UNISON AGM 12th March 2015

Its that time of year again.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow in Room 16, Islesburgh Community Centre at 12pm.

The meeting will be followed by a buffet lunch.

All council staff have been given permission to attend.

UNISON BAIRNS CHRISTMAS PARTY

Get your names in for this years party!

ACTION ON PAY

The Local Government Pay Ballot, which closed at lunchtime on 29 September 2014, has delivered a Yes vote for industrial action on the basis of 53.5% to 46.5%. UNISON Scotland's Local Government Committee will meet in Glasgow on Friday 3rd October to discuss the way forward and a full update with follow then.

SUPPORT STAFF IN SCHOOLS SURVEY

Dear Colleagues,

*Biggest ever survey of school support staff*

UNISON is carrying out the biggest ever survey of school support staff, including both UNISON members and non-members. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete online and can be completed anonymously. Please pass the survey onto your contacts at schools and encourage them to have their say.

The web address is www.surveymonkey.com/s/StarsInOurSchools.

Alternatively members can use the enclosed  paper copy of the suvey which can be printed out and handed to staff who may not have ready access to a computer in the workplace. Please arrange for completed paper copies to be posted to Joanna Coates, UNISON Centre, London NW1 2AY by Monday 20 October.

Valuing Maternity

Valuing Maternity

Every year around half of the pregnant women in the workforce will experience discrimination.  In 2006, the EOC found that 30,000 pregnant women were forced out of their jobs after becoming pregnant. Since the recession, research suggests that number is now more like 60,000.   The excellent “Valuing Maternity” campaign, supported by UNISON, campaigns for maternity rights and against the discrimination that many pregnant women face.  It provides information and support.  You can find out more at www.valuingmaternity.org.

It’s important to get the message out about the scale of problems that pregnant women face from bad employers.  We’re encouraging staff in the community and voluntary sector to highlight this by contacting the Valuing Maternity campaign at campaigns@maternityaction.org.uk (this can be anonymous), or by using the twitter hashtag #WhenIHadMyBaby.

You can find out more about your rights at “the facts” - www.valuingmaternity.org/the-facts.

SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS

‘Survival guide’ for social workers

UNISON and Community Care magazine have produced a digital ‘Survival guide’ aimed particularly at new social workers.  The guide contains some simple information on the importance of social workers getting organised in UNISON, supervision, continuing professional development, stress, health and safety and raising concerns. It also contains a recruitment advert at the back.

This can be given to members and used as resource for recruiting social workers as they come in to your employer.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/social-work-survival-guide/

Personal Learning Plans

UNISON Personal Learning Grants

For PAs  and community-based Care Staff

We know how difficult it is to afford career development training due to huge increases in course fees and the withdrawal by many employers of financial support for career development.    

To help you get on at work and develop your career, UNISON is piloting Personal Learning Grants with members working in community-based care. 
Ten awards of £300 each are offered. The grants can be used towards course fees and costs including course books, travel, and residential session costs, so you can apply even if you already receive a grant or a loan for fees.

These bursaries cover a wide range of subjects.  They can be used for study on any general non-vocational course or any vocational course relevant to working in public services, including public services delivered by private contractors.    

When allocating these awards, we will give preference to members with few or no qualifications.  We are also keen to hear from members who are active in their branch.  However applications are welcomed from all community-based care staff members.

To Apply

Complete the application form overleaf and send it to the address below to arrive by 29 August 2014.  We will consider all applications on that date so that grant criteria can be applied fairly and let all applicants know the outcome very shortly after that date.

Bursaries Administrator,                                  Tel:  020 7121 5116
UNISON Learning & Organising Services,
130 Euston Road,                                               email: 
London NW1 2AY                                               LearningAndOrganising@unison.co.uk

In addition to the conditions mentioned above, the following also apply for receipt of a learning grant:

1)     You must be a member of UNISON for at least 4 weeks prior to applying for an award, have no arrears of subscriptions, and continue to pay membership subscriptions during the time you are supported by an award.

2)     Each member can receive one learning grant only in each calendar year, up to a maximum of four grants. 

3)     Grants will be made at the discretion of the NEC Development & Organising Committee.