University staff including cleaners, security guards and administrative workers are facing a perfect storm of pressures that are leaving them out of pocket, and feeling increasingly anxious, a UNISON survey published this week has found. More than 160 employees in the east of England completed the union’s annual higher education survey, which exposed concerns about pay, working hours and […]
Covid-19
Cambridge nurse Victor Tapah shares his story on the front lines against Covid-19
Despite the gradual return to normal, Covid-19 is still a real and present danger in care homes. Staff have been deeply affected by the virus and will continue to face significant challenges as the rest of the country opens back up. The government has announced a £600m infection control fund to help stop the spread […]
It’s not just in the NHS or local councils that UNISON members have been keeping our public services above water during the pandemic. In police forces across the UK, police community support officers (PCSOs), control room staff, scene of crime officers and many other support workers are proud to be in UNISON. Carol Johnson is one of […]
We talk to UNISON Environment Agency East Anglia chair Charan Sekhon about his work with SEVA Trust
We talk to trainee nursing associate Lizz Roberts about working though the pandemic
Acting regional secretary Tim Roberts urges public sector workers to grab this chance to shape the new normal
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]