Celebrating the Stars in our Schools

Regional Secretary Steve Torrance says a big thank you to all UNISON members working in difficult times to support school pupils’ learning and wellbeing

Divide and rule won’t help the economic recovery, says UNISON 

Chancellor’s plan is austerity plain and simple

Hampshire Health branch, supporting members & supporting communities

We hear from Rachel Long, Welfare Officer at Hampshire Health branch, on how the branch works to support low paid UNISON members and why a pay rise for all NHS staff is so important

Pay restraint is a ‘slap in the face’ for everyone that made sacrifices in the pandemic

Staff need pay rise to maintain morale, says UNISON

Cummings and goings

In normal circumstances, the political turmoil of a government and their advisors would not be ‘breaking news’, and I wouldn’t feel any compulsion to discuss it. Not so the case of Dominic Cummings. There has never been a more divisive special adviser to the Prime Minister than him.  From the lies that helped achieve the ‘leave’ vote in the 2016 EU referendum, to flouting the Covid national lockdown rules set by […]

Second lockdown reignites domestic abuse fears

For survivors of domestic abuse, a second period of lockdown in England brings added misery. Calls to the national domestic abuse helpline run by Refuge are rising week on week. During the first lockdown, Refuge reported a 700% increase in calls to its helpline in a single day, while a separate helpline for perpetrators of domestic […]

Member Education: Time for Change series resources available

With only two webinars in the series left to host before its conclusion, the South East Education Team have held six webinars for members across the region since September, as part of the ‘Time for Change’ series. Webinar topics have included Redundancy Support and Information, Finding a Job, CV Writing, Interview Advice, Stress and Change […]

UNISON mourns the passing of Mike Perkins

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Mike Perkins, a lifelong trade unionist and member of the Hampshire County branch with over 50 years membership of UNISON. Chair of Hampshire UNISON’s retired members section Chris O’Neill said, “For many years during his working life Mike was an outstanding UNISON steward. He held prominent roles […]

Remembrance Day marked by Reigate & Banstead branch

On 11 November, UNISON members from Reigate and Banstead council marked Remembrance Day with a socially distanced event outside the Town Hall, attended by the borough’s Mayor. UNISON Reigate and Banstead branch secretary Maggie Judd said: “Despite the difficult year we find ourselves in, our branch was determined not to stop our tradition of marking Remembrance […]

We cannot sit back, because it isn’t happening to us personally

We hear from Rosita Ellis, chair of the regional Black members committee, during Islamophobia Awareness Month

Lines between work and life have become ever more blurred

We’re now almost half way through TUC Young Workers Month 2020 and want to thank the young members who have already got in touch as part of our ‘Time to be Heard’ campaign. We have heard some really positive stories from our young members of their experiences of working throughout the pandemic, as well as […]

If you’re a health student on placement, now is the time to join UNISON

For UK trade unions, November is Young Workers month. Young workers are recognised within UNISON as being under-27 and have their own officers and section within our union. This means that that UNISON has dedicated resources that help our union’s 63,000 young workers to help amplify their voices and win on the issues that matter […]

Health workers in the South East urge local MPs to back early pay rise for exhausted staff and to protect the NHS  

Hundreds of health staff across the South East – including nurses, paramedics, cleaners, domestics and porters – are writing to the region’s 84 MPs asking them to back UNISON’s call for NHS staff to get an early pay rise in time for Christmas. Staff employed in hospitals, clinics and ambulance stations across the South East are urging local politicians to put […]

Asked to give so much, on behalf of so many

As we head into the second lockdown, I have nothing but admiration and absolute pride in UNISON members

Meeting the challenge head on

As we enter the second lockdown in England, we are reminded of how far we have come this year and how many challenges the region has overcome, in order to continue to support branches, activists and members throughout this time. In these uncertain times, it is not clear when it will be safe to return […]