Pay Talks about to start

 To all Oxford City Council and ODS Group UNISON members,

We’re about to begin pay talks with management and want to ensure we’re representing what matters most to you.

Very shortly, a brief survey will arrive in your registered inbox from DoNotReply@branchmembership.unison.org.uk. It’s completely anonymous—no personal information is collected, and all responses are strictly confidential.

If you don’t receive the survey, please email us at membership@oxfordcityunison.com and we’ll send you a direct link.

Not a member yet but want your voice heard? 

Join today by clicking Here

Your voice matters to us.

Oxford City Branch of UNISON 2025 AGM

 2025 AGM

One of the most important functions of the AGM is to elect officials to lead the branch for the year ahead. A whole range of different jobs are available in the branch, and each one of them carries a fundamental set of responsibilities. Whether you’re face to face with managers in negotiations, representing members in a disciplinary, or helping members with a welfare claim – all are necessary to create an effective union team.
At the AGM, branch members do the following:

• Ratify the election of Branch Officers
• Ratify the election of stewards
• Elect delegates to UNISON’s National and Local Government conferences
• Vote on motions
• Every person who attends and books their place via this Link will be automatically entered into a free raffle 
• Guest speaker Roger McKenzie who is a local trade unionist and socialist 

 
Please let your line manager know as soon as possible if you wish to attend the AGM.  You are entitled to paid time off to attend the AGM (up to one hour) and reasonable time off for travel to and from the meeting.

If you would like to stand as a steward for your area or would like more information, please e-mail office@oxfordcityunison.com or check out our website ​www.oxfordcityunison.com​​​

£200 grants for UNISON members to spend on their winter essentials.

UNISON's welfare charity, There for You, is providing £200 grants for UNISON members to spend on their winter essentials. 

There are a limited number of grants available. But this year, there will be 24 hours to apply, starting at 12 noon on Wednesday 11 December, with the grants being randomly allocated to eligible applicants.

Karen Poole, a trustee of the charity and branch welfare officer, explains why the grant has changed and how members can access support from There for You, to see if you are eligible and how to apply CLICK HERE

 

2024 Levellers' Day

 

Oxford & District Trades Union Council has booked a coach from Oxford to Burford for Levellers' Day on Saturday, 18 May 2024.

 

We are not charging for this, but there will be an onboard collection for Medical Aid for Palestine(MAP).  Here's the link to book your seat: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/614964

 

In solidarity, 

 

2024 Annual General Meeting

 Thursday 28 March 2024

15:00 till 16:00

St Aldates Tavern, St Aldates or online via Teams

 

One of the most important functions of the AGM is to elect officials to lead the branch for the year ahead. A whole range of different jobs are available in the branch, and each one of them carries a really important set of responsibilities. Whether you’re face to face with managers in negotiations, representing members in a disciplinary, or helping members with a welfare claim – all are necessary to create an effective union team. 

At the AGM, branch members do the following: 

• Ratify the election of Branch Officers
• Ratify the election of stewards.
• Elect delegates to UNISON’s National and Local Government conferences
• Vote on motions
• Every person who attends and books their place via this ticket source link will be automatically entered into a free raffle.

 

Please let your line manager know if you wish to attend the AGM as soon as possible.  You are entitled to paid time off to attend the AGM (up to one hour) and reasonable time off for travel to and from the meeting. 

If you would like to stand as a steward for your area or would like more information, please e-mail office@oxfordcityunison.com or check out www.oxfordcityunison.com

 

Worried about your winter fuel bill?

There for You has a limited fund to offer one-off £200 grants to UNISON members on a low income.

Applications will open twice on Wednesday 24 January, at 8.30am and 5pm. The online form will appear on Winter fuel grants | There for You (UNISON Welfare) | UNISON National

Recent grant applications have been extremely popular and closed within a matter of minutes, so please do check the eligibility criteria, ensure you have your UNISON membership number to hand and consider setting a reminder if you wish to apply.

Check out Winter fuel grants | There for You (UNISON Welfare) | UNISON National to see if you eligible.

Consultation ballot about to open

On Wednesday 06 December 2023 UNISON will be starting a consultation ballot on the latest pay offer that will cover the next two years.

 You will very soon recive an email giving you details about the offer and how to cast your vote, If you have any question about the offer and how it will affect you please talk to your local steward or email office@oxfordcityunison.com

 

If you have not recived yours by Monday and have checked your spam folder please email office@oxfordcityunison.com

Your voice matters

Are your UNISON Membership details up to date?

 

Now more than ever is the time to ensure that we hold the correct and up-to-date details for you, particularly your email address.

 

The Branch is always looking to improve communication with our members, to update or check just log into myUNISON. This is a fairly easy process and only takes a few minutes.

 

All you need to do is visit https:// www.unison.org.uk/my-unison and follow the steps for registration. You will require your UNISON membership number.

 

Once you register you can update your details, including adding an e-mail address if there isn’t one already on your membership file. Alternatively, you can contact the Branch Office at office@oxfordcityunison.com

Oxford City Branch of UNISON Office

Please note on Monday 30 October the UNISON office in the Town Hall will be closed to all for one week for essential maintenance work

If you need help we will still be available at the end of the phone for you.

Don't believe the noise

"Join us in standing together for solidarity. Ignore any distractions and be a part of our mission. Let's rise up together as one.

 hashtag #TogetherWeRise."

Are your details up to Date

 

Mental wellbeing tips

We all need good mental health and well-being – it's essential to living happy and healthy lives and can help us sleep better, feel better, do the things we want to do and have more positive relationships. It can also help us deal with difficult times in the future.

Try this quick Mind Plan quiz to get personalised suggestions now, or find other tips, advice and support to help boost your mental well-being.

Click here for more info and support

Mental health issues

 We all have mental health, and life is full of ups and downs for us all.

Here you will find expert advice, practical tips, and plenty of help and support if you're stressed, anxious, low or struggling to sleep – or get Your Mind Plan and discover what works for you.

Click here for more information and support 

Dealing with loneliness

Loneliness can affect us all, at any time of our lives. We might live in a busy city or a rural location, on our own or with others and still feel isolated.

Understanding our own reasons for feeling lonely and how to manage it can make a big difference to our mental well-being. And although it can be difficult to talk about, sharing our feelings of loneliness can encourage others to talk too.

To find out about possible signs of loneliness, reasons we feel lonely and ways to manage it, click here  There are also links to more support if you or someone else needs it.

Public services belong in public ownership.

 UNISON believes that public services belong in public ownership. 

Over the years UNISON members have seen first-hand the negative impact of outsourcing on service quality, staff terms and conditions and investment in vital amenities.

We deserve better.

Just to remind you that the National Executive Council (NEC) elections are now in full swing, and your vote in it is crucial. As a UNISON member, you have the power to help shape the future of our union by electing the right leaders to represent you.

 
If you haven't received your ballot paper yet, our helpline is now open, and our team is on hand to help you get your ballot paper as soon as possible. Call us on 0800 0 857 857 from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

When pay rises by less than our bills, we’re all getting poorer.

When pay rises by less than our bills, we’re all getting poorer. 

But rising prices don’t have to push people into poverty. It’s the government's choice. 

To end the pay crisis we need pay rises. 

Together we rise because together we can win. Join our fight.

Update from 2023 AGM

 

Following our AGM the updated list of stewards and officers for 2023/24 can be found by clicking the link on the right-hand side.

If you have any questions please do email us at office@oxfordcityunison.com

The Oxford Living Wage increases to £11.35 per hour

 

The Oxford Living Wage increases to £11.35 per hour!! 

This is great news for the employees of the 100+ Living Wage employers in the city.

www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20027/welfare_reform/1011/the_oxford_living_wage

AI could replace equivalent of 300 million jobs

 Artificial intelligence (AI) could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs, a report by investment bank Goldman Sachs says.

It could replace a quarter of work tasks in the US and Europe but may also mean new jobs and a productivity boom.

And it could eventually increase the total annual value of goods and services produced globally by 7%.

Generative AI, able to create content indistinguishable from human work, is "a major advancement", the report says.

For the full story go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-65102150