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Being able to organise at work and be part of an independent trade union is a hallmark of living in a free society. So too is the right to withdraw your labour. Without this right we do not live in a free society.

The UK has the most restrictive laws across Europe for being able to take industrial action.

Successive Conservative governments have restricted and limited trade unions from taking effective action over the years by:-

  • Imposing postal ballots with specific timescales for notice of action.
  • Making any action in support of other workers illegal.
  • Removing benefits for strikers.
  • Extending the notice period of action.
  • Forcing re-ballots every six months.
  • Imposing at least 50% turnout for any vote being able to call legal strike action.

Now the Tories have imposed ‘Minimum Service Levels’ on those who vote to strike, which is designed to undermine effective strike action by forcing some to work or face the sack. With the bosses deciding who should work!

This is not the hallmark of a free society.

Last year saw several strikes across the UK as workers tried to maintain their living standards in the face of a cost-of-living crisis.

If you want to be able to defend yourself at work, or fight for better pay in the future, then join the march called by the TUC on Saturday 27 January.

Protect the Right to Strike: National march and rally

Saturday, January 27, 2024 • 12:00 PM

Assemble Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham

Called by the TUC

 


Jan 16, 2024

UNISON DUDLEY GENERAL BRANCH


The Annual General Meeting of UNISON Dudley General Branch will be held as two aggregate meetings.  You are invited to attend one of these two meetings:-

 

IN PERSON
Monday 8th April 2024

From 12.30pm until 1.45pm

Dudley Town Hall

or

ONLINE
Wednesday 10th April 2024

From 6.30pm until 7.45pm

On Microsoft Teams
(please contact the Branch on dudley_unison@msn.com
 or 01384 444323 for the link)

 


The Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM) is an important meeting for all UNISON members. It’s a chance for you to ask questions about the work of the union, see how union finances have been used, and have your say on priorities for the year ahead.

Members’ Proposals to the AGM

If you would like to propose a policy position to be adopted by the AGM on behalf of the Branch (in the form of a motion), or to suggest a change in the Branch Rules, please do so by 12 noon on Wednesday 7th February 2024 – by email to dudley_unison@msn.com or send to Dudley Branch of UNISON, Council House, Priory Road, Dudley DY1 1HF.  Please ensure that someone attends the AGM to make the proposal.

 

Get Active – Join our team!

Our Branch depends on volunteers to operate. A whole range of different roles are open to members like you, each one of which carries an important set of responsibilities. Whether you're organising members’ meetings, in negotiations with managers, representing a member in a disciplinary, or helping with a welfare claim, you’ll be helping create an effective union team.  Roles can either be Branch-wide, like the Officer positions, or for your own specific workplace. All roles are open to job-share. 

Branch Officer & Other Positions

There are a number of positions which exist to represent all the members in the Branch.  You can nominate yourself or other members for any of these roles, listed below. 

Any member in employment can nominate and/or be nominated, but please ensure you have the consent of the nominee(s) before you submit a nomination.  Election of contested posts will take place by ballot. Nominations must be received at the branch by 12 noon on Wednesday 7th February 2024 – by email to dudley_unison@msn.com or send to Dudley Branch of UNISON, Council House, Priory Road, Dudley DY1 1HF.

  • Branch Secretary
  • Assistant Branch Secretary
  • Chairperson
  • Vice Chairperson       
  • Treasurer        
  • Health and Safety Officer   
  • Equality Officer         
  • Development Officer (Education & Publicity)   
  • International Officer 
  • Welfare Officer          
  • Young Members Officer
  • Two Auditors 
 

 

A Stewards and/or Health & Safety Rep for Your Workplace

In UNISON, every workplace should have an elected rep. You can be nominated yourself or nominate another member to be the steward or Health & Safety Rep for your own workplace.  Please ensure you have the consent of the nominee. Nominations must be received at the branch by 12 noon on Wednesday 7th February 2024 – by email to dudley_unison@msn.com or send to Dudley Branch of UNISON, Council House, Priory Road, Dudley DY1 1HF.


Access Requirements

We recognise that in order to ensure all of our members can fully participate in the AGM it may be necessary to make adjustments.  Please contact the Branch and we will be happy to discuss any particular needs.

We hope you will come to the AGM - we're certainly very keen to see you.  If you have any queries on any of the above, please call 01384 444323.

 

Lastly, if you have an email address on which you would be willing for us to use for UNISON communications, could you please email dudley_unison@msn.com to let us know.

Best regards,

Paul

 

Paul Quigley (he/him)

Branch Chairperson & Workplace Steward

 

UNISON Dudley General Branch

Email: dudley_unison@msn.com

Twitter @UnisonDudley

Instagram @dudley_unison


Jan 16, 2024

 

“We have not had an increase in our mileage costs for twelve years, yet the fuel prices have vastly been inflated”

hand holding steering wheel of car

Last month, The RAC Foundation, a transport policy and research organisation, announced that frontline workers who use their car for work are out of pocket by an average of £6,000 a year due to out-of-date mileage rates.

Since then, the union has heard from numerous members about their experiences.

Roger Lewis said: “It’s an outrageous scandal that the higher the mileage workers have to travel in their cars, the more out of pocket we are. It’s a financial disincentive or penalty for doing our work. We should be paid properly.”

Community care worker Debbie Pink said: “We have not had an increase in our mileage costs for twelve years, yet the fuel prices have vastly been inflated. It’s costing me more and more to travel and use my car, not to mention the cost of repairs to my vehicle due to the road surfaces.”

Using UNISON data, The RAC Foundation has calculated that approved mileage allowance payments (AMAPs) should be 63.4p per mile, a significant increase on the existing HMRC rate of 45p, which has not been updated since 2011.

One UNISON member, who works night shifts, said: “I do on average 80 miles per night. Last year I went over 9000 miles and only got 14p per mile there after. I’ve just paid over £300 for four new tyres. It used to be beneficial for me to use my car but it certainly isn’t now.”

One UNISON member who works as a teaching assistant and drives a battery electric vehicle (BEV) said: “I do not have to claim mileage for work very often, but when I do, my county council is so backward in its approach to electric vehicles that it still does not have an option for the school’s business manager to claim for my BEV mileage, despite the huge increases in energy costs.

“This also extends to the public provision of charging points which has been dire throughout our car ownership.”

Ask your MP to take action on mileage rates here.

UNISON’s recommendations for government:

  • increase mileage rates, now, to 63.4p per mile, and commit to a quarterly review and recalculation to coincide with Advisory Fuel Rate calculations*
  • restructure AMAPs to raise the cap from 3,500 to 10,000 miles – and ensure mileage rate tiers are removed in NJC and Agenda for Change terms too
  • take urgent action on public sector pay and low wages, so that staff are not in such a vulnerable financial situation again
  • invest in a public sector Electric Vehicle (EV) fleet rollout, ensuring the funding is available to public bodies to offer all grey fleet (meaning cars that are owned by the employee but used for work purposes) drivers the option to use an EV to drive between clients or sites
  • explore introducing a grey fleet scrappage scheme similar to the Mayor of London’s ultra lower emission zone (ULEZ) scheme that supports low-income drivers to scrap the highest polluting vehicles.

*the rates set by government to assist businesses in reimbursing or being reimbursed for fuel costs of company 


Aug 17, 2023

 

23 September 202310:30am–4:00pm

UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY

 

Get directions

 

UNISON is holding a seminar for social worker stewards and members on the theme of UNISON standing up for social workers.

The seminar will be primarily workshop based, focusing on key issues such as:

  • How UNISON helps members if they are referred to their professional regulator or think they should self-refer
  • How the Year of Black Workers helps UNISON focus at all levels on challenging racism in the workplace
  • How social worker self-care is more than a personal responsibility – focusing on employers’ obligations
  • How to recruit and organise around social worker pay

There will also be a networking session for delegates to link up with other social worker members from their nation/region.

We are offering branches the opportunity to send two delegates and seminar numbers will be limited to 90 places.

The cost of the seminar is £45 per delegate payable by branches. This charge covers refreshments, lunch, and administrative costs for the event. A creche will be available.

Branches can book delegates places at the seminar by using UNISON’s online conference system. The deadline for registration is Monday 4 September:

Book delegate places via OCS

Payment of the delegate fee will be arranged after the seminar and will be deducted from branch funding. Please note that branches registering delegates on the OCS are agreeing to seminar costs being recovered directly from their branch funding. UNISON branches will also be responsible for the cost of travel and any accommodation delegates require to attend.


Aug 17, 2023

 

Without a long-term plan to solve care’s staffing crisis, the sector will remain many thousands of employees short. 

Responding to the government’s announcement of a £600m package for social care, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said: “A cash injection might offer temporary relief to the woefully underfunded and broken care sector, but it does nothing to address its huge problems.  

“Without a long-term plan to solve care’s staffing crisis, the sector will remain many thousands of employees short. 

“The government must work with councils, unions and care employers to establish the national standards and funding arrangements that are desperately needed.

“Only a national care service, that’s fully integrated with the NHS and properly resourced, will be able to focus on ensuring people receive the care they need.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

Post navigation


Aug 2, 2023

 

The need for a new national care service grows more pressing with each passing day. 

Commenting on the small decrease in the number of vacancies in social care in England, reported by Skills for Care today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“The need for a new national care service grows more pressing with each passing day.

“Until care jobs pay decent wages and offer worthwhile careers, the sector is always going to struggle to attract and keep enough staff to meet growing demand and take the pressure off the NHS.

“Vacancy rates are down slightly because care firms have been on a recruitment drive overseas. But migrant workers are now propping up the broken care system.

“Many overseas care workers have paid extortionate fees to come to the UK. When they get here, many can’t believe what they’ve signed up for.

“Sold an expensive dream, the sad reality for many is a nightmare of terrible treatment, scant training, excessive hours and low pay. The government must hold care providers to account and put a stop to this ill-treatment.

“Ministers must stop with the excuses, get a grip and start clearing up the mess they’ve let care become.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON has written to care minister Helen Whately asking for an urgent meeting to discuss the treatment of migrant workers by care companies.
– The government added ‘care workers’ and ‘home carers’ to the shortage occupation list for skilled workers in February 2022. This has enabled care providers to recruit directly from abroad to these roles. Nurses from overseas can also access visas to work in social care.
– The latest Skills for Care annual report estimates that there are now 152,000 care worker vacancies in England. The figure was previously 165,000. Skills for Care says England will need its social care workforce to grow by roughly 445,000, to around 2.23 million by 2035, if the number of people aged 65 and over grows as expected. Its annual report says around 70,000 people were recruited from abroad in the last year.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk


Jul 16, 2023

 

As the higher education autumn term strike ballot enters its final few weeks, UNISON has been using a new way of encouraging voting

Higher education pay ballot web banner_745x420

UNISON is balloting members for strike action in targeted universities in England over the 2023/24 pay offer. The offer is worth between 5-8% depending on spinal column point.

This year UNISON has been using a new system, Movement, to increase engagement and turnout in ballots. It allows regions, branches and activists to use phone banking, peer to peer texting and to log feedback from members by email and from in-person conversations.

From these interactions, Movement records whether a member has voted, but not which way they have voted. For example, in the HE autumn term strike ballot Movement has logged that over 1,730 members have told the union they have voted so far.

However, there is still time to increase this number. Eligible members have been sent their ballot paper in a bright green envelope to their home address. They have until 10am on 31 July to return their ballot paper by post. But it is important to send ballots back soon, to ensure they arrive in good time.

UNISON’s head of higher education Ruth Smith said: “We are now entering the critical final phase of this ballot.

“The institutions being balloted were carefully selected by the HE service group executive as the figures indicate they have a good chance of meeting the 50% turnout threshold required for strike action.

“But to meet those thresholds, now is the time for that final push to get over the line. It is vital that, by demonstrating our strength in all 28 institutions, we show the employer that UNISON is a force to be reckoned with in higher education. That is how we win a better deal for our members.”

For further information about this ballot and to check which universities are included, please visit unison.org.uk/RisingForBetterPay

Visit the organising space to access online resources to support our activists and organising communities.

If you haven’t received your ballot paper, contact the helpline on: 0800 0 857 857 (the helpline closes at 12 noon, 25 July).


Jul 12, 2023

 

The new standard recognises that menopausal symptoms ‘can coincide with significant mid-life challenges and responsibilities’

UNISON has played a key role in the development of a new British standard on menstruation and menopause in the workplace, published today. 

This new standard draws on UNISON’s guidance on menopause, designed to assist branches in ensuring that workplaces consider how menopausal symptoms can impact on women, trans and non-binary people.

UNISON national women’s officer Bukky Akinwale said: “The majority of our members are women who will experience the menopause. For many, it will be a natural occurrence, but for many others it can affect them profoundly, leading to emotional and health changes that can impact on their work and relationship with colleagues.”

She continued: “Women make up more than 70% of UNISON’s 1.3 million members and activists. They are 48% of the UK workforce. These women will inevitably experience menopause at some point in their lives, and not necessarily in their late forties or early fifties.

“That makes the menopause a workplace issue and therefore a trade union issue, so it’s important to be able to speak openly about menopause at work.”

Menopause usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. The average age of menopause in the UK is 51.

The new standard recognises that menopausal symptoms “can coincide with significant mid-life challenges and responsibilities”, with research showing that stress and menopausal symptoms are “inextricably linked”. 

Use UNISON’s quiz to see how supportive your workplace is when it comes to the menopause.


Jul 12, 2023

The need for a new national care service grows more pressing with each passing day. 

Commenting on the small decrease in the number of vacancies in social care in England, reported by Skills for Care today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“The need for a new national care service grows more pressing with each passing day.

“Until care jobs pay decent wages and offer worthwhile careers, the sector is always going to struggle to attract and keep enough staff to meet growing demand and take the pressure off the NHS.

“Vacancy rates are down slightly because care firms have been on a recruitment drive overseas. But migrant workers are now propping up the broken care system.

“Many overseas care workers have paid extortionate fees to come to the UK. When they get here, many can’t believe what they’ve signed up for.

“Sold an expensive dream, the sad reality for many is a nightmare of terrible treatment, scant training, excessive hours and low pay. The government must hold care providers to account and put a stop to this ill-treatment.

“Ministers must stop with the excuses, get a grip and start clearing up the mess they’ve let care become.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON has written to care minister Helen Whately asking for an urgent meeting to discuss the treatment of migrant workers by care companies.
– The government added ‘care workers’ and ‘home carers’ to the shortage occupation list for skilled workers in February 2022. This has enabled care providers to recruit directly from abroad to these roles. Nurses from overseas can also access visas to work in social care.
– The latest Skills for Care annual report estimates that there are now 152,000 care worker vacancies in England. The figure was previously 165,000. Skills for Care says England will need its social care workforce to grow by roughly 445,000, to around 2.23 million by 2035, if the number of people aged 65 and over grows as expected. Its annual report says around 70,000 people were recruited from abroad in the last year.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk


Jul 12, 2023

Covid death families have yet to claim millions in compensation

Families should apply without delay if they meet payment criteria

Millions of pounds of compensation promised by ministers to relatives of frontline health and social care workers who died during the pandemic may still remain unclaimed, says UNISON today (Friday).

Fewer than 800 families across England have received a £60,000 pay out each from the government’s life assurance scheme*.

Official figures show more than 2,000 deaths involving Covid occurred among health and care staff, including porters, nurses and care home employees**. Although the payments are available solely for people whose deaths were “wholly or mainly” caused by Covid, UNISON says there could still be many who fit the criteria, but whose families have yet to apply.

The 31 March deadline for applications to the scheme is just a week away and the union says grieving next of kin could be left without the money to which they are entitled, unless they apply right away.

The fund was set up in April 2020 by then health secretary Matt Hancock for relatives of workers who became infected in the line of duty, either within the NHS or in social care. The death must have occurred before March 2022 to be eligible for compensation.

Figures from the NHS Business Services Authority show that 827 claims have been made up to this month. Of these, 512 were submitted by the families of NHS staff and 294 by relatives of care workers.

Just 760 have been accepted, with 732 already receiving payment. However, 54 cases did not meet the eligibility criteria and 13 are still under consideration.

Employers including NHS trusts and social care providers were asked by the government to contact next of kin when a death occurred. The government also advised them to explain the scheme to relatives and oversee the completion of claims.

UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said: “Health and social care workers paid the heaviest price for simply doing their jobs during the pandemic.

“Their families deserve the financial help available, but it may be that many are still to apply. It’s vital they come forward to claim the compensation to which they’re entitled.

“Ministers could have done much more to alert families to the existence of the fund and invite them to apply.

“Some households may be facing financial hardship because death has meant a drop in income on top of the loss of a loved one. No one should miss out, particularly when so many people are struggling to make ends meet.”

Note to editors:
–*Figures are correct as of 8 March. They are from the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Schemes covering England. For a claim that is accepted, the schemes make a payment of £60,000 to the estate of eligible individuals who have died from Covid contracted during their frontline essential work.
–**Provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 2,009 deaths involving Covid were registered in England between 9 March 2020 and 28 February 2022. These relate to people aged 20 to 64 years.
– Anyone who thinks they might be eligible to make a claim to the NHS Coronavirus Life Assurance (England) Scheme should visit Coronavirus Life Assurance 2020 | NHSBSA.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk


Mar 26, 2023
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