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