UNISON Calls for End to Needlestick Agony

UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, is today calling on NHS Employers to banish the agony of needlestick injuries (NSI) for good, by making safer needles compulsory across the health service. The call comes in the wake of the tragic death of gifted nurse, Juliet Young, who contracted HIV from a needlestick injury while working at the Maudsley Mental Health Hospital in London.

Violence in Mental Health Units – UNISON Reaction

Commenting on the joint Healthcare Commission and Royal College of Psychiatrists report into assaults on nurses working on mental health wards, Gail Adams, UNISON Head of Nursing, said:

UNISON Hosts International HIV/AIDS Conference

Next week leading public service trade unionists from southern African nations will visit UNISON to draw up plans to help HIV/AIDS workers. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has a sharp Southern African focus

Plans for More Extra Care Housing – UNISON Comments

Commenting on Government plans for more extra care housing, Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government, said:

UNISON Issues Legal Challenge Over Foundation Trusts’ Private Patient Income

UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, has today issued a legal challenge against Monitor, the independent regulatory body for NHS Foundation Trusts. The union is seeking a Judicial Review and calling on Monitor to change its rules over the amount of private work being carried out by Foundation Trusts.

UNISON Appeals to Home Secretary Over Case of Mr. Cabrera

UNISON, the UK

FE Unions Submit 6% Catch-Up Claim

The six trade unions – ACM, ATL, GMB, UCU, UNISON, UNITE* – representing 250,000 further education staff have today (30 January) submitted a pay claim for 6% or £1,500, whichever is the greater. The catch-up claim covers FE workers in England including lecturers, learning support staff, cleaners, managers, caterers, librarians, security and lab technicians, and would establish a £7.38 an hour minimum wage.

IFS Report – UNISON Reaction

Commenting on the annual Green Budget from the Institute of Fiscal Studies, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, said:

UNISON Calls for Recruitment Drive For Homecare Workers in Light of Commission for Social Care Inspection

A report published today by the CSCI states that elderly people in the UK are at the whim of a postcode lottery in terms of the care they receive in their old age. This increasingly leaves the elderly and disabled faced with two stark choices, to move, or to fund their own care.

Rising Housing Costs Hit Public Sector Workers Hard

Commenting on today’s Office for National Statistics figures showing that spending on housing-related costs have risen by more than £15 a week over the past 2 years, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON said:

Local Government Funding – UNISON Reaction

Commenting on the increased funding, linked to efficiency gains, announced by Local Government Minister John Healey, Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government said:

Report Exposes Golden Hole in Energy Firms’ Accounts – Inquiry Demanded into Missing billions

UNISON and the National Right to Fuel Campaign are demanding that Ofgem launches an immediate inquiry into obscene extra profits of £2.5 billion that energy companies are awarding themselves at huge cost to household consumers.

Police Staff Accept 2.5% Pay Deal

Police staff in England and Wales have today voted to accept a 2.5% pay offer, backdated to 1 September 2007. UNISON, the police staff union had recommended acceptance of the offer as the best that could be achieved through negotiation. The deal covers 71,000 police staff (including 11,500 Police Community Support Officers).

PFI Companies Abusing Their Position and Ripping Off the Public

UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, is today calling on the Government to tackle the obscene profits being made by PFI companies at the public’s expense.

UNISON Calls for Recruitment Drive for NHS Cleaners

UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, is today calling for urgent meetings with health ministers to implement a recruitment drive for NHS cleaners. The union welcomed the deep clean initiative announced last year but warned at the time that it should be used to