A very interesting TUC podcast to watch if you have some spare time

https://www.crowdcast.io/e/coronavirus-your-rights

 

The Government’s new slogan, but the message is still the same.

But the message is still the same.

1. Stay at home whenever possible 
2. Work from home if you can
3. Limit contact with others 
4. Stay 2 meters apart
5. Wash you hands regularly 

If not rocket science Stay home - Protect the NHS - Save lives 

VE Day 2020 team work video

Video showing the Great work by our Health and Safety officer and team to make this happen during these challenging times.

Happy VE Day

Remembering those who gave so much for our today

COVID-19 response fund launched

There for You is UNISON’s unique charity, set up to help members in difficulties – and this year, the COVID-19 crisis is making life harder for many of our already-stretched members.

The welfare charity has set up a special fund to respond to calls for help because of the pandemic, with £250,000 set aside for members in need. Our members can only apply for a grant if they know about it so please share as widely as you can.

For full story just click Here or for application form Click Here

UNISON members will never forget

UNISON members from Oxford City Branch of UNISON remember comrades we have lost in Oxford Town Hall

We will observe a minute's silence tomorrow at 11am, to honour those key workers who have lost their lives to Covid-19

#neverforgotten #iwmd2020

Supporting your mental health while working from home

A Message From Mental Health First Aid England

As more organisations move to online working, human connections are more important than ever.

Here are some ways to support your mental health, reduce feelings of isolation, and feel connected with colleagues while working remotely.

You can read the full guidance document here: https://mhfaengland.org/my-whole-self...

#MyWholeSelf

Coronavirus: Disinfectant firm issues warning after Trump comments

A leading disinfectant producer has issued a strong warning not to use its products on the human body after Donald Trump suggested they could potentially be used to treat coronavirus.

Reckitt Benckiser, which owns Lysol and Dettol, said "under no circumstance" should its products be injected or ingested.

President Trump faces a backlash over his comments at a briefing on Thursday.

Disinfectants are hazardous substances and can be poisonous if ingested.

Even external exposure can be dangerous to the skin, eyes and respiratory system.

Mr Trump's comments have been heavily criticised by doctors and have generated a huge online response. They have provoked hundreds of thousands of comments and caused well-known cleaning brands to trend on social media.

Reckitt Benckiser, which also owns the brands Vanish and Cillit Bang, said its products should not be administered "through injection, ingestion or any other route".

"Our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information," the company said in a statement.

The full story can be found at  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52411706

International Workers’ Memorial Day

Tuesday 28 April is International Workers’ Memorial Day. It's something we mark every year as we vow to "remember the dead; fight for the living”. In the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak, that has an added significance. That's why UNISON, the Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Nursing called for a minute's silence at 11am on 28 April to remember those who have lost their lives in this pandemic: UNISON members, family and friends, people in our communities and those our members care for.

Read more about IWMD and Tuesday's one minute silence

A thought for the weekend

I'll tell you a tale, that's been recently written.

Of a powerful army, so Great it saved Britain.

They didn't have bombs & they didn't have planes.

They fought with their hearts & they fought with their brains.

They didn't have bullets, armed just with a mask.

We sent them to war, with one simple task.

To show us the way, to lead & inspire us.

To protect us from harm & fight off the virus.

It couldn't be stopped by our bullet proof vests.

An invisible enemy invaded our chests.

So we called on our weapon, our soldiers in Blue.

"All Doctors, All Nurses, Your Country needs you".

We clapped on our streets, hearts bursting with pride.

As they went off to war, while we stayed inside.

They struggled at first, as they searched for supplies.

But they stared down the virus, in the whites of its eyes.

They leaped from the trenches & didn't think twice.

Some never came back, the ultimate price.

So tired, so weary, yet still they fought on.

As the virus was beaten & the battle was won.

So many of us, owe so much, to so few.

The brave & the bold, our heroes in Blue.

So let's line the streets & remember our debt.

We love you, our heroes. Lest we forget.🌈

Thank you from ODS

ODS workers thanked

Refuse collectors at ODS have been receiving thanks from our residents for their continued delivery of the collection service. We sent out our filmmaker, Sharon Woodward, to film the collectors’ appreciation. Please take a look at the resulting video 

What to think about before you forward that message

We're all worried about the spread of the coronavirus and sharing information on social media can help us feel like we're supporting our family and friends.

But the threat of misinformation is real.

The BBC's Zeinab Badawi explains how to check whether what you're about to forward is real or fake, and how to slow the online spread of falsehoods which can put lives at risk.

Click here to see more

Please make sure your details are correct during these difficult times.

During these unusual times Oxford City Branch of UNISON will be keeping you up-to-date via email only and to make sure we comply with the GDPR laws this is done via the UNISON WARMS systems (Web Access RMS) only 

If during the last two weeks if you have not received any emails from us it maybe because your details are out of date or you do not have an up to date email address logged on the system, to simply resolve this you can go online at  https://www.unison.org.uk/my-unison/ this site allows you to manage and update your own personal details or you can send us a valid email address to office@oxfordcityunison.com and we can update it for you. 

Sadly during these times and to support our comrades in the post room and at Royal Mail, it is not possible to post letters out to you

Time to listen STAY AT HOME

Please stay at home

Dear all

We would like to reassure you all, that UNISON will be here for you during these difficult times ahead. The office will still be open but at reduced times and days, if you do need us the best option is to call or email first to save you a wasted trip, but your first point of contact should always be your local steward. Their contact details can be found at www.oxfordcityunison.com if for some reason they are not available then please contact one of us listed below.

There are going to be many challenges ahead of us all and you may be asked to do things differently from your normal daily tasks. We know that you all will rise to the challenge’s that will come. If you are asked to support another roll or support another area and are or unhappy or concerned about it then please talk to your manager in the first instance, if you still have concerns please contact us and we will do our best to help.

Oxford City Council staff are well known for great public service in times of need never has there been a time when  we all need to pull together and support each other.

Lastly, We just want to say stay safe all of you.

Caroline

office@oxfordcityunison.com

David

chair@oxfordcityunison.com

UNISON Direct

0800 0 857 857

In Solidarity

On Behalf of Oxford City Branch of UNISON

2021 PAY DEAL CONSULTATION

NOTICE TO MEMBERS

2021 PAY DEAL CONSULTATION

Our current pay deal expires at the end of March 2021, therefore this year UNISON and Unite officers will be starting to negotiate a new pay deal for Oxford City Council and Oxford Direct Services colleagues to be effective from April 2021.

We, therefore, need to have input from all Trade Union members, via this survey, to guide us in the negotiations. Please complete the survey online using via this LINK  or using a paper copy available from your steward which can then be returned to your workplace reps/steward or via the ballot boxes or to the UNISON office in the Town Hall or the Unite office at Horspath

We kindly ask all Oxford City Council and Oxford Direct Services trade Union, members to take part in this survey as the results will help your Unions to shape the deal going forward.

Colleagues who are not a member of either of the Unions, Unite and UNISON cannot take part in this consultation, however joining either of the unions will enable those colleagues to have their say.

Just as a reminder the final year of the existing pay deal will see an increase in salary as from April this year 2020

Covid-19 - guidance for UNISON members

UNISON has been working with the relevant government departments to help ensure public services and public service workers are prepared and equipped to deal with Covid-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus.

Guidance for hospitals and NHS staff was published this week by NHS employers, UNISON, and other health unions. The aim of this is to ensure staff know exactly what to do with individuals who are concerned they have the virus and how to treat patients, with minimal risk to themselves. The guidance also seeks to reassure both health employees and the public, alerting everyone to be vigilant to prevent the wider spread of the virus.

Advice has also been issued by the Department for Education for schools and school workers. UNISON has issued additional advice for branches and activists should you become aware of any schools closed following suspected instances of Covid-19.

These sensible contingency plans will help reassure staff and the public that public services are fully prepared for any eventuality. Encouraging individuals to take everyday precautions is essential. But so is the need not to panic or feel unduly alarmed. Being fully prepared now could make the world of difference later.

Advice for anyone concerned they have developed symptoms of Covid-19 can be found on the NHS website.

As more advice becomes available for other areas, we will do all we can to make sure branches and activists have the information they need to respond to this fast moving situation.

How to deal with Coronavirus or COVID–19

Everyone's talking about how to deal with Coronavirus or COVID–19. One suggestion is to stay away from work if you're feeling unwell. But many people don't get sick pay for the first three days, so could you do that if you had to? Check out our advice on Coronavirus or COVID–19 and sick pay

🔷Sick pay - negotiating guidance for workplaces
https://unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2019/10/25815.pdf
🔷Sick leave and sick pay - your rights
https://unison.org.uk/get-help/knowledge/leave/sick-leave/
🔷Coronavirus - guidance for hospitals and NHS staff
https://unison.org.uk/news/2020/02/coronavirus-guidance-nhs-trusts-health-staff-published/

Join a union. Get active #joinUNISON

Roger McKenzie joins our AGM

Great to have Roger McKenzie at our AGM today, to see more please check out our facebook page.

Update your details today

We can only keep in touch with you if we know where you are!

There are several easy ways to keep your workplace, home address and other details up to date…

• Online at MyUNISON on the UK site by clicking here.
• Email the branch at office@oxfordcityunison.com
• By phone…
  01865 25 3892
  (08.30 – 16.00 Monday to Thursday and 08.30 to 15.00 on Fridays.
  Or UNISONdirect 0800 0 857 857
  Or freephone textphone 0800 0 967 968
  Lines are open 6am-midnight Monday-Friday and 9am-4pm Saturdays

11 Warning Signs of Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic used to gain power. 

And it works too well.

Gaslighting is a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality. It works much better than you may think. Anyone is susceptible to gaslighting, and it is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists, and cult leaders. It is done slowly, so the victim doesn't realize how much they've been brainwashed. For example, in the movie Gaslight (1944), a man manipulates his wife to the point where she thinks she is losing her mind. 

1. They tell blatant lies.

You know it's an outright lie. Yet they are telling you this lie with a straight face. Why are they so blatant? Because they're setting up a precedent. Once they tell you a huge lie, you're not sure if anything they say is true. Keeping you unsteady and off-kilter is the goal. 

2. They deny they ever said something, even though you have proof. 

You know they said they would do something; you know you heard it. But they out and out deny it. It makes you start questioning your reality—maybe they never said that thing. And the more they do this, the more you question your reality and start accepting theirs. 

3. They use what is near and dear to you as ammunition. 

They know how important your kids are to you, and they know how important your identity is to you. So those may be one of the first things they attack. If you have kids, they tell you that you should not have had those children. They will tell you'd be a worthy person if only you didn't have a long list of negative traits. They attack the foundation of your being. 

4. They wear you down over time.

This is one of the insidious things about gaslighting—it is done gradually, over time. A lie here, a lie there, a snide comment every so often...and then it starts ramping up. Even the brightest, most self-aware people can be sucked into gaslighting—it is that effective. It's the "frog in the frying pan" analogy: The heat is turned up slowly, so the frog never realizes what's happening to it. 

5. Their actions do not match their words.

When dealing with a person or entity that gaslights, look at what they are doing rather than what they are saying. What they are saying means nothing; it is just talk. What they are doing is the issue. 

6. They throw in positive reinforcement to confuse you. 

This person or entity that is cutting you down, telling you that you don't have value, is now praising you for something you did. This adds an additional sense of uneasiness. You think, "Well maybe they aren't so bad." Yes, they are. This is a calculated attempt to keep you off-kilter—and again, to question your reality. Also, look at what you were praised for; it is probably something that served the gaslighter. 

7. They know confusion weakens people. 

Gaslighters know that people like having a sense of stability and normalcy. Their goal is to uproot this and make you constantly question everything. And humans' natural tendency is to look to the person or entity that will help you feel more stable—and that happens to be the gaslighter.  

8. They project.

They are a drug user or a cheater, yet they are constantly accusing you of that. This is done so often that you start trying to defend yourself, and are distracted from the gaslighter's own behaviour. 

9. They try to align people against you.

Gaslighters are masters at manipulating and finding the people they know will stand by them no matter what—and they use these people against you. They will make comments such as, "This person knows that you're not right," or "This person knows you're useless too." Keep in mind it does not mean that these people actually said these things. A gaslighter is a constant liar. When the gaslighter uses this tactic it makes you feel like you don't know who to trust or turn to—and that leads you right back to the gaslighter. And that's exactly what they want: Isolation gives them more control.

10. They tell you or others that you are crazy.

This is one of the most effective tools of the gaslighter because it's dismissive. The gaslighter knows if they question your sanity, people will not believe you when you tell them the gaslighter is abusive or out-of-control. It's a master technique.  

11. They tell you everyone else is a liar.

By telling you that everyone else (your family, the media) is a liar, it again makes you question your reality. You've never known someone with the audacity to do this, so they must be telling the truth, right? No. It's a manipulation technique. It makes people turn to the gaslighter for the "correct" information—which isn't correct information at all.

article is taken from https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201701/11-warning-signs-gaslighting

If you need support UNISON are here 24/7 to help.

Branch Women’s Officer @ Oxford City Branch of UNISON

Branch Women’s Officer Post

The branch women’s officer (BWO) offers the opportunity to bring about important changes for women in the workplace. 

UNISON will provide a bespoke suite of Women’s Training Courses as preparation and ongoing support for the role, and the BWO can network and work collaboratively with other branch women’s officers in their area. They can become involved in, and receive support from, the  South East Regional Women’s Committee, attend national women’s conference and help UNISON agree its work plan priorities for the national women’s committee.

The branch women’s officer’s role (which can be job shared) includes:

• Building links with women’s sector organizations and where appropriate signposting to specialist organizations for women (domestic abuse/Rape Crisis) and assisting in negotiations on employer policies on violence against women.

• Ensuring that the branch has a wide range of resources for women, such as books, videos and leaflets, and making these resources accessible to all women in the branch.

• Organizing a women’s group and identifying concerns.

• Identifying women members of the branch, and liaising with the branch committee on progress towards proportionality.

• Being a focal point for women’s issues for members and raising issues affecting women, particularly those with service conditions implications with the branch committee.

• Supporting women in their issues generally and campaigning on issues that are important to women.

Interested?

Contact your Unison Branch Secretary for guidance on how to proceed.

Heart UNISON

Heart UNISON is part of Heart Unions Week, a national event organised by the TUC to celebrate unions and make sure everyone knows why we’re vital at work.

Annual General Meeting

The following are the arrangements for the Annual General Meeting of the branch and details of the elections that will be held in this branch.

The AGM will be held on:
Friday 28th February 2020
15:00 – 16:00
In the Long Room
Oxford Town Hall
St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1BX

The AGM is open to all members and its function is to allow an opportunity for members to receive reports from Branch Officers/Stewards on the performance of the branch in the previous year, including the campaigns that we have been involved with, our services to members and the branch accounts. Members have an opportunity to ask questions about reports that are submitted including the financial accounts of the branch.

Motions/Amendments to Branch Rules
As a full member you are entitled to submit motions and amendments to branch rules to the AGM so that they can be debated,  For a motion to be competent the subject must be relevant to the functions of the branch and be submitted in time for its inclusion on the agenda of the AGM. The final date for motions to be submitted is 12 noon, Friday 31 January 2020.

Election of Branch Officers/Stewards etc
This AGM also endorses the election of Branch Officers and stewards for the forthcoming year 2020/21. if you would like to stand please click the quick link on the right hand side of the page.

All existing stewards and Branch Officers who wish to continue in their role for a further year should return a nomination form.

Any full member of the union can stand for election to any of the Branch Officer Positions (except for the Labour Link Officer who must be a member of the Labour Party), subject to obtaining the appropriate number of members to support the nomination.

Nominations should be received at the Branch Office no later than 12 noon on Friday 07 February 2020. In the event of there being more than one nomination for any officer post a ballot will be held of all full members to determine the successful candidate, in the case of Labour Link Officer any election will be held of Labour Link members only

Branch AGM and Election Timetable
1. Motions, Rule Amendments, to be received by 12 noon on Friday 31 January 2020
2. Branch Officer Nominations, Steward nominations etc. to be received by 12 noon on Friday 07 February 2020
3. Monday 17 February 2020 Ballots papers issued, if required
4. Final Agenda published Monday 24 February 2020
5. AGM - Friday 28th February 2020, subject to the meetings being quorate.

Refreshments
Join us for a free cheese and wine available from 16:00. Tea and coffee will also be provided from 14:00

Finally, just to remind you that our union is a democratic organisation that is member led and the AGM and election process is important in ensuring that the union is and remains accountable to its members, not just for its policies and its activities but also in determining those members who will go on and speak for the union and our members. We therefore encourage you to play a full part in the process and to ask your colleagues to do likewise.

I look forward to seeing you on 28 February

Each new year is a chance to look forwards as well as back

Your union will always be there to stand up for you, every single day of this new decade

Each new year is a chance to look forwards as well as back. To plan for the future, but also to reflect on the year that’s behind us.

2020 marks not just a new year, but a new decade – and one that brings with it a great deal of uncertainty. The election that brought 2019 to a close ensures that we will leave the EU in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have been elected on a wafer thin manifesto that leaves us all in the dark about what comes after Brexit, especially when it comes to public services.

However you voted in last year’s election, I know that you understand more than anyone the pressures that the services you provide are under. 2020 will be another challenging year for public services, but I also know that there’s no group of people I’d trust more than UNISON members to care for, protect and educate our communities through the difficult times.

In return, I promise that your union will always be there to stand up for you, every single day of this new decade.

Read the full story here