White Ribbon Day

Today is White Ribbon Day. 

What are you doing to mark the day?

More info can be found by clicking here

Thought of the day.

We are the number one.

Barnsley's striking school meals staff need your help

Our members at Ladywood Primary School in Grimethorpe, Barnsley, are in dispute with their employer over proposals to make 9 School Meals Supervisory Assistants (lunchtime supervisors) redundant.

They started with 6 days of strike action in September 2018 and since 4 October 2018 have been on indefinite strike. There are seventeen members in total who are taking action; nine SMSAs and eight Teaching Assistants and Higher Level Teaching Assistants. We believe that the Ladywood dispute is hugely significant and that its outcome may determine the approach that other schools take to addressing budget difficulties. Our members, through their determination and courage, are showing that low-paid support staff are no longer a soft target when savings need to be made. We hope you will be able to support our members by sending a message of solidarity tobranchoffice@unisonbarnsleylg.org  You can also follow us on social media: (on Facebook and Twitter: @UNISONBarnsley). Every message will be passed on to our members and they really do make a difference.  Thanks Robin Symonds UNISON Regional Organiser, Yorkshire and Humberside

Donate to the strike fund

You can donate by sending money to: Account name: UNISON Barnsley Account number: 20031457 Sort code: 608301 Or send a cheque payable to UNISON Barnsley to: Branch Office, 4 Burleigh Court, Barnsley, S70 1XY.

We need your help

We need UNISON members to talk about their experiences of low pay in Local Government, if you can help please email communicationsteam@unison.co.uk

Entries now open for the annual City and County Christmas Fun Run

Entries are now open for the annual City and County Christmas Fun Run.

The Fun Run will be held on Wednesday 5 December 2018 at 12.45pm in Christ Church Meadows.

Two laps of the Meadows - 2.25 miles approx. Race will be started by the Lord Mayor of Oxford and the Chairman of the County Council.

How to enter

Entries close on Friday 30 November 2018.

Enter as an individual or as part of a Departmental or Business Unit Team. Non Council guests are welcome but please supply an A5 stamped addressed envelope for return of number.

Send requests for entry to: julian.richardson@oxfordshire.gov.uk (07825 052736) or John.Exley@Oxfordshire.gov.uk (07568 563706)

Please state:

1. Your name and whether male / female.
2. For the veteran competition we need to know if you are aged 35+ (women) or 40+ (men).
3. Your department / business unit.
4. Contact address to post you your number.
5. Age graded results - tell us your exact age (e.g. 46) and we will publish age graded times and finishing positions.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for:

• First three men
• First three women 
• First veteran man (over 40)
• First veteran woman (over 35)
• Winning Departmental Team (County or City Council) - 4 Runners to count for each team
• Women’s Team Trophy - 3 runners to count
• Fancy Dress - best men’s and women’s fancy dress costumes

Contacts

• Julian Richardson (07825 052736) - County Council
• John Exley (07568 563706) - County Council

Sponsors

Sponsored by oxford City Branch of UNISON and fit2run.

Free Xmas Lunch for service users

For the last two years a very special lunch has been held at the Kings Centre in Osney, Oxford, on Christmas Day. Volunteers and guests totalling more than 500 people sit down together to enjoy a feast of food, good company and gentle entertainment. There’s a link to last year’s film here to give you an idea of the wonderful atmosphere: Link to facebook video

This year we’re hoping to get even more guests along. This is an entirely free event using food supplied by the Oxford Food Bank that would otherwise have gone to waste, at a time when many charities and service providers are closed for the Christmas break.  The Oxford Christmas Lunch volunteers collect anyone who needs transport, chat to them, make them feel welcome, sit alongside them and generally make sure that everybody  in Oxfordshire gets the chance to share Christmas Day with others.

I’d really like your help in making sure that all your service users know they are very definitely invited to the Oxford Christmas Lunch this year. We can arrange transport anywhere in Oxfordshire. If you’d like to meet me to discuss ways of getting the information out to your clients I’d be delighted.

In the meanwhile I attach the flyer for this year’s event for you to print – if you’d like me to deliver some hard copies, just let me know.

Click here for more info and poster.

Employers need to recognise mental health as a workplace issue

Stress is the number one concern for UK workers, followed by bullying, harassment and overwork. On World Mental Health Day, we're calling for employers to start tackling work-related stress and its underlying causes.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/blogs/employers-need-recognise-mental-health-workplace-issue-1

A thought for Monday Morning

Health and Safety Week

European Health and Safety Week (EHSW) happens every year in the last full week of October (this year it starts on 22 October). The theme this year is healthy workplaces: hazardous substances.

UNISON takes your health and safety seriously and we think EHSW is a great opportunity to highlight the fantastic work our safety reps do every day. So we are asking our reps and branches to use EHSW to shine a spotlight on this vital work to keep staff and the public safe, promote better health and safety and highlight the role of the union and our safety reps in achieving this.

More info can be found at https://www.unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/european-health-safety-week-2018/?platform=hootsuite  

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Lighthouse Mortgage and Protection Solutions | UNISON Member Benefits

Independent mortgage advice at preferential rates. UNISON Living’s trusted partner can help you save on the most important thing you’re ever likely to buy.

Click here Lighthouse Mortgage and Protection Solutions | UNISON Member Benefits

Have you ever said, what as UNISON ever done for me?

#ItsOkNotToBeOk #mentalhealthawareness

Did you know that if you text 07725 909090 when you are feeling really depressed, a crisis counsellor will text with you? Many people don't like talking on the phone & find it difficult to open up to friends and family. Some people would be more comfortable texting. It's a service run by Samaritans. Please copy, paste & pass on (rather than sharing). You never know who might be needing it. #ItsOkNotToBeOk #mentalhealthawareness

World suicide prevention day

We need to hear your voice

Do you work in the public sector, and would like to own your own home but feel that you’re being priced out of the housing market? If this is the case and you’d be prepared to talk to the media about your experience, please get in touch with the UNISON press office: press@unison.co.uk

Message from Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services, Oxford City Council

Message from Nigel Kennedy, Head of Financial Services, Oxford City Council

Colleagues may have seen news reports that Oxfordshire County Council announced plans for significant changes yesterday. The Leader of the County Council, Councillor Ian Hudspeth, said they wanted to introduce a new operating model to improve efficiency and increase the provision of services online. The County Council says it is seeking savings of £34-£58 million a year by streamlining services. It acknowledges this is likely to involve a reduction in staff numbers over time by up to 890 people, though it said it expected, with staff turnover of about 650 a year, that most of the jobs lost would be taken out of that pool, with a smaller level of compulsory redundancies. The proposals will go before the full County Council meeting on 11 September.

These savings were identified as part of last year’s budget setting process, and the County Council has been working on a plan with consultants for the last 12 months. The City Council set a balanced budget last year, over the four-year budget plan, with savings of around £7m already identified. We are in the process of reviewing the budget for the next four-year planning period, and whilst it’s safe to say we will have financial challenges we are not in the same financial position as the County Council.

Have your say on private tenancies

Members urged to join UNISON in responding to government consultation on proposals for longer private rent tenancies in England, by 26 August

Do you have any views on how to make longer tenancies easier in England’s privately rented housing sector? Well UNISON is asking you to share them with the government.

Westminster’s department of housing, communities and local government is in the middle of a consultation over proposals on “overcoming the barriers to longer tenancies in the private rented sector”.  As housing is a devolved matter in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the proposals and consultation only cover England.

UNISON has produced a briefing on the consultation – which ends on 26 August – and the issues, which union activists or anyone else responding to the proposals should find useful.

The union will also be submitting a full national response to the proposals. These cover making tenancies longer, for a minimum of three years, and whether to implement a new tenancy framework by legislation, by introducing financial incentives to encourage landlords or by using education to raise awareness and bring about behavioural change.

We are also encouraging members, especially those who are private tenants, to respond to the consultation and make their voices heard in the debate on housing policy

UNISON welcomes the proposals, while arguing that they deed to go further in providing private tenants with greater security and stability. The union’s full response to the consultation will can for a new tenancy framework based on the Scottish “private residential tenancy”, introduced by the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act which came into force last year.

This is open-ended and provides tenants with greater security, stability and more predictability in their rent increases.

Click here to find out more and download the consultation paper

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Justice restored

In 2017 UNISON won a landmark legal case against the government. It's been hailed as one of the most significant in the history of employment law.

It's one year since UNISON beat the government at the Supreme Court and forced an immediate change in the law.

The case made headlines. Now we can tell the full story of how David beat Goliath. It's a remarkable, epic tale that spans over four years. And it's all true.

We hear from the people who made it happen and the ordinary members who are currently fighting for what's right, thanks to that famous win.

If you ever want to know what difference your union makes, you just need to read this...

Click here for the full story.

Advise about working in hot weather from ACAS

Working in hot temperatures

Although the Great British Summer often doesn't result in hot temperatures there will be times when the sun does come out and workers find themselves working in hot conditions. In the UK there is no maximum temperature that a workplace is allowed to be, rather advice from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) states "during working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable". What is reasonable depends on the type of work being done (manual, office, etc) and the type of workplace (kitchen, air conditioned office, etc).

The HSE offers further guidance on workplace temperatures including details on carrying out an optional thermal comfort risk assessment if staff are unhappy with the temperature - Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - Temperature.

Getting to work

Generally hot weather shouldn't affect journeys to work, but occasionally in the UK there might be an impact on public transport if temperatures go over a certain level. Train companies may limit the speed of trains in case the tracks buckle which may result in the late arrival of your train. You should check with your local train company to see if speed restrictions are in place or cancellations are expected and plan accordingly.

Keeping cool in work

While employers are not legally obliged to provide air conditioning in workplaces  they are expected to provide reasonable temperatures. If you have air conditioning switch it on, if you have blinds or curtains use them to block out sunlight and if you're working outside wear appropriate clothing and use sun screen to protect from sunburn.

It is also important to drink plenty of water and employers must provide you with suitable drinking water in the workplace. It is important to drink water regularly throughout the day and not to wait until you are thirsty as this is an indication that you are already dehydrated.

Fasting during hot weather

Many Muslims will fast each day from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan as part of their faith. This includes not eating food, drinking liquids or smoking. When Ramadan falls in the summer months it can be particularly challenging as the days are longer. Employees may wish to use annual leave when observing the Ramadan rules, and employers may help by holding meetings etc. in the mornings when energy levels are higher. Where possible employers could consider a temporary change in working hours.

Vulnerable workers

The hot weather can make workers feel tired and less energetic especially for those who are young, older, pregnant or those on medication. Employers may wish to give these workers, more frequent rest breaks and ensure ventilation is adequate by providing fans, or portable air cooling units.

Dress code in the workplace during hot weather

Employers often have a dress code in the workplace for many reasons such as health and safety, or workers may be asked to wear a uniform to communicate a corporate image. A dress code can often be used to ensure workers are dressed appropriately.

While employers are under no obligation to relax their dress code or uniform requirements during hot weather, some may allow workers to wear more casual clothes, or allow "dress down" days. This does not necessarily mean that shorts and flip flops are appropriate, rather employers may relax the rules in regards to wearing ties or suits.

Tell us what’s happening in your area

 If there is something happening that you’d like us to shout about.

 Email us today by clicking here

Southampton City Council cuts cord with Capita

UNISON has welcomed Southampton City Council's decision to end it's 11 year relationship with Capita and bring a raft of services back in-house. This announcement comes after years of great campaigning and bargaining work by the Southampton District branch.

Read the full article