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 […]
Covid-19
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Labour MPs are lining up behind UNISON Eastern’s Stop the Spread pledge. It calls on councils to commit to an achievable set of standards to protect care workers and service-users during the Covid 19 pandemic. They include priority testing for social care workers carried out in work time and with transport paid, suitable personal protective […]
UNISON Eastern members facing financial hardship because of Covid-19 are being encouraged to apply for special grants to help them get by. UNISON’s There For You charity has set up a £250,000 fund to help members get through these difficult times. The centrally administered fund means UNISON members can quickly access grants of £250 if […]
In the first of a series of blogs during the Covid-19 crisis, UNISON Eastern acting regional secretary Tim Roberts welcomes 5,000 new members to the region. Despite all the tribulations of the last few weeks, there have been a few positives emerge. The public has rediscovered an appreciation for our public services, most clearly expressed […]
UNISON is urging councils to sign up to a “life-saving” pledge protecting care workers. The union has called on all county councils and unitary authorities across the east of England to commit to a set of minimum standards that will help protect care workers and service-users against the spread of coronavirus. They include priority testing […]
UNISON Eastern is sorry to learn of the death of Linden Fairman, a member at Anglian Water, who died from Covid 19 earlier this month. Colleague Val Neech saluted the memory of “a wonderful friend and scientist.” Linden first worked for Anglian Water at Cotton ValleyWRC in the late 1980s, leaving in the late ’90s […]
New Public Health England guidelines have watered down the level of protection needed for front line health staff battling the Covid-19 epidemic. Staff will be told they can now use plastic aprons rather than full-length gowns, when there are shortages. UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “These are absolute worst case scenario measures, which staff […]
UNISON campaigning has pushed private ambulance firms providing NHS services to properly pay self-isolating staff. The union believes all NHS staff, whether working for contractors or directly employed, should enjoy the same terms and conditions, but reps were dismayed to learn that some firms were still only paying statutory sick pay to staff self-isolating because […]
Trade unionists at Bedford Borough Council have donated hand sanitiser, disposable gloves and other personal protective equipment to defend front-line workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Bedford Borough UNISON branch bought the equipment to support staff still required to meet people face to face, such as carers, social workers and those in the 24/7 HUB, […]
A trade union rep returning to the front lines of the NHS to join the battle against Covid-19 today praised West Suffolk Hospital’s response to the pandemic. UNISON Suffolk Health branch secretary Paul Pearson is returning to his role as an operating department practitioner in theatres and critical care, helping patients with Covid-19 and those going through emergency surgery […]
Final year nursing students will be safely supported if they want to join the fight against coronavirus, thanks to UNISON negotiators. The government announced plans last week to allow nursing students to spend the final six months of their course on clinical placement. UNISON quickly surveyed hundreds of students to get their views. Most said […]