UNISON the public service union

Schools Minister Confirms New Pay Body at UNISON Seminar

(13/05/2008) Speaking at the UNISON Schools Support Seminar in London today, Jim Knight, Schools Minister, confirmed that a new national negotiating body for school staff will be in place by September.

Unions Warn Long Pay Dispute Will Harm OFSTED Reforms

(13/05/2008) UNISON and PCS have today written to the Children’s Schools and Families Select Committee warning that an extended dispute over pay will affect planned Ofsted reforms.

Unions Set Date For OFSTED Strike

(12/05/2008) Ofsted inspections across England will be hit by strike action on May 16, as 1000 staff walk out in a dispute over pay, UNISON and PCS announced today.

UNISON Condemns Home Office Decision in Case of NHS Negligence Widower

(09/05/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, has today (9 May) condemned the Home Office’s decision to force Arnel Cabrera out of the country.

Darzi Interim Report – UNISON Reaction

(09/05/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, today welcomed the 5 pledges set out in Lord Darzi’s interim report “Leading Local Change” as a helpful blueprint for handling change in the NHS.

For Safety's Sake - Keep Meat Inspection Public

(07/05/2008) UNISON, the union for meat hygiene inspectors, is today (7 May) calling on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to resist calls to privatise meat inspection for safety’s sake. The Meat Inspection Service currently protects consumers in England, Scotland and Wales and the decision over its fate is due out later today.

Put a Stop to Exploitation Now Says UNISON Chief

(07/05/2008) “Bosses must not be allowed to get away with what can only be described as 19th century practices” said UNISON chief Dave Prentis today.

Thames Lockhouse Review Locks Staff Out of Homes

(06/05/2008) More than twenty lock keepers and their families face losing their homes following a swingeing review by the Environment Agency (EA), warned UNISON, the UK’s largest public services union, today.

FE UNIONS REJECT PAY OFFER

(02/05/2008) The six further education unions representing 250,000 members have today rejected the employers (Association of Colleges) pay offer of 2.5%.

UNISON Response to Taxpayers Alliance Report

(28/04/2008) Commenting on the Taxpayers Alliance report, Heather Wakefield UNISON Head of Local Government, said: “It would be impossible to make the savings the Taxpayers Alliance report calls for without pushing retired workers into poverty and onto means tested benefits by cutting pensions. The public would suffer further if publicity materials, informing them of the services they are entitled to use, were cut.

UNISON Urges MPs to Officially Recognise Workers Memorial Day

(28/04/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector trade union, has written to all MPs calling for recognition of Workers Memorial Day (on 28 April each year) as a national day of remembrance. The day commemorates those who have died, been seriously injured, or made seriously ill by their work. It also highlights the right all workers should have to a safe and healthy workplace.

64% of Lowest Paid College Workers Cheated on Pay – UNISON Survey Reveals

(25/04/2008) Statistics showing that 64% of England’s FE colleges have not implemented a £500 minimum pay increase are ‘nothing short of a disgrace’, UNISON’s General Secretary Dave Prentis said today (Friday 25 April). Speaking at a seminar in Newcastle, the General Secretary of the UK’s largest public sector trade union called on colleges to honour the deal put in place to protect the lowest paid staff.

UNISON Calls for Halt to Dangerous Drive to End On-Site Hospital Sterilisation

(24/04/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, is today calling for a halt to a dangerous drive to end in-house sterilisation of hospital operating theatre equipment.

UNISON Launches Blueprint for Round the Clock Hospital Cleaning

(14/04/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union, is today calling for safe minimum staffing levels to be set for hospital cleaning, as an essential part of the fight against killer superbugs such as MRSA and C Difficile. The union is warning that to ensure hospitals are kept clean and infection free they need to employ 2 cleaners per shift for every 30 patients, from 8am to 9pm.

Trusts Must Refocus Attention On Their Patients

(09/04/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, is today calling on Trusts to refocus on delivering for patients, following the release of the latest Healthcare Commission Staff Survey. The survey found that less than half (46%) of staff believed that the care of patients was their Trust’s top priority.

UNISON Recommends Members Reject Local Government Pay Offer

(09/04/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, is to recommend its 850,000 members in local government reject the 2.45% pay offer in a major consultation exercise. The consultation will be completed by the 7th of May.

Unison Calls For Register Of Assaults Against Local Government Workers

(08/04/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union is today (April 8) calling for a national system to register attacks on local government workers. The call comes after the tragic death of a care home worker in Lancashire.

UNISON Urges Corporate Killing Act to be Given More Teeth

(07/04/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, today (April 7) called for the corporate manslaughter act to be given more teeth to protect workers. Legislation to cut the number of deaths at work came into effect today, but should go further to allow imprisonment of irresponsible employers says UNISON.

UNISON to Consult on Pay Deal Worth 8% Over Three Years

(07/04/2008) UNISON, the largest public sector union, will consult its members working in the National Health Service over a proposed pay deal worth 8% over the next three years. It includes a re-opener clause that will allow the pay increases in years two and three to be reviewed if inflation is higher than expected.

Higher Education Conference Vows To Stamp Out Exploitation

(04/04/2008) UNISON higher education conference delegates yesterday (3 April) voted overwhelmingly to end exploitation of contract workers in higher education. Cleaning, catering and security services in higher education are increasing provided by contractors who cut corners on terms and conditions.

Unison Warns Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) Fee Could Spark a Recruitment Crisis

(04/04/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, today (2 April) warned of a recruitment crisis following the announcement on the new childcare workers registration fee. The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is a single agency that will check everyone who works or volunteers with children and vulnerable adults.

Strike Threat to OFSTED Inspections

(03/04/2008) Ofsted inspections across England could be hit by strike action in a dispute over pay, UNISON and PCS warned today (3 April). 1,000 inspectors, administrative staff and managers are planning to ballot for strike action after pay talks broke down. Ofsted has imposed a below inflation pay settlement along with a deeply unfair new structure, which the unions rejected.

Local Government Pay Offer a “Disappointment”

(02/04/2008) Unions representing more than a million local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, today expressed disappointment at a revised pay offer of 2.45% for the majority of staff, with 3% for those on the bottom 3 points.

Voucher Scheme a Body Blow to NHS

(31/03/2008) UNISON, the UK’s largest health union, today labelled plans to pilot vouchers for patients as a serious attack on universal health care. Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said:

UNISON Report on Sanitation Proves Developing World Deaths Are Preventable

(20/03/2008) Radical action is urgently needed to prevent hundreds of thousands of people dying needlessly from cholera and diarrhoea in the developing world - a report by UNISON will reveal today. The report, published to coincide with World Water Day (March 22nd), calls on the Government and the international community to step up and end this injustice.

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