Colchester Council signs up to support terminally ill workers

UNISON reps signed a landmark agreement to support terminally ill workers with Colchester Borough Council last night. The TUC’s Dying to Work charter commits the council to giving staff adequate employment protection and support at work following a terminal diagnosis. “This is brilliant news for council workers,” said UNISON branch secretary Georgia Norton after the […]

Southend Council: Overworked and underpaid?

Are you employed by Southend On Sea Borough Council? Do you work regular paid overtime? Have you taken paid annual leave in the past two years? If you have answered yes to these questions then UNISON needs to hear from you, as you may have been underpaid. Workers should receive the same pay while they […]

Still time to register for private contractors seminar

If you’re a UNISON member in the private sector you’re invited to get along to the Private Contractors Seminar in Nottingham in November. It’s a great opportunity to network and participate in a number of workshops; learning new skills and sharing experiences of working in the private sector. If you’d like to find out more […]

Burman House: local MP ‘concerned’ about closure

South West Norfolk MP Liz Truss has expressed her “concern” about the planned closure of Burman House care home near King’s Lynn. The Tory MP was responding to UNISON’s campaign to keep the home, consistently rated Good by Care Quality Commission inspectors, open to the people of Norfolk. Ms Truss (pictured) said: “I am extremely […]

“Sorry’s not good enough” – we need a government inquiry to get to the bottom of the Bright Tribe scandal, says UNISON

The government needs to do more than apologise to the parents of pupils at schools once run by the Bright Tribe academy chain, and launch a full inquiry, says UNISON today. The union repeated its call for a proper investigation into allegations that Bright Tribe, which until recently ran five schools in Suffolk and Essex, misused public […]

Don’t force vulnerable people out of their care home, says UNISON

Norfolk County Council must stop squeezing social care finances so that vulnerable elderly people aren’t forced out of their care home, UNISON says today. Norse Care, an arm’s-length company owned by the Council, has opened a consultation into the potential closure of Burman House near Wisbech in north west Norfolk. UNISON understands that the home, consistently rated […]

Don’t let private patients jump the queue, says UNISON

NHS hospitals must stop letting private patients jump to the front of the queue for treatment in world-class facilities at bargain-basement prices, says a new report from health workers’ union UNISON. The research suggests that stretched NHS trusts are delivering preferential care to people willing and able to pay for healthcare – diverting staff and […]

Basildon Hospital cleaners celebrate pay victory

Hospital cleaners in Basildon are celebrating today (Thursday) after winning their battle for a pay rise, with the help of their union UNISON. The low-paid domestic staff at Basildon University Hospital had been on the minimum wage after being transferred back into the NHS from private contractor OCS two years ago. But following pressure from UNISON, the […]

UNISON calls for new government inquiry into academy chain accused of misusing public funds

Monday 10 September 2018 For immediate use   UNISON calls for new government inquiry into academy chain accused of misusing public funds The government must launch a fresh inquiry into Bright Tribe following new allegations that the troubled multi-academy trust has misused public money, says UNISON today (Monday). It follows revelations set to be broadcast […]

Home ownership little more than a pipe dream for public sector workers in the East of England, says UNISON

7 September 2018 Embargo: 00.01hrs Sunday 9 September 2018 Home ownership little more than a pipe dream for public sector workers in the East of England, says UNISON Owning a home has become virtually impossible for many public sector workers in the East of England, according to research published today (Sunday) by UNISON. Getting a deposit together […]

Whatever happened to the STPs?

UNISON update on Sustainability and Transformation Plans and Partnerships in the east of England This report by John Lister was commissioned by UNISON to give members and representatives a realistic analysis of the situation in each STP area and to be able to offer a positive but informed response to genuine proposals for partnership and collaboration […]

Bedfordshire Resource Centre opens its doors

UNISON Bedfordshire Resource Centre officially opened its doors today. Four UNISON branches – Bedfordshire Health, Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Central Bedfordshire Local Government and Bedfordshire Police – have pooled their resources in a unique venture to make sure members are best represented and supported. Local MP Mohammad Yasin joined UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis to […]

Suffolk Constabulary reveal plans to axe over half of PCSOs

Preventing compulsory redundancies will be a priority Plans to axe more than half of Suffolk’s police community support officers (PCSOs) would put public safety at risk UNISON has told Suffolk Constabulary. The proposed cuts would see a 78% reduction in the number of PCSOs in the county since 2010. The number of PCSO posts will […]

Activists Summer School 13 – 17 August 2018

                This year’s summer school will be held at the Cambridge Professional Development Centre and with 13 courses to chose from there’s something for everyone. You can pick and mix from the courses being run during the week as some last one, two or three days. And you […]

Want to get back into learning? Live in or near Hertfordshire? We can help

Women’s Lives is a course designed for women who may have been away from learning for some time.   It will help you gain the skills and confidence to study, learn or do something new. It is particularly suitable for women who have been out of education for a long time and have had few […]