to the duty is to do an equality impact assessment to check if particular groups of people are being unfairly hit by decisions or policies.

But the Tories ripped the heart out of the public sector equality duty. Since 2011, equality impact assessments have not been a legal requirement in England.

The government’s own impact assessment of it’s Coronavirus Act admits that it discriminates against Black, older and disabled people – but says this is justified because of the impact of coronavirus. And it seems to have got away with this! This proves the watered-down Equality Act is simply not strong enough to protect our human rights.

So what does UNISON want? We want the heart put back into the Equality Act.  Roll back all those Tory changes and bring back protections from being harassed by clients, contractors and members of the public. Allow discrimination claims cases on more than one grounds: I shouldn’t have to figure out if I was treated unfairly because I’m a woman or because I’m a lesbian – it could be both. And bring back protections for working-class people.

Employment tribunals should get back the power to make broader recommendations about employers so the same employers don’t keep discriminating again and again. And the equality duty in England must be strengthened.

But this will just bring us back to what Labour and the unions wanted in 2010. It’s now 2020. We need statutory facility time for equality reps, clearer rights including timescales for the implementation of reasonable adjustments, and improved protections for trans people.

With gender pay gap regulations and reporting under the specific equality duties relaxed due to COVID-19, we need more investment in the EHRC when we get through the pandemic. And we need action to tackle the disability and ethnicity pay gaps.

Black Lives Matter has shown us that there is a pressing urgency to address racism. The EHRC should have a beefed-up role in this.

So let’s celebrate 10 years of the Equality Act. But real equality is still a long way off. And UNISON won’t give up the fight until all of our members have an equal chance to succeed in their job and in their life.

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‘All they’ve done is ignite a toxic debate’

UNISON has accused the government of letting down trans people and offering false hope after a consultation on the Gender Recognition Act resulted in minimal changes and none of the improvements that the union or trans people have demanded.

It’s two years since the government consultation on reforming the Gender Recognition Act – the law that sets the process for trans people to bring the gender on their birth certificates in line with their gender identity – was announced.

The consultation was to update the process, which many believe is over-medicalised, legalistic, intrusive and indeed, humiliating for trans people.

Finally, the government announced last week the results of the consultation and its plans, with the only change being to reduce the fee and move the process online.

Yet consultation responses were overwhelmingly in favour of bringing our laws in line with international best practice, as UNISON has called for.

Commenting on the announcement, UNISON assistant general secretary for bargaining and equalities Christina McAnea said: “The government has handled this appallingly at every stage.

“They seemed to offer hope, but all they have done is ignite a toxic debate while yet again letting down the trans community. We are not talking about the niceties of a bureaucratic process – this is people’s lives.

“We welcome Labour recommitting to change when they are in office. Till then, we will do what we always do – support and represent trans members and negotiate good workplace policy and practice.”

Convenor of UNISON’s trans caucus Emma Procter added: “We are disappointed that the government has not taken the opportunity to make significant and meaningful reforms to the Gender Recognition Act in light of the overwhelming responses to their own survey in 2018.”

UNISON has great resources on trans equality at work:

How to be a good trans ally

Transgender workers’ rights bargaining guide (download)

Model trans equality policy (download)

Guide for reps supporting trans members

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Migration Advisory Committee report exposes government’s muddled immigration plan

Responding to the Migration Advisory Committee’s review of the shortage occupation list released today (Tuesday), UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“The report exposes the depth of the crisis facing the care sector and the lack of a coherent government plan to deal with low pay and chronic staff shortages.

“The decision to make it more difficult for overseas care workers to fill the glut of vacancies is creating an unnecessary recruitment timebomb.

“Including senior care staff on the shortage occupation list is welcome, but will make little difference to the councils and care companies that can’t fill vacancies.

“Social care is undervalued, badly paid and buckling under the effect of years of political indifference and under-investment.

“The sector needs to be properly funded and wages increased. Any delay in doing so only adds to the pressure on staff still reeling from the first Covid wave while preparing to tackle a second.”

Notes to editors
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sector

Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

 

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Taking UNISON’s demands to the Treasury

Dave Prentis stopped by Rishi Sunak’s office today to present UNISON’s demands for investment in public services.

The government announced last week that the autumn budget is cancelled, but the union is making it clear that the money needs to be in place to fund pay rises for our members who have kept the country going through the pandemic, and to protect the jobs and services that our communities rely upon.

The general secretary said: “This is so important I wanted to deliver it to the Treasury in person.

“I have asked Rishi Sunak for a meeting so that I can explain why it’s so important that, when we eventually get back to normal, we cannot return to undervaluing public services and our members who provide them.

“The huge popularity of our Not Going Back to Normal campaign shows that the public are on our side. The government has to listen.”

UNISON’s demands are set out in the union’s submission to the government’s comprehensive spending review, which sets the overall levels of spending for the next three years.

That submission calls for:

• funding to support the current NHS £2k pay claim;
• social care workers to receive at least the real living wage in all parts of the UK;
• resources to close the local government funding gap and proper levels of funding for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The outcome from the spending review was due to have been announced with the budget. The union is urging the government not to delay making funding available for our members and the services they provide.

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Petition launches to get COVID tests for all education staff

UNISON has launched an emergency petition calling on Matt Hancock for all education workers to be included as one of the groups named for priority COVID-19 testing.

It takes a whole team to keep schools, nurseries, colleges and universities running, but when the health secretary announced the list of workers that will be eligible for priority testing in England, in education, only ‘teaching staff’ were mentioned.

This completely ignores the fact that over half of the staff in education aren’t teachers.

The union is demanding that when the government announces the full details of priority testing, it includes all education staff – not just teachers.

UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “Once more, the government has shown they don’t understand that nurseries, schools, colleges and universities can’t function without support staff.

“In the spring, we persuaded the government to add education support staff to the list of key workers, following their initial proposal that only teachers would be included.

“It seems we have to remind them again that schools won’t open, classrooms and halls won’t get cleaned and staff, children and young people will be put at risk if support staff are sitting at home wondering where and when they can get a test.”

And Mr Richards concluded: “If only the government realised, once and for all, that there is more to education than teachers.”

Please sign – and share – the petition

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Stakes too high and pressures too great to delay NHS pay rise

Responding to the NHS Confederation report NHS Reset: A New Direction For Health And Care issued today (Tuesday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“This report highlights the immense pressures the NHS is under. But it stops short of calling for an early and significant pay rise for all NHS staff. This would quite simply make the world of difference.

“Years of falling employee numbers, increasing workloads and under-investment have left health workers on the brink – and that was before the pandemic struck.

“A wage rise this year, of at least £2,000 to all staff, will help keep skilled workers in their jobs and attract many much-needed new recruits.

“There’s no time for dither or delay. The stakes are too high and the challenges too great for anything less than decisive government action now.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is calling for an early pay rise of at £2,000 for all NHS staff. This would cost around £2.8bn in England (plus additional spending in the devolved administrations).
– According to UNISON/Savanta ComRes polling published in July, a majority of the public (69%) think all NHS staff should get an early pay rise. Two thirds (66%) of the public believe a wage increase for employees should be significant in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. An overwhelming majority (85%) believe pay should increase.
– Agenda for Change staff in the NHS are currently covered by a three-year pay and reform deal, due to end on 31 March 2021.
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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Saving the lives of the workers who are saving our lives

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke, there was a rush to find personal protective equipment (PPE) for key workers. But in the urgency to stay safe, nobody stopped to question who was making the PPE, and whether they were safe too.

With billions of pounds spent on PPE and other life-saving equipment since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the extent to which the public purse is contributing to, or is complicit in, human rights violations globally has worsened.

In June 2020, a Channel 4 news investigation revealed the shocking exploitation of migrant workers at Top Glove factories in Malaysia who churn out Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for companies that supply the NHS.

Whilst trying to meet demanding production targets for the pandemic, migrant workers for Top Glove factories are paid £1.08 an hour for gruelling 12-hour shifts, 6 days a week. To add to these terrible working conditions, workers were housed in over-crowded hostels with up to 24 people per room, and feared catching COVID-19 because of a lack of social distancing arrangements.

Furthermore, UNISON suspects a Malaysian factory that makes the ventilators for masks has put workers’ health and safety on the backburner in order to meet demand.

In today’s global economy, goods and services are produced in complex global supply chains built on a model of fast, low-cost production. Hundreds of sub-contracted companies are involved in the production of goods and this has led to a break down in the contractual relationship between the buyers of goods and services and the workers delivering them.

So what is UNISON doing about it?

Before the pandemic hit, UNISON had already been developing public sector training on purchasing practices to support workers’ rights in global supply chains. It is evident that, in the wake of the pandemic, this training has become even more vital to roll out across UNISON branches and activists.

UNISON head of international relations Nick Crook said: “Our members have been telling us for years that they don’t want to serve the public using goods tainted by gross exploitation. Yet few public bodies know how to procure so it reverses the “race to the bottom” in terms of workers’ rights. But using the leverage of the public purse, it is possible.”

To support the training programme UNISON has conducted extensive research into the role that public sector organisations play procurement and is conducting new research to find out what’s happening during COVID-19.

We’ve so far found that, for many local authorities, items like PPE were being bought off the shelf without any normal contracting procedures or ethical considerations. All participants interviewed by UNISON said that, in the rush to fast-track PPE, there were no ethical considerations. They also doubted that even normal procedures were upheld.

If you work in procurement, you can help UNISON by completing this survey.

With COVID-19 travel bans, international monitoring organisations have been unable access factories to conduct audits on working conditions. To make matters even more complicated, many sustainability staff in procurement teams have been furloughed, which has made oversight even more difficult during fast-track buying. In addition to PPE, other fast-tracked products included electronics for home-working, such as laptops and tablets.

UNISON is committed to making sure that workers’ rights are at the centre of procurement plans, and that ethical considerations in contracts should be the standard, rather than an afterthought.

This autumn, UNISON is launching a training strategy with a series of webinars followed by learning resources in the spring for branches and members to push for transparency and ethics in their procurement processes and supply chains. The webinar series, Purchasing Power: Putting Workers’ Rights at the Heart of Public Procurement, begins on 28 October.

Click here to sign up for the webinar.

This training applies to the pandemic and beyond and will equip UNISON members to gain a commitment from suppliers to continuously monitor supply chains for potential risk to human rights.

If the UK’s public sector is committed to ‘building back better’ after COVID-19, a holistic understanding of resilience and how to help enable workers’ to access their rights in supply chains is imperative. And UNISON is committed to leading the way on changing UK public procurement to ensure that human rights and workers’ safety are the priority.

UNISON head of international relations Nick Crook said: “Since COVID-19, there’s been a lot of talk about ‘building back better’, well when it comes to global supply chains better isn’t enough, it’s got to be different. UNISON is committed to being part of that journey.”

Further work UNISON is doing on human rights:

· Working alongside the Global Union Federation to support trade union organising of workers in the global south who are supplying the UK public sector.

· Lobbying for the Modern Slavery Act to be extended to public bodies. The act currently only encourages businesses to take responsibility for their supply chains by ensuring no slavery, forced or child labour is involved in the production of goods destined for the UK.

· Writing a joint report with CORE coalition and the University of Greenwich, advocating for new regulation on procurement and a Failure to Prevent (human rights abuse) law which would put people and planet above cost or profit.

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Health and care staff need reassurance about next stage of the pandemic, says UNISON

Monday 28 September 2020
For immediate release

Health and care staff need reassurance about next stage of the pandemic, says UNISON

Commenting on the health secretary’s announcement of increased production and supply of personal protective equipment for health and care workers, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said today (Monday):

“It’s been a terrible time and with infections on the rise, the pandemic is far from over.

“Health staff and care workers need reassurances there’ll be no repeats of the nightmares with safety kit shortages they faced in the spring.

“It’s good most protective equipment will now be coming from UK firms, so supplies will be guaranteed and won’t have to be shipped as far.

“Other aspects of staff welfare must also be tackled to increase safety and reduce the pressures. They all need proper breaks and the chance to take leave.”

Notes to editors:
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

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

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Branch resources review restarts, with pledge to stay on schedule

The UNISON branch resources review has restarted after a five-month pause for COVID-19. “It’s good to be back” said UNISON President Josie Bird (pictured), who chairs the review group.

Set up by the 2019 national delegate conference, the 24 lay members who make up the working party have committed to sticking with the timetable and getting a motion and report to conference in 2021.

Ms Bird added: “It will be tough to regain lost time, but we are committed”.

So far, 357 branches have taken part in the review, with plans for 17 to be approached for in-depth interviews.

Branches have told the review that the top three things they would like to do more of are:

• recruiting and retaining new members;
• educating members and developing activists; and
• supporting members with representation and casework.

When asked what additional resources branches needed to carry out these tasks, the main responses were more time, more regional support and more funding.

In the past year, 194 branches have received some form of financial support from the union.

More information over the autumn will be on the branch resources review web page.

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University staff speak out about COVID-19 fears

A UNISON survey published this week shows how university staff including cleaners, security guards and administrative workers are feeling increasingly anxious about work, now that universities have reopened.

Rebecca Hawkins* is a technical demonstrator in the art and design department of a university. She said: “I don’t feel safe at all. Every day presents a new challenge that nobody knows how to handle. I just feel like we’re all making it up as we go along, with sketchy guidelines that seem open to interpretation.

“We had an email from the dean the other day saying that someone in our group had tested positive, but we don’t have to self-isolate. As far as I’m aware, that goes against government guidelines.

“Everyone’s writing their own risk assessments, and it just feels like a ticking time bomb until there’s a big outbreak here. Since the students came back, it feels like I’m on the frontline.”

Rebecca’s university has split teaching 60-40 between physical and virtual. But Rebecca says it’s created a two-tiered system among staff: “All the academics are still at home in their slippers!”

More than 4,000 UNISON members completed the annual higher education survey, which exposed concerns about pay, working hours and the threat from COVID-19.

83% of higher education workers expressed fears about social distancing, and 45% said they were worried about a lack of personal protective equipment.

Worryingly, more than a third (36.4%) haven’t yet received a COVID-19 risk assessment, according to the survey. This is despite the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) and Universities UK (UUK) recommending support staff be at the heart of safety planning ahead of any return, the union says.

Despite their heightened risk, 18% of university support staff said their employer hadn’t provided them with any support. Two fifths (41%) said they’d like more support ahead of the return, says UNISON.

Encouragingly, a similar proportion (40%) reported receiving excellent support from their managers, highlighting what can be achieved when responsible universities work with staff and unions, says UNISON.

Commenting on the findings, UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “Staff are worried about returning to campuses, they’re struggling to pay their bills and they’re tired of managers not listening to them.

“University support staff have serious concerns about their employers’ disregard for their wellbeing and government indifference to their financial and physical plight.

“Universities must make sure risk assessments are carried out and implemented before the start of term. The government must ensure staff aren’t forgotten in the headlong rush for universities to open up again.

“Fair and sustainable funding for universities has to be in place to protect the sector and jobs. The stakes are too high to do anything less.”

*To protect her identity we’re not using her real name.

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Boost wages and scrap tuition fees to turbo-charge nurse recruitment

Responding to NHS workforce statistics released today (Thursday) showing a 14,199 increase in nurse numbers and a 23% increase in nursing student acceptances, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“It’s good more nurses are now on wards and out in communities, but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the 40,000 unfilled roles.

“Ministers could easily turbo-charge recruitment by scrapping student tuition fees and giving staff the early and significant pay rise they deserve.

“A wage boost would work wonders for frustrated health workers thinking of leaving and the young considering a career in the NHS.”

Notes to editors:
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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Government must safeguard thousands of university jobs, say education unions

The job retention scheme should be extended – or another wage support scheme put in its place – to support thousands of university staff, such as catering and security workers who face redundancy, education unions say today (Thursday).

In a joint letter to higher education minister Michelle Donelan, UNISON, GMB, Unite, the University and College Union (UCU), and the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) also warn problems with the test and trace system pose real risks to the health of staff, students and local communities.

Ahead of the Chancellor’s expected announcement on further measures to protect jobs later today, the unions say the government must consider other ways of supporting the higher education sector.

Other support measures called for by the five unions – representing academics, support staff, catering employees, cleaning staff, caretakers, technicians and receptionists – include full pay for all staff who need to isolate and ready access to testing to keep campuses safe.

The letter also stresses the need to ensure EU research funding received by UK universities is fully maintained, given the end of the Brexit transition period is only months away.

UNISON senior education officer Ruth Levin said: “Thousands of university jobs hang in the balance, and sadly many support staff have already lost their jobs. More government help is a must.

“Ministers need to up their game too on testing. Delays in accessing tests and obtaining results are causing untold problems for universities. As more students return and infection rates rise, universities need to know there’s a testing system able to deliver what’s needed, and fast.”

UCU head of higher education Paul Bridge said: “Due to the colossal failings of the test and trace system, it’s not safe to reopen campuses any further. University staff must not pay the price for these shortcomings.

“We will need our universities more than ever as we seek to rebuild post-Covid. The government must step in now and guarantee funding so universities can protect all jobs, welcome students back to campus when it’s safe to do so and continue to provide world-class teaching and research.”

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagansaid: “We are seeing significant outbreaks in university campuses across the country, so it’s essential that government takes the necessary steps to keep students, staff and the wider community safe.

“That means ensuring that all campuses are Covid-secure, with readily available access to testing for staff and students. Financial support is also required to guarantee that provision can continue, and to ensure that all those who contract Covid or who are required to self-isolate do not suffer financially as a result.”

GMB national officer Stuart Fegan said:“The covid pandemic has shone a light on the way our higher education members have gone above and beyond in providing support to students, the public, and their institutions.

“We call on the government to do the only right thing in supporting those on furlough when it comes to an end. Meanwhile ministers must fix the problems with track and trace, while ensuring sick pay for those needing to self-isolate.”

Unite national officer Siobhan Endeansaid: “University staff have worked incredibly hard to put in place risk assessments and Covid secure campuses. Effective test track and trace is the missing piece in the jigsaw to drive down Covid- 19 infection rates.

“Government and university employers need to come together with unions to keep staff in jobs and keep our universities safe.”

Media contacts
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07789 518992 E: dashley@ucu.org.uk
GMB press office M: 07958 156846 E: press.office@gmb.org.uk​
Shaun Noble M: 07768 693940 E: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org
Brian Cooper M:07974 715101 E: bcooper@eis.org.uk

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​Support jobs and strengthen economy to maintain public services, says UNISON

Responding to the chancellor of the exchequer’s new plans to support jobs through further months of pandemic restrictions, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said today (Thursday):

“These measures show the chancellor has been listening to unions and businesses. Supporting the wages of workers is an important first step in the battle to protect jobs across the UK.

“A strong economy is vital to maintaining precious public services. The pandemic’s shown that it’s vital public services that hold our society together. They must be protected.

“Fixing the flawed testing system and providing full sick pay for all are also key to keeping the economy moving.”

Notes to editors:
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

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

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Survey reveals staff fears ahead of universities reopening

University staff including cleaners, security guards and administrative workers are facing a perfect storm of pressures that are leaving them out of pocket, and feeling increasingly anxious, a UNISON survey published today (Wednesday) has found.

More than 4,000 employees completed the union’s annual higher education survey, which exposed concerns about pay, working hours and the threat from Covid-19.

Three in five staff (60%) expressed anxiety about the return to campuses at the end of the month. Fears about social distancing (83%), a lack of personal protective equipment (45%) and the threat of exposure to the virus on public transport (45%), all contributed to the general sense of staff unease, says UNISON.

Worryingly, more than a third (36.4%) haven’t yet received a Covid-19 risk assessment, according to the survey. This is despite the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) and Universities UK (UUK) recommending support staff be at the heart of safety planning ahead of any return, the union says.

More than a fifth (23%) of staff said they were from vulnerable health groups – putting them at greater risk of being hospitalised if they contracted the virus. This group, which includes Black* staff, were particularly anxious about returning to campuses.

Despite their heightened risk, 18% of university support staff said their employer hadn’t provided them with any support. Two fifths (41%) said they’d like more support ahead of the return, says UNISON.

Encouragingly, a similar proportion (40%) reported receiving excellent support from their managers, highlighting what can be achieved when responsible universities work with staff and unions, says UNISON.

When asked about pay, more than a third (35%) said their salaries hadn’t kept pace with increases in their mortgages or rent. This suggests that after a decade of below-inflation pay deals, staff are struggling to make ends meet, says UNISON.

More than three fifths (62%) were worried about losing their jobs, with concerns about the impact of Brexit (55%), government policies (54%), and work-related stress (49%) fuelling job insecurity fears, UNISON adds.

Commenting on the findings, UNISON head of education Jon Richardssaid: “Staff are worried about returning to campuses, they’re struggling to pay their bills and they’re tired of managers not listening to them.

“University support staff have serious concerns about their employers’ disregard for their wellbeing and government indifference to their financial and physical plight.

“Universities must make sure risk assessments are carried out and implemented before the start of term. The government must ensure staff aren’t forgotten in the headlong rush for universities to open up again.

“Fair and sustainable funding for universities has to be in place to protect the sector and jobs. The stakes are too high to do anything less.”

Note to editors:

 – A number of support staff ​have shared their concerns with UNISON:
–  “My employer’s done a reasonable job with risk assessments, but I’m worried about the government’s inability to get the test and trace system running effectively. Testing is inadequate. I expect a second wave of the virus when students return.”
  – “The ‘bubble’ situation is ridiculous.  Our bubble of students go back to halls to enter another bubble. But those students are all in another bubble and so it continues. The ‘bubble’ system is unsustainable.”
–  “I have no idea what has been put in place. I am very worried about ‘hot desking’ when I return.”
– *UNISON uses the term Black in a broad, political and inclusive way for people with shared history and experience of racism and reduced opportunities.
– 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.

Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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Raise a toast to public track and trace

As the country faces new restrictions because of COVID-19, campaign group We Own It is urging people to help reinforce the message to MPs that we need a proper, public test and trace system, instead of the ‘privatised shambles that the government seems intent on’.

The group – which campaigns for public services to be run for people, not profit – wants you to invite your MP to a quick online meeting this Friday, 25 September, where they can join you in raising a toast to the NHS and public health teams, showing support for public test and trace.

After last week’s announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of  ‘Operation Moonshot’ – relying on untested technologies, the private sector and a budget equivalent to almost an entire year’s funding for the NHS – We Own It points out that, without a functioning test and trace programme, there is “little hope of these restrictions on our lives being lifted for more than a short period.

“MPs need to pledge to do everything they can to get us public test and trace now,” they commented.

Find out more here – including how to get involved

British Medical Journal analysis of ‘Operation Moonshot’

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Early pay rise and end to tuition fees will help nursing workforce numbers, says UNISON

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee’s report into the nursing workforce published today (Wednesday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“Many nurses are exhausted after the first peak of the pandemic and now they’re facing the next wave alongside a difficult winter.

“The vital first step to stop nursing shortages worsening is an early, significant pay rise for everyone in the NHS. Staff need to know they’re valued and warm words from ministers aren’t enough.

“Removing the NHS bursary from nursing students in England has been a disaster. They played a key role during the first peak, but still face high tuition fees.

“The new maintenance grants are an important start, but the government must end student-funded fees altogether to tackle the scale of the staffing shortage.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is calling for an early pay rise of at £2,000 for all NHS staff. This would cost around £2.8bn in England (plus additional spending in the devolved administrations).
– According to UNISON/Savanta ComRes polling published in July, a majority of the public (69%) think all NHS staff should get an early pay rise. Two thirds (66%) of the public believe a wage increase for employees should be significant in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. An overwhelming majority (85%) believe pay should increase.
– Agenda for Change staff in the NHS are currently covered by a three-year pay and reform deal, due to end on 31 March 2021.
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

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

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Government must do more to keep schools open and safe, education unions say

Giving all staff priority testing, reducing the size of pupil ‘bubbles’ and making face coverings compulsory on school buses would help ensure schools can continue to stay open in the coming weeks, education unions say today (Tuesday).

In a joint letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson, several proposals are outlined by UNISON, GMB and Unite to reduce the risk of infection for children and staff​, and reduce the likelihood of ​entire school​s clos​ing.

The ​letter stress​es that all school employees should have priority access to testing – not just teachers – and full pay must be given to lower paid workers who need to isolate. ​It also calls for more information to be shared with staff about suspected Covid-19 cases at their schools.

The three unions – representing school support staff across the UK including teaching assistants, technicians, catering workers, cleaning staff, caretakers, and receptionists – say the government must introduce additional measures to halt rising infections.

UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “It takes just one infection at a school to disrupt learning, potentially for dozens of children, as well as putting the health of staff and families in the community at risk.

“The government’s lack of clarity means ​it’s not clear if teaching assistants are covered by the new testing rules. But without testing for caretakers and cleaners some schools won’t open, and pupils and staff won’t be safe.

“With the virus taking hold again, the government must use all options to reduce the spread. School closures will create further childcare difficulties for key workers, who the country will ​be depend​ing upon in the coming months.”

GMB national officer Karen Leonard said: “GMB and ​other unions ​have worked hard throughout the summer to ensure schools stayed safe for pupils, staff and parents – despite vilification from the Conservative establishment.

“With Covid cases increasing throughout the whole of the UK, we have written to the government setting out constructive suggestions for our schools – including full contractual sick pay for all those working in our schools.”

Unite national officer Ian Woodland said: “As we enter the second wave of Covid-19, it is vital that everything is done to keep schools open to provide a solid education for the next generation of employees.

“The key to this is a comprehensive ‘test and trace’ system for staff and schoolchildren – something, in the eight months of the pandemic, the government has conspicuously failed to provide.”

Notes to editors:
– The full letter can be read here.

Media contacts
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
GMB press office M: 07958 156846 E: press.office@gmb.org.uk​
Shaun Noble M: 07768 693940 E: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org

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Prentis urges Labour to commit to a ‘new deal’ for public services

This year’s Labour conference – online, as befits the times – marked two very special speeches: the last by Dave Prentis as UNISON general secretary, and the first by Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader.

Both men paid powerful tribute to the public sector workers who have kept the UK on its feet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And Mr Starmer said it was time for Labour “to get serious about winning” and repair the damage done to public services by a decade of Tory government.

The first of this year’s very different, COVID-affected party conferences started on Saturday, under the branding of Labour Connected and with the strapline A New Leadership.

Among UNISON speakers making their online addresses over the weekend were president Josie Bird, contributing to a debate on how women have responded to the pandemic and can strive to build a more gender-equal world, and senior vice-president Sian Stockham, who took part in a debate on the future of social care, setting out UNISON’s vision for a National Care Service.

‘Memories are short’

Speaking in Sunday’s debate, Putting our nation’s health and wellbeing at the heart of society, Mr Prentis thanked the key workers “who have given so much in the fight against COVID” – citing NHS staff, day care workers, nursery workers, shop workers, refuse collectors, teaching assistants and care workers.

He also remembered those workers who, tragically, “didn’t live long enough to see the rainbow flags in every window or hear the clapping at twilight when a nation applauded”, and lauded others who missed the applause because they were still, simply, too busy fighting the disease.

“But memories are short”, Mr Prentis added, warning of the danger of returning to the “normal” of austerity cuts, pay freezes and an NHS starved of resources.

“UNISON demands – and Labour must commit to a new deal for all our public services,” he said. A deal “where the NHS is rebuilt, with funding based on need; health services are run in-house for the public good, not private greed, where workers are appreciated, paid fairly, and valued.

“I have always believed that our movement stands on the shoulders of the giants of the past. But in 2020 we have new giants, across our four nations, whose courage, dedication and self-sacrifice have taken public services to new heights.

“Now is the time to reward them.”

Mr Prentis concluded by calling for Labour unity and a “focus on winning, not whinging.”

And in his impassioned and no-nonsense speech this morning, Mr Starmer appeared to answer all of the general secretary’s demands.

This was also the toughest he has been on the government, and particular on Prime Minster Boris Johnson, since he became Labour leader in April.

“To all the care workers, the van drivers, the cleaners, the shop workers and the lifesavers in the NHS, I just want to say: thank you. You changed lives for the better. You made a difference,” he said.

“And it makes me angry that, just when the country needs leadership, we get serial incompetence. Six months in, a Cabinet chosen on loyalty alone shows no sign of having learnt any lessons from the crisis.”

The Labour leader said that he, himself, had learned two things.

“First, if you neglect your public services, you won’t be ready when a crisis hits.

“Nobody blames the government for the existence of the virus. But the under-funding of the NHS, the abandonment of social care and the lack of investment in prevention – that’s all on their watch. That’s all down to them.

“And it always ends this way with Tory governments: public services are neglected, cut-back and left to decline. For a party called the Conservative Party, they don’t seem to conserve very much.

“The second thing I’ve learnt is that a crisis reveals character like nothing else. And I think we’ve learnt a lot about this Prime Minister. Tory backbenchers know it. His Cabinet knows it. We all know it. He’s just not serious. He’s just not up to the job.”

Coming out of the shadows

But the main thrust of Mr Starmer’s speech was the task his own party faced in winning the public’s trust come the next general election.

“Until we come out of the shadows, this party can’t change anything,” he lamented. “The promise that brought us all into politics – to change the country for the better – is pointless if all we can do is object to endless Tory governments.

“So let’s be blunt. Let’s be brutally honest with ourselves. When you lose an election in a democracy, you deserve to … It’s time to get serious about winning. That means we have to change, and that’s what we’re doing.”

He reported progress in his promise to stamp out anti-Semitism in the party, and believed that Labour was becoming a “competent, credible opposition”.

The next step is to win the public’s trust in how it addresses such issues as the economy, pay, housing, the climate, structural racism, the education gap and national security.

‘Our care workers are heroes’

He also had very specific words to say on social care.

“If we didn’t realise it already, we’ve learnt that care workers do some of the most vital work in society. Yet they’re under-paid, under-recognised and under-appreciated.

“Our care workers are heroes. But the social care system in Britain is a disgrace to a rich nation. The Tories have had a decade to sort it out, but they’ve done nothing.

“This is a matter of basic fairness and human compassion. The government needs to act and to act now.

“It must ensure that the mistakes made in the first spike cannot happen again this winter. And it must bring forward comprehensive social care reforms that guarantee all care workers at least the real living wage.”

Mr Starmer noted that the pandemic had “quickened the pace” for politicians.

“The challenges we now face mean that even the questions of 2019 already seem like ancient history. What we say at the next general election isn’t written yet. But it will be rooted in Labour values.

“It won’t sound like anything you’ve heard before. It will sound like the future arriving.”

UNISON’s Five demands for a National Care Service

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UNISON recruits record numbers of health and safety reps

UNISON’s summer campaign to recruit new health and safety reps has already paid dividends, with record numbers of members showing an interest.

Acting national secretary Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety reps are vital to ensuring workplaces are safe.

“#BeOnTheSafeSide has got off to a fantastic start. The level of interest shows just how important health and safety is to UNISON members, who want to be safe delivering vital services to the public.

“It’s great that so many women and Black members have come forward to get involved.”

Ms Rowe-Merriman added: “As we progress through this pandemic, the importance of health and safety in our workplaces has been a high priority. Without health and safety reps, our workplaces are less safe and less healthy.

“By signing up to become a safety rep you become part of a wider community of activists that keeps everyone safe.”

UNISON is holding webinars for potential new safety reps on 29 September and 13 October.

Find out more by visiting the safety reps’ campaign page.

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SOAS members secure victory against compulsory redundancies

UNISON members working at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) are celebrating this week after victory in their fight to halt compulsory redundancies.

The redundancies at the school, which is part of the University of London, were set to happen at the end of this month as part of a restructure.

In response to planned strike action for today and tomorrow, following online branch meetings (pictured), SOAS management has agreed to return to the negotiating table.

Management has made the commitment to UNISON that there will be no compulsory redundancies for professional services staff, including cleaning, catering, administrative and library workers.

UNISON regional organiser Boyana Petrovich said: “This victory is a testament to what can be achieved with good branch organisation and willingness of members to go the extra mile to protect their rights.

“Hopefully, it will inspire activists across the country as our members need them to organise and negotiate with the employers now more than ever.”

Workers who were facing redundancy will now be offered an extended redeployment period, during which time they will receive individualised support and development training to help them find alternative employment within the new SOAS structure.

In the coming weeks, UNISON will be launching a new Fair Workloadcampaign to ensure that all SOAS staff have manageable workloads and are appropriately remunerated for the duties they perform in the new structure.

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Now more than ever we need a future-focused Labour government

Commenting on Keir Starmer’s keynote leader’s speech at the Labour Conference today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“Today Keir Starmer showed Labour’s new leadership is focused on the future, on the challenges our country faces at this unprecedented time and, crucially, on winning the next election.

“UNISON members have faced a decade of austerity and pay cuts – they need a Labour Party that can, and will, win the next election. In Keir Starmer, Labour has a leader who can do just that.

“Keir understands our members – including some of the lowest paid in our country such as cleaners, catering staff and care workers – have kept ​the country going through the darkest of hours. Too often they’re underappreciated, undervalued and underpaid.

“He was right to talk about ​the broken social care system. The ​Tories have mismanaged care for years – failing to fix it​, despite ​many promises. It will be up to Labour to fix the mess this government has created.

“Now, more than ever, we need a Labour government. The future of our country relies on electing one, led by Keir Starmer.

“Keir has made a big step in winning back the trust of the British people today​. It’s now the responsibility of everyone in the party and ​in unions to join him in that fight.”

Notes to editors:
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

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

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Blog: A union with plenty to shout about

After over 20 years of leading this union as general secretary, you’d have thought that I’d have seen it all. I couldn’t be surprised any more by our incredible members and the amazing work they do running our public services.

You’d be forgiven for thinking my immense pride at what we achieve together could increase no more. But you’d be wrong.

Obviously COVID-19 and our members’ collective and individual responses have left me feeling even more proud of our union and its members and their hard work than ever before.

And luckily, this time of year gives us plenty of time to shout about their brilliance. We’ve just finished the online Labour conference – Labour Connected – and last week, UNISON was a leading voice at the TUC virtual congress.

At both, I talked about the need for a new deal for public services. How the desire to go back to normal after coronavirus, mustn’t mean a return to the ‘normal’ of pain, austerity, pay freezes and cuts for our members.

That old ‘normal’ for public service workers was unsafe. It was being underappreciated, underpaid and undervalued. There can be no going back to that normal.

The new normal will rebuild all public services, where funding is based on need, where services are run in-house – for the public good, not private greed.

A new normal of safe workplaces and workers treated with dignity and respect, appreciated, paid fairly, and valued.

Never before has the work of public service workers been so visible or so important. And never before has the work of UNISON, their union, our staff and activists, been just as vital.

This is shaping up to be an incredibly important and busy autumn and winter for everyone at UNISON – whether it’s launching our new No Going Back to Normal campaign to put pressure on the government for that new deal for public service workers – or the demand of an immediate  pay rise of £2,000 for each NHS worker.

But then there’s also the fantastic legal win for our homecare workers announced last week after a hard four-year battle led by our legal team, outsourcing redundancies at City University, or what’s going on British Gas, plus all the work we are doing across all our service groups to protect our members as they fight to protect us during Coronavirus.

We all know the threats coming this autumn. Because we are already fighting them.

These are indeed unprecedented times. But we are lucky we have our members to lead us through them. And they are lucky to have an active and vital union by their side every step of the way.

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Sodexo threatens sweeping redundancies at City University

UNISON’s City University branch is deeply disappointed to discover Sodexo, the contractor running catering staff at the university, intends to make up to half of those staff redundant.

There are 40 contracted catering staff at City, and the proposed new structure put forward by Sodexo only has 20 jobs. The 30-day consultation period formally begun on 4 September, but three weeks later staff are still waiting for details of redundancy terms and the selection process.

Furthermore, around 30 staff on zero hours contracts who work regularly at City University have been taken off furlough and told there is no work for them. Given that the government’s Job Retention Scheme runs until the end of October, it is unclear why Sodexo has made this move. UNISON’s position is that zero hours staff should be kept on furlough until the end of the scheme.

UNISON regional organiser Boyana Petrovich said: “The speed at which Sodexo is moving towards making redundancies is unjustified and alarming. UNISON calls both Sodexo and universities to put the welfare of staff higher on their agenda and engage in constructive conversations with us in order to avoid compulsory redundancies.”

Daniel Shannon-Hughes, the UNISON branch secretary for City University, added: “City University UNISON considers catering workers as our colleagues. They should not be facing redundancy while City is still a long way from any redundancy measures for directly employed staff.”

More than 90% of City catering staff are Black and/or migrant workers and are the lowest paid staff at the university.

UNISON believes there should be no compulsory redundancies at this extremely precarious time. UNISON is calling on City and Sodexo to:

• Work with UNISON to explore alternative working arrangements to avoid redundancies;
• Provide enhanced severance payments for any staff who choose to take voluntary redundancy;
• Allow catering staff to apply for vacant internal roles at City;
• In the event of the government announcing an extension of the furlough scheme or introducing a replacement, to stop the redundancy consultation or offer to rehire any staff made redundant.

Sodexo is one of the world’s largest multinational corporations and describes itself as a ‘global leader in services that improve quality of life’. It generated worldwide profit of £619 million in 2019.

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British Gas forces its entire workforce into a ‘fire and rehire’ process

British Gas workers have been critical in keeping everyone’s homes warm and stoves lit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet now, the company has served notice on its entire workforce and is pushing employees to accept significantly worse terms and conditions of employment.

UNISON national officer for energy Matthew Lay said: “It’s important that we stand up to the attempts by British Gas to bully staff into accepting greatly reduced terms and conditions.

“We are negotiating hard to find a solution, one that recognises the business’s challenges ahead but also reflects the needs of members.

“If we fail to reach an agreement, we stand ready to defend members. Work is underway to hold an industrial action ballot.”

The new British Gas conditions include:

• Reduced annual leave
• Reduced sick pay
• Reduced overtime rates
• Longer working hours
• Removal of contractual redundancy pay

The company has also served formal notice of its intention to end all recognition agreements with staff unions, of which UNISON is the largest.

UNISON has had a long, cooperative relationship with the employer going back many decades. But it sees the current move as an unprecedented attack by British Gas on a loyal and productive workforce, and a completely different tactic to how it has worked with its trade unions and employees in the past.

In response, UNISON has launched a campaign against British Gas’ attack on staff, and is encouraging all UNISON members and the public to write to their MPs and urge them to stand up for employees.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has himself been writing directly to MPs, encouraging them to support British Gas staff.

And a ‘don’t be bullied by British Gas’ leaflet is available for all employees via the UNISON website.

 

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Safety measures must be the priority to tackle increased infection spread

Monday 21 September 2020
​For immediate release

Safety measures must be the priority to tackle increased infection spread, says UNISON

Commenting on the government’s latest scientific briefing ​today (Monday) on increasing Covid-19 infection rates, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“The situation is spiralling out of control and the measures in place so far aren’t working. Confusing messages and mixed signals from ministers aren’t helping either.

“There’s simply no time for complacency. The government ​must ​make public safety ​a priority.

“Strict social distancing, fixing the bungled testing system and ensuring low-paid staff don’t take a financial hit for staying off work are ​crucial.

“Key workers in the NHS, care, schools and other public services must be protected for all our sakes.”

Notes to editors:
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

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

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Only a Labour government can save the NHS, says UNISON

Speaking at a Labour Party virtual conference discussion later today (Sunday) on how best to recognise and value NHS workers, both during and after the pandemic, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis will say:

“NHS staff have given their all for all of us. Now is the time to reward their incredible efforts and heroism, with a pay rise of at least £2,000 for every single NHS worker.

“We all know that the best thing for our NHS is a Labour government – and we all know that you only get a Labour government when there is real unity.

“It’s time to stop looking back and fighting the old battles of the past. Instead we must look forward, with one mission, to secure a Labour government.

“That’s how we’ll save our NHS.”

Notes to editors: 
– Dave Prentis will be speaking at the Labour Party conference policy panel at 6pm today. The panel includes: Jon Ashworth MP (shadow health and social care secretary, Jennifer Dixon (chief executive, Health Foundation), Rehana Azam (national secretary, GMB), Vaughan Gething MS (Welsh minister for health and social services), and Rachel Reeves MP (shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster).
– A Savanta ComRes opinion poll commissioned by UNISON in July showed overwhelming public support for an early and significant pay rise for NHS staff.
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk

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Care workers deserve pay to reflect their value, says UNISON

Commenting on Labour’s call for care workers to be paid at least the real living wage and for the prime minister to make good on his promise to fix social care, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Saturday):

“Care workers perform skilled word day-in, day-out, looking after the most vulnerable people in society.

“Their value has to be reflected in their pay. They must be given at least the real living wage, with full pay if they’re off sick.

“The prime minister promised more than a year ago he had prepared a clear plan to fix social care. We’re still waiting.

“The country is crying out desperately for a national care system to replace this fragmented mess.”

Notes to editors:
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

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

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Self-isolating and sick care staff need proper pay, says UNISON

Responding today (Friday) to the Department of Health and Social Care’s adult social care winter plan, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Care workers who self-isolate or take time off ill need reassurances they’ll get full sick pay. Shameful employment practices and low wages are endemic in the sector. These issues need tackling properly once and for all.

“Making safety kit free for all employers should mean there’s no repeat of the fiasco earlier this year. But the sourcing and distribution of personal protective equipment must be managed centrally for it to work.

“The health secretary’s promise of stricter measures to control care home infections is long overdue. The government has had months to act after effectively abandoning vulnerable residents – and with tragic results.

“A winter plan is necessary but it’s short-term and won’t solve the underlying issues. The government must bring in a national care service to banish profit-making and put workers and the people they look after at its heart.”

Notes for editors:
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

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NHS staff say ‘#OneTeam2K’ as they call for a pay rise

Health workers deserve more than applause for their efforts – not least during the coronavirus pandemic.

That’s why, yesterday and today, staff in UNISON branches based in NHS hospitals, ambulance stations and clinics are holding socially distanced events and using social media to call for a proper pay rise.

UNISON’s pay claim, which was delivered to Downing Street last month, would see every NHS employee receive an increase of at least £2,000 by the end of the year.

This early wage increase – equivalent to around £1 an hour extra for all staff – could give ailing local economies a much-needed boost as workers spend the extra money in their pockets on the high street.

With placards demanding “pay rise now” and “One team: 2k”, UNISON members across the UK are taking a stand.

Here’s some of what’s been happening across the regions.

North West

Events taking place across the North West region include protests at hospitals in Blackburn, Prestwich, Burnley, Clitheroe and Pendle. UNISON North West also held a webinar, with speakers including Paula Barker, the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree.

Michelle Tymon is a domestic at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. She is employed by a private contractor rather than directly by the NHS. Michelle said: “During the first few months of the pandemic, I was frequently working in the isolation ward for COVID-19 positive patients.

“We had to wear the full PPE with masks and gowns. Our job is hard enough as it is, but our shifts became even more physically draining. We were tired, hot, and sweaty.

“I really felt for the nurses and doctors who had to work longer shifts than us in the full PPE. We would all finish our shifts feeling exhausted. I often saw front-line nurses in tears outside the hospital.

“All NHS staff deserve a proper pay rise as soon, as possible and health service workers employed by private contractors like me deserve to be included. We keep the NHS running.”

Eastern

A number of events are taking place across the Eastern region including one involving ambulance workers in Bury St Edmunds, a lunchtime activity involving staff at the Basildon and Thurrock Hospital, and another at Southend Hospital. 

UNISON Eastern regional secretary Tim Roberts said: “Investing in the NHS and its incredible staff is a must for the government. It would help the health service tackle the mounting staff shortages that were already causing huge problems even before the virus hit.

“An early pay rise would also be the country’s best way of saying a heartfelt thank you to every single member of the NHS team.”

East Midlands

In the East Midlands, UNISON members are writing to MPs, holding virtual meetings and attending socially-distanced lunch time demonstrations.

London

Events taking place across the London region include letters to MPs and information stalls at various hospitals.

Samad Billoo is an emergency resource dispatcher who has worked for the London Ambulance Service for over 20 years. He is responsible for dispatching ambulances to 999 calls and, in his spare time, volunteers as an emergency responder.

During the pandemic, Sam says the call rate nearly doubled, meaning more work for him and his colleagues. Despite having only finished treatment for cancer in January, he chose to return to work in March – despite being advised to shield – to support his colleagues who were under extreme pressure.

Sam said: “We don’t do our jobs because we want to be clapped, we do it because we want to help members of the public. But we also want to earn a decent living and to be able to support our own families.

“NHS staff have shown amazing dedication throughout this pandemic, sometimes at a risk to their own safety. A proper way to thank us is to give us a fair and decent pay rise that we deserve.”

South East

Activities in the South East included UNISON members at Wexham Park Hospital holding a socially distanced protest (pictured).

UNISON member Mark Inch is a trainee clinical scientist at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. Mark said: “A pay rise for my role would be much appreciated and recognise the sacrifices all NHS staff have made to care for patients throughout the pandemic.

“But for lower-paid staff who daily perform gruelling and dangerous tasks working in live Covid areas, a pay rise now is absolutely essential to help allow them a decent standard of living and to gain the dignity they deserve.”

North East

Socially distanced events taking place across the North East include videos of support from MPs Catherine McKinnell, Liz Twist and Mary Foy, thank you packs being dropped onto wards at Newcastle Hospitals Trust, and actions at North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust and County Durham & Darlington NHS Trust.

UNISON member Ruth works working as a staff nurse at County Durham & Darlington Foundation Trust. She said: “The nursing staff having worked tirelessly during the pandemic are the only group of public sector staff not to receive a pay rise directly linked to working directly with COVID-19 sufferers.

“All members of the public l have spoken to find this grossly unfair. It would mean that my part-time salary would be boosted a little.”

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, UNISON members held photo stunts across Mater Hospital, Ulster Hospital, South West Acute Hospital, Omagh Hospital, Craigavon Hospital and Royal Hospital.

Elsewhere in the UK, UNISON members in Scotland and Wales will begin campaign activity next week.

UNISON Scotland is part of a campaign for an early settlement of next year’s pay deal and the £2k award, and has welcomed an announcement that the Scottish secretary for health has agreed to reopen pay talks.

Health workers know the public backs an early NHS pay rise, and with early autumn bringing rising rates of infection, UNISON believes it is the perfect time for the government to show the high regard in which ministers say they hold NHS staff, and bring forward the pay rise due in April 2021.

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