National Table Tennis Day on 18/7/2018

As part of the celebration of National Table Tennis Day on 18/7/2018, you can attend Cowley Table Tennis for free !

Cowley Table Tennis is located at Temple Cowley Reform Church, Oxford Road, Cowley (opposite

Cowley Police Station) OX4 2ES, between 7pm and 10.00 pm.

5 tables, equipment provided.

Take on the club robot with Robo Pong’s four bat challenge-and win

a free entry to Ping ! Oxford All-comers summer competition.

For further details, contact Anne Borrowdale . e-mail ; anne@anneborrowdale.co.uk

mobile ; 07729 999958

Fighting for fairness and equality

Everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. The ability to live and work without prejudice is a fundamental right, regardless of your background, colour or sexual orientation.

One of UNISON’s main aims is to help workers fight for fairness and equality in the workplace and beyond. Challenging discrimination and winning equality is at the heart of everything UNISON does.

Besides the right not to be discriminated against or bullied, fair treatment also includes equal working conditions and pay.

📝UNISON members! Take this year's Equality Survey and you could WIN three nights for two people at Croyde Bay Holiday Resort. Look, isn't it lovely! 😎 ☀️ Click here today to take part

Young workers need trade unions more than ever now.

NHS 70: Won't let go (National Health Singers)

official video National Health Singers

LGBT survey

You guys are amazing! We aimed to get 200 responses to our LGBT Staff Survey and we are currently a cat's whisker away from hitting 400.

Thank you very much to you all, and if you would still like to take part, there is just one week left.

The link to the survey is https://survey.yas.nhs.uk/s/LGBTStaffSurvey18/.

Find out what’s going on at this years National delegate conference

Click here to read all the latest news

Dave Prentis Speech Full NDC 2018

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis marks the start of the union's 25th anniversary year with a speech recalling some of the battles and successes of the past. 

And he had a message for the Prime Minister: "Fund our NHS and all our public services. Or call an election and we'll elect a government that will." 

What is Anxiety?

#Our NHS is 70 - National celebration & demonstration

June 30
Organised by: The People's Assembly, HCT, TUC, Unison, Unite, GMB, RCN, RCM, BMA & BDA

Book free seat on Oxford transport @ ouh.org.uk/bookings/June30.html
or call 07503169657

Say yes to:
● A publicly owned NHS that is free for all
● Proper funding and proper staffing
● Support for our wonderful NHS workers
● World class services for every community

#OurNHS70 - Free, for all, forever

The NHS belongs to us. Access to healthcare is a human right. Our post-war generation created a National Health Service that delivered world class care to all on the basis of need. For 70 years #ourNHS has set a shining example to the world of what can be achieved when we make the choice to look after the collective good.
But #ourNHS is under attack. A decade of austerity, underfunding and top down reforms have stretched our health service to breaking point. Services are being cut and cancelled, hospitals and wards are closing, there are staffing shortages across every part of the system and increasing parts of our health service are being outsourced to private companies.

Never has there been a more urgent time in her 70 year history to stand up and defend what is yours. For what the last generation built. You have paid for it. You deserve it.

#OurNHS is a loved and cherished part of every community. Come out to defend it on June 9th in Oxford and on 30th June in London. Bring your family, your friends, your loved ones and anyone who cares about the future of healthcare in this country.

Why join UNISON ?

Why unions and UNISON are important. 

Join UNISON: http://www.joinunison.org

What have the Trade Unions done for us?

Dress codes and sex discrimination guidance

New guidance on Dress Codes and Sex Discrimination has been published by the Government Equalities Offices.

The guidance reminds employers that dress policies for men and women do not have to be identical, but standards imposed should be equivalent.

It also warns that requiring any gender-specific items, such as high heels, make up or have manicured nails, is likely to be unlawful.

GOV.UK- Dress codes and sex discrimination – what you need to know (pdf)

TUC WorkSmart app

The TUC has launched a pilot version of a new app – WorkSmart – that helps young people to progress at work, build relationships with co-workers, and learn about their rights. 

A thousand workers have already signed up. TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Joining together in a trade union is still the best way to get a better deal at work. But unions need to reach out to the young workers in workplaces where there isn’t a union. “That’s why today we’ve launched a new pilot, WorkSmart – to find a way to get the benefits of trade unions to the young workers who need us most.”

Click here to download the WorkSmart App

Helping with the cost of school uniforms

There for You has once again got a limited fund to help members deal with the costs of school uniforms

UNISON is once more launching a scheme to help members on low incomes deal with the cost of buying school uniforms.

Families living on low income with children struggle constantly to make ends meet – and this can be particularly acute before the new school year begins when the extra costs hit hard.

The union’s welfare charity There for You has once again got a limited fund to help members deal with the costs of school uniforms.

Download the applications form Here

The closing date for receipt of completed application forms is Friday 20 July.

Survey about cuts to local council budgets and your working lives

We have recently launched a survey of our members about the impact of local government cuts on services, and the impact on their working lives – including workplace stress, use of food banks, and undertaking unpaid overtime. This forms part of our campaigning and lobbying strategy to secure more money for local government in the Autumn Budget. It is essential that we receive as many responses as possible from members, so that we have results for all branches that can be used for campaigning. Please share this survey with your colleagues and encourage them to fill it in. The deadline is 11th June.

CLICK HERE TO START SURVEY

Check out www.ambulanceLGBT.org

There's lots to get involved with this summer... Pride events, a photo competition and the first ever LGBT staff survey!

Check out www.ambulanceLGBT.org for all the latest

Discrimination and protected characteristics at work

Religion Or Belief? Free advise from acas. It’s not rocket science.

Here when you need help.

Remember, if you are stressed or not feeling well, there is help available. Check out the Mental Health Foundation page for advice. Don't stay silent.

How can I identify the signs of stress?

Everyone experiences stress. However, when it is affecting your life, health and wellbeing, it is important to tackle it as soon as possible, and while stress affects everyone differently, there are common signs and symptoms you can look out for:

• feelings of constant worry or anxiety
• feelings of being overwhelmed
• difficulty concentrating
• mood swings or changes in your mood
• irritability or having a short temper
• difficulty relaxing
• depression
• low self-esteem
• eating more or less than usual
• changes in your sleeping habits
• using alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs to relax
• aches and pains, particularly muscle tension
• diarrhoea and constipation
• feelings of nausea or dizziness
• loss of sex drive.

Check out www.mentalhealth.org.uk

For a free copy of there book on how to cope Click here

Test your stress

For Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 (14-20 May), we're focusing on stress. See how stressed you are by taking our short test, which uses the evidence-based perceived stress scale (PSS).

Stress is not a mental health problem in itself but it is a key cause of mental health problems like depression and anxiety and is often linked to self-harm and suicide. Stress is also known to lead to physical health problems like muscle and joint pain and cardiovascular problems.

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/stress-test

Shining a light on work-related stress - Go Home Healthy

We stepped up for public services

It's almost time for us to Step Up! For Public Services.

Here's all the logistical info you need for the day.

Arriving and forming up
The UNISON block of the march will form up on The Embankment by Embankment Pier. We have been allocated Zone 2 which will be marked out by the TUC with signs on lamp posts, From 9.30am the area will be clearly visible due to the presence of six of large purple UNISON balloons.

The best way to get on to The Embankment by foot is from The Strand via the side streets Surrey Street and Arundel Street

Marchers should access the form up area from the rear and make their way forwards towards Zone 2 and the purple UNISON balloons.

The key tube stations are Blackfriars, Southwark, St Paul’s and Waterloo. Temple tube station is likely to be closed as it is very small, so make alternative plans.

March Length and Route
View the march route here. March lengths are as follows:

• Long March – Embankment tube to Wellington Arch entrance of Hyde Park - 1.7 miles
• Short March – St James Street to Wellington Arch entrance of Hyde Park – 0.8 miles

Legal Assistance
In the event of any legal issues, UNISON has arranged a helpline through Thompsons for members on the day: Tel: 0800 587 7530

Rally
The rally in Hyde Park is due to end no later than 4.00pm.

Unison releases film highlighting impact of long hours on East of England Ambulance staff

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) at UNISON

The GDPR is a EU Regulation designed to give you better control over how your personal data is used. While the major targets of the legislation are the big multinationals, like Facebook and the other big companies that sell your data for a profit, the GDPR applies to everyone including UNISON. Therefore, please take a moment to check the preferences you have given us that will let us keep you informed about what’s happening in UNISON both nationally and at branch level. It’s very simple to do this through your “MyUNISON” portal – for details see how to change your contact preferences below. Please check and correct your other personal details at the same time. Please help us to support you.

How to change your contact preferences:

1.    Go to the national UNISON website (www.unison.org.uk) and click on “My UNISON in the top strap-line (www.unison.org.uk/my-unison).
2.    If this is the first time you have done this, you will need to register, which requires knowing your UNISON membership number. You can get this from your membership card or by ringing UNISONdirect on 08000 857 857.
3.    If you have already registered and have an account, you will need to login (you will need your UNISON membership number and the password you created when you first registered.
4.    Click on “My Details” and then “View full personal details here”.
5.    In the top section titled “About you”, click on “Edit”.
6.    Scroll down the page, completing as many details as you feel happy entering until you get towards the bottom, where it asks for Email addresses.
7.    Please ensure that there is at least one email address (personal or work) entered and preferably enter both – please indicate which one you would prefer us to use.
8.    Please set “UNISON Mail” to “I am happy to receive correspondence from UNISON if appropriate” – if you do not do this, the branch cannot send you the branch newsletter, information about pay increases, etc.
9.    If you wish to receive information from UNISON’s partners, you will need to set “Third Party Mail” to “Allow my details to be available for third party mailings”.
10.    Please tick the box against “Email” or the branch cannot contact you by email.  If you are happy to be contacted by phone and/or text as well, you should tick those boxes as well.
11.    Click the “Save button” and then “Log out” in the top strap-line.

Moments of truth: Sophie - clinical trials coordinator

Long hours, lack of staff and increasing stress have become a fact of life for public service workers.

Click this link to watch https://momentsoftruth.unison.org.uk/

Step up on 12 May in London

To book a seat on the Oxford City branch of UNISON's coach email 12maycaoch@gmail.com

Free travel paid for by Oxford City Branch of UNISON

Stress awareness

Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow but only empties today of its strengths. 

– Charles H. Spurgeon