South East Campaigner

 
View and download past editions of the South East Campaigner:

September 2017

April 2017

November 2016

July 2016

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

UNISON’s 5 tests for government before school pupil numbers increase

The decision to increase pupil numbers on 1 June is premature and could put lives in danger, says UNISON

Show Racism the Red Card’s new film challenges racism towards NHS workers

Show Racism the Red Card has launched a new video which follows the stories of frontline NHS staff as they recount their experience of racial discrimination at work. The film has contributions from UNISON members and Roger McKenzie, Assistant General Secretary of UNISON, along with a number of high profile footballers from Show Racism the […]

Dave Prentis blog: Safety for all workers is UNISON’s bottom line

The past seven weeks have been difficult for all of us. For most of the country, there has been confinement at home, unable to see family and friends, and a deep anxiety about what the future will bring. For many UNISON members, there has been the entirely different pressure of going to work, with all […]

Education unions’ agree statement on the safe reopening of schools

Ministers should step back from 1 June target and put safety first

No slowdown in the devastation in our region’s care homes, says UNISON

Responding to new figures published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics showing care home deaths linked to coronavirus have increased in the South East Region by more than 480 in a week, UNISON South East regional secretary Steve Torrance said: “There’s clearly no major slowdown in the devastation being caused in care homes, causing […]

New ways for members to get legal help

During the COVID-19 crisis, UNISON has changed its processes to make it easier for members to get legal support at no extra cost, as part of their union membership Here’s a simple guide for branches to help our members get the support they need, when they need it. Employment advice Members with issues relating directly […]

Nursing the nation today and every day

International Nurses Day is celebrated every year across the whole nursing family. But why today? May 12 is the birth date of the most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale, and 2020 marks 200 years since she was born. Learn more about Florence Nightingale Today, UNISON, the biggest union in healthcare, represents the whole nursing family, including registered […]

The world of work has changed irrevocably forever

Belated May Day greetings. A massive thank you to everyone supporting members through redeployment, dealing with furloughed staff and the urgent advice to members over safe working and access to appropriate PPE. I’d also like to extend my thanks to UNISON regional staff who are working incredibly hard behind the scenes to offer continuity and support, advice and assistance during these incredibly difficult times.   As the nation joined […]