Thanks alone is not enough

I want to thank you all for everything you are doing during this crisis.   A special thank you to the NHS workers, the care workers, the school staff, the refuse collectors, all of the public service workers providing key services to keep the country going. To the public service staff being redeployed into frontline work, and to those […]

‘It’s tough out there, everyone is doing an amazing job’

Isle of Wight Health Branch Secretary, Jay Chappell, has returned to the frontline during Covid-19. He told us a bit about his new ‘normal’ during the crisis. “Normally I have full time release as the chair of staff side and branch secretary. Since Covid-19 hit, normal business kind of stopped as you would expect. Social […]

In memory of Lorna Cameron

UNISON South East sends deepest sympathies to family and colleagues of Lorna Cameron, Branch Secretary of Bracknell Forest UNISON, who sadly passed away as a result of Covid-19. Her branch have written the beautiful tribute below. As we mourn the recent sad loss of our dear friend and colleague Lorna, we give heartfelt thanks for […]

UNISON remembers Allison Boyd

We recently learned that Allison Boyd, joint Branch Secretary of Portsmouth Health Branch, lost her battle with cancer. James Smith, Regional Organiser remembers her. Allison joined UNISON in 1990 and became a steward/health & safety representative in 1994. She became branch Women’s Officer in 2000, Assistant Branch Secretary in 2005, a Union Learning rep in […]

UNISON Isle of Wight Health Branch sponsor NHS football team

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s football team, the NHS Spartans, have received a brand new playing kit thanks to sponsorship by the UNISON branch. The team were presented with the new kit by Branch Secretary Jay Chappell (pictured). We spoke to team coordinator and UNISON member, Paul Hemmett, who started the team back in […]

UNISON achieves first pay rise in a decade at YOU Trust

UNISON members working in the YOU Trust have received their first pay rise in over a decade thanks in part to the contributions of local UNISON reps such as Darren Hart and Stephanie Churchill who were involved in the negotiations from beginning to end. The pay deal is complex but perhaps the most striking aspect […]

New PPE guidance for NHS teams

Updated rules reflect changing threat The UK Government and NHS leaders from a range of medical and nursing royal colleges have published new guidance about personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS teams who are likely to come into contact with patients with coronavirus. The guidance has been agreed by the four Chief Medical Officers, Chief […]

New minimum wages rates take effect from today

New minimum pay rates come into force for many key workers, including care staff New national minimum wage rates come into force today, bringing a pay rise for care and other workers across the country whose vital, but low-paid, work has been highlighted in the current crisis. “Today’s pay rise will make a real difference […]

PPE Alert: Tell us what’s happening at work

We know how concerned you are about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) available to you. We want to collect stories from as many workers as possible so that we can make sure the prime minister and other senior politicians hear what you have to say. You are in the front line – your […]

Promises of protective equipment alone won’t keep people safe, says UNISON

All public sector workers facing a virus threat should have the kit they need Promises of personal protective equipment (PPE) alone won’t keep NHS, care, police and other essential workers safe, says UNISON today (Tuesday) as the union urges the Prime Minister to ensure all staff get the protection they need. UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has […]

Introducing new remote learning opportunities

UNISON has joined with Skills Academy to give members access to over 500 online courses UNISON is keen to ensure that members still have access to the high-quality training that the union provides, even though it’s not possible to meet face-to-face during the current coronavirus crisis. That’s why the union has formed a partnership with […]

Covid-19: Advice for our reps

This is a very difficult time for our members, many of whom are delivering frontline services at this unprecedented time. UNISON members will still need support from activists – and this will also mean challenges for our stewards and reps, including Health and Safety reps. The most important advice is that you keep yourself and […]

UNISON postpones annual conference

The union’s annual delegate conference – together with local government, water, environment and transport, and energy conferences – won’t now happen in June as UNISON members and activists are on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis UNISON’s annual national delegate conference (NDC), due to take place in Brighton in June, has been postponed because of […]

MESSAGE FROM SURREY POLICE BRANCH –UNISON

On behalf of the UNISON-Surrey Police branch I would like to extend our sincere thanks to our NHS colleagues at this extraordinary time. It’s hard to imagine just how much of a strain this is putting on each and every one of you and as police staff we are acutely aware of how critical every […]

‘Managers are bringing tea to us’: inside the 111 service during COVID-19

UNISON member and rep Stella Quentin is a 111 call handler for the South East Coast ambulance service. In normal times, the 300 call handlers in Stella’s office take around two to three thousand calls a day. The severity of calls ranges from sore throats and coughs to people who have taken drug overdoses. A […]