Sam Hemraj talks to us about working through the crisis as a healthcare assistant
News
More than four in five children’s centre staff believe that Suffolk County Council’s proposed redesign of services will make things worse for families, a UNISON survey released today shows. The survey of centre staff showed that 83% thought the redesign, which involves cuts at 22 of Suffolk’s remaining 38 children’s centres, would negatively affect services, […]
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 there’s been an outpouring of generosity shown towards the NHS and its staff from members of the public, businesses and retailers. Hospitals have been flooded with donations for staff and shops and supermarkets have offered concessions to NHS staff and other key workers. However, UNISON’s Norfolk Community Health branch discovered […]
With many schools across the UK reopening classrooms this week, UNISON Eastern acting regional secretary talked to activists in Thurrock about going back to school for his latest blog post. The government’s rush to reopen classrooms has been the main front in UNISON’s battle against coronavirus in recent weeks. Many schools have encouraged extra students […]
The wheels of justice are still turning throughout the coronavirus pandemic – and they’re turning faster than ever in the probation service. Elisa Vasquez-Walters was one of the many UNISON probation workers putting the pedal to the metal to make the government’s early release scheme — aimed at stopping prisons becoming Covid-19 hotspots — a success. […]
Slashing £22m from Luton Council’s budget would be ‘catastrophic’ for the town, UNISON warns today. Councils across the UK face the prospect of huge deficits because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Luton has been particularly hard hit due to its reliance on revenues from the airport. It predicts a yearly loss of at least £49m because […]
UNISON Eastern has welcomed the Fire Brigades Union Eastern Region’s backing for education workers opposing the reopening of schools. Nine unions representing teachers, support staff and heads issued a joint statement this month urging the government not to push on with increasing pupil numbers until it is safe to do so. In a letter to local […]
Continuing his blogs during the Covid-19 crisis, UNISON Eastern acting regional secretary Tim Roberts looks at the trade union movement’s renewed emphasis on safety. Safety at work has been always been central to trade unionism. Since the birthing throes of the modern trade union movement in the early 19th century, organised workers have sought to […]
Suffolk County Council is rushing through its controversial shake-up of children’s centres without proper public scrutiny under cover of the coronavirus crisis, UNISON warns today. UNISON has written to Mary Evans, cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills, to raise concerns about the decision to continue with plans to cut services at more than half […]
We sometimes forget how important bin collections are to our national health. Without regular collections we’d see a huge increase in vermin and disease. It’s not something we want at the best of times, but with our NHS under unprecedented pressures, many have rediscovered the importance of our refuse collectors. Mark Pavitt is one of […]
UNISON doesn’t just provide strength and protection at work. UNISON Living offers members great deals on insurance, travel, shopping and much more. Like everyone else, our partners providing these services have been forced to change the way they operate because of the Covid-19 pandemic. But they’re still committed to providing the best service possible to […]
Stevenage Borough Council is reportedly on the brink of effectively declaring bankruptcy, according to reports today. The council is considering issuing a section 114 notice, which would mean severe cuts to balance its books, gutting vital local services and putting staff on the dole. UNISON Eastern regional organiser Nalin Cooke warned it would be “disastrous […]
Social workers are an essential, if often overlooked, part of the health service. Tasked with making sure people have a safe place and enough support once they leave hospital, the pressure is on as health trusts try to keep every bed possible available for Covid-19. UNISON Eastern spoke to Jess Carrington, a hospital social worker […]
Eastern ambulance staff will have greater support and training alongside earlier intervention to protect their mental health as part of a new action plan announced this week. The action plan follows an independent investigation into the deaths of three East of England Ambulance Service Trust employees in a short space of time last November. Independent […]
If you’ve been driving to work through the Essex countryside, reassured that even in these uncertain times, the roadsides still look prim and proper, you could have Richard Bond to thank. He’s a idverde worker, driving a mower on the country routes in Colchester Borough, working with his team on the front line through Covid-19, as normal […]