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#SaveSamDaviesWard New Video
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5,000 SIGN BARRY HOSPITAL WARD PETITION IN JUST THREE WEEKS
In just three weeks, 5,000 people have signed UNISON’s petition to keep open the threatened Sam Davies Ward at Barry Hospital.
UNISON healthcare workers at the hospital launched the petition on 23 July with a call for the whole town to sign up to defend the local acute rehabilitation ward for older people.
Andrew Woodman, UNISON Cymru Wales regional organiser said,
“People have responded magnificently when UNISON healthcare workers have asked them to support our petition. It is clear people cherish their local hospital services and they recognise the valuable work staff do to support the elderly in the community.
“We’ve been on the high streets and into shops speaking to as many people as we can. No-one we’ve spoken to thinks closing the Sam Davies Ward is a good idea or will benefit patients or their families in any way.
“We’re certain we’ll get thousands more signatures. UNISON will be at Barry Island in September and we’ll have a stall at Barry Pride. We’ll keep talking to everyone about the need for local and easily accessible public services to remain in Barry. Closure of the Ward would force people to travel further afield to health services based at Llandough or the Heath hospital.
“UNISON will do our best to keep the Sam Davies Ward open.”
Notes for editors
- To date, 3,287 people have signed paper copies of the petition. A further 1,580 people have signed online, giving a total of 4,867. Copies of the petition have been left for people to sign in shops and offices
- Watch UNISON’s new video about the campaign #SaveSamDaviesWard
- UNISON will be on Barry Island on Sunday 1 September 10am-4pm and have a stall at Barry Pride on 21 September. Further activities are planned in King Square.
- The ‘Save Barry Hospital Ward’ petition is live on the Welsh Government website. See text below.
- Many Barry hospital healthcare workers live locally and don’t drive so redeployment will be difficult. The board has not promised that job losses will be avoided
- UNISON Cymru Wales has accused the health board of a complete failure to properly engage with staff and the local community about its plans.
The text of the petition is as follows:
e-Petition: Save Sam Davies Ward at Barry Hospital
We the undersigned call on the Welsh Government, being the ultimate body responsible for the provision of health care in Wales, to stop the proposal of the Cardiff & Vale UHB to close the Sam Davies Ward, a 23 bedded older persons acute rehabilitation ward at the Barry Hospital, and to ensure that the Barry Hospital continues to provide Health Services to the public of Barry the largest Town in Wales.
The Sam Davies Ward is a 23 bedded older persons acute rehabilitation ward. The services include stroke rehabilitation, orthopaedic rehabilitation, and medical rehabilitation amongst other key health services. The ward also has two respite beds
Contact
Alastair Gittins, UNISON press officer 07816 53 83 97
UHL Multi-Storey Cark Park to Close for Week's Maintenance
Dear colleague
The multi storey car park at University Hospital Llandough (UHL) is currently undergoing essential repairs. Levels 6 (patient and visitor) and 5 (staff) of the car park are already unavailable as part of the works, but the car park will be completely closed during the final week repairs commencing Monday 19th August, before it reopens on Monday 26th August.
The work has been scheduled to coincide with the launch of the new UHL Park and Ride service as well as the school summer holidays to minimise disruption as much as possible. The disabled and visitor parking immediately adjacent to the multi storey car park will remain open throughout the works.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and is advising patients, visitors and staff to use the new Park and Ride service to UHL which runs on weekdays, every 20 minutes from the Toys r Us car park, which is located on Olympian Drive, CF11 0JS and drops off/picks up at the Plaza at UHL. The journey on the bus only takes 10 minutes.
The new Park and Ride service has been funded by Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and is free of charge for patients, visitors and staff to use.
Confidentiality
Privacy Notice: The Cardiff and Vale UHB Privacy Notice can be accessed on our website (http://www.cardiffandvaleuhb.
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New cash will begin to address years of underfunding but more is desperately needed
The 'Save Barry Hospital Ward' petition is live on the Welsh Government website. Please take a moment to sign and join our campaign to defend the Hospital
ward."
https://www.assembly.wales/en/
UNISON healthcare workers have launched a petition to save the threatened Sam Davies ward at Barry Hospital. The trade union has called on the whole of the town to sign up to defend their local health services. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board wants to close the acute rehabilitation ward and UNISON Cymru Wales has […]
Recruitment/Engagement Event
7:30 - 3:00, 29th August, The Concoarse UHW
come and meet your rep's, we're happy to answer your questions.
Hi All,
Thank you for the many requests we've received for
the PRIDE Cymru tickets. Unfortunately we have received far more requests than we have tickets available and the offer is now closed.
We are processing the requests as quickly as we can
and will respond to everyone as soon as we can.
Regards
Mike Jones
Branch Secretary
FREE TICKETS
SORRY ALL GONE!
The Branch has purchased 75 tickets for
Pride Cymru
Saturday 24th August 2019
Free to our branch members only on a first come, first served basis
Maximum of two tickets per member. once they're gone, they're gone! do not delay!
Contact the branch office to apply J
Phone: 02920 748280
Email: unison.office.uhw@wales.nhs.uk
It’s time for public bodies to divest from fossil fuels, UNISON Cymru Wales is a signatory to a joint letter to the South Wales Echo/Wales Online
UNISON healthcare workers have launched a petition to save the threatened Sam Davies ward at Barry Hospital. The trade union has called on the whole of the town to sign up to defend their local health services. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board wants to close the acute rehabilitation ward and UNISON Cymru Wales has […]
Dear Member,
‘FREE’ Coach Day Trip to Weston Super Mare
As a Unison member of our branch we would like to take the opportunity of offering you a chance of a day out on us to Weston Super Mare by coach, ‘FREE of charge’ and this has been scheduled for Saturday 15th February, 2020.
We have already filled one coach and would be happy to have to book more if the member’s need them.
To reserve your seat please contact us on the above address, telephone number or e.mail address with your full name, department of work and site, contact number. We would also need £5 as a deposit to hold your seat and this money will be returned to you on the day of travel.
On the outward journey we will be holding a short Annual General Meeting which should take no more than 15 minutes and Officers of the branch will be available for questions / queries to be answered.
Please feel free to circulate this information to other Unison members of Cardiff & Vale Health Branch so we can give them a chance just in case they do not receive this information via e.mail. You can also find our poster on the UHB Intranet.
We appreciate this is not for quite a while yet but sometimes it is nice to have something to look forward to, therefore if you are interested please contact us as soon as possible to reserve your seat.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks
Nicola
Nicola Hobbs
Branch Administrator
Cardiff & Vale Health Branch
Doctors are not the only ones who need NHS pensions help, says UNISON
Responding to the announcement of an overhaul in pension rules, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: "These changes are just fixes to resolve
unworkable parts of George Osborne’s taxation regime.
"Introducing measures to help only a small proportion of the millions of active NHS scheme members looks alarmingly like the beginning of a 'clinicians-first' approach to
pension strategy.
"At the other end of the pay scale, thousands of low-paid staff leave the scheme because they struggle to afford the payments. The government should also be paying similar
attention to this problem and introducing flexibility to give staff on far lower earnings a more comfortable retirement."
Notes to editors
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public
services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contact:
Anthony Barnes T: 020 7121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
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| New season, new prime minister. As July turned into August, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson became the new leader of the UK on the say-so of less than 100,000 Conservative Party members. But UNISON says prime ministers should be elected by the whole country, not an out-of-touch few. | ||
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UNISON backs Labour plans to legislate on excessive heat in the workplace
| Time for a maximum safe working working temperature | ||
| It's August. Heat waves are washing over us. Some of us are enjoying the beach, or maybe a cool camping holiday. But some of us are stuck in sweltering offices. You union says it's time for a law on excessive heat in the workplace. | ||
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Boris Johnson must call an immediate
election, says UNISON’s Dave Prentis
Commenting on the result of the Conservative leadership election today (Tuesday) UNISON general secretary Dave
Prentis said:
“Boris Johnson has spent the past few months talking up a no-deal Brexit that would be catastrophic for public services. But after
a decade of austerity, those services can’t afford the shock that crashing out of Europe without a deal would cause.
"Every single one of us must now hold Johnson to his promises – especially the infamous £350 million a week for the NHS. The
time for talk is over, our beleaguered public services – particularly social care – demand serious and urgent attention.
"Prime ministers should be elected by the whole country, not an out of touch few. If Boris Johnson really believes he’s ready to
lead the country, he should call a general election.”
Notes to editors:
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services –
in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Garfield Myrie T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Labour’s insourcing plans are a welcome first step, says UNISON
Commenting on the Labour Party’s plans to reverse the trend of public services being outsourced to private contractors and bring services back in-house, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“This report is a welcome first step on the road to ending the scourge of public service privatisation. For the first time in 20 years we’re seeing positive signs that Labour understands the damage that outsourcing has caused – and is developing a plan to reverse it.
“I’m looking forward to working with the Shadow Chancellor and other members of the shadow cabinet to deliver on Labour’s conference policy – an end to all privatisation in the public sector in the first term of the next Labour government.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They
are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Garfield Myrie T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
NHS pension scheme - age discrimination judgement
This circular provides an update on the legal judgment that found elements of the firefighters and judges pension schemes to be discriminatory based on age.
In full:
A legal case taken by the firefighters and judges has found has that the transitional protections introduced as part of the 2015 changes to their respective pension schemes were discriminatory based on age.
There is a likely read across of this judgment to the other public sector pension schemes, which includes the NHS Pension Scheme, that have similar protection arrangements.
In the NHS if you were within 10 years of your Normal Pension Age on 1 April 2012 you received Full Protection meaning you retained all the benefits of your old scheme. If you were between 10 and 13.5 years of retirement you continued to build up benefits in your old scheme and moved to the 2015 NHS Pension Scheme but at a later date. While those with more than 13.5 years before their Normal Pension Age moved into the 2015 scheme on 1 April 2015.
In a Ministerial Written Statement the government stated its belief that the difference in treatment provided by the transitional arrangements will need to be remedied across all public sector pension schemes including the NHS.
UNISON is currently working with the other NHS trade unions, employers and government departments to understand the applicability and implications this judgment has for the NHS pension scheme.
The case has now been sent back to an Employment Tribunal to determine a remedy for those that have been discriminated against. It is likely to be some time before an outcome of this is known.
Contact UNISON on 0800 0 857 857 or visit www.unison.org.uk
UNISON remains committed to defending the NHS Pension Scheme as an essential part of the NHS employment package. The potential impact of this legal case was discussed at Health Conference 2019 and Emergency Composite motion 2 set conference policy on the issue.
Further updates will be circulated to branches once more information is available.
Author: Email:
Colm Porter c.porter@unison.co.uk
NHS Pension Scheme Flexibilities
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have launched a consultation on proposals to introduce flexibilities into the NHS Pension Scheme.
In full:
The DHSC are consulting on proposals to introduce flexibilities into the NHS Pension Scheme for England and Wales.
The consultation can be found here.
The DHSC are proposing that these new provisions that will allow scheme members to manage their pension more flexiably will only be available to senior clinicians. UNISON believes these flexibilities should be avialable to all NHS Pension Scheme members.
UNISON will be submitting a detailed response to this consultation as well as providing input into the NHS Pension Scheme Advisory Board’s response.
If you have any views on the proposals please contact Colm Porter.
Author: Email:
Colm Porter c.porter@unison.co.uk
HMRC clamps down on Widening Access Training tax breaks
Summary:
HMRC have issued new guidance on eligibility for tax and National Insurance breaks for NHS staff on „Widening Access to Training Schemes.‟ Tax/NI breaks will end from September 2019 but there is some leeway for staff who started courses before this date, with confirmation that there will be no clawback where employers have been applying the tax break.
In full:
Over the last couple of years many branches have been dealing with enquries from members on training schemes about eligibility for tax and NI breaks under Widening Access to Training schemes. These have included courses such as psychology, psychological well-being practice, nursing associate, health visiting and paramedicine.
There has been considerable confusion and no consistency in how employers have interpreted eligibility. Some staff have been granted the tax break, others have been refused, while some have just been kept on hold awaiting further clarification. Often staff doing the same courses have been treated differently depending on where they work and who they asked.
HMRC has now issued an update to its guidance which you can read here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/widening-access-training-scheme-refund-income-tax- and-national-insurance-to-nhs-workers
And the attached letter, which has gone to NHS employers, explains this in more detail.
The updated guidance does now provide a clear position that employees starting courses from 1 September 2019 will not be eligible for tax/NI breaks:
Contact UNISON on 0800 0 857 857 or visit www.unison.org.uk
NHS Pay Review Body publishes 2019 report
Summary:
The NHS Pay Review Body has published its 2019 report, the first since the implementation of the three-year Agenda for Change pay agreements in 2018. There are no recommendations on pay as we are in the middle of multi-year agreements in England, Scotland and Wales, and discussions are ongoing in Northern Ireland. UNISON has started work to build an above-inflation pay claim for all NHS staff for April 2021.
In full:
The NHS Pay Review Body has published its 2019 report, the first since the implementation of the three-year Agenda for Change pay agreements in 2018.
There are no recommendations on pay as we are in the middle of multi-year agreements in England, Scotland and Wales, and discussions are ongoing in Northern Ireland.
The PRB is maintaining a watching brief so it can monitor and comment on the effects of the deals, where they have been implemented.However, the Scottish government did not issue a remit at all so evidence about the workforce has only been collected for England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
UNISON has started work to build an above-inflation pay claim for all NHS staff for April 2021. The PRB has noted unsustainably high levels of vacancies, work pressures and potential risks to patient care, and we will use this evidence to support our efforts.
The full report is available to read online.
Author: Email:
Nick Entwistle n.entwistle@unison.co.uk
Contact UNISON on 0800 0 857 857 or visit www.unison.org.uk
KEEP YOUR DETAILS UP TO DATE!
Help us help you!
It is important that you keep your personal details up to date.
Have you moved address, changed your telephone number or email address?
If you have, you need to update this information!
My UNISON link
If we don’t have your correct contact details you will miss out on membership offers, information or ballots that may be held regarding this year’s pay offer.
Microsoft Word document [67.5 KB]
Pensions Courses
for All members in Wales
What do you know about your pension?
Will my pension provide me with a comfortable retirement?
What are the other benefits of paying into my pension?
To answer these questions and more UNISON Wales has put on the pensions courses (detailed below) which are free to all UNISON members and travel expenses covered by your local
branch.
WOMEN AND PENSIONS
UNISON is committed to trying to improve the pension rights of women who, for a number of reasons, typically save less for retirement than men. As part of this campaign UNISON is
putting on this specific pensions training for women.
Friday 20 September 2019, 1.30-5.00pm, Imperial Hotel, The Promenade, Llandudno, LL30 1AP
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME
This course will provide you with all you need to know about the benefits of this scheme from 'death in service' to 'ill health
retirement'
Friday 20 September 2019, 9.30am-1.00pm, Imperial Hotel, The Promenade, Llandudno, LL30 1AP
Pensions training is integral to UNISON's campaign to protect good pension provision.
So don't delay; book your place today and see how you can maximise your deferred pay!
To book your place, please contact your local branch.
If you have any questions please contact Rosa Pickavance on r.pickavance@unison.co.uk.
Membership Team
On Behalf of UNISON
Unison Cymru Wales is launching a campaign to stop any downgrading of services at Barry Hospital and says it wants to force a debate in the Senedd.
Andrew Woodman, regional organiser at Unison Cymru Wales said: “Cardiff and Vale health board has completely failed to properly engage with staff and the local community about their plans. This is unacceptable for such a key public service and has caused a great deal of anger and worry.
“Healthcare workers in Unison will mount a vigorous local community campaign to prevent the downgrading of hospital services.
“As a first step, Unison will force a formal consultation which will increase the consultation period from eight weeks to 20 weeks. We will launch a petition with the aim of getting this issue debated in the Senedd. We’ll be on the town’s high streets speaking to the public and we will lobby local politicians to join our fight.
“Unison calls on the people of Barry to join the defence of their hospital.”
Full story below from The Barry Gem
https://www.facebook.com/31823
Threat to close wards at Cardiff and Vale
Barry Hospital ward could be set for closure, if proposals agreed, regional organiser Andrew Woodman quoted, Barry & District News
#RespectYourYouth
First Minister to sign new charter for young workers, acting regional secretary Tanya Palmer quoted, Morning Star
UNISON members can also get extra support for learning. UNISON offers support for members around, English, maths, IT skills, on-line learning and communication skills.
Don’t forget your individual circumstances too. If you get state benefits these may be affected if you move to band 2 and earn more money.
It’s a good idea to check with
the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau before making your decision.
If you decide not to go for band 2 now, you can always change your mind in the future. And you will still get your £194 lump sum payment (pro rata if you are part time) this year. Your earnings will also be protected to make sure you don’t lose out through any change to your unsocial hours payments.
If you want more information you can speak to your line manager or your UNISON rep, or check out our webpages at unison.org.uk/band1
Not in UNISON?
Join today at joinunison.org or call us on0800 0 857 857 or ask a UNISON rep for an application form.
Published and printed by UNISON, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY. CU/April 2019/25514/4076/UNP 15474.
Nationalise the big six and create a 'green army' to help the UK hit net zero, says UNISON
Nationalising the retail arms of the big six energy firms would significantly boost the UK's bid to become carbon neutral by 2050,
says UNISON in a report published today (Monday).
Power to
the People calls on a future government to bring into public ownership the parts of British Gas (Centrica),
SSE, E.ON, EDF Energy, Npower (Innogy) and Scottish Power (Iberdrola) that sell consumers energy.
This would instantly create a new 'green army' of workers dedicated to helping businesses and the public become more energy
efficient, cut their bills and save the planet, says the report.
Power to the People says this
vision could be achieved for between £6bn and £9bn, and the workforce created from the big six firms could:
- help ensure security of energy supply and ‘keep the lights on’
- keep energy costs affordable for consumers and businesses
- ensure the UK meets its climate change targets and moves to a low-carbon economy
- make UK homes and businesses more energy efficient
- win over the public to achieve the net zero target by 2050 which the UK committed to last week.
The report
compares the need for a rapid decarbonisation programme with the successful conversion of millions of homes from town gas to natural gas in the 1960s.
This huge logistical operation, which was achieved by a public corporation with the national interest at heart, could happen again,
according to Power to the People.
Commenting on the report UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The climate crisis is a fundamental threat to the future of the planet, but the UK won’t get to net zero emissions on a hope and a prayer. Proper action is required and quickly.
“Public ownership of the retail energy sector is affordable – it could be done at a fraction of the cost of nationalising the energy networks.
"It would also provide job security to thousands of workers currently employed by the big six energy firms, help deliver the government’s carbon neutral target, make us all more energy efficient and mean cheaper bills for everyone.
“In an instant a green army of thousands of workers could begin helping consumers reduce their energy consumption, bills and the country’s emissions. Solar panels and greener hydrogen boilers could soon become the norm.
“The inconvenient truth though is we must act now. The warning sirens are sounding and piecemeal action isn’t enough. We'll have sleepwalked into an entirely preventable catastrophe If we fail to achieve net zero by 2050.”
Power to the People highlights how the debate so far has focused on ownership of the UK’s energy networks – the wires, pipes and production.
But it argues, bringing the retail arm of the energy sector into public ownership would enable the government to sign up millions of homes and businesses to the necessary green conversion. It could also start a decarbonisation programme immediately and at a lower cost than many alternatives.
Notes
to editors:
- UNISON’s report Power to the People is available here.
- Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow business, energy and industrial strategy secretary, will address UNISON’s national energy
conference at 10.30am today (Monday) at the ACC in Liverpool.
- The Committee on Climate Change report’s Net Zero is available here.
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services –
in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media
contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Hi all,
Many of you will be aware that in May of this year my son and I completed the Ten y Fan Challenge where we raised over £500 for a Children’s Leukaemia Charity and we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who kindly donated to this cause.
We are now stepping up our fitness challenge and we are taking part in the ‘Health Charity 3 Welsh Peaks Challenge’ where along with others from Cardiff & Vale Health Board we will be climbing Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan within 24 hours on Sunday 22ndSeptember, 2019.
We would very much appreciate it if you are able to sponsor us to enable us to raise as much money as possible for the Health Charity who as you know are the official charity of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and they raise money to improve and enhance patient and staff areas within our hospitals locally and they help provide state of the art equipment, fund research and improve the environment of our hospitals.
If you are able to sponsor us please click on the link below.
https://www.justgiving.com/
Thank you very much
Regards
Mike
_____________
Mike Jones
Branch Secretary
Move would undermine efforts to roll back health service marketisation
Merthyr Rising
Merthyr Rising sets the tone for political debate and music, assistant general secretary Roger McKenzie quoted, Morning Star
Threatened pharmacy privatisations
Two health boards in Wales consider switch to community pharmacy contractors for hospital outpatient pharmacy, head of health Paul Summersquoted, the Pharmaceutical Journal
Unison Wales opposing two health trust plans to privatise pharmaceutical services, Paul again quoted, Morning Star
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Politicians must get a grip on social care and council services, says UNISON
Commenting on the Institute for Fiscal Studies report on council funding and tonight’s BBC1 Panorama programme on social care, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“After years of relentless cuts, council budgets are stripped to the bone. This is starkly illustrated by the perilous state of social care.
“Delivering a solution that protects services and provides proper care is perhaps the nation’s biggest challenge. But Brexit paralysis at Westminster means it won't be any time soon.
“It’s simply reckless government to expect councils to look after all elderly and vulnerable people on their patch while funding disappears.
“Sadly, it’s often low-paid care workers picking up the pieces. Spending their own money so an elderly person can have tea, working many extra hours to provide the care needed or being the only friendly face a lonely person may chat to all week. This is a shocking state of affairs.
“Politicians must get a grip and quickly. That means ministers publishing their long-awaited green paper so we can at least see they have a plan, even if they’re
incapable of implementing it.”
Notes to editors:
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services –
in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
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We’re growing and we’re winning for our members
National executive council hears positive stories as it prepares for annual conference
“We have a positive message to tell about our union as we go into conference,” UNISON’s national executive heard in London this morning.
The last regular meeting of the NEC meeting before June’s national delegate conference, received an update of the union’s Go for Growth recruitment and retention campaign, which still has just under a week to run.
May is traditionally a difficult month for union recruitment, the meeting heard: last year, the union’s membership dropped by around 5,000.
But so far this month, the union has grown by more than 3,700 members – and “as of this morning, every single one of our regions has gone into growth,” reported general secretary Dave Prentis.
He put the swing down to small but effective changes, such as phone calls to every new joiners. And contacting people who started the process of joining the union online, but dropped out without completing the move, saw 30% of them come back and finish signing up to UNISON.
The Go for Growth campaign runs until 3 June – so there’s still time for those numbers to change.
This year's Merthyr Rising Festival Trade Union March
Unison is a main sponsor of Merthyr Rising Festival
Ten Y Fan Challenge
completed
Well done Team Mike!
£525 raised so far. There is still time to make a donatioin, see link below.
Hi all,
Many of you may already know my son Michael and myself are doing a sponsored walk ten times up Pen Y Fan within 24 hours to raise money for a children’s charity. We would very much appreciate if you are able to sponsor us and any donation would be greatly received. Please right click on the donate link below.
Many thanks in anticipation,
Mike
_____________
Mike Jones
Branch Secretary
BRANCH WEBSITE: www.cavunison.co.uk
Tel: 029 2074 8280
Fax: 029 2074 8279
E.Mail: Unison.office.uhw@wales.nhs.uk
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In the UK, on average, men earn 18% more than women. This is our gender pay gap. Find out how it happens and what UNISON is doing to bridge it.
Don’t be hoodwinked by PM’s promises on workers’ rights, warns UNISON
Commenting on the government’s announcement about workers’ rights, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Any guarantees about protecting existing and ensuring future employment rights must be in the Prime Minister’s withdrawal agreement.
“Anything less, and the promises aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.
“European laws have made working in the UK safer and better. Brexit mustn’t mean UK employees become the cheapest to hire and the easiest to fire.
“No-one should be hoodwinked into thinking that this is a good deal for workers. It isn’t.”
Notes to editors:
- UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education,
local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Dear Colleague,
ROBIN HOOD TAX CAMPAIGN AND UNISON
Nine Welsh local authorities have already signed up to the Robin Hood Tax. Is your council one of them? We want all UNISON Cymru Wales branches to encourage their councils, AM and MP to sign up to the Robin Hood Tax, which could potentially deliver millions of pounds for public services in Wales.
Robin Hood Tax resources are attached for your use.
The PowerPoint presentation is also attached and below is a link to the councillor’s hub with model motions and briefings etc.
https://www.robinhoodtax.org.
With best wishes,
Dominic
Dominic MacAskill
Regional Manager Rheolwr Rhanbarthol
UNISON Wales UNSAIN Cymru
The Courtyard / Y Libart
Wind Street
Swansea / Abertawe
SA1 1DP
Phone / ffon: 01792 483918
e-mail / e-bost: d.macaskill@unison.co.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/
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Young workers need UNISON
Millennials: Avocados, flat whites and Instagram – right? Not quite. The hipster characterisation masks a much starker reality for the houseless generation. Most young workers are contending with low wages, insecure jobs and no voice at work. They need trade unions more than ever.
This is why UNISON has voted to make 2019 the year of young workers. Considering the working conditions young workers face and the need to secure protection at work for future generations, it is a moral imperative. But it’s not all doom and gloom – young members are one of UNISON’s fastest growing demographics. We are already reaching out in new and innovative ways and demonstrating the practical impact we can bring to young people’s lives.
A new suite of resources are available to help you communicate with young workers. Download digital materials below and order printed materials from the Online Catalogue. Use a host of video’s on UNISON’s Youtube channel, featuring young workers, apprentices and UNISON campaigns.
This is a live campaign. We will add new resources and announce activities and events on this webpage. Share unison.org.uk/organisingyoungworkers in your channels.
Union issues statement on the current situation in the south American country
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I’m proud that UNISON is campaigning against the mistreatment of Palestinian child prisoners. I hope you will stand with us as we demand that the UK government speak out and take action to end this gross denial of international law and children’s rights. And we will not stop until the reprehensible and self-defeating punishment of Palestinian children by the Israeli state ends once and for all.
Mark Drakeford calls for
Robin Hood Tax
Mark Drakeford AM with UNISON Cymru Wales regional secretary Stephanie Thomas
Welsh Labour leadership candidate Mark Drakeford AM, has called upon the UK Government to introduce a Robin Hood Tax to provide much-needed funds for vital community services.
The innovative tax on business financial transactions could deliver millions of pounds for cash-strapped Welsh councils. It could raise £5bn of additional revenue a year from a tiny tax of about 0.05% on transactions carried out by financial institutions – not ordinary individuals.
Public services union, UNISON and the Robin Hood Tax Campaign, together wrote to the three Welsh Labour leadership candidates urging them to endorse the campaign to introduce a Financial Transactions Tax, popularly known as a Robin Hood Tax. The trade union says:
- Four months of a Robin Hood Tax could reverse all cuts to total Welsh government spending since austerity began2
- Two weeks of a Robin Hood Tax could prevent the need for further cuts to Welsh Government spending on public services over the next few years3
- Ten days of a Robin Hood Tax could return the services for each vulnerable older person in Wales to the level provided before austerity began4
- Six weeks of a Robin Hood Tax could replace all funding currently provided by the EU for development in rural and deprived parts of Wales5
Mark Drakeford AM said,
“I have always been a supporter of the Robin Hood Tax and I’m very happy to support UNISON’s drive encouraging politicians to sign up to the campaign. A Robin Hood Tax is so effective because it collects small amounts of money on millions of transactions, which all add up to a significant contribution overall from those who can best afford it, to be shared out to those who need help the most.”
Stephanie Thomas, UNISON Cymru Wales regional secretary said,
“Public services such as libraries, youth services, parks and leisure services and environmental and food hygiene services have been damaged by UK Conservative government austerity and are in danger of withering away completely unless urgent investment is found.
“Time is running out to save services and protect our communities. A Robin Hood Tax would provide potentially huge sums for local authorities. This is sensible economics for our times and the Tax is supported by the likes of Bill Gates and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Well done to Mark Drakeford for signing up. UNISON calls on all Welsh politicians to do the same.”
Notes to editors:
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The Robin Hood Tax is also known as the Financial Transactions Tax
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Currently, there is a tax on the purchase of shares which delivers nearly £4bn to the UK exchequer each year. The Robin Hood Tax would close current loopholes on the Stamp Duty on shares and extend the tax to derivatives. This could raise £25 billion1 of additional revenue every five year parliament, potentially providing a new source of funding for local councils.
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The Robin Hood Tax is endorsed by a thousand economists, Bill Gates, Angela Merkel, Desmond Tutu, Michael Moore, Bill Nighy, Sienna Miller and Emma Thompson. It is official policy of the UK Labour Party and the Democrat Party in the USA.
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UNISON has been urging councillors to endorse the Robin Hood Campaign. To date, thirteen Welsh local authorities have no policy on the Robin Hood Tax. Nine councils have signed up to the campaign for a Robin Hood Tax: Bridgend; Caerphilly; Cardiff; Ceredigion; Denbighshire; Neath Port Talbot; Newport; Swansea; Torfaen
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Find out more about the Financial Transactions Tax from the Robin Hood Tax campaign
Notes on calculations
1 Intelligence Capital, Improving Resilience, Increasing Revenue: The Case for Modernising the UK’s
Stamp Duty on Shares (2017), via https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2908464
2 £1.7bn cuts between 2010/11 TME of £15.8bn (£18.6bn in 2016 prices) and 2017/18 TME of £16.9bn (2016 prices) (TME includes RDEL, CDEL and AME)
3 £175m cuts projected between 2017-19 to Welsh Government RDEL and CDEL spending (AME not
included) (2017 prices)
4 £130m to return per capita social care spending levels for over 65s to 2010 levels:
http://www.walespublicservices2025.org.uk/files/2017/03/Waleshealthandsocialcarefinal_amended_042 017.pdf
5 £500m cost to replace all EU funding for rural and regional development schemes after Brexit:
https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/publications/docs/IFS%20report%20R120.pdf
Contact
Alastair Gittins, UNISON Press Officer on 07816 53 83 97
Owning a home has become virtually impossible for many public sector workers across Britain, according to research published today (Sunday)
Llandough Hospital Orchard Project
Stuart Egan, Branch Chair, on the Llandough Hospital Orchard charity project
www.facebook.com/204873649584136/videos/1901816656556485/
Cardiff & Vale Unison team prepare for the head shaving event.
Video courtesy of Cardiff & Vale University Health Board Media Resourses team.
Links to footage of all our brave volunteers who went down to the wood:
Stuart
Vale of Glamorgan healthcare workers are lining up to have their heads shaved for charity
To help us create an Orchard at Llandough Hospital please use the link below.
https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/cardiffandvale/headshave?social_utm_term=qw0rnkwev
Join the UNISON lottery for as little as £1 a month and you could win cash prizes of up to £1,000.
By playing you also support our There for You charity.
Get the app!
UNISON is the first trade union in the UK to introduce a smartphone app that provides in-app
guidance about your rights at work.
You could badge this as ‘Your Rep in Your Pocket’ or ‘Your Rep in Your Bag’ and encourage your
wider membership to download this free resource.
It carries news that is relevant to you, and tools to help you join the union online, or
update your membership details – as well as all our latest campaigns and actions, and information on how you can get involved and help us to support public services.
An essential app for members, activists and non-members.
It’s free and will be useful to anyone working in the UK.
Debtline support
Dealing with debt
Debt can cause a great deal of stress in your life. A small change in circumstances can turn a manageable situation into a debt problem that threatens your home or your family’s wellbeing.
UNISON’s Debtline service is available to all our members to help you manage money and deal with debt. We offer free confidential advice to help you clear your debts.
Debtline can help you deal with:
•
credit card debt;
• mortgage arrears;
• home repossession;
• county court judgment claims.
Taking action
Our Debtline service is provided by debt management experts, Payplan. Using this service you get:
•
immediate advice;
• a debt management plan to suit your circumstances;
• a case officer to advise you throughout your repayment programme and negotiate with your creditors;
• a reduction of multiple debt repayments into a single, affordable monthly repayment;
• a choice of payment methods
• free and confidential service with no hidden charges.
You can also choose to use the free online Payplan tools to help you come up with your own plan.
Read more about Payplan tools.
Payplan’s advisers are aware of the financial support that There for You can offer and will refer you to us if they think we can help you.
Read more about There for you financial help.
Contact Debtline
Call the UNISON Welfare Debtline
freephone 0800 389 3302
Help with debt is just one of the benefits of joining UNISON.
Not yet a member? Find out how you can join UNISON.
On violence towards NHS staff in the workplace
Donna Hutton, UNISON Cymru Wales lead on health said,
“People will be appalled to learn that hundreds of NHS staff dedicated to serving their community and patients are attacked every year in hospitals just for doing their jobs.
“Assaults and intimidation are completely unacceptable and UNISON campaigns for the strongest safeguards for health workers and for zero tolerance towards perpetrators.
“No-one should be in fear whilst at work and that anyone should return home injured, is intolerable.
“We expect health boards to do as much as they can to ensure the number of assaults decrease.
“Our union enthusiastically supported the LBC radio station campaign and public petition to make it a specific criminal offence to attack any member of NHS medical staff.
“We are also aware that incidents are not always reported. We are working for the entire health workforce to improve things and are pleased that at least one health board has taken a strong pro-active approach and banned abusive people from the premises where they have been a threat to staff.”
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Robin Hood tax would deliver millions for Welsh councils
An innovative tax on business financial transactions could deliver millions of pounds for cash-strapped Welsh councils.
Public services such as libraries, youth services, parks and leisure services and environmental and food hygiene services have been damaged by UK Conservative government austerity and are in danger of withering away completely unless urgent investment is found. The Robin Hood Tax, a small tax paid on financial trading, would provide enormous funds for Welsh public services at no financial cost to the overwhelming majority of the population.
- Four months of a Robin Hood Tax could reverse all cuts to total Welsh government spending since austerity began
- Two weeks of a Robin Hood Tax could prevent the need for further cuts to Welsh Government spending on public services over the next few years
- Ten days of a Robin Hood Tax could return the services for each vulnerable older person in Wales to the level provided before austerity began
- Six weeks of a Robin Hood Tax could replace all funding currently provided by the EU for development in rural and deprived parts of Wales
What can you do to help?
We want you to write to your Assembly Member and MP urging them to support an end to austerity; the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax and fair funding for Wales.
Download our Fair Funding for Wales model letter here.
Download our Robin Hood Tax briefing here.
Watch UNISON branch officers talking about why we need an end to austerity and a Robin Hood Tax
Watch head of local government Dominic MacAskill on our fair funding for Wales campaign
Visit the Robin Hood Tax campaign website
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