Further education unions ‘outraged’ at pay offer

UNISON says college leaders have broken their pay promises and that pay in the FE sector is ‘simply too low’

Support staff across North East celebrated at Stars in Our Schools event 

Support workers have ensured ​school buildings are safe and ​regularly cleaned to protect pupils and staff from infection, and ke​pt parents updated about the latest Covid regulations.

Blog: Young Workers Month – Guest post by Caitlin Whiston

November has been young workers month and this year the campaign was to celebrate and raise awareness of our young trade unionist activists in UNISON could not be more important.

Care workers left high and dry by chancellor, says UNISON  

Commenting on an additional £1bn for ​councils to help them fund social care ​and extra Covid responsibilities announced in the comprehensive spending review yesterday (Wednesday), UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:   “This is nowhere near enough to reform social care services. It will mean more misery for those who can’t access the support they need. “The vast majority of workers will also […]

Pay restraint is a “cruel blow” for those working tirelessly in the pandemic, says UNISON

Responding to reports the chancellor of the exchequer is preparing to impose a pay cap on most public sector workers, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said today (Friday): “Key workers across ​all public services remain at the heart of the fight against Covid. “​Reports of pay ​restraint ​for all but frontline NHS staff would be a ​cruel body blow to ​other health, care and public service employees working tirelessly […]

Living wage increase leaves many thousands of health and care staff behind, says UNISON

Commenting on the increase in real living wage rates – to £9.50 (and £10.85 in London) – announced today (Monday) by the Living Wage Foundation, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “While some 250,000 low-paid workers will get a wage rise today, many others on the Covid frontline will be less fortunate. “Care staff working in […]

Care staff deserve equal pay with the NHS, says UNISON

Commenting on a report published today (Saturday) by Age UK on the pay and conditions facing social care workers, UNISON assistant general secretary and co-chair of the Future Social Care Coalition Christina McAnea said: “These shocking findings are a wake-up call to government that enough is enough. “Care staff can’t go on being ignored, undervalued and left to exist […]

Health workers in the North East of England urge local MPs to back early pay rise for exhausted staff and to protect the NHS  

Hundreds of health staff across the North East of England – including nurses, paramedics, cleaners, domestics and porters – are writing to the region’s 29 MPs asking them to back UNISON’s call for NHS staff to get an early pay rise in time for Christmas.

Thousands will suffer in retirement due to government’s public sector exit-payment cap, says UNISON

Middle-income earners taking home around £20,000 to £30,000 a year, who’ve built up their pensions over decades, are being treated as if they are after a quick payout

Blog: Black History Month – Guest post by Nicky Ramanandi

October is black history month, it’s a month where we come together to celebrate the contribution that black people have made to society and continue to do so