Proposals that seek to limit the right to peaceful protest must be rejected, says UNISON

UNISON is extremely concerned at recent reports that Lord Walney, the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, has proposed that MPs, councillors and Labour-affiliated unions cut ties and no longer engage with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

UNISON completely opposes these proposals and limits on the right to peaceful protest, and urges the government and opposition parties to reject them.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign does not support protests outside the homes of elected representatives.

UNISON defends the right to peaceful protest outside MPs offices, town halls and Parliament. It also upholds the right of MPs and their staff to work without fear of intimidation or harassment.

UNISON was one of the first UK unions to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. It has also repeatedly called for full access to humanitarian assistance, the immediate and safe release of hostages and an end to the blockade of Gaza.

The union has encouraged branches and members to participate in peaceful protests in support of these demands and appealed for support for the emergency medical response in both Palestine and Israel.

The situation in Palestine and Israel has always been an international priority for UNISON and the union has consistently called for an end to the occupation and for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state alongside Israel.

UNISON condemns the appalling rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia seen in recent months.

The article Proposals that seek to limit the right to peaceful protest must be rejected, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Proposals that seek to limit the right to peaceful protest must be rejected, says UNISON

UNISON is extremely concerned at recent reports that Lord Walney, the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, has proposed that MPs, councillors and Labour-affiliated unions cut ties and no longer engage with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

UNISON completely opposes these proposals and limits on the right to peaceful protest, and urges the government and opposition parties to reject them.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign does not support protests outside the homes of elected representatives.

UNISON defends the right to peaceful protest outside MPs offices, town halls and Parliament. It also upholds the right of MPs and their staff to work without fear of intimidation or harassment.

UNISON was one of the first UK unions to demand a ceasefire in Gaza. It has also repeatedly called for full access to humanitarian assistance, the immediate and safe release of hostages and an end to the blockade of Gaza.

The union has encouraged branches and members to participate in peaceful protests in support of these demands and appealed for support for the emergency medical response in both Palestine and Israel.

The situation in Palestine and Israel has always been an international priority for UNISON and the union has consistently called for an end to the occupation and for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state alongside Israel.

UNISON condemns the appalling rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia seen in recent months.

The article Proposals that seek to limit the right to peaceful protest must be rejected, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC hears of shocking conditions imposed on migrant care workers

Meeting in London and online yesterday, UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) condemned the resumption of violence in Gaza and repeated the union’s call for an immediate ceasefire.

General secretary Christina McAnea and president Libby Nolan told the meeting how emotional they had found addressing some of the recent peace rallies. They stressed how important it was to explain the union’s position on the war in the Middle East.

The NEC discussed and agreed a new statement on the Gaza-Israel conflict.

Elsewhere, the general secretary updated the NEC on various pay disputes across the UK. Ms McAnea said it was “utterly shocking” that health members in Northern Ireland still hadn’t received a pay deal – a situation that was affecting every union with members working in health.

She also noted that school members in Northern Ireland were currently taking action and that members in Scotland had received a revised offer for local government members which they had accepted. “Colleagues in Scotland did a very good job of getting an improved offer for members,” noted the general secretary.

On the ongoing Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, Ms McAnea noted it was “going from strength to strength”.

She said: “It was utterly inspiring to meet members who have never been that active before. The campaign has resulted in fantastic sign-up from non-members who perhaps feel for the first time that the union is speaking up for them.

“Members are taking the action and are leading the campaign,” she added.

The meeting also covered the recent publishing of UNISON’s report Expendable Labour. It details the shocking conditions that migrant workers are forced into when they are encouraged to come to the UK to work in social care.

They heard that migrant social care workers are propping up social care but are being exploited by employers and that the government could step in and help, but instead they’ve taken to demonising them.

The general secretary told the meeting: “It was a complete knee-jerk reaction to appease the Tory party’s right-wing backbenchers and they’re completely obsessed with this policy.

Ms McAnea said the union was getting calls from members who are worried. “It’s all very unclear at the moment – but this will have a massive knock-on effect in health and social care as there’s a global shortage of care staff.”

Finally, the NEC heard that the recent declaration of bankruptcy from Nottingham council would not be the last as local government “was the sector hit the hardest by the current government’s policies of the last 13 years” and that the union’s equal pay campaign was continuing across the country.

The article NEC hears of shocking conditions imposed on migrant care workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC hears of shocking conditions imposed on migrant care workers

Meeting in London and online yesterday, UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) condemned the resumption of violence in Gaza and repeated the union’s call for an immediate ceasefire.

General secretary Christina McAnea and president Libby Nolan told the meeting how emotional they had found addressing some of the recent peace rallies. They stressed how important it was to explain the union’s position on the war in the Middle East.

The NEC discussed and agreed a new statement on the Gaza-Israel conflict.

Elsewhere, the general secretary updated the NEC on various pay disputes across the UK. Ms McAnea said it was “utterly shocking” that health members in Northern Ireland still hadn’t received a pay deal – a situation that was affecting every union with members working in health.

She also noted that school members in Northern Ireland were currently taking action and that members in Scotland had received a revised offer for local government members which they had accepted. “Colleagues in Scotland did a very good job of getting an improved offer for members,” noted the general secretary.

On the ongoing Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, Ms McAnea noted it was “going from strength to strength”.

She said: “It was utterly inspiring to meet members who have never been that active before. The campaign has resulted in fantastic sign-up from non-members who perhaps feel for the first time that the union is speaking up for them.

“Members are taking the action and are leading the campaign,” she added.

The meeting also covered the recent publishing of UNISON’s report Expendable Labour. It details the shocking conditions that migrant workers are forced into when they are encouraged to come to the UK to work in social care.

They heard that migrant social care workers are propping up social care but are being exploited by employers and that the government could step in and help, but instead they’ve taken to demonising them.

The general secretary told the meeting: “It was a complete knee-jerk reaction to appease the Tory party’s right-wing backbenchers and they’re completely obsessed with this policy.

Ms McAnea said the union was getting calls from members who are worried. “It’s all very unclear at the moment – but this will have a massive knock-on effect in health and social care as there’s a global shortage of care staff.”

Finally, the NEC heard that the recent declaration of bankruptcy from Nottingham council would not be the last as local government “was the sector hit the hardest by the current government’s policies of the last 13 years” and that the union’s equal pay campaign was continuing across the country.

The article NEC hears of shocking conditions imposed on migrant care workers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Donate to aid efforts in Israel and Gaza

We are all horrified by the devastating violence we have seen in Israel and Gaza in recent weeks. I know that many UNISON activists are eager to respond to the crisis, so we are encouraging all our branches to support the critical work of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the Red Cross.

UNISON condemns the brutal and heinous attack by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel, and the indiscriminate bombing and collective punishment of the people of Gaza. We are calling for a ceasefire, the immediate and safe release of hostages and for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Gaza’s fragile health system was already close to collapse before the latest escalation, due to the 16-year blockade on the narrow strip of land. The bombing of Gaza and further severe restrictions on access to water, energy and essential medical supplies have seriously exacerbated the health crisis, with 14 out of 35 hospitals and 71% of primary healthcare facilities no longer able to function.

It is essential that we do all we can to support our colleagues working to save lives in the most appalling circumstances in Gaza and Israel. That is why UNISON has already donated £10,000 to support the critical work of Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Red Cross, and we are asking UNISON branches to give generously to these emergency appeals too.

MAP has a team working in Gaza to get essential supplies to healthcare providers. It is also working with the Palestinian Red Crescent and is establishing operations in Egypt. The Red Cross is working to provide critical support both in Gaza and Israel in response to the crisis, working with the Palestinian Red Crescent and Magen David Adom.

Over 1,400 Israelis and 8,500 Palestinians had been killed by the end of October, and many thousands more injured, sadly, so many of them are children. Please do all you can to support the essential work of these organisations and help our colleagues in Gaza and Israel save lives.

Donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

Donate to the Red Cross

The article Blog: Donate to aid efforts in Israel and Gaza first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Donate to aid efforts in Gaza and Israel

UNISON is horrified by the devastating violence seen in Gaza and Israel in recent weeks.

General secretary Christina McAnea says: “I know that many UNISON activists are eager to respond to the crisis, so we are encouraging all our branches to support the critical work of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the Red Cross.

“UNISON condemns the brutal and heinous attack by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel, and the indiscriminate bombing and collective punishment of the people of Gaza. We are calling for a ceasefire, the immediate and safe release of hostages and for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Gaza’s fragile health system was already close to collapse before the latest escalation, due to the 16-year blockade on the narrow strip of land.

The bombing of Gaza and further severe restrictions on access to water, energy and essential medical supplies have seriously exacerbated the health crisis, with 14 out of 35 hospitals and 71% of primary healthcare facilities no longer able to function.

Christina continues: “It is essential that we do all we can to support our colleagues working to save lives in the most appalling circumstances in Gaza and Israel. That is why UNISON has already donated £10,000 to support the critical work of Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Red Cross, and we are asking UNISON branches to give generously to these emergency appeals too.”

MAP has a team working in Gaza to get essential supplies to healthcare providers. It is also working with the Palestinian Red Crescent and is establishing operations in Egypt. The Red Cross is working to provide critical support both in Gaza and Israel in response to the crisis, working with the Palestinian Red Crescent and Magen David Adom.

Over 10,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have been killed by the conflict so far, and many thousands more injured, sadly, so many of them are children.

Christiana adds: “Please do all you can to support the essential work of these organisations and help our colleagues in Gaza and Israel save lives.”

Donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

Donate to the Red Cross

The article Donate to aid efforts in Gaza and Israel first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Reserved (low pay) seat threshold for 2024

UNISON’s principles of proportionality and fair representation mean that some seats on elected bodies are reserved for women and low-paid members, so that the make-up fairly represents the wider union. This includes the national executive council (NEC).

The definition of low-paid reflects the median gross weekly earnings for all jobs – full time or part time – and is revised each year.

The median gross weekly earnings figure for 2023 has been calculated in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings at £574.90, which represents a 7.7% increase on 2022.

This means that the cut-off wage for election to reserved (low pay) seats in the union rises to £12.70 an hour.

The article Reserved (low pay) seat threshold for 2024 first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Reserved (low pay) seat threshold for 2024

UNISON’s principles of proportionality and fair representation mean that some seats on elected bodies are reserved for women and low-paid members, so that the make-up fairly represents the wider union. This includes the national executive council (NEC).

The definition of low-paid reflects the median gross weekly earnings for all jobs – full time or part time – and is revised each year.

The median gross weekly earnings figure for 2023 has been calculated in the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings at £574.90, which represents a 7.7% increase on 2022.

This means that the cut-off wage for election to reserved (low pay) seats in the union rises to £12.70 an hour.

The article Reserved (low pay) seat threshold for 2024 first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC hears of ‘terrible things happening to civilians’

Meeting in London yesterday, UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) reiterated the union’s response to the unfolding events in the Middle East.

General secretary Christina McAnea spoke of the “terrible things that are happening to innocent civilians,” noting that the union had put out two statements – the first in conjunction with the international trade union movement – condemning the attacks by Hamas, calling for the release of all hostages, stressing that there must be a ceasefire and that “all sides to abide by international law”.

The statements observed that neither the killings by Hamas nor the collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza will advance the cause of peace, and reiterated UNISON’s policy of the need for a two-state solution.

The meeting agreed to encourage branches and individuals to donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians or the Red Cross, with a donation from the NEC itself of £10,000 to be shared between those two humanitarian organisations.

In her report to the council, Ms McAnea also highlighted “yet another great victory in the courts, in the Supreme Court – about unfair deductions from workers’ pay”.

She went on to say that UNISON is a joint signatory to a letter calling on the government for clarity on which schools are affected by the crumbling concrete crisis.

On equal pay, she stressed that finding evidence of the gender pay gap “can sometimes be quite tricky”, but on Fair Pay for Patient Care, the general secretary noted that the union was “winning cases across the UK” and “organising on the back of this campaign”.

On the industrial action in schools and early years in Scotland, Ms McAnea reported that there had been an improved offer on pay, but in a consultation, this had been met with a “97% rejection on a 57% turnout”.

In the run up to the general election she observed, pay is likely to continue to be a problem – particularly as the Conservative government will want to be seen to be “tough” on unions. Although she observed that such an approach “hasn’t helped them much thus far”.

And she suggested that the NEC put out a message of thanks to “all the emergency workers and first responders who had to deal with all the recent flooding in the UK – “that’s the unseen work of UNISON members”.

Ms McAnea said that UNISON’s Year of Black Workers was drawing to a close, that she had attended a number of great events during the year – particularly citing the second Much More Than You Are event at Newham Hospital – and that it is crucial that the legacy of this year be taken forward.

She also told the council about Labour’s National Policy Forum, where the union won great commitments on workers’ rights and also a pledge to bring back national pay bargaining for school support staff.

The union is also preparing its submission for the Covid Inquiry and, after that, will be working to encourage members to contribute their personal testimonies about the pandemic to Every Story Matters.

UNISON president Libby Nolan called on activists to attend a demonstration outside the Home Office on 4 November, organised by Stand Up to Racism.

She also appealed for council members to go back to their branches and regions and spread the word about her presidential charity for 2023-2024, Swansea Asylum Seekers Support.

It was also reported that Ms Nolan had attended and helped at a community fun day organised by Stand Up To Racism in Llanelli, Wales.

The meeting also:

• discussed how the union is responding to the government’s planned legislation on minimum staffing levels during strikes;

• received an organising update, which included the importance of branches being ballot ready.

• agreed a financial statement;

• discussed elections procedures.

The article NEC hears of ‘terrible things happening to civilians’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NEC hears of ‘terrible things happening to civilians’

Meeting in London yesterday, UNISON’s national executive council (NEC) reiterated the union’s response to the unfolding events in the Middle East.

General secretary Christina McAnea spoke of the “terrible things that are happening to innocent civilians,” noting that the union had put out two statements – the first in conjunction with the international trade union movement – condemning the attacks by Hamas, calling for the release of all hostages, stressing that there must be a ceasefire and that “all sides to abide by international law”.

The statements observed that neither the killings by Hamas nor the collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza will advance the cause of peace, and reiterated UNISON’s policy of the need for a two-state solution.

The meeting agreed to encourage branches and individuals to donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians or the Red Cross, with a donation from the NEC itself of £10,000 to be shared between those two humanitarian organisations.

In her report to the council, Ms McAnea also highlighted “yet another great victory in the courts, in the Supreme Court – about unfair deductions from workers’ pay”.

She went on to say that UNISON is a joint signatory to a letter calling on the government for clarity on which schools are affected by the crumbling concrete crisis.

On equal pay, she stressed that finding evidence of the gender pay gap “can sometimes be quite tricky”, but on Fair Pay for Patient Care, the general secretary noted that the union was “winning cases across the UK” and “organising on the back of this campaign”.

On the industrial action in schools and early years in Scotland, Ms McAnea reported that there had been an improved offer on pay, but in a consultation, this had been met with a “97% rejection on a 57% turnout”.

In the run up to the general election she observed, pay is likely to continue to be a problem – particularly as the Conservative government will want to be seen to be “tough” on unions. Although she observed that such an approach “hasn’t helped them much thus far”.

And she suggested that the NEC put out a message of thanks to “all the emergency workers and first responders who had to deal with all the recent flooding in the UK – “that’s the unseen work of UNISON members”.

Ms McAnea said that UNISON’s Year of Black Workers was drawing to a close, that she had attended a number of great events during the year – particularly citing the second Much More Than You Are event at Newham Hospital – and that it is crucial that the legacy of this year be taken forward.

She also told the council about Labour’s National Policy Forum, where the union won great commitments on workers’ rights and also a pledge to bring back national pay bargaining for school support staff.

The union is also preparing its submission for the Covid Inquiry and, after that, will be working to encourage members to contribute their personal testimonies about the pandemic to Every Story Matters.

UNISON president Libby Nolan called on activists to attend a demonstration outside the Home Office on 4 November, organised by Stand Up to Racism.

She also appealed for council members to go back to their branches and regions and spread the word about her presidential charity for 2023-2024, Swansea Asylum Seekers Support.

It was also reported that Ms Nolan had attended and helped at a community fun day organised by Stand Up To Racism in Llanelli, Wales.

The meeting also:

• discussed how the union is responding to the government’s planned legislation on minimum staffing levels during strikes;

• received an organising update, which included the importance of branches being ballot ready.

• agreed a financial statement;

• discussed elections procedures.

The article NEC hears of ‘terrible things happening to civilians’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.