Use our online form to tell UNISON about your PPE (personal protective equipment) concerns at work. 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 views are the only ones that matter in this.
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has written to Boris Johnson demanding he takes action to ensure all hospitals, care homes, police forces and council services have the sanitiser, gowns, masks and gloves needed to keep staff safe.
While supplies of PPE have clearly got through to parts of the UK’s public services, UNISON is concerned there are still many workers who have little or no PPE at all.
Demanding an urgent call with the Prime Minister, Dave Prentis says in the letter: “Public service workers are particularly affected as they seek to keep the country running, ensure our loved ones are cared for and our communities are clean and safe.
“As you have repeatedly said, the value of public service workers has never been clearer. UNISON is demanding you provide them with protection, as they seek to protect us all.
“Public service employees are still in their workplaces because they need and want to be. But their selfless acts must not place them at risk.
“Too many feel like they've been forgotten – their safety a mere afterthought, despite the critical work they continue to do.
“Many promises have been made by your government, but promises don’t protect people. Every public service worker without adequate PPE is a potential spreader of this deadly virus, or even a future patient.
“Every public service worker who catches the virus is another vital cog removed from the machinery of a society already struggling to cope.
“UNISON will continue to work with you to tackle this unprecedented crisis and ensure public service employees can continue to work safely.
“But we can only do this if all public service workers can be assured they’re not putting themselves, their family members or those they care for and support at risk through a lack of necessary protective equipment.”
In these difficult times, UNISON There for You is supporting those members whose lives have been seriously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and who, as a result, do not have the immediate funds to cover essential expenditure.
Eligibility criteria
There for You can make emergency grant payments of up to £200 where there is unforeseen hardship. For example, you/your household may have suffered a sudden loss of income or increase in expenditure. It could be that you’ve made an application for benefits through the Department of Work and Pensions and are awaiting their decision. Whatever your situation, we will try to help where we can.
As an example, help could be needed in one or more of the following areas:
- Childcare/carer costs
- Prescription costs
- Travel/parking costs – e.g. essential workers, those with caring responsibilities/urgent medical appointments
- Other health related expenditure
- Food and/or fuel costs
- Work-related expenditure
Completing the form and other paperwork
Please complete the application form and return by email to: thereforyou@unison.co.uk
You should include copy of latest bank statement for you and, if applicable, your partner.
If you have any queries concerning these guidelines, the form or, require help and assistance on any matter, please email thereforyou@unison.co.uk or call 020 7121 5620. Leave a message, (including reference to ‘Emergency Grant’) your phone number and someone will be in touch as quickly as possible.
If your needs are more wide-ranging for example debt issues, rent arrears, we ask that you complete our general application form for Financial Assistance instead.
Payments:
If a hardship payment is agreed, a payment will be made into your bank account.
Communication:
During this difficult period, all communication will be either via email (please check your junk folder), text message or telephone call.
DOWNLOAD WORD APPLICATION FORM
UNISON's latest newsletter regarding Coronavirus is attached.
Please note that UNISONdirect is currently closed until further notice. Queries can still be sent using UNISON’s online enquiries form, but response times will unfortunately take longer. For all legal enquiries following an accident or injury suffered by yourself or your family, or if you need criminal law advice, access to our free initial legal advice scheme or help with wills or conveyancing, please call the dedicated legal helpline on 0808 2522783. You can also update personal details online using myUNISON.
Be sure to keep an eye on UNISON’s coronavirus webpage which is updated regularly.
Private contractors
UNISON will be contacting employers where we have a national relationship to establish procedures each company is adopting and we will send details as soon as we have a response from each of the companies listed below. The situation is extremely fast moving and we are doing all we can to engage with private contractor employers in the days and weeks ahead as issues arise.
For clarity the list of national employers that we engage with from the private contractors unit is: Capita, Compass (including Chartwells), Four Seasons (including Huntercombe), ISS, Kier, Liberata, Sodexo, Caterlink, CHP, OCS, Serco and Veolia.
Job Retention Scheme
At this point we are only able to advise that we will issue guidance once the specifics of the legislation are laid before Parliament.
UNISON negotiators will be in a position to support members and consult with employers on the scheme and its application once more detail is available.
Critical workers
When employers categorise workers as critical workers, they should consider the pressure this will have on those working in schools, and use their discretion to determine which employees are reasonably needed to deliver the COVID-19 response.
The government’s information on who might be a critical worker can be found here.
People with health conditions – and people who live with them or care for them
Taking on different roles
If you have no experience supervising large groups of children as part of your usual role you should not be required to do so now without adequate support being provided.
If you agree to take on a different role or working pattern you should continue to be paid at your usual contracted rate and suffer no loss. When taking on roles paid at a higher rate than your usual contracted rate, you should receive the higher rate of pay for the duration of the assignment / redeployment.
The TUC has launched a new online campaign calling on government to bring in emergency time-limited measures to make sure parents don't lose jobs and pay when their children's school or nursery has to close.
We encourage all of you to sign up to support this campaign:
http://www.labourstart.org/go/megaphone
As one of the unions representing support staff we are committed to working jointly with employers to do all we can to try and prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus and to keep pupils and staff safe, and our members supported.
Please find attached a letter sent on behalf of the recognised trade unions detailing the assurances we are seeking on behalf of our members concerning Covid-19. We also attach a copy of the letter that UNISON, GMB, Unite and the NJC employers have agreed in terms of joint advice on Coronavirus: Covid-19 which has been sent out to local authorities and related NJC employers.
Yours sincerely
Tracy Wood
Regional Schools Lead
Hosted by Unite West Midlands: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/march-against-racism-un-anti-racism-day-protest-unite-west-midlands-tickets-93316176195
Click on register to book your free coach ticket.
Congratulations to Sarah Carr, who has been elected as Branch Secretary for Service Conditions.
| Results for position of Branch Secretary (Service Conditions): | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Carr | 135 | ELECTED |
| Paul Quigley | 126 | |
| Spoilt Papers | 1 | |
| Total | 262 | |
The Dudley General Branch's newsletter is out now. Please follow the link below!
