Dudley General UNISON

 Please see our newsletter below:

When it comes to negotiating a trade deal with Britain, Donald Trump’s administration is determined to ‘put America first’, or rather put US multinational corporations first.

This poses a real threat to our food and environmental standards, would mean the opening up of the NHS to private US health corporations and will give his climate change denying administration huge influence over UK energy markets. This panel will discuss these threats and how to resist them.

James Anthony, West Midlands Health NEC member will be speaking at the event on behalf of the union. 

Wednesday, 24^th April at 7pm at Carrs Lane Church, Carrs Lane, Birmingham, B4 7SX. 

Book your free place here. Refreshments provided.

Workers' Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day.

The annual event in Dudley will commence at 12.30 at the Memorial Gardens, opposite the Council House. There will be a number of local speakers. All welcome.

Are you a couple where one has already reached state pension age* while the other hasn't? If the answer is yes – read on.

From 15 May 2019 the rules on Pension Credit are changing. Currently couples on a low income can claim Pension Credit if one person is over state pension age and one person is under state pension age. After 15 May 2019 if one partner in a couple is over state pension age and one is below, you will have to claim Universal Credit instead. Only couples where BOTH partners are over state pension age will be able to claim Pension Credit.

Pension Credit gives a guaranteed minimum income for pensioners. From April 2019 the Pension Credit Guarantee is £255.25 a week, but under Universal Credit the maximum level of personal support is £114.85 a week. The amounts will vary based on your own circumstances, but as a couple you could lose out on up to £140 a week (or £7,000 a year). And this will apply every week until BOTH you and your partner reach pension age.

The change means that all couples where one person is over state pension age and one is under, should check their benefit entitlement before 15 May 2019. If you are entitled to Pension Credit and claim it before 15 May you won't be affected but if you try to claim after the deadline you will be too late and will have to claim Universal Credit instead.

You can check your entitlement using the UNISON benefits calculator: Check before it's too late

Notes:

*State pension age for men and women is currently over 65. However in the last few years, because of changes to women's state pension age, some women may have reached their state pension age between 60 and 65 and may not have claimed pension credit.

Pension Credit is a benefit for older people who are on a low income to top up their weekly income. Official figures suggest that over a million people who are entitled to claim don't claim it. Some of these people are in mixed age couples.

Universal Credit is a new benefit for working age people that replaces a number of existing benefits and tax credits. It is designed to support people who have a low (or no) income with their basic living expenses and housing costs.

In recent years our region have been building links with Trade Unions in Nicaragua (a country our union has worked with since the 1980s). 

This has involved organising several visits to our region by Nicaraguan workers from several unions but particularly Health and Local Government and a visit to Nicaragua from delegates from our region.

This led to a twinning agreement between George Eliot Hospital and Managua.

In order to continue building these links, last year Regional Council agreed to finance a second visit to Nicaragua.

It is planned that this will take place the middle of July (approx. 12 -20) 2019 to coincide with 60th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution celebrations.

Following disturbances last year the proposed date is based on current National UNISON advice that it is now ‘safe’ to visit but obviously we will continue to monitor this advice

The delegation will consist of 3 members: a LG worker, a Health worker and one other.

This is not a holiday! In order to make the most of the week, it will involve cramming a great deal of meetings and visits into a short space of time. On return delegates would be expected to turn their experiences and discussions gained during the trip into practical activities with the aim of enhancing our links with our Nicaraguan sisters and brothers.

If you believe you have something to contribute towards our international work and are interested in taking part in this delegation, please send an email to our regional International Officer, Dave Auger outlining why you would like to go and what you could contribute by April 12 2019

Fraternally
Dave Auger
Regional International officer
Daveauger61@hotmail.com

JOIN THOUSANDS ACROSS THE WORLD ON 16 MARCH TO:

• Stand up to Islamophobia & antisemitism
• Justice for Windrush – end the ‘hostile environment’
• Refugees welcome
• Defend migrant rights
• Black lives matter
• Leave or remain, don’t let the racists divide us
• Celebrate diversity

CITIES & COUNTRIES ACROSS THE GLOBE – INCLUDING LONDON / GLASGOW / CARDIFF / NEW YORK / WASHINGTON DC / BARCELONA / BRAZIL / HUNGARY / GERMANY / DENMARK / AUSTRIA / FRANCE…

LONDON DEMONSTRATION: ASSEMBLE 12NOON, PARK LANE, NEAR DORCHESTER HOTEL W1K 1QA, NEAREST TUBE HYDE PARK CORNER – MARCH TO WHITEHALL

Speakers: Diane Abbott MP • Frances O’Grady TUC General Secretary • Michael Rosen Poet • Paul Cannonville former footballer & anti-racism campaigner• Dave Ward CWU General Secretary • Manuel Cortes TSSA General Secretary • Emma Dent Coad MP • Claude Moraes MEP • Julie Ward MEP • Salma Yaqoob • Roksana Fiaz Mayor of Newham • Unmesh Desai AM • Ged Grebby Show Racism the Red Card Chief Exec • Louise Raw Author PLUS MORE TBC

ONE WORLD UNITED AGAINST RACISM & FASCISM – INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR UN ANTI RACISM DAY.

Dear colleague,

You are invited to attend the AGM of the Branch which will be held at DudleyTown Hall, St James’s Road, Dudley at 12.30pm – 1.30pm on Thursday 14^th March. A buffet will be available for 12.15pm.

Minutes and accounts etc. will be distributed at the meeting and are available prior to the meeting from the Branch Office.

Items of any other business should be notified to the Chair of the meeting prior to its start. They will need to be accepted by both the Chair and the meeting before being placed on the agenda.

• AGM 2019 Agenda