Now more than ever, it's important to check-in on your mental health.

We are all dealing with a lot of uncertainty. 

visit Every Mind Matters for tips and advice to look after your mental wellbeing. 

https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

 

Thank you to all our members

As we start 2021 with another lockdown, we wanted to say thank you to all our members for all the support, kindness and patience you showed us and to fellow colleagues last year. 

It made such a difference.

We also wanted to reassure you that we’re still here for you. Whether it’s online, over the phone, we’ll continue to do all we can to support you, all you need to do is ask.

  

Time for us all to play our part and save our NHS

 

Lets all do our part to protect the NHS

 

Christmas Message

 Dear All Oxford City Unison Members,

We would just like to send you all a message of hope and to wish you all a very happy Christmas in these difficult times! I don’t think any of us have ever seen a time like this, where we have been so restricted in what we do, especially when at this time of year, is the time where friends and family are meant to come together! But remember it’s ONE year! we will make up for it, I know I will !!!

Please do keep to the rules and stay safe, we will come out of this better and stronger together!


On another note!
See below information that went out in Gordon Mitchel’s communication last night regarding the new restrictions and what that means for us all over the Christmas period, make sure you read and understand. If you need any further clarification please contact your stewards or me at office@oxfordcityunison.com

What does Tier 4 mean for the City Council’s work?

Under these new restrictions, the Council will continue to work to maintain its services to residents and businesses across the city, while adjusting its operations and working practices in line with Government guidance.

Leisure and sports facilities such as leisure centres and indoor gyms, indoor swimming pools are to be closed. This includes Council-owned leisure facilities, gyms, and swimming pools.

Our Customer Services will be stopping its face-to-face operations from Friday 25 December to Monday 4 January at St Aldate’s Chambers and Rose Hill Community Centre. But continuing an online and reduced telephone customer service over this period.

From 4 January Customer Services will recommence an appointment based service for those residents that require face to face support. However, we will be encouraging customers to use our online services where they can, through the Council's website where they can talk to officers through the webchat service. Video calls from home are also available by phoning the Customer Contact Centre on 01865 249811.

We will continue operating our Locality Resource Hubs to help people in need of assistance to access food, medicines and essential supplies. The hubs cover Blackbird Leys, East Oxford, Rose Hill, West Oxford, Central Oxford, and North Oxford. 

Support from Customer Services and the Hubs can range from simple information about local support services to providing advice and support to those with financial hardship, housing needs or needing help accessing care services.

Hubs can be contacted by phoning the Council on 01865 249 811 or using the online form

Tier 4 restrictions mean:
 

• Stay at home, except for permitted reasons. This includes shopping for food and other essentials, exercise, education, childcare, collecting prescriptions, medical appointments, essential work, and attending a place of worship.
• Everyone who can work effectively from home should do so.
• You cannot meet other people socially indoors or in a private garden unless you live with them or they are part of your support bubble.
• You can exercise (unlimited) or meet in a public outdoor place with people you live with, your support bubble (or as part of a childcare bubble), or with one other person at a safe social distance.
• Don't travel to other areas – it is not permitted (other than for legally permitted reasons) to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
• Shops selling non-essential goods and market stalls not selling food must close.
• Cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs remain closed but can serve takeaways, click and collect and delivery orders.
• Personal care, hair and beauty salons must close, as should tattoo, massage and spa venues.
• Entertainment venues, indoor attractions and leisure facilities must close.
• Clinically extremely vulnerable people are advised to stay at home as much as possible, except to go outdoors for exercise or to attend health appointments. If they cannot work from home, they are advised not to go to work and claim any support where eligible.

On behalf of your branch, we ask you to follow guidelines and support your friends and colleagues that may be struggling if any of you have any concerns please let us know, we are all available to support you!

Once again

Merry Christmas & Best wishes

Caroline on behalf of your Branch Committee

'Council Matters' – A Poem for Local Council Unsung Heroes

Renowned poet Tony Walsh was commissioned by APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) to create a very special poem to thank you, the unsung heroes in Local Government who worked on the frontline and behind the scenes to support our communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can click HERE to listen to the poem.

A new collective agreement on 2021 pay for Oxford City staff

To all members of Oxford City Branch of UNISON

UNISON has successfully reached an agreement with the Council following several negotiation meetings with Branch Secretaries, on a new collective agreement which will come into effect from 1st April 2021.

The current three-year local pay collective agreement is due to finish next year, at the end of March 2021. In the midst of this, members have worked hard and tirelessly throughout one of the most difficult periods in living memory. We felt that this could not go unrecognised.

It has never been a more important time to be a member of UNISON.

The significant challenges that COVID-19 has placed on all of us also presents a challenge on the medium-term financial plans of both Oxford City Council and ODS. 

In spite of this, Oxford City Branch of UNISON on behalf of its members, have negotiated a one-year agreement following a meeting with the Council and ODS on 25 November 2020.

This one-year pay deal is effective from 1 April 2021 and will give members:

●            A one-off consolidated ‘Recognition’ payment of £400.00 to all staff on permanent or fixed-term contracts of not less than six months at 1 April 2021;

●            Which will be paid on 1 April 2021;

●            With no conditions attached to the payment.

A number of areas were also touched upon by UNISON during these negotiations, such as:

●            Organisational change/ re-deployment;

●            Flexible working – including the homeworking allowance;

●            And grading arrangements for senior roles.

This modest offer precedes ongoing and future negotiations on a more comprehensive pay deal for 2022 – 2023 that UNISON will have with the Council and ODS on your behalf.

UNISON’s strength is through its members.

We welcome and encourage others to join a growing family of more than 1.4 million people across the UK.

 

On behalf of UNISON Branch Committee