Category: General secretary’s blog

Blog: Taking demands to world leaders at COP28

The UN’s climate change conference, COP28, is under way in Dubai and we’ve sent UNISON’s own observer, NEC member Tony Wright, to the conference. You can read more about his role here.

Back home in the UK, we’re also preparing to take part in the International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC) Global Day of Action. Events are planned in Aberystwyth, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Portsmouth and Sheffield.

We no longer have to look very far to see the damage being caused every day by climate change – it’s here in the UK. And while the Westminster government is busy giving ever more tax breaks to the biggest polluting companies, and allowing them to make record-breaking profits from soaring energy bills, the global COP process is all about getting governments to stop burying their heads in the sand and to take action.

Without all governments stepping up to this existential emergency, there is no doubt, we will run out of time to protect our planet. This is a fundamental trade union issue, because the jobs, health and finances of UNISON members are all affected by climate change.

World leaders are now in Dubai to make key decisions on how countries will commit to tackling the climate emergency. But at its core, there must be a just transition. It has to promote and protect human rights and fundamental labour rights. Also, it must guarantee intergenerational and gender equity, racial justice and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, impacted communities and migrants.

As UNISON is part of the ITUC observer delegation, we have clear, joint demands of world leaders:

  • Only a just transition to a low-carbon economy can secure the future and livelihoods of workers and their communities
  • Just transition plans should be co-created with workers and their trade unions to guarantee decent work, social protection, training opportunities and job security for all workers affected by global warming and climate change policies
  • Plans must be underpinned by the fundamental Labour rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining and facilitated through social dialogue between workers and their unions, employers and governments, as established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Trade unionists across the world are mobilising around these core principles. And while we know the COP processes won’t hold all the solutions, we must do all we can to tackle the climate catastrophe head on. We can all do our bit, too, which is why we’re encouraging all members to find an event to take part in on the Global Day of Action on 9 December.

Follow our Green UNISON campaign online and look out for our special reports back during COP over the next few weeks.

The article Blog: Taking demands to world leaders at COP28 first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Taking demands to world leaders at COP28

The UN’s climate change conference, COP28, is under way in Dubai and we’ve sent UNISON’s own observer, NEC member Tony Wright, to the conference. You can read more about his role here.

Back home in the UK, we’re also preparing to take part in the International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC) Global Day of Action. Events are planned in Aberystwyth, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cardiff, Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Portsmouth and Sheffield.

We no longer have to look very far to see the damage being caused every day by climate change – it’s here in the UK. And while the Westminster government is busy giving ever more tax breaks to the biggest polluting companies, and allowing them to make record-breaking profits from soaring energy bills, the global COP process is all about getting governments to stop burying their heads in the sand and to take action.

Without all governments stepping up to this existential emergency, there is no doubt, we will run out of time to protect our planet. This is a fundamental trade union issue, because the jobs, health and finances of UNISON members are all affected by climate change.

World leaders are now in Dubai to make key decisions on how countries will commit to tackling the climate emergency. But at its core, there must be a just transition. It has to promote and protect human rights and fundamental labour rights. Also, it must guarantee intergenerational and gender equity, racial justice and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, impacted communities and migrants.

As UNISON is part of the ITUC observer delegation, we have clear, joint demands of world leaders:

  • Only a just transition to a low-carbon economy can secure the future and livelihoods of workers and their communities
  • Just transition plans should be co-created with workers and their trade unions to guarantee decent work, social protection, training opportunities and job security for all workers affected by global warming and climate change policies
  • Plans must be underpinned by the fundamental Labour rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining and facilitated through social dialogue between workers and their unions, employers and governments, as established by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Trade unionists across the world are mobilising around these core principles. And while we know the COP processes won’t hold all the solutions, we must do all we can to tackle the climate catastrophe head on. We can all do our bit, too, which is why we’re encouraging all members to find an event to take part in on the Global Day of Action on 9 December.

Follow our Green UNISON campaign online and look out for our special reports back during COP over the next few weeks.

The article Blog: Taking demands to world leaders at COP28 first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all

UNISON has gathered evidence of appalling exploitation of migrant workers by unscrupulous care bosses.

Care is one of the biggest industries in the UK, but also one of the most precarious. It’s broken, on the brink of collapse and only being propped up by the work of migrants.

Workers from abroad have sold everything they own to come here and care for people. But instead of receiving decent pay and conditions, and being treated with dignity and respect, the UK government is letting employers get away with terrible practices that should be consigned to history.

Our report, Expendable Labour details shocking treatment of migrant care workers in the UK care system.

We found the ultimate abuse of workers. Brought over here on false promises of a better life and charged dodgy fees that cost them their homes and savings. Some find they’re either overworked on 80 hours a week, or given too few hours to survive off. Given inadequate training, living in poor conditions and threatened with deportation if they speak out.

To top it off, ministers are demonising migrant workers by blaming them for all the country’s woes. They’re complicit in allowing the abuse to continue and in a raging culture war that’s now targeting low paid migrant workers.

Rather than focusing on fixing social care and ensuring decent pay and care for those who need it, the likes of Robert Jenrick, Minister for Immigration, are happy to see the care system completely collapse. His suggestions of capping visas for care workers and his desire to prevent them from bringing children or other dependent family members with them, will only make the problems in care worse.

Any increase on the current 152,000 care staff vacancies spells deep trouble for the whole sector.

So we’re calling on the government to take urgent action to stop that from happening.

Immigration reform and the creation of a national care service are the answer.

Visa extensions would allow care workers more time to seek employment with a new sponsor, and a national care service would ensure decent pay, terms and conditions to prevent abuse and exploitation.

Fixing social care ultimately means guaranteed support for those who need it. But it would also help to grow our economy. And what better way to do it, than through a national care service that everyone can be proud of.

The article Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all

UNISON has gathered evidence of appalling exploitation of migrant workers by unscrupulous care bosses.

Care is one of the biggest industries in the UK, but also one of the most precarious. It’s broken, on the brink of collapse and only being propped up by the work of migrants.

Workers from abroad have sold everything they own to come here and care for people. But instead of receiving decent pay and conditions, and being treated with dignity and respect, the UK government is letting employers get away with terrible practices that should be consigned to history.

Our report, Expendable Labour details shocking treatment of migrant care workers in the UK care system.

We found the ultimate abuse of workers. Brought over here on false promises of a better life and charged dodgy fees that cost them their homes and savings. Some find they’re either overworked on 80 hours a week, or given too few hours to survive off. Given inadequate training, living in poor conditions and threatened with deportation if they speak out.

To top it off, ministers are demonising migrant workers by blaming them for all the country’s woes. They’re complicit in allowing the abuse to continue and in a raging culture war that’s now targeting low paid migrant workers.

Rather than focusing on fixing social care and ensuring decent pay and care for those who need it, the likes of Robert Jenrick, Minister for Immigration, are happy to see the care system completely collapse. His suggestions of capping visas for care workers and his desire to prevent them from bringing children or other dependent family members with them, will only make the problems in care worse.

Any increase on the current 152,000 care staff vacancies spells deep trouble for the whole sector.

So we’re calling on the government to take urgent action to stop that from happening.

Immigration reform and the creation of a national care service are the answer.

Visa extensions would allow care workers more time to seek employment with a new sponsor, and a national care service would ensure decent pay, terms and conditions to prevent abuse and exploitation.

Fixing social care ultimately means guaranteed support for those who need it. But it would also help to grow our economy. And what better way to do it, than through a national care service that everyone can be proud of.

The article Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop

The damage has already been done by years of chaotic Conservative governments.

Sluggish growth, plummeting living standards and broken public services. That’s the legacy of 13 years of an ever-revolving door of prime ministers and ministers who can’t be trusted with the economy.

Jeremy Hunt’s desperate claims to fix the economic problems that his party caused won’t pull the wool over voters’ eyes. He’s simply giving back what he and his inept predecessors have already snatched from working people.

If the government really wanted to save on benefits for disabled people, it would give them more rights at work so employers don’t make their jobs impossible. And if ministers wanted to help more people back into work, they would fix our underfunded and understaffed NHS to get millions of people the treatment they’re desperate for.

But this is the government that broke the NHS, forcing experienced health professionals out to find better paying jobs elsewhere.

If the government cared about communities, it would reverse the trend of councils going bust and plug the huge budget deficits threatening essential services for children and vulnerable adults.

But this is a government that fails to understand the value of local authorities and the staff who work for them.

Public services and the pay of its dedicated workforces didn’t get a look in, aside from being told to deliver more for less. In-crisis essential services can’t give the public what they need and this government certainly won’t.

What the UK needs is a long-term plan to fund our public services properly, unlock growth and help everyone fulfil their potential.

Today, we were taken around another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom loop. Everybody feels worse off, public services are on their knees and this government is past its sell by date.

The article Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop

The damage has already been done by years of chaotic Conservative governments.

Sluggish growth, plummeting living standards and broken public services. That’s the legacy of 13 years of an ever-revolving door of prime ministers and ministers who can’t be trusted with the economy.

Jeremy Hunt’s desperate claims to fix the economic problems that his party caused won’t pull the wool over voters’ eyes. He’s simply giving back what he and his inept predecessors have already snatched from working people.

If the government really wanted to save on benefits for disabled people, it would give them more rights at work so employers don’t make their jobs impossible. And if ministers wanted to help more people back into work, they would fix our underfunded and understaffed NHS to get millions of people the treatment they’re desperate for.

But this is the government that broke the NHS, forcing experienced health professionals out to find better paying jobs elsewhere.

If the government cared about communities, it would reverse the trend of councils going bust and plug the huge budget deficits threatening essential services for children and vulnerable adults.

But this is a government that fails to understand the value of local authorities and the staff who work for them.

Public services and the pay of its dedicated workforces didn’t get a look in, aside from being told to deliver more for less. In-crisis essential services can’t give the public what they need and this government certainly won’t.

What the UK needs is a long-term plan to fund our public services properly, unlock growth and help everyone fulfil their potential.

Today, we were taken around another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom loop. Everybody feels worse off, public services are on their knees and this government is past its sell by date.

The article Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Your experiences are vital to the COVID Inquiry

It’s been grim watching so far, but today will get much grimmer as the Cummings circus arrives at the UK COVID-19 Inquiry.

We’re expecting more explosive talk, axe-grinding and score-settling. A lot of noise that risks drowning out the most important parts of the inquiry – the experiences of those who suffered.

In the UK, millions fell sick with COVID, and over 230,000 died with it, leaving millions more grieving relatives and friends. We all lost days without our loved ones beside us, when lockdowns separated us.

And the people who went to work every day to look after COVID patients, to protect others from catching it, to keep hospitals, care homes, councils, prisons, transport, and schools running, risked their own lives to protect others.

Recounting and recalling the hundreds of days of the pandemic is difficult. But without your experiences, the government and civil service won’t learn from the mistakes of the past.

Ever since the start of the pandemic, I’ve heard heart-breaking stories from our members. Care workers were calling us, desperate for PPE and terrified to go to work.

Healthcare assistants told me they worked well beyond what was expected of them to help mortuary staff, and an exhausted and overwhelmed public service workforce has been left deeply betrayed by the people in Number 10 who flouted the rules.

UNISON’s COVID Inquiry team remains focused on amplifying your voices throughout the inquiry. And our head of health, Sara Gorton, is preparing a written statement on behalf of UNISON, and will be our expert witness when the inquiry takes oral statements.

We’re putting this effort into the inquiry, because UNISON’s collective experience is the most valuable insight into how the pandemic ravaged through the UK.

But we need your help too. Please take the time to share your experience – you can do this directly, through the UK’s COVID-19 Inquiry website here.

The article Blog: Your experiences are vital to the COVID Inquiry first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Your experiences are vital to the COVID Inquiry

It’s been grim watching so far, but today will get much grimmer as the Cummings circus arrives at the UK COVID-19 Inquiry.

We’re expecting more explosive talk, axe-grinding and score-settling. A lot of noise that risks drowning out the most important parts of the inquiry – the experiences of those who suffered.

In the UK, millions fell sick with COVID, and over 230,000 died with it, leaving millions more grieving relatives and friends. We all lost days without our loved ones beside us, when lockdowns separated us.

And the people who went to work every day to look after COVID patients, to protect others from catching it, to keep hospitals, care homes, councils, prisons, transport, and schools running, risked their own lives to protect others.

Recounting and recalling the hundreds of days of the pandemic is difficult. But without your experiences, the government and civil service won’t learn from the mistakes of the past.

Ever since the start of the pandemic, I’ve heard heart-breaking stories from our members. Care workers were calling us, desperate for PPE and terrified to go to work.

Healthcare assistants told me they worked well beyond what was expected of them to help mortuary staff, and an exhausted and overwhelmed public service workforce has been left deeply betrayed by the people in Number 10 who flouted the rules.

UNISON’s COVID Inquiry team remains focused on amplifying your voices throughout the inquiry. And our head of health, Sara Gorton, is preparing a written statement on behalf of UNISON, and will be our expert witness when the inquiry takes oral statements.

We’re putting this effort into the inquiry, because UNISON’s collective experience is the most valuable insight into how the pandemic ravaged through the UK.

But we need your help too. Please take the time to share your experience – you can do this directly, through the UK’s COVID-19 Inquiry website here.

The article Blog: Your experiences are vital to the COVID Inquiry first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Trade unions wouldn’t be the same without Black Britons

Throughout history, the contributions of Black people have been overlooked and ignored. But Black History Month and UNISON’s Year of Black Workers are all about getting Black people’s achievements recognised and appreciated all year round.

Key Black figures have been at the forefront of fighting for social justice and equal rights in the UK. They’ve been instrumental in developing Britain’s culture, art and society as we know it now.

During this year’s Black History Month, we’ve been celebrating their achievements, but particularly those of Black women, as community builders, trade unionists, change makers and trailblazing political influencers. Like Olive Morris, a 1960s and 1970s south London community activist who fought for Black women’s rights and organised others to oppose inequalities.

The trade union movement – and UNISON – wouldn’t be the same without Black Britons. UNISON has over 185,000 Black members and hundreds of Black staff, and some of them have made history.

May Parsons, an NHS matron, administered the first NHS Covid-19 vaccine to 90-year-old Maggie Keenan. This year, May was recognised as one of the most influential Black women in health by the HSJ magazine, along with our deputy head of health Helga Pile.

Saluting our Sisters: Black History Month

I’ve spoken many times during UNISON’s Year of Black Workers about the 75th anniversary of Empire Windrush, and the 75th birthday of our NHS. If that ship had never docked in Tilbury, we wouldn’t have our NHS today. New migrants from the Caribbean helped to build our NHS, and the struggles they’ve faced since then will never be forgotten by UNISON. We’re committed to our legal action against the government’s decision to renege on actions that would give justice to victims of the Windrush scandal and prevent another similar scandal from happening again.

But there is still a lot of work to do. NHS workforce data shows that Black workers are still underrepresented in senior roles, and many experience harassment and bullying from the patients. Black women are often disadvantaged in the workplace and ethnicity pay gaps still persist, meaning Black workers are not getting the pay and recognition they’re owed.

We will continue to use UNISON’s Year of Black Workers to establish a legacy to generate change, and build on our campaigns to push for more change in UNISON, in society and through government – at the next general election and beyond.

Because, as the biggest and best trade union in the UK, we take our responsibility in challenging racist policies and championing anti-racist campaigns seriously. We know that, together, we can make the UK a place where Black people are never left underrepresented, undervalued or underpaid.

Black History Month

The article Blog: Trade unions wouldn’t be the same without Black Britons first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Trade unions wouldn’t be the same without Black Britons

Throughout history, the contributions of Black people have been overlooked and ignored. But Black History Month and UNISON’s Year of Black Workers are all about getting Black people’s achievements recognised and appreciated all year round.

Key Black figures have been at the forefront of fighting for social justice and equal rights in the UK. They’ve been instrumental in developing Britain’s culture, art and society as we know it now.

During this year’s Black History Month, we’ve been celebrating their achievements, but particularly those of Black women, as community builders, trade unionists, change makers and trailblazing political influencers. Like Olive Morris, a 1960s and 1970s south London community activist who fought for Black women’s rights and organised others to oppose inequalities.

The trade union movement – and UNISON – wouldn’t be the same without Black Britons. UNISON has over 185,000 Black members and hundreds of Black staff, and some of them have made history.

May Parsons, an NHS matron, administered the first NHS Covid-19 vaccine to 90-year-old Maggie Keenan. This year, May was recognised as one of the most influential Black women in health by the HSJ magazine, along with our deputy head of health Helga Pile.

Saluting our Sisters: Black History Month

I’ve spoken many times during UNISON’s Year of Black Workers about the 75th anniversary of Empire Windrush, and the 75th birthday of our NHS. If that ship had never docked in Tilbury, we wouldn’t have our NHS today. New migrants from the Caribbean helped to build our NHS, and the struggles they’ve faced since then will never be forgotten by UNISON. We’re committed to our legal action against the government’s decision to renege on actions that would give justice to victims of the Windrush scandal and prevent another similar scandal from happening again.

But there is still a lot of work to do. NHS workforce data shows that Black workers are still underrepresented in senior roles, and many experience harassment and bullying from the patients. Black women are often disadvantaged in the workplace and ethnicity pay gaps still persist, meaning Black workers are not getting the pay and recognition they’re owed.

We will continue to use UNISON’s Year of Black Workers to establish a legacy to generate change, and build on our campaigns to push for more change in UNISON, in society and through government – at the next general election and beyond.

Because, as the biggest and best trade union in the UK, we take our responsibility in challenging racist policies and championing anti-racist campaigns seriously. We know that, together, we can make the UK a place where Black people are never left underrepresented, undervalued or underpaid.

Black History Month

The article Blog: Trade unions wouldn’t be the same without Black Britons first appeared on the UNISON National site.