Closing Ipswich’s Tourist Information Centre would send the message that the town is “closed for business,” UNISON warns today. Ipswich Borough Council’s executive will consider a report tomorrow, giving the chief operating officer permission to close the centre, and lay off six workers, after a consultation. The Council is facing a £10m deficit because of […]
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We talk to trainee nursing associate Lizz Roberts about working though the pandemic
UNISON activist Stuart Charlesworth talks Pride in the pandemic
Minor changes to Suffolk County Council’s shake-up of children’s services won’t stop the huge damage they will cause to families, UNISON warns today. Previous redesign documents outlined cuts at 22 of Suffolk’s remaining 38 children’s centres, with 11 down to close completely. But in Cabinet papers published today, the Council says it will make cuts at 21 […]
Acting regional secretary Tim Roberts urges public sector workers to grab this chance to shape the new normal
Suffolk’s children’s centres are vital for hundreds of families, providing valuable services for children and parents. But the Council wants to cut services at 22 of the remaining 38 centres. Eleven will have their hours cut while the other 11 will shut completely. UNISON Eastern encourages everyone in the county to write to their MP […]
We’re pleased to say UNISON is now a partner in the /together coalition. This weekend the coalition will unite the country to celebrate the NHS birthday and commemorate all those who have died from the coronavirus. The group unites a wide range of supporters who intend to heal divisions and reconnect society over the course of the […]
UNISON has launched s new vision for a national social care service that will do away with the weak, fragmented system exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. In Care After Covid: A Vision for Social Care, the union lays out the case for a national system that could properly deal with the day-to-day challenges of caring […]
It’s not just doctors and nurses who make up the NHS. It take a whole team to keep the health service going. And while cleaners, caterers and porters are visible and getting thanks, many seem to forget how vital administrators are to the NHS family. UNISON Eastern spoke to Lily Martin, an admin worker in Addenbrooke’s Patient […]
Acting regional secretary Tim Roberts turns to the Black Lives Matter movement in his latest blog
Plans for £22m of cuts and hundreds of job losses at Luton Borough Council will ‘heap misery’ on the town, UNISON warns today. The Council faces a £50m shortfall because of the Covid-19 pandemic, mainly because of its reliance on income from the airport. The £11.2m from central Government falls well short of what’s needed […]
UNISON Eastern has been picked to trial a brand new online version of the recertification course. The course is an integral part of UNISON’s activist education arsenal, with all reps expected to undergo recertification every five years to make sure our activists keep up to date with legal changes and organising priorities. It’s designed for […]
To mark Adult Learners Week, we speak to James Young about training to be a rep during the Covid-19 pandemic. Having joined UNISON nearly three decades ago, James decided to take the plunge a few months ago and become a rep. “I’ve always believed UNISON was a good organisation to be part of, one with shared goals […]
A government scheme exempting overseas workers from visa fees for one year should be extended to all care staff and NHS employees, says UNISON today. The union is backing an amendment brought by MP Yvette Cooper to the Immigration Bill that would ensure many more staff – such as social care workers, hospital cleaners, healthcare assistants and porters […]
Rushed government reopening plans have led to guidelines on ‘safe’ class sizes being ignored by some schools in the East of England, according to a survey published by UNISON today. Nearly a quarter (23%) of support staff say primary schools have operated class sizes bigger than the 15 pupils per group maximum recommended to maintain social distancing. The data was compiled from the responses of […]