http://msg.unison.org.uk/i/amf_unison/project_120/26105_safeside_emailheader_sidetext.png?size=0x0&w=B5TMqp77rdujkLQyixAk15l_etps Newsletter for UNISON branches on recruiting Safety Reps and organising around COVID-19: "Be on the safe side ( Campaign to recruit Safety Reps, to print a copy and view in browser click here). http://msg.unison.org.uk/q/13W4JwKJB0enLsg1LOk10/wv

General Secretary election 2020




Dave Prentis, our current General Secretary, has announced he is to retire on 31 December 2020. An election will be held to appoint a new general secretary.
The nomination period will run from 10 August to 25 September 2020. Any meetings held to agree a nomination must take place between these dates
Our Branch committee will be meeting on Tuesday 8 september to agree our nomination.
Further details will be sent to all members re the election .

In response to the growing difficulties many members on low incomes face, a programme has been put in place that will assist our most vulnerable members with the cost of purchasing school uniforms. details here





VISIT STUNNING CROYDE BAY



UNISONs very own Holiday Village is now out of lockdown

and taking bookings - so make the most of your staycation

 

find out more here

INTERESTED IN BEING ACTIVE AS A UNISON &HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE?
READ MORE HERE

UNISON ISSUES COVID-19 GUIDANCE FOR BLACK MEMBERS here

HSE’s PPE Unit has become concerned about the prevalence of KN95 masks in the supply chain that may not provide the protection people expect or require.  The safety alert can be found at . https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/use-of-face-masks-designated-kn95.htm?

 

Tower Hamlets UNISON are meeting on Monday 15 June to enact the strike action they suspended as they wanted to support their community through the Covid 19 crisis. Although the labour Council were shamed into suspending the implementation of detrimental “Tower Rewards” contracts that the workforce have overwhelmingly rejected, they are still threatening to impose them on 6th July.  

Although talks at ACAS have been scheduled the requirement for a 14 day notice period under Tory anti-union laws leave the branch  with no option other than to set strike days now.

It cannot be right that workers who have been recognised as essential throughout this crisis are rewarded by having worse conditions imposed, still less that the Council seeks to use the crisis to impose them at a time they think it will be harder for unions to take effective action.

UNISON Assistant General Secretary Roger McKenzie will also address the meeting on Black Lives Matter.

Our branch agreed to send a letter expressing our solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Tower hamlets and should they need it, financial support to ensure the success of their actions

NJC PAY 2020 CONSULTATION TO BEGIN IN JUNE

read the bulletin here

UNISON has issued guidance to members on work safety
it can be found at :




HOW TO WORK SAFELY

NJC PAY 2020 UPDATE
A letter from the national office detailing current situation can be read here
The branch have written to all members seeking their view on the offer
If you have not recieved an email
contact us at
wolvesunison@outlook.com






http://msgfocus.com/files/amf_unison/project_131/LG_27_2020_-_NJC_Pay_2020_Update.pdf

The Council HR department have issued current advice regarding clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding) and clinically vulnerable (non-shielding) school based employees, with regards to being able to work.

Staff who have been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable due to pre-existing medical conditions have been advised to shield. These staff have been identified as having a serious underlying health condition which puts them at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus and have been advised by their clinician or through a letter from the NHS to rigorously follow shielding measures in order to keep themselves safe. It is not expected that people in this category will be attending school and they should continue to work at home as much as possible. 

Clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) who are at higher risk of severe illness (for example, people with some pre-existing conditions as set out in the Staying at home and away from others (social distancing) guidance) have been advised to take extra care in observing social distancing might have also received a letter but this is not to be confused with a shielding letter.

Where possible, these employees should work from home, and . Education and childcare settings should endeavour to support this, for example by asking staff to support remote education, carry out lesson planning or other roles which can be done from home.

If clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable) individuals cannot work from home, they should be offered the safest available on-site roles, staying 2 metres away from others wherever possible, although the individual may choose to take on a role that does not allow for this distance if they prefer to do so. If they have to spend time within 2 metres of other people, settings must carefully assess and discuss with them whether this involves an acceptable level of risk

Please note:

•a member of staff who lives with someone who is clinically vulnerable (but not clinically extremely vulnerable), including those who are pregnant, can attend school.

•if a staff member lives in a household with someone who is extremely clinically vulnerable, as set out in the guidance on shielding, it is advised they only attend school if stringent social distancing can be adhered to. If stringent social distancing cannot be adhered to, it is advised for those staff to not attend. They should be supported to work at home.

•staff should not attend if they have symptoms or are self-isolating due to symptoms in their household.

•protective measures will be put in place for staff and pupils, as far as is possible, to ensure that the risk of transmission is reduced.

COVID-19 FAQ FOR SCHOOLS STAFF

 UNISON, NEU, GMB and Unite. have issued a new Planning Guide for schools

This is a commentary on recent Department for Education guidance and a checklist for branches and members to use to ask questions of employers, who are following government guidance and proposing to prematurely significantly increase the number of pupils going to primary schools from June 1^st.

read the guide here 

Should you have any concerns or questions email us at wolvesunison@outlook.com

Education unions agree statement on the safe reopening of schools


It has been signed by UNISON, AEP, GMB, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU, NSEAD, Prospect and Unite.
Full text of today’s statement:
“We all want schools to re-open, but that should only happen when it is safe to do so. The government is showing a lack of understanding about the dangers of the spread of coronavirus within schools, and outwards from schools to parents, sibling and relatives, and to the wider community.
“Uniquely, it appears, school staff will not be protected by social distancing rules. 15 children in a class, combined with their very young age, means that classrooms of 4 and 5-year olds could become sources of Covid-19 transmission and spread.  While we know that children generally have mild symptoms, we do not know enough about whether they can transmit the disease to adults. We do not think that the government should be posing this level of risk to our society.
“We call on the government to step back from the 1st June and work with us to create the conditions for a safe return to schools based on the principles and tests we have set out.”
The principles and tests include:

• Safety and welfare of pupils and staff as the paramount principle
• No increase in pupil numbers until full rollout of a national test and trace scheme
• A national Covid-19 education taskforce with government, unions and education stakeholders to agree statutory guidance for safe reopening of schools
• Consideration of the specific needs of vulnerable students and families facing economic disadvantage
• Additional resources for enhanced school cleaning, PPE and risk assessments
• Local autonomy to close schools where testing indicates clusters of new covid-19 cases

UNISON  and the National Education Union, have told members “not to engage” with school reopening plans until further guidance is  issued.

There for You launches COVID-19 response fund

New fund will help members facing particular need because of the pandemic


GO HERE

Support for family and friends of deceased members

We are so saddened to hear of members dying from COVID-19, including so many who have died in the line of duty, as they try to help others in this unprecedented time.

We want you to know that if you’re the family or friend of a UNISON member that has died, we’re here to help.

DEMAND ACTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT

Our members in care, the NHS and other vital public services have risen to the challenge of dealing with this pandemic. But many feel they are forced to put themselves in harm’s way every time they go to work because this government is not keeping its promises on personal protective equipment (PPE). SIGN  OUR PETITION

Ramadan and coronavirus - Supporting Muslim workmates


The TUC has produced some useful advice on the above which can be read here

NJC Pay update

Last week UNISON circulated a letter from the NJC Employers’ Side, which made an increased pay offer of 2.75%, along with one extra day of annual leave on the minimum, and a promise that they would approach government to ask for more money for local government pay. I also sent you the response from the NJC trade union executive.

 

UNISON have since received a further letter from the Employers, which is attached. This new letter makes it clear that in their view, this is a final pay offer, and they encourage us to begin consulting on it. They also state that they wish to begin to discussions about the impact of the increased National Living Wage from 2021, but they say they cannot do this until 2020-21 pay is settled.

 

NJC Executive members and officers have met and agreed to respond jointly with the other unions. The unions’ response is attached. We made clear that we do not consider the negotiations to be complete. At the time of writing, the Employers’ Side are still planning to write to the government asking for more money for local government pay. But they have not decided whether to agree to a joint process with the unions to take this forward, and they have not told us what they would be seeking from government.

 

Despite this, it is clear that negotiations are nearing their end, so, as per conference decisions, there needs to be a meeting of our NJC committee. Head office are exploring the best way, in these current times, to arrange such a meeting remotely so the committee can make decisions about how we take forward pay negotiations/consultation.

 

Was an absolute pleasure to deliver face visors to the hard working meals on wheels team Wolverhampton still going out feeding the community. Proud of you all. Supplied by Mantech -UK Ltd  Oldbury and delivered by UNISON City of Wolverhampton Branch.

-Julie Pearce

ex steward Meals on wheels team

 

New guidance for care homes 

The Local Government Association has made an increased pay offer for staff on NJC pay and conditions.


Please find below a copy of a letter from the employers and the response from the NJC joint unions.

You will note that we have not accepted that this is the employers’ final offer, as a number of areas remain unresolved. We have asked the employers to write jointly with us to the government to seek additional funds for an improved offer and also called for a further negotiating meeting.




READ EMPLOYERS OFFER HERE


READ THE UNIONS RESPONSE HERE

Based in Oldbury, West Midlands Mantech UK is an engineering firm usually selling machine tools. They have the machines and skills to make visors so desperately needed by frontline carers in the community and hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic

( picture Ade Turner branch Secretary modelling Visor )

Ade has been able to get a limited supply of full face visors for distribution to union members, the first batch going to Bradley resource centre.

Mantech say"Many of our staff have family members on the frontline in the West Midlands area and so far we have funded the materials for over 900 visors ourselves and will continue to do so whilst our help is needed.

We have requests from local hospitals, care homes, GPs and community workers flooding in.

If anyone would like to support us in this work we welcome any donations. Every penny donated will only be spent on materials to enable us to keep meeting the demand."

if you would like to contribute to their  important project tthey have a GoFund page here

Public sector workers are for life,

not just for a crisis

An article by the TUC about the imprtance of ourselves can be read here

UNISON There for You

CoVid19: Emergency grant application guidelines

In these difficult times, UNISON There for You is supporting those members whose lives have been seriously affected by the Co-Vid 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

 

For copy of form email wolvesunison@outlook.com

 

Return the completed form 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

 

A number of branch officers are volunteering at the Councils food distribution centre at Aldersley stadium