Articles

Major setbacks for the government on the Trade Union Bill

The Trade Union Bill is now in its report stage in the Lords. We need to keep the pressure on before it returns to the Commons. UNISON members have made a huge difference already – speaking to employers, councillors, MPs, peers and government ministers to tell their stories, making compelling arguments and keeping up the […]

UNISON and Queen Elizabeth Hospital sign apprenticeship agreement

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital at King’s Lynn has signed a formal apprenticeship agreement with the local UNISON branch. The agreement is a declaration of intent between the Trust and trade unions to work together in partnership around apprentices. The agreement sets out the Employer’s processes around designing structured apprentice job roles, apprentice pay and conditions, […]

Trade Union Bill – where are we now?

The Trade Union Bill is now making its way through the House of Lords. As a result of the lobbying of peers a large number of amendments have been put forward for debate. As well as support from Labour peers a large number of Conservatives have also expressed their opposition to parts of the Bill, […]

Winter Fuel Payment and UNISON’s Winter Fuel Grant

You could get between £100 and £300 tax-free to help pay your heating bills if you were born on or before 5 January 1953. This is known as the ‘Winter Fuel Payment’ and is a statutory benefit. Most payments are made automatically between November and December. You should get your money by Christmas. You usually get […]

Trade Union Bill – Week of action

The government’s Trade Union Bill is now in the House of Lords and UNISON is fully backing the TUC-organised #heartunions week of action from 8 to 14 February 2016. The week will celebrate the great work done by union reps and members in workplaces and in society at large. We’re proud of our unions and […]

Do something epic in 2016

Challenge yourself to raise money for the charity that’s exclusively for UNISON members You’ll have great fun, make new friends, visit fantastic places and see some amazing scenery There for You 2016 Pyrenean charity challenge 30 miles in three days walking in the stunning Pyrenees 22 – 26 September 2016 We will be based throughout the event at […]

How to join the campaign against the Trade Union Bill

As part of our campaign to stop the government’s Trade Union Bill the TUC is organising a lobby of parliament on 2 November 2015. We want MPs to hear directly from their constituents that: The Bill threatens the right to strike Employers will be able to break strikes by bringing in agency workers to cover for […]

Why we oppose the Trade Union Bill

This autumn, MPs and peers will discuss the trade union bill – which threatens the basic right to strike. For the first time, employers will be able to break strikes by bringing in agency workers to cover for strikers. This could have big safety implications, lead to worse public services, and will undermine the right […]

November is TUC young workers’ month

This year’s UNISON national delegate conference called on all branches to commit to running at least one activity during November to raise the profile of young workers and young union members. UNISON’s national young members forum has come up with a range of suggested activities that branches can run – but stress that it’s just as […]

A brief guide to the progress of the trade union bill through parliament

The Bill has now had both its first and seconds readings in the House of Commons and now moves onto the committee stage.  So, what does this mean for our campaign against it? At the first reading the title of the Bill was read out. That was it. No speeches and no debate. At the […]

Tell the police in advance before you post on Facebook and Twitter, says the government

What if you had to give two weeks’ warning to the police and your employer every time you wanted to post something important on Twitter or Facebook? The Trade Union bill currently before Parliament suggests unions do just that when they take action. Ridiculous? Yes. But also very scary, as unions may be just the […]

Why student nurses need to be in UNISON – watch the new video

We all know about the need to join a union when starting work but what about when you’re just starting  training for your dream job?  That’s the question UNISON will be putting to thousands of students across the country as they begin courses to become nurses, ODPs and paramedics.  In this new video student members tell […]

UNISON urges the government to show compassion and accept more refugees

Dave Prentis, UNISON’s General Secretary has condemned the government’s insensitive attitude towards the refugee crisis in Europe and called on members to contact their MPs* to put more pressure on ministers to ensure that the UK does everything possible to help the thousands of families fleeing the violence in the Middle East and Africa. Speaking […]

Probation staff to take further strike action over pay

UNISON members working for the NPS (National Probation Service) and CRCs (Community Rehabilitation Companies) will be going out on second strike over pay for three hours on Monday 14 September. The strike will be followed by 2 ½ weeks of action short of strike with members working strictly to their contracted hours. The first UNISON […]

The right to strike is under threat. Here’s a quick video explaining why…

In a nutshell, the government’s Trade Union Bill would mean: employers were able to use agency temps to replace striking workers restrictions on pickets and protests that threaten freedom of speech attacks on union reps in the public sector more unnecessary red tape, tying up unions. Taken together, these will undermine our basic right to […]