May Day - International Worker's Day 2024

 

It's International Workers' Day 2024 #IWD2024 UNISON stands in solidarity with all workers and their trade unions at home and around the world. #MayDay

Reminder: Workers Memorial Day event - 1pm Friday 26 April 24 at Three Mills Green, Stratford, E3 3DU - Theme is Climate Change impact on safety

This year since Workers Memorial Day is on a Sunday, my branch will be organising our annual wreath laying event on the Friday before (Friday 26 April at 1pm) outside the "Clasping Hands" Statue in Three Mills Green, Stratford, E3 3DU.

This is the site of a historic "accident" where a number of workers sacrificed their lives while attempting to rescue their colleagues.

Members and Staff Safety officers from local Housing Associations are expected but all welcome to pay their respects. Guest speakers invited.

(In local park next to historic mills and canel. Near Bromley by Bow tube, buses, can park for free near by at Tesco for limited time if you buy something)

"With last year the hottest year on record, the theme for 2024's Workers' Memorial Day is the impacts of climate change on occupational health and safety. Death at work and employment disruption as a result of global warming, not to mention occupational illnesses caused by polluting fossil fuels, are rising everywhere, and are only expected to increase.

Stand with us this year to remember the early victims of climate change-caused heat stress, UV radiation, air pollution, industrial accidents, extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases, and chemical exposure. And commit to fight for a world that's more, not less, safe to live and work in.
Check out TUC site for further details" (TUC)

https://www.megaphone.org.uk/events/stratford-international-workers-memorial-day

St Georges Day 2024 - Message from Keir Starmer

"On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish everyone a happy St George’s Day.

Let us be proud of our national identity, confident on the world stage, and sure of our country’s future".

Keir Starmer

Pay Ballot sent out today via email to all Clarion UNISON members.

 

This consultation will close at 5pm on 25 March 2024. As the recognised trade union, only Clarion UNISON members are being balloted.

VOTE ACCEPT OR REJECT

If you do not have a ballot email Unison@clarionhg.com

"Sadiq Has Frozen Your Fares"

 

After work this evening together with activists across London, we leafleted local railway stations with these flyers pointing out that Sadaq had frozen fares for the 5th time! 

While the Tories have allowed fares to rise by 4.9% elsewhere. Together with free school meals and the largest number of council homes built in London since the 1970s, Sadiq policies are making a massive difference to ordinary Londoners struggling with the cost of living crisis. 

UNISON Pension Seminar 2024

14 March 2024

11:00am–3:00pm

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

The seminar will bring delegates up to date on key pension issues. These will include the pension gender gap, investing pension money in ways that have positive impacts, and how to defend pensions when they are threatened by hostile employers.

It will also be a great chance to meet other activists who are interested in pensions issues. Building our networks and learning from each other is how we can best secure decent pensions for members. Come to learn more, celebrate the work you do, and meet inspiring colleagues who are also working to secure dignity in retirement for our members.

Registration and Enquiries

We have now opened the Online Conferencing System (OCS) to allow branches to register delegates.

If you want to attend the seminar, please contact your branch who can register you as a delegate or visitor on the Online Conference System (OCS). Once you are registered you will receive an email confirmation from OCS.

When registering a delegation, the Branch will be agreeing to cover all costs and subsistence for the delegate.

Delegates should register any reasonable adjustments, dietary requirements or any additional support via OCS.

Delegate registration requests to reserve places will close on 29th February at 12noon.

Amending a delegation

Changes to the names of delegations via OCS must be done by 7th March before midnight.

Accommodation

All accommodation and transport costs are the responsibility of the branch and must be arranged separately.

Travel Arrangements

Branches are asked to book all travel arrangements via Stewart Corporate Travel by emailing unison@stewarttravelmanagement.com or telephone: 0800 091 4272 

We highly recommend branches book fully refundable travel and accommodation in case of any unforeseen changes to the event.

Seminar-related queries can be directed to Feral Suleyman, admin support

UNISON Winter fuel grants for members on a low income

Can branches check out this page unsn.uk/41SPAHd and encourage low income members to apply for a "there for you" winter fuel grant worth £200. 

Applications will open twice on Wednesday 24 January, at 8.30am and 5pm. The online form will appear on this page. Recent grant applications have been extremely popular and closed within a matter of minutes, so please do check the eligibility criteria below, ensure you have your UNISON membership number to hand and consider setting a reminder if you wish to apply.

Applicants must:

• Be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks’ subscriptions as of 24 January. Subscriptions must be up to date.
• Not have an outstanding application for the recent Energy Support Fund grant.
• Not have been issued with a successful decision for the recent Energy Support Fund grant.
• Not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 24 July
  2023, excluding the School Uniform Grant.
• Have savings (including the total rolling balance on current accounts) below £1,000 to qualify.
• Be responsible (or their partner, if applicable) for household fuel bills. Only one application per household will be considered.

And EITHER:

Be on a low income, meaning a net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month)

* Net household income includes your monthly take-home pay from work (plus your partner’s if applicable), any income from child maintenance payments, any income from student finance loans or bursaries, pensions (excluding Pension Credit) and any income from people living with you (e.g. adult children or lodgers).

OR:

Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child and/or Working Tax Credits
• Pension Credit
• Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
• Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
• Income Support

2024: Year of LGBT+ workers

"2024 is @unisontheunion 's Year of LGBT+ workers. This year we're celebrating all of our LGBT+ members and showing why we are the best union for LGBT+ public service workers. Are you a UNISON LGBT+ member? Get involved: https://unison.org.uk/about/what-we-"do/fairness-equality/lgbt/group-structure-and-contacts/

Get signed up! Love to Learn. TUC courses 2024

 

TUC Education courses - 2024

Find out more about courses running in your area from January 2024. Our courses offer essential training for reps and help you develop your skills. Scotland Northern Region North West Region Yorkshire and the Humber Region Midlands Region London, East and South East Region South West Region Wales We are still in the process of adding new courses over the coming weeks so please keep checking the site at https://www.tuc.org.uk/TUCcourses If you know of other reps who don't receive these updates from TUC Education, they can sign up here.

Blog "Let’s make 2024 a success - Vote in our service group elections and celebrate UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ Workers" Christina McAnea

"Happy New Year to everyone in UNISON and here’s to a successful year for you and your families.

I have high hopes for 2024 – 12 months of campaigning for UNISON’s Year of LGBT+ workers and for a national care service, securing pay deals across all public services and a general election that will push the chaotic Tories out of Westminster and bring in a new government.

A new government is a must for our members and for our public services. Our NHS, schools, local councils and emergency services are on their knees and stuck in a state of crisis. The current government’s legacy is one of slashing jobs, squeezing budgets, and falling living standards for millions of working people. We need a Labour government that will rebuild our public services, put workers first with a new deal for working people and create a national care service.

Campaigning for that change in government will be a big part of our mission this year, but we won’t let election fever take over our daily task of fighting for our members’ pay and conditions. Day in, day out, our activists and organisers are supporting members in workplaces across the UK, and our teams in head office are mounting legal challenges, influencing politicians, preparing campaigns and helping members when they need us most.   

We’ll also be celebrating our Year of LGBT+ workers in UNISON style – continuing to be loud and proud against homophobia and transphobia, and ensuring that UNISON always remains the best trade union for LGBT+ public service workers.  

And later this year, there’s something that every working member can get involved with. From 22 April to 17 May, voting will be open for your representatives on UNISON’s service group executives (SGEs) – the lay leaders who decide on campaigns, pay claims, strike ballots and industrial action. Ahead of that member ballot, from next Monday (8 January) until 9 February, branches can nominate their preferred candidates.

Our SGEs are so important in UNISON. They’re powerful groups of activists that keep UNISON with you throughout your working life, campaigning for fair pay and conditions, safe and healthy working conditions, job security, work-life balance, equal pay and against discrimination.

So if you want some more new year’s resolutions, here’s two for you – have your say in UNISON’s SGE elections and get involved in our Year of LGBT+ workers activities that will be taking place throughout 2024.

From everyone in UNISON, we hope you have a happy, healthy and successful 2024".