Sign up to Black Country Needs a Pay Rise here!
The organisation wants to launch a serious new drive to unionise and organise workers - in particular the young and those in precarious work, and workers most impacted by ongoing issues around COVID-19.
UNISON has launched a new web site, along with a leaflet that explains what a being a Safety Rep involves.
There is also a more detailed guide that explains the role in full, and the powers Safety Reps have at their disposal.
- Be on the safe side: become a Safety Rep campaign page
- Be on the safe side: Leaflet on becoming a Safety Rep to make workplaces safer
- Health and safety - the basic: a guide for safety reps
'We need our union to be stronger than ever'
Dave Prentis told UNISON's national executive council that the union must fight to ensure its members don't "carry the can" for an economic crisis.
The general secretary said the impressive growth in membership during the pandemic had to be maintained, "so we can do what we do best – campaign, organise and support every member that needs our help."
Read the NEC report
Local government pay consultation resources
What's the local government pay consultation all about? We've created a handy new document to explain the key points to members working in councils and schools, to help them decide whether to accept or reject the final pay offer.
UNISON NHS Dental Plan is a trading style of Protego Group. UNISON is an introducer appointed representative of Protego Group who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (304363) ©Protego Group 2020
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: In order to make your first claim, you must have been to see your dentist within the last twelve months for a full examination. Any pre-existing condition or ongoing treatment is not covered; only new dental conditions that occur after joining are covered by this plan. Cover is for NHS dental charges only as per the English banding charges and no cover is provided for any private dentistry charges on this plan. You can join the plan if you are aged between 16 and your 70th birthday; there is no age limit to stay on cover. Policy terms and conditions apply
Copyright © 2020 Protego Group Ltd - Our address is 260-268 Chapel Street, Manchester, M3 5JZ United Kingdom
*Terms and conditions apply. VAT subject to prevailing government rate. Hotel £84/£99 offer requires a minimum 2 night stay, is subject to availability and can be withdrawn at any time. Swimming pool and other facilities opening is subject to health and safety procedures and may be closed without notice. No live entertainment on the resort during this season. Full terms and conditions apply - see www.croydeunison.co.uk
At UNISON we believe apprenticeships are the key to building a workforce that will meet the demands of the 21st century economy. We believe that they should be a vital part of the upcoming economic response to the COVID-19 crisis and we will be using the power that comes from being the largest union in the UK to improve the position of apprentices in the future. As part of our campaigning, we want to hear about your experiences during the recent lockdown as well as what is happening now as restrictions gradually ease. https://www.surveygizmo.eu/s3/90254906/Apprentices-in-UNISON-2020
Members affected by NJC pay and conditions should expect an email from SurveyGizmo very shortly.
This email has a link that allows you to vote on whether you reject or accept the pay offer. All results are anonymous and the branch will only know the number who rejected or accepted the offer.
Remember not to share your link - it is unique to you, and allows you to vote once in the consultation. The closing date is the 9th August.
Dear member,
I've been so proud to serve as your General Secretary for 20 years. It has been the honour and privilege of my life to be able to represent our incredible public service workers from across our four nations, and never more so than in the last few difficult months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today I have advised the President that I will retire on 31 December 2020 when my current period of office comes to an end. In order to comply with trade union law, our NEC Development and Organisation Committee will meet this week to discuss a timetable to elect my successor and full details will be published once that is agreed. But I wanted you, our activists and the leading members of our union, to hear the news directly from me.
We have been through some tough times together. We've brought our union through the long years of austerity where we saw our public services decimated with hundreds of thousands of jobs lost. But we stayed strong and we built the union.
We are now the largest union in the UK and the fastest-growing union in Europe. We have a vibrant lay democracy with activists like you in more than 50,000 workplaces. Our finances are strong and I hope we are now in a position to channel additional support and resources to our branches – where I truly believe that we organise and support our members best.
Every day for the past 47 years, I have been proud to serve this union and I have always been driven by a belief in fairness and justice for all our members. Never more so than in the past five months when I have seen our members and our public services rise to the challenge of the pandemic. In the worst of all circumstances, I have seen our union at its very best.
New members are joining our union faster than ever before because they value what a strong union can provide – support when they need it, strength to fight for change and a community that means that even in the most worrying times, you are never alone. Our enduring values of caring and solidarity will be more important than ever in the coming years.
As the health crisis turns to an economic crisis, we will face more challenges. I will be here to continue to lead this union until the end of this year – we still have a great deal of work to do together. I hope to be able to resume visiting branches and to meet and talk with as many of you as possible – always my favourite part of the job!
It has been my pleasure, my honour and an absolute privilege to lead our union, UNISON.
Thank you,
Dave Prentis
UNISON General Secretary
In May 2020, UNISON branches in the West Midlands recovered over £147,000 in Personal Injury Settlements for our members.
If you've suffered an injury at or away from work and believe you have a claim, then call our dedicated 24 hour helpline on 0808 252 2783. You will need to have been a member for at least four weeks before the accident occurred to receive support. Don't delay, as your legal rights for compensation often have time limits.