Search tagged local government

Government must guarantee staff can work additional hours or get compensation for lost wages

Thousands will suffer in retirement due to government’s public sector exit-payment cap, says UNISON

A return to ‘normal’ is something so many of us are craving. But it’s also something that is a long way off. For UNISON Members, it is often a misrepresentation to suggest that the easing of lockdown means returning to the workplace – not least because many of you never left it. But around 4 […]

Council staff in Milton Keynes with underlying health conditions or with family members in vulnerable groups – who’ve previously been off at home – are being ordered back to work, in a move criticised today (Thursday) by UNISON.  UNISON says social workers, care staff, library staff, environmental health officers, school support staff and other council […]

Eastleigh UNISON are so proud of their members actions during this difficult time. Many staff working for Eastleigh Borough Council have been redeployed and are now undertaking different roles in order to support areas that are under pressure due to the current pandemic. Branch Secretary Karen Springham would especially like to thank staff for their […]

Sunday 8 March is International Womens Day. With a million women members, International Women’s Day is an event that UNISON are proud to celebrate. This year’s event takes place against the backdrop of UNISON negotiating with local government employers around the 2020-2021 NJC pay claim – which disproportionately impacts on women workers. That’s why in the […]

Since 2010, local government hasn’t always been the easiest place to work. UNISON have played an important role in standing with those caught up in the realities of austerity. It’s against this backdrop that at East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), the local UNISON branch held a drop-in event for staff so that they could get […]

It was great to visit Southampton district branch today, and meet up with a great group of activists who have taken their branch and our members through a very difficult period. Whether they’re old stewards returning to the fray or new branch activists, particularly women activists, recruited to support their colleagues, this is a branch […]

UNISON campaign sees council significantly change direction and pledge no compulsory redundancies

Surrey County Council (SCC) has announced a “pause” in the process to shut Ripley CofE Primary School, which until this time last year had 144 pupils. The move comes after concern that officials failed to follow correct procedures during the process. UNISON South East has been working extensively to support affected members at the school, […]

School Funding England The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the outcome of their consultation of the future of school funding in England. There are some significant changes from the original proposals announced earlier in the year. They have stated that there will be an additional £1.3 billion pounds for school funding over the next […]

Council brings safeguarding jobs back in house, citing fears that children are at risk because privatised contract delivers too few assessments

The government announced on 19 July that they are planning to increase the State Pension Age from 67 to 68 for people between the ages of 39 and 46. This is likely to have a direct negative impact on the Local Government Pension Scheme and all other public service schemes. Members in this age group, […]

Social workers are struggling with heavy caseloads, working longer hours and going without lunch breaks, according to a survey by UNISON and Community Care magazine. Nearly half (48%) of respondents said the volume of cases they were responsible for left them feeling ‘over the limit,’ and more than half (56%) blamed staff shortages for their heavy workload. […]

All local authorities in England should be allowed to keep a greater share than they do currently of business rates so they can afford to fund social care properly, says UNISON today (Wednesday). The union is urging the government to grant councils better terms along similar lines to a deal agreed earlier this month with […]