Unison Northern Region

Sign our petition: Raise the minimum wage for under 21 year olds

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:37:06 +0000

Please take a minute to sign the Northern Region Young Members’ E-petition to raise the minimum wage for under 21 year olds, which the government unfairly froze at £4.98 in the recent budget, whilst at the same time giving tax cuts to those earning over £150,000. Please also circulate it to everyone you know! We’re aiming for 100,000 signatures so that it has to be debated in parliament…

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/33865

Living Wage Campaign – New College Durham Sign up

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:02:44 +0000

UNISON’s Dave Prentis, General Secretary and David Milliband, MP, have joined forces to campaign for a living wage in colleges following UNISON’s survey that showed 55% of colleges in England are not paying the Living Wage to many of their in-house staff including nursery nurses, cleaners and kitchen assistants in Further Education.

A joint letter was sent to those colleges not paying the living wage, calling on them to commit to relieving the financial hardship of staff, urging them to negotiate a living wage for low paid staff. As part of the national pay deal for 2011/12, the Association of Colleges recommended that all colleges in England increase their minimum hourly rate of pay to at least £7.20 an hour.

We are pleased to announce that New College Durham is the first to sign up to the Campaign.

Clare Williams Regional Convenor, said, “This is good news and shows that our campaign for a living wage can be won even in these difficult times. The cost of everyday essentials such as food and fuel just keeps going up and workers are really struggling. It shows that we can be successful with real benefits to our low paid members”

Voted in the NHS Pensions Ballot Yet?

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:51:00 +0000

Your vote is important – make it count!

Vote online or by post at:

www.votebyinternet.com/UNISONHealthPensions2012

Ballot opens 11 April and closes 27 April.

Ballot Helpline: 0845 355 0845

Form more information visit:

www.unison.org.uk/pensions/protectour.asp

South Tyneside Public Service Alliance ‘Fight to Save Children and Young People Paediatric Services in South Tyneside’

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:54:20 +0000

South Tyneside PSA handed over hundreds of postcards to David Miliband on Thursday 29 March 2012 to fight to protect the children and young people paediatric services at South Tyneside District Hospital. We expressed our concerns aswell as members of the public’s concerns about the proposals to change how the paediatric services will be run at South Tyneside District Hospital. If the proposal’s goes through then this will mean any children or young people who need more that 24-hour care will be moved to Sunderland Royal Hospital or Newcastle RVI. This will have a financial impact on families who will need to travel further to visit their sick children. This will also mean a strain on beds within Sunderland Royal and Newcastle RVI. We need more investment putting in the NHS not a cost cutting exercise. Please see link media link below:

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/health/campaigners-take-children-s-ward-fight-to-mp-1-4404305

UNISON HEALTH WORKERS TO VOTE ON PENSIONS’ PROPOSALS

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:54:10 +0000

Key health activists of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, have voted to hold a
ballot of 450,000 health members over the Government’s proposals for
a new NHS pension scheme.

The ballot will begin on the 11th April and close on 27 April and health
workers including nurses, therapists, paramedics, cooks, cleaners and
porters will be asked if they want accept or reject the proposed pension
agreement as the best that can be achieved through negotiations.

Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said:
“When the ballot papers go out our members they will be asked if they accept
or reject the new pension proposals for the NHS scheme.

“The union will be giving full and open information on what it will mean for
individual members’ pensions, so they are in the best position to make an
informed decision.

“We are still disappointed that the proposals don’t meet all our aspirations
for health workers, particularly around the retirement age. But the ballot
papers will also recognise that rejecting the offer would require members to
take further industrial action.

“We have given a commitment from day one that it is for our members to
decide and we are keeping to that commitment. This is a massive
consultation exercise far bigger than any other in the trade union
movement.”

Changes to the pension scheme include:

* The pension proposals maintain a defined benefit scheme with a
move towards career average in 2015.

* Health workers earning less than £26,558 a year will not see an
increase in their pension payments this year.

* All benefits built up in existing schemes will be protected and
will maintain the final salary link at retirement.
* Scheme members within 10 years of retirement will receive
protection.

Housing Voice Seminar – 27 March 2012

admin — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:45:39 +0000

Housing voice is the campaign alliance established to champion the needs for more affordable homes to buy or rent.

We would like to hear opinions from as wide a group of organisations as possible. So we are hosting a half day seminar on:

Date: Tuesday 27 March 2012

Time: 12:00 Lunch for 12:40 start. Finish at 16:30

Venue: The Vermont Hotel, Newcastle.

For more information you can download the flyer HERE

To reserve a space email Julie Wynn – j.wynn@unison.co.uk or call 0191 245 0879.

SAVE OUR NHS -LibDem Rally

admin — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:02:54 +0000

Saturday 10 March 2012

The latest activity aimed at stopping the Government’s crazy plans for the NHS took place outside the “Sage” in Gateshead where Lib/Dems had gathered for their ‘Spring’ Conference. Thousands of Trade Unionists came together under the Northern Regional Public Services Alliance banner on Newcastle Quayside and marched across the Millennium Bridge to Baltic Square to make their voices heard. Speakers included, Clare Williams, UNISON Regional Convenor, Ian Mearns, M.P. for Gateshead, Kevin Rowan, TUC Regional Secretary, Dave Anderson M.P. for Blaydon and many other concerned individuals who warned of the dire consequences for the NHS if the Bill goes ahead and the political ramifications facing Lib/Dem politicians who risk losing all credibility for supporting it.

The Lib/Dem conference delegates must have been listening as they voted against their parties’ leadership and called for the NHS to be protected.

We were tweeting on twitter throughout the day updating followers on speakers and photo’s. If you’re not already following us you can by searching @NorthernUNISON

Gateshead PSA leaflet to Save the NHS

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:19:40 +0000

‘The ‘Save the NHS’ rally at the Queen Elizabeth hospital on Wednesday 7^th March was well supported by staff, members of the public, UNISON and other trade unions. We were able to talk to members of the public about the implications of the proposed Health and Social Care bill and gather more signatures for the petition.

Tees Valley PSA leaflet in South Tees to Drop the Bill

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:57:11 +0000

Our stall and leafleting at James Cook Hospital went very well and local Representaitves canvassed every ward with petitions. There was huge support from both staff in the hospital and the public and 63 people signed the petition.

Sunderland PSA leafleting to Save the NHS

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:11:20 +0000

The PSA rally outside the main gates of Sunderland Royal Hospital in support of the national TUC event to drop the Health and Social Care Bill was well supported by the PSA and UNISON branches in the city. The event managed to attract good media coverage and was effective in keeping the campaign within the spotlight in the community in Sunderland.