NHS Logistics Decision Could Lead to Strikes– Warns UNISON

(30/03/2006) UNISON, the UK’s largest health union, has condemned today’s decision by the Department of Health to press ahead with privatising NHS Logistics as “risky and premature”.

The Long Wait is Over for Nurses and Health Professionals Pay

(30/03/2006) “Disappointing” is the verdict from UNISON, the UK’s largest health union, on the 2.5% pay increase announced today for nurses, midwives, paramedics and other health professionals, after weeks of delays by the Department of Health. However the union welcomed the Government’s decision to implement in full the Pay Review Body’s (PRB) recommendation.

UNISON Escalates Strike Action in Response to Government Provocation in Pensions Dispute

(30/03/2006) UNISON today condemned the Deputy Prime Minister’s “provocative” action in pressing ahead with changes to local government pensions, despite the trade unions putting forward proposals yesterday to resolve the dispute

Unions Reject Inadequate Pay Offer for University Staff but Continue To Negotiate

(29/03/2006) UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today announced that the unions representing professional, technical administrative and ancillary staff (PTAAS) in universities* have rejected an offer of 6% over two years as inadequate.

Trainee Midwives Win Latest Court Battle

(29/03/2006) UNISON, the UK's largest health union, described today's victory for trainee midwives in the High Court as “a breakthrough for trainee health workers across the country”.

More Than One Million Workers Support Pensions Strike

(28/03/2006) UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis today said that reports from around the country show that more than a million workers have turned out to support local government workers in their fight to keep their pension rights.

Two Thirds of Schools Close Across UK to Support Pensions Strike

(28/03/2006) About 17,500 schools (two thirds) of all schools in the UK closed today, UNISON, the UK’s largest union, said.

UNISON Looks at Next Steps for Pensions Strike Action

(28/03/2006) UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis tonight said: "More than one million workers caught the LGA and employers on the hop today.

UNISON Accuses Local Government Employers of Misleading Pensions Claims

(27/03/2006) UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis this afternoon condemned the Local Government Association for deliberately trying to mislead the public over supposed costs to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

ISTC's Draining Money and Staff From Our NHS

(23/03/2006) “Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTC's) are a very real threat to the NHS, draining it of billions of pounds of taxpayers' money and could threaten its ability to respond to emergencies”. This is the stark warning that UNISON, the UK's largest health union, will deliver to the ISTC Select Committee in its oral evidence today (23 March).

Brown's Budget Builds for the Future

(22/03/2006) UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today welcomed the focus of the Chancellor’s budget on building for a better future, with the emphasis on education, equality and benefits for children.

Public Sector Pay and the Budget – UNISON Reaction

(22/03/2006) UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today said that decent pay is the key to providing decent public services and any attempts by the Chancellor to keep pay down would be counterproductive.

Minimum Wage Rise - UNISON Reaction

(21/03/2006) UNISON, the UK's largest union, today welcomed the Government's decision to “do the right thing” and raise the minimum wage from £5.05 to £5.35 from October 2006.

UNISON Calls on Chancellor to Hold Firm and Invest for the Future

(20/03/2006) UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is today calling on Gordon Brown to hold firm to his spending and investment plans up to 2008, or risk jeopardising continued improvements to vital public services.

Axe To Fall on More NHS Staff

(17/03/2006) Nurses and call handling staff at NHS Direct, the patient advice line, are in line to become the latest victims of NHS deficits said UNISON, the UK's largest health union today.

Put Nurses and Health Professionals Out of Their Misery Says UNISON

(16/03/2006) UNISON, the UK's largest health union, today called on the Government to come clean and reveal the findings of the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB), which recommends pay awards for the country's nurses, midwives, paramedics and other health professionals.

Give Local People Choice on Academies

(15/03/2006) “Local authorities are being forced to include the establishment of an academy in their plans for schools whether they and the local community want it or not” warned UNISON, the UK's largest union.

Massive Strike Day Looming Over Cuts to Local Government Pensions

(15/03/2006) Over one million of the country’s most essential public sector workers will go on strike on 28 March to protest at unfair and unjust cuts to local government pensions, the Joint Union Strike Team (JUST) announced today. The strike is planned because the Government refuses to give protection for existing members of their pension scheme.

Stop the Fog of Reform

(08/03/2006) “We believe the true level of NHS debt is worse than we are being led to believe. Nigel Crisp was one of the chief architects of privatisation in the NHS and he is heading for the Lords while nurses and other health staff head towards redundancy.

UNISON Celebrates Workplace Learning Agenda

(07/03/2006) Phil Hope, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills and UNISON’s General Secretary Dave Prentis will address more than 300 UNISON learning representatives and branch activists in London today (Tuesday 7 March).  

Unfair Pension Proposals Means Blair Stays Until 65, Brown Goes Early

(06/03/2006) If Tony Blair were a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), his birthday of 6 May 1953 means he would not be able to retire at 60 with a full pension – by just 35 days – and would have to work an extra five years or retire with less money.

Union Announces Judicial Review Into Local Government Pensions

(03/03/2006) UNISON, the UK's largest union, today announced that it has submitted an application for judicial review into proposed changes to the Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS), with the support of eight other unions -AMICUS, GMB, T&G, UCATT, the Association of Educational Psychologists, Aspect, CYWU and NAPO.