If you need a new car, with UNISON Living you’ll have access to exclusive discounts for you and family members, and great discounts on car insurance.  Read more

Please fill out the 2017 UNISON Equality Survey if you have ten minutes to spare.  It will be really useful for UNISON in working to make your workplace more equal.

Click here to complete the survey.

Pay negotiations between the higher education trade unions (UNISON, UCU, Unite, GMB and EIS) and the employers (via their negotiating body the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, UCEA) have concluded.

The full and final offer tabled by UCEA on 27 April 2017 is a 1.7% increase on all points on the pay spine, with additional payments for those at the lower end as tabled below.

This is effective from August 2017.

UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group Executive (HESGE) decided at its meeting on 4 May 2017 that this offer is the best to be achieved by negotiation, and that if members vote to reject the offer, sustained and prolonged industrial action would be required.

In line with UNISON policy, the final offer is first of all subject to a Branch consultation exercise, which will end on 3 July 2017. This Branch will therefore be putting in place arrangements to consult with members in order to report back to HESGE, and so please look out for further communications and information.

If, based on the results of this consultation, HESGE decides on a course of action including industrial action, then this would be put to members in a further, centrally conducted, ballot. In accordance with the Trade Union Act, a turnout of at least 40% would be required in order to make a vote for industrial action legally valid.

Rejection of the pay offer in an industrial action ballot would initiate a campaign of industrial action in line with UNISON rules and conference policy. UNISON would endeavour to work alongside other unions wherever possible on joint action.

UNISON members are electing the union’s national executive council – here are some key reasons why you should use your vote and return the ballot paper read more

Pre-retirement workshops – spaces available

Are you retiring or considering retiring in the next 18 months? Join our workshop and prepare for the next stage of your life.

Learn how to

• create your own path from the world of work to the world of retirement
• identify changes in pensions and financial regulations which will affect your retirement decisions
• identify the long term issues affecting your retirement
• identify personal and lifestyle actions which will help to improve your retirement
• start the process of planning for a successful retirement

We have spaces available at the following pre-retirement workshops.

Friday, 8 December 2017

Workshop runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm in Leeds.

If you’re interested in attending, please email T.Shearer@unison.co.uk

Commenting on the Spring Budget UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

On pay
“For almost a decade nurses, teaching assistants, town hall staff and others in the public sector have had their wages frozen or been given minuscule pay rises.

“These are the people keeping the NHS, schools and local communities afloat in tough times. The pay boost for Westminster politicians should’ve signalled a decent pay rise for the rest of the public sector, especially with inflation almost double the one per cent cap.

“But without a mention from the Chancellor, public service employees will be feeling they’re the forgotten part of the ‘jam’ generation. Most are not managing at all.  read the full article

Outside the Sheffield Town Hall at 12:30

Every year, we mark International Workers’ Memorial Day by drawing attention to the horrendous number of workers killed or injured while doing their jobs. In the UK alone, around 50,000 people die every year from work-related illnesses and accidents, and many more suffer ill health and injuries.  For many of our members, stress is the biggest concern, often caused by overwork.  Others are at greater risk because of who they are: workplace equality can be as important as robust health and safety measures in ensuring the welfare of all. Everyone should take health and safety seriously, and look out for vulnerable colleagues.

Your Union is active in helping to keep everyone safe. We are represented on the University’s  Health, Safety and Welfare committee, and stewards are trained to deal with health and safety issues locally. Advice and support is available from Will Tierney, our new Health and Safety Officer, but also from UNISON expertise at local and national level.

Mental Health is as important as physical health, and a Bill was passed in 2012 which set this in law, however it needs to be taken more seriously.