Schools across the Eastern region have been celebrating their support staff as part of UNISON’s Stars in Our Schools Day on 29 November. The day is held to celebrate the unsung heroes of our schools: caterers, admin staff, finance officers, teaching assistants, librarians, ICT technicians, parent support advisers and other non-teaching staff. In Thurrock, pupils, parents […]
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Are you on a low income? Help is on hand. There for You has set up a limited fund to help UNISON members. If your net income is £18,000 or less you may be eligible to receive a grant of £40. To apply and download the application form , visit There For You or simply […]
The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has become the first in the country to sign a UNISON pledge supporting healthcare students on clinical placements. UNISON national nursing officer Stuart Tuckwood and ESNEFT chief executive Nick Hulme signed the pledge at Colchester Hospital on Wednesday. UNISON polling has shown that across the county, […]
Nearly half of NHS workers in the east of England are missing out on family birthdays and anniversaries because they are unable to leave work on time, UNISON research reveals today. UNISON polled more than 1,200 NHS workers, including both clinical and non-clinical staff, across the east of England* to find out how staff shortages […]
UNISON Eastern is deeply saddened to learn of the recent sudden deaths of three colleagues at the East of England Ambulance Service and we send condolences to the families and friends of those who died. We are working with the Trust to improve mental health support for ambulance staff and a dedicated helpline with trauma […]
Advanced paramedics at the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) will enjoy a pay rise worth thousands of pounds thanks to the hard work of local UNISON reps. They will move up a band in the pay scales following an agreement with the Trust which also means they’ll be able to reach the top […]
South Cambridgeshire District Council staff celebrated a positive step forward with their employer today as new chief executive Liz Watts signed a recognition deal with UNISON. The Council and UNISON have enjoyed positive relations for a number of years. The new agreement solidifies their partnership, clearly laying out the areas in which UNISON can collectively […]
Apprenticeship restrictions mean millions of pounds of Eastern NHS funds going to waste, says UNISON
More than £17m is lying unused by cash-strapped health trusts in the east of England because of restrictions in the government’s apprenticeship levy scheme, says UNISON today. New figures based on freedom of information (FoI) requests by the union, reveal three quarters (75%) of the money hasn’t been used, with funds now starting to be clawed back […]
Catering staff at the University of East Anglia have won a victory over a “blatantly unfair” clocking on system. Workers were having 15 minutes of their wages docked if they clocked in three minutes late or out three minutes early, despite not receiving any payment if they worker over their time. UNISON was spurred to […]
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis opened the Eastern region’s new office and trade union education office in Bury St Edmunds on Thursday. He unveiled a plaque officially opening Higdon House, named in honour of the two socialist school teachers sacked from Burston’s village school in 1914 for trying to improve conditions for the children in […]
Film director Mike Leigh’s biting portrayal of a bloody landmark in Britain’s struggle for democracy will come to Norwich on Monday (30 September). The Norfolk County branch of trade union UNISON has organised a screening of Peterloo at Norwich Arts Centre. It tells the story of the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, when mounted troops armed […]
University support staff across the Eastern region are taking part in a national ballot on strike action over higher education pay involving 30,000 workers across the UK. Staff from the world-famous University of Cambridge started voting on strikes last week, along with their colleagues from the universities of Bedfordshire, Essex, East Anglia, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Anglia […]
UNISON Eastern held another successful menopause workshop last week, with around a dozen women from Southend Borough Council taking part. They went to along to find out about and share experiences of the menopause as well as empower themselves to tackle the taboo subject inside and outside of work. UNISON Southend Borough Council branch secretary […]
Often trapped by the challenges of low pay, in precarious, insecure jobs, struggling with rising housing costs, or just finding it difficult to get onto the next rung of the career ladder, young workers need trade unions. And trade unions need young workers — they are the here and now of our movement. UNISON places […]
Many cleaners at Luton & Dunstable Hospital are more than £1,000 a year worse off than their colleagues doing the same job because of a “confusing and demoralising” three-tier workforce created by outsourcer Engie, UNISON warns today. UNISON, the union representing workers at Luton & Dunstable Hospital, is calling on the Trust not to renew […]