Articles

An image purporting to show Rishi Sunak clapping in a red Kia along Downing Street

UNISON welcomes Chancellor’s new clap-fuelled cars

UNISON has welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to provide key workers with access to clap-fuelled cars to beat rising fuel prices. The chancellor said that the new automobiles, which will run on claps and good will alone, will be made available to all NHS staff and workers in social care. Mr Sunak said: “We’re delighted […]

A Williams Morris piece for the Democratic Federation with the words 'Educate, agitate, organise'

The old slogan Educate! Agitate! Organise! is as relevant as ever

We meet Claire Wormald, chair of the the regional education and training committee and branch secretary of Southend on Sea Borough Council UNISON, on full-time release from her role as a youth worker. “Youth workers in short are educators,” says Claire, “encouraging critical thinking to challenge the myths sold by the ruling class, such as […]

Regional UNISON leaders Rad, Tim and Becky show their support for the charter

Employers across the region make the commitment to wipe out racial discrimination

On the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, regional secretary Tim Roberts surveys how far our Anti-Racism Charter in the short time since its launch

Three people holding copies of the Anti-Racism Charter walk over a rainbow zebra crossing outside Hellesdon Hospital

Norfolk NHS trusts pledge support to tackle racism

More than 10,000 NHS staff in Norfolk are now covered by a new charter aimed at tackling racism in the public sector, trade union UNISON announces on UN Anti-Racism Day today. The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C) and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS […]

Tom Abell and Glenn Carrington sit down to sign the charter

East of England Ambulance Service signs up to anti-racism pledge

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is the first NHS Trust to have signed up to UNISON’s new Anti-Racism Charter which aims to help tackle racism in the public sector. The charter commits organisations and their leaders to a raft of pledges designed to prevent all forms of conscious or unconscious racial bias. This […]

Amanda and Winstonhold the signed charter

First employers sign up to new anti-racism charter

The NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across Suffolk and north east Essex have become the first in the country to sign up to UNISON’s anti-racism charter. The pledge ensures, within the first 12 months, the organisation has implemented a clear and visible race equality policy, a programme of anti-racism initiatives and actions and ensures there […]

A group of care workers standing outside parliament

Norfolk care workers warn MPs that social care is ‘close to collapse’

Norfolk care staff are on their way to Parliament today to warn MPs that the care system is “close to collapse.” Care workers’ union UNISON has organised the lobby to push for action following decades of underfunding and a steady erosion of pay and conditions that have been laid bare by the pandemic. The union […]

A picture of Debbie

Women’s fight is far from over

We speak to Debbie Rowden, one of the newer members of UNISON Eastern women’s committee, for International Women’s Day

UNISON Eastern launches new equality calendar

We’re proud to present our new equality calendar! The interactive calendar will help UNISON Eastern members and activists keep on top of the big events in the union as well as national and international equalities dates. The calendar will be updated regularly so check back for the latest and please get in touch if you’ve […]

Norwich Hearts Unions

Norwich City Hall is showing its love for trade unions this week with a ceremony to launch Heart Unions week in the Lord Mayor’s Chamber. Lord Mayor Kevin Maguire welcomed UNISON members and officials to his parlour alongside City Council leader Alan Waters. Mr Maguire said: I’m proud to welcome Norwich City UNISON into my […]

Remembering veteran Norfolk activist Mark Broughton

UNISON Eastern is sorry to hear of the death of veteran activist Mark Broughton after a short illness last month at the age of 57. Born and bred in Sheringham, Norfolk, Mark worked practically all his adult life in local government, the largest chunk of it at Breckland District Council where he served as UNISON […]

Anti-racist public services are good for Black workers and society

UNISON Eastern Black members group co-chairs Firdy Finch and Brian Pereira and regional secretary Tim Roberts report on the launch of UNISON Eastern’s new Anti-Racism Charter

Glenn sits in an ambulance

A bumper year for our ambulance branch

2021 was a tricky time for recruiting and many branches across the union struggled to maintain the growth of the last few years. But our East of England Ambulance Service branch managed a bumper year, with a net gain of more than 150 members over 2021. Branch chair Glenn Carrington (pictured) explained how the groundwork […]

Suffolk care workers push for a living wage

The campaign for justice for care workers is one of UNISON’s top priorities, general secretary Christina McAnea told a Suffolk County branch public meeting on Monday evening. She was speaking alongside Kezia Pugh of the Living Wage Foundation, Labour Councillor Sandy Martin and frontline care workers Jacqui, Ewan and Amanda as part of the You […]

Winter Fuel Grant 2022 launches

UNISON members can now apply for up to £200 towards their spiralling winter fuel bills. There For You’s Winter Fuel Grant, which has helped thousands of low-paid public service workers cope with the heavy costs of heating their homes over the years, reopens today. UNISON members on low income and with limited savings can apply. […]