Responding to the announcement of the Hillsborough inquest verdict, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:

“After 27 years of lies and cover-ups, the families of the 96 finally have justice. This has been a struggle that united a city and then a nation behind the battle for truth and accountability.

“For too long, smears in the media and by the authorities meant that justice was denied. UNISON has been proud to stand with the families and the campaign from the outset. We shared their desire for justice because many of our members saw what really happened on that terrible afternoon.

“This has always been a cause that is close to my heart. Like so many people, I will be thinking of friends and family today, and those who were taken from us all those years ago.”

UNISON is to campaign for the UK to stay part of the European Union, and will be encouraging its 1.3 million members to vote remain on 23 June.

The decision was taken today (Wednesday) at a meeting of the union’s governing NEC, and follows an extensive UK-wide consultation and survey across UNISON’s branches.

The fear that Brexit would mean the loss of the many workplace rights – parental leave, paid holiday, protection for part-timers and limits on excessive hours – that UK employees have come to take for granted is the most important issue in the coming referendum, according to UNISON’s overwhelmingly female membership.

Concern over what might happen to those employment rights should the UK vote to leave the EU was closely followed by worries about the plight of the country’s public services if Britain opted to go it alone.

Continue reading UNISON CAMPAIGN FOR THE UK TO STAY IN EUROPE →

Are you struggling to make ends meet?

Take part in our survey at surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HEPAY2016 to keep us informed.

Can your members afford to lose up to £50 a week?

If they qualify, low-paid workers need to claim in-work tax credits before universal credit arrives in their area.

Across the country, a million people in low-paid jobs have yet to apply for tax credits. This will include low-income UNISON members. But they need to hurry up and apply before it’s too late and universal credit arrives in their area.

If people don’t claim tax credits by the time the full universal credit service arrives in their town or city, they could end up much worse off. This is because, while chancellor George Osborne backed down over cuts to tax credits in his Budget last July, cuts to universal credit work allowances remain and came in this week.

If members leave it until universal credit comes in to claim support they’re entitled to, they will lose out. But if they claim tax credits before, this will be protected.

So UNISON, in partnership with benefit experts Entitledto, has launched an online calculator as part of a campaign to encourage people to take up the benefits they are due. Members can find it at unison-takeup.entitledto.co.uk.

Use the UNISON/Entitledto tax credit (take up) calculator

Your chance to win big and make UNISON stronger – read more

Commenting on the debate in the Commons that has seen the government accept many of the Trade Union Bill amendments made last week in the Lords, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“Without these significant changes, unions representing working people across the UK would have found it hard to continue doing what they do best – speaking up for those being treated badly at work and campaigning for a fairer society.

“Of course we’d rather the Bill had never existed, and there is much that is still wrong with it. Even with today’s amendments it still places unnecessary burdens on working people and their unions.

Continue reading UNISON WELCOMES GOVERNMENT’S CHANGE OF HEART ON TRADE UNION BILL PROPOSALS →

If we want to try and improve the workplace and feedback members concerns we need stewards across all parts of the University.

 THE ROLE OF A STEWARD INVOLVES:

• supporting and advising members on workplace issues
• representing members
• be the first and main point of contact for members with the union
• recruit new members
• work with members to establish an organised workplace
• support and advise members on workplace issues
• act as a spokesperson for the members they represent and for
• the branch
• represent members with the employer, dependent on their
• experience and confidence
• represent members within the branch committee
• be answerable to the members they represent

The benefits of becoming a steward include:

To help you with this role you will receive training and support, and will be part of a group of Officers and Stewards who support members at The University of Sheffield.

• opportunity to improve your communication and negotiation skills
• helping fellow members
• getting to know members from across the University
• being more informed, and involved in your union

If you are interested in becoming a steward please contact unison@sheffield.ac.uk. 

With rising fuel costs and another cold winter looming many members on low income are worried about how they’re going to pay their winter fuel bills.

Help is on hand

‘There for You’ has set up a limited fund to help UNISON members on low income by way of a one-off payment of £40.

To apply visit unison.org.uk/thereforyou.  Alternatively, call UNISONdirect on 0800 0857 857 or simply contact your UNISON branch office.  Everyone that applies will receive a booklet giving information about other help that may be available and how to reduce your fuel costs in the future. The attached Q&A  also provides further information.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 23 February 2016.