Graphic of the pay fair for patient care camapaign with subtext getting it right for healthcare support staff.

Protest at Middlesbrough Hospital over pay, says UNISON

Hundreds of healthcare assistants at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough will be holding a rally tomorrow (Thursday) as part of their campaign for fair pay, says UNISON. The staff, employed by South Tees NHS Trust, say they have been underpaid for their work.  According to NHS guidance, healthcare assistants on salary band 2 should only be providing personal care such […]

Graphic of the pay fair for patient care camapaign with subtext getting it right for healthcare support staff.

North Tees and Hartlepool hospitals face strike action in row over fair pay, says UNISON

Hundreds of healthcare assistants at North Tees Hospital and Hartlepool Hospital are refusing to rule out strike action as they step up their fight for fair pay, says UNISON today (Thursday). The staff, employed by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, say they have been underpaid for their work. According to NHS guidance, healthcare assistants on salary band 2 should only be providing […]

Blog: Celebrating Young Workers’ Month with an Intersectional Lens by Henrietta Cameron, YM Lead

November is a special month for UNISON as it marks the annual celebration of young workers. This month gives us a platform to recognise the invaluable contributions of young workers in workplaces, and an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges they face. Young workers are more likely to be in insecure work, in low […]

Picture of Rue Kudya wuth local service champions graphic

Blog: Local Service Champions – Guest blog by Rue Kudya

Today is UNISON’s annual celebration of local government workers. Whether it’s the staff who keep buildings clean and safe or the worker supporting a resident with their benefits query, Council staff regularly go above and beyond for their communities.  This vital work is often hidden from the public and as the largest union in local […]

North East Ambulance Service sign UNISON’s Anti-Racism Charter

UNISON’s Anti-Racism Charter is more than just a document with ideas on how to challenge workplace racial discrimination, it is constant commitment to transform public-service employers into explicitly anti-racist institutions. Brian Dodds, UNISON Branch Secretary at NEAS, commented on NEAS signing the Charter: “By signing our Anti-Racism Charter, NEAS is setting an example about the […]

North East councils face “dire” cash crisis totalling more than £133m, says UNISON

Councils across the North East have a hole in their finances exceeding £133m collectively for the coming financial year, making it extremely likely they will have to make huge cuts in essential services and jobs, says a report published today (Friday) by UNISON. The figures, based on financial information gathered from local authorities across the North East show […]

Blog: Getting active in schools – a guest blog by Jane Shortland

My trade union journey began more than 30 years ago and I have never looked back. I took part in Return to Learn (R2L) that whetted my appetite for not just learning for myself, but also to support other UNISON members through their learning journey. From R2L, I became a Voluntary Education Adviser, then a […]

Government must come clean over scale of crumbly concrete in schools, says UNISON

Responding to the announcement today (Tuesday) that the number of confirmed cases of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools in England has increased to 174, UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “Many involved in education suspect ministers still aren’t revealing the true scale of this growing problem. “At-risk schools remain in the dark as they […]

UNISON Year of Black Workers Launch Event will see Gateshead NHS Trust sign up to Anti-Racism Charter.

At an event at 3pm on Thursday 6 July at the Innside Hotel on Newcastle’s Quayside, UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea will launch UNISON Northern Region’s Year of Black Workers program of activities. This includes our Anti-Racism Charter. The Anti-Racism Charter can make a real difference to Black workers’ lives. The pledges in the charter […]

Blog: Health & Safety interview with Rebecca Ash

This week we are focussing on Health & Safety (H&S). We managed to catch up with one of our H&S reps, Rebecca Ash from Gateshead Healthcare Branch. Hi Rebecca, thanks for taking your time out to speak to us. No problem. How long have you been a H&S officer? Since September 2019 What does your […]