New agreement to ensure NHS staff in England are paid properly for every working hour

Unions agree measures to be applied locally

Support staff losing sleep and suffering anxiety ahead of return to school in England

UNISON head of education Jon Richards says delay needed so schools have time to complete risk assessments

South East counters national trend as number of Covid-19 related deaths increases

Responding to figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics showing that more Covid-19 related deaths are now being recorded in the South East’s care homes than in hospitals, and that the total number of recorded deaths in the region has risen week-on-week, UNISON South East regional secretary Steve Torrance said: “These latest ONS figures […]

Teamwork and compassion – meeting the challenges of Covid-19 testing

Agnes Sitjar, is a UNISON Steward at Andover, Basingstoke & Winchester Hospitals branch and is part of the team that was the first in UK hospital’s to develop a live test for Covid-19. Agnes spoke to us about the challenges she has been facing during Covid-19: “As a Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Microbiology in Hampshire […]

Government should listen to scientists and pull back from 1 June start date

Independent scientists report says waiting just two weeks would halve the risks

PPE, sick pay and shielding: how branches across the region have supported members during Covid-19

With regional meetings and events currently suspended due to lockdown and social distancing, we recently held several informal branch forums, initially focusing on the branches engaged in frontline work during the crisis. The first forums were held the day after the televised announcement from the PM that lockdown was to be eased.   Branches shared their experiences during Covid-19 lockdown, including success stories, issues […]

Funding must go to care workers in need, not employers’ bank accounts

Government must ensure cash goes to staff

The vital glue that holds communities together

I hope this email finds you safe and well ahead of the last bank holiday of Spring. I know that many of you will be working throughout, but for those that are able to take some time off, I hope you manage to have an enjoyable and well-deserved break (with appropriate social distancing obviously!)   I’m […]

Exemptions would be welcome but health surcharge should be scrapped

Responding to Labour leader Keir Starmer’s proposal at Prime Minister’s questions yesterday (Wednesday) that health and care staff should be exempted from the immigration health surcharge, UNISON South East regional secretary Steve Torrance said: “Dealing with the pandemic has shown more than ever how NHS and care services rely on staff from overseas. It beggars belief that […]

Game changing innovations in PPE at Southampton General

We hear from Rebecca Storer, a Health Care Assistant (HCA) and UNISON member at University Hospital Southampton, on what it’s been like working through the Covid-19 crisis, and how the crisis has led to innovations in PPE.   I’ve worked as an HCA in the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) at University Hospital Southampton for almost two years. We look after patients arriving from the Emergency […]

Care home deaths expose social care system ‘unfit for purpose’, says UNISON

Responding to figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics showing 1,800 care home deaths in the South East of England linked to coronavirus up to 8 May, UNISON South East regional secretary Steve Torrance said: “This is a shocking price being paid by elderly and vulnerable people whose families believed they were being kept […]

UNISON demands extra government funding to save universities from crisis

‘A world without universities would be tragic. I just can’t comprehend it.’ Higher education member Bill Acharjee (above) works at Solent University in Southampton as a research governance officer, with the task of ensuring that students and academics maintain ethical standards while they conduct their research projects. He’s thoughtful, conscientious. And while working from home […]

Government’s treatment of migrant workers is shameful

Out of touch ministers measure value only in pounds and pence

Update on regional meetings and events

An important update for branches and UNISON reps from the Regional Convenors Group and Regional Secretary

Health unions publish blueprint for the safe opening up of the NHS

UNISON and other health unions say NHS must continue to operate a safety-first approach