Council workers block bid to drive down conditions

UNISON has blocked a bid to drive down workers’ mileage claims at Suffolk County Council. The new policy took money from some of the council’s lowest-paid staff, said UNISON. Staff complained to their reps that the council was building a fictional commute in to their mileage allowance not allowing workers to claim until they had […]

People on a demonstration

By standing together we can thaw the government’s pay freeze

Across the public sector, UNISON is fighting the unwelcome return of austerity, says Tim Roberts in his latest blog

Police community support officers seen from behind

Police staff urged to reject government pay freeze

Eastern police staff are being urged to reject a government pay freeze. The government is offering most police staff 0%, with a rise of £250 for those on less than £24,000. Civilian staff union UNISON branded the offer “insulting,” saying it fails to reward staff for their work during the pandemic or make up for […]

‘Sticking plaster’ soldiers drafted in to ambulance service

Military personnel have been drafted into the east of England to ease the pressure on stretched ambulance crews. Around two dozen army staff are taking on patient transport duties in Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire so that drivers can help deal with surging 999 calls. UNISON Eastern regional secretary Tim Roberts said: “The East of England […]

Health and safety matters

Our August 2021 health and safety newsletter is out now! Inside: Working from home, Flexible working, Reasonable adjustments, Ill-health retirement and local government pensions, Rep support.

Summer 2021 UNISON Eastern Labour Link update

UNISON Labour Link has been hard at work during the lockdown. Read about it in our latest Eastern region update. Inside: Local elections 2021, Norfolk by-election, Who’s who, National Labour Link forum, NHS pay bus.

UNISON launches consultation over NHS rise that meets neither expectations nor real living wage

The government has failed to honour its own ‘levelling up’ promises with the disappointing 3% pay rise for NHS workers in England, says UNISON. The award announced last week doesn’t meet the real living wage of £9.50 per hour for the lowest paid health service workers and widens the gap between those at the top […]

MP and mayor join University of East Anglia staff rallying against 0% pay offer

Norwich South MP Clive Lewis and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Dr Nik Johnson are joining University of East Anglia staff rallying this evening against an “insulting” 0% pay offer for 2020. Professional services staff are currently balloting over industrial action after the national Universities and Colleges Employers Association imposed a 0% ‘rise’ at the end […]

A person holds trans and rainbow flags at a Pride march

Trans workers taking on prejudice with UNISON

Trans people still face a lot of discrimination in the workplace, says Tim Roberts in his latest blog. But with unions by their side, we can take on hate

Four people hold up signs reading 'Vote Yes'

University of Bedfordshire staff rally against 0% pay offer

University of Bedfordshire staff rallied in Luton today over an “insulting” 0% pay offer for 2020. Professional services staff are currently balloting over industrial action after the national Universities and Colleges Employers Association imposed a 0% ‘rise’ at the end of much-delayed talks on the August 2020 pay award. Universities union UNISON held a protest […]

NHS heroes snubbed by Suffolk MPs on pay

NHS workers in Suffolk are disappointed and disgusted after MPs ignored their requests to meet over NHS pay, UNISON says today. Health workers wrote to their representatives to discuss their urgent need for a pay rise while the government is dragging its feet. Staff were due a rise on April 1 but ministers have yet […]

People gather round a stall next to a bus supporting a pay rise for NHS staff

On the road for NHS pay

Regional secretary Tim Roberts reports back from UNISON Eastern pay battle bus in his latest blog

Thurrock Council mustn’t be left to wither on the vine

Thurrock mustn’t be left to wither on the vine, UNISON says today after plans to slash 500 jobs were announced. The Tory-run council is looking to make £34m worth of savings to deal with a covid-related black hole compounded by changes to borrowing rules. UNISON Eastern regional organiser Leon Kilbourn said: “These cuts will be […]

NHS pay bus starts tour of Eastern region

An NHS pay bus tour of the East of England gets under way today departing from Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. NHS workers’ union UNISON has commissioned the open-top bus to visit hospitals across the East of England, visiting Chelmsford and Braintree today (Wednesday), returning to Essex for its final stop in Colchester on 22 July. […]

Council staff driven to despair by mileage change

Suffolk County Council workers rallied outside Endeavour House today for a UNISON protest against a new mileage policy that will take money from some of the lowest paid staff. Local Labour councillors and representatives of Ipswich TUC and Unite braved the wind and rain to join the demonstration outside Suffolk County Council HQ. Protesters held […]