UNISON Members Invited to Stakeholder Roadshows

(12/06/2008) 4 stakeholder events are being held around teh country on the review of the Learning, Development and Support Services (LDSS) National Occupational Standards (NOS). UNISON reps are encouraged to attend these events.

ROUND UP ON CONNEXIONS and CAREERS ISSUES

(01/05/2008)Restructuring and Cuts Continue

Large numbers of services have now been re-absorbed into Local Authorities – some of whom behaved appallingly in the transfer trying to get out of TUPE obligations, top slicing budgets and making redundancies – particularly amongst admin, support and management staff. UNISON campaigned strongly against abuses, and has been able to reduce the redundancies.

Young People and Trade Unions

(01/05/2008) The National Union of Students have launched a campaign with trade unions including UNISON and the TUC to raise the profile of trade unions for young people and students. According to recent reports published by the DTI less than 20% of union members are under the age of 30, many do not see the relevance of trade unions when students and this carries on into employment

Briefing on Skills Pledge for Reps

(1/04/)2008) This bulletin gives you information about the Government’s Skill Pledge initiative. The full bulletin for distribution to reps working in the Careers and Connexions Sector can be downloaded below.

What is the Skills Pledge? The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public commitment by the leadership of a company or organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent to 5 good GCSEs). The purpose is to ensure that all staff are skilled, competent and able to make a full contribution to the success of the company/organisation.

DCFS Call For Evidence on Youth Support Arrangments

(17/03/2008) This circular gives details of the DCSF consultation on youth sector support arrangements and encloses the draft UNISON response proposed by the National Careers/Connexions Committee and the National Youth and Community Workers’ Committee.

The Public Sector Equality Duties and Connexions/Careers

(06/03/2008) UNISON sees the introduction of public sector equality duties as a step towards a society where diversity is accepted as normal and equality as a benefit to everyone

Consultation on Youth Support Arrangements

(25/01/2008) Please find below a link to consultation documentwhich has implications for Connexions staff. The deadline for the consultation is April and we would like to pull together the key points of a response at the next national committee meeting on the 18th February.

Your views would be welcome and we would like you to feed these into to your regional representative on the national committee where it can be raised at the national Connexions/Careers Committee.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/conDocument.cfm?consultationId=1525

January issues of the Connect Bulletin

(25/01/2008)You can download Connexions Jan 01 from here. This covers pay and grading questions.


Connect January 01/2008

Does Work Make You Sick?

(25/01/2008)Positive sickness absence policy can help to pinpoint work-related issues such as health and safety risks, stress and bullying. It can tackle those organisational issues that can give rise to absence and provide support to promote staff attendance through positive interventions, which can have a significant effect on reducing absence. It must be linked to return to work policies and rehabilitation policies. But this is just not happening. Britain is certainly lagging behind many other countries when it comes to rehabilitation. Within Scandinavia 50% of people return to work after a major injury. In the USA it is roughly a third. In the UK the figure is 1 in 6. UNISON has produced guidance on how to negotiate an effective sickness absence policy. Click here to download the bulletin and for links to the guidance.


Connect January 03/2008

Link to health and safety web pages

E Bulletin Service

(25/01/2008) The E Bulletin Service Up and Running Again

At last we have the e bulletin system up and running again. It is self servicing to subscribe click here – and scroll down to the Connexions list http://www.unison.org.uk/news/mailinglist.asp


Connect January 03/2008