Green UNISON Week – Union Newswire

UNISON leads the debate at TUC gathering

As the UK’s largest union, UNISON played a big role in the TUC’s annual gathering of unions – the 155^th TUC Congress in Liverpool.

General secretary Christina McAnea moved the composite motion on public services, attacking the Tories for years of austerity that have left public services reeling.

UNISON President Libby Nolan (pictured above) kicked off the debate on the COVID-19 inquiry, highlighting the importance of the inquiry for holding politicians to account.

And, ahead of Green UNISON Week, policy chair Tony Wright moved the composite on the environment, stressing the need for urgent action to tackle the climate emergency.

The union also featured prominently in debates on housing, the Minimum Service Levels legislation and key equality motions.

The debacle over the use of RAAC and the sudden closure of schools is only the most recent example of the desperate failings of the Conservative government.

The Congress was notable for the unity of purpose across the movement in striving to rid the country of 13 years of Tory mis-rule.

The UNISON delegation did express some concern at the content of a small number of motions on the Congress agenda.

For example, on HS2 while the broad goal of boosting economies in the Midlands and the North is one that a number of UNISON regions support, the disregard for communities affected by HS2 also needs to be acknowledged.

And where steel production is concerned, UNISON members were keen to highlight that we should not support its use for the production of weapons.

Congress witnessed a number of stirring speeches, not least from deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner who promised that the party would bring in a new bill to ban zero-hours contracts and repeal anti-strike laws within 100 days of a Labour government taking office.

As Christina McAnea highlighted in response, “Creating fairer workplaces with better job security for all will make the world of difference.”

The article UNISON leads the debate at TUC gathering first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON leads the debate at TUC gathering

As the UK’s largest union, UNISON played a big role in the TUC’s annual gathering of unions – the 155^th TUC Congress in Liverpool.

General secretary Christina McAnea moved the composite motion on public services, attacking the Tories for years of austerity that have left public services reeling.

UNISON President Libby Nolan (pictured above) kicked off the debate on the COVID-19 inquiry, highlighting the importance of the inquiry for holding politicians to account.

And, ahead of Green UNISON Week, policy chair Tony Wright moved the composite on the environment, stressing the need for urgent action to tackle the climate emergency.

The union also featured prominently in debates on housing, the Minimum Service Levels legislation and key equality motions.

The debacle over the use of RAAC and the sudden closure of schools is only the most recent example of the desperate failings of the Conservative government.

The Congress was notable for the unity of purpose across the movement in striving to rid the country of 13 years of Tory mis-rule.

The UNISON delegation did express some concern at the content of a small number of motions on the Congress agenda.

For example, on HS2 while the broad goal of boosting economies in the Midlands and the North is one that a number of UNISON regions support, the disregard for communities affected by HS2 also needs to be acknowledged.

And where steel production is concerned, UNISON members were keen to highlight that we should not support its use for the production of weapons.

Congress witnessed a number of stirring speeches, not least from deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner who promised that the party would bring in a new bill to ban zero-hours contracts and repeal anti-strike laws within 100 days of a Labour government taking office.

As Christina McAnea highlighted in response, “Creating fairer workplaces with better job security for all will make the world of difference.”

The article UNISON leads the debate at TUC gathering first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Climate change is real, destructive and is an absolute emergency

Just acknowledging climate change isn’t enough. And we can’t wait for the Tories to find a politically convenient time to deal with it.

We must pull together and champion the urgent action needed to meet this challenge head on.

The overwhelming scale of climate-related disasters surrounds us every week, and UNISON is not shying away from facing this existential threat.

For those unfamiliar with it, Green UNISON Week means seven days to champion and promote the engagement and activity that UNISON does all year round on tackling climate change.

Because for UNISON, it couldn’t be more clear that all areas of public services are already affected directly or indirectly by climate change.

Whether it’s in the health service, managing the increased health impacts of excessive heat or pollution, or in the Environment Agency, where our members respond to floods and droughts that erupt on an increasingly frequent basis.

Our members are at the frontline of what climate change means in the UK.

We’re clear that our role as a union is to hold governments to account on securing changes and funding to meet their climate commitments, to work in partnership with like-minded organisations, the TUC and other unions to achieve our common aims, but also, on a much more fundamental level, to encourage and enable our members to get active in the local transformations and negotiations that need to happen.

By working together we can ensure a transition to a greener workplace is a ‘just transition’, where workers are all recognised as stakeholders in the blueprint for our future and have a voice in decision-making. And that should be a global ambition.

UNISON doesn’t need any persuading that climate change is real, destructive and is an absolute emergency.

But our current reckless government won’t take the difficult decisions it was elected to take – like taxing extortionate profits made by polluting industries.

Climate change policy in public services is inextricably linked to policies on public health, the cost-of-living crisis, education and skills and almost every area of public policy.

We know that there are no jobs on a dead planet, but we also know that if the transition to net zero is unjust, it is the most disadvantaged workers and their families who will suffer.

Across the globe, we risk creating sacrificial zones if we don’t work together in a global effort.

It’s not too late for individuals, communities and nations to do their bit – and to push all our governments to work together.

UNISON has some specific asks too, for a just transition commission with dedicated ministerial oversight, real power to act and with input from trade unions, climate experts and community representatives.

The role of trade unions will be to keep workers’ voices central, to secure that just transition, and to encourage all our members to campaign for and negotiate green policies in their workplaces – because every action matters.

We can’t afford to wait for a more convenient time, we must have ambitious plans to meet this crisis head on.

Click here to sign up to our Green UNISON Network and find out more about events and ideas for how you can participate in Green UNISON Week, sign up to our webinars and find guides and resources for if you’re thinking of being a green rep for your local branch.

The article Blog: Climate change is real, destructive and is an absolute emergency first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Climate change is real, destructive and is an absolute emergency

Just acknowledging climate change isn’t enough. And we can’t wait for the Tories to find a politically convenient time to deal with it.

We must pull together and champion the urgent action needed to meet this challenge head on.

The overwhelming scale of climate-related disasters surrounds us every week, and UNISON is not shying away from facing this existential threat.

For those unfamiliar with it, Green UNISON Week means seven days to champion and promote the engagement and activity that UNISON does all year round on tackling climate change.

Because for UNISON, it couldn’t be more clear that all areas of public services are already affected directly or indirectly by climate change.

Whether it’s in the health service, managing the increased health impacts of excessive heat or pollution, or in the Environment Agency, where our members respond to floods and droughts that erupt on an increasingly frequent basis.

Our members are at the frontline of what climate change means in the UK.

We’re clear that our role as a union is to hold governments to account on securing changes and funding to meet their climate commitments, to work in partnership with like-minded organisations, the TUC and other unions to achieve our common aims, but also, on a much more fundamental level, to encourage and enable our members to get active in the local transformations and negotiations that need to happen.

By working together we can ensure a transition to a greener workplace is a ‘just transition’, where workers are all recognised as stakeholders in the blueprint for our future and have a voice in decision-making. And that should be a global ambition.

UNISON doesn’t need any persuading that climate change is real, destructive and is an absolute emergency.

But our current reckless government won’t take the difficult decisions it was elected to take – like taxing extortionate profits made by polluting industries.

Climate change policy in public services is inextricably linked to policies on public health, the cost-of-living crisis, education and skills and almost every area of public policy.

We know that there are no jobs on a dead planet, but we also know that if the transition to net zero is unjust, it is the most disadvantaged workers and their families who will suffer.

Across the globe, we risk creating sacrificial zones if we don’t work together in a global effort.

It’s not too late for individuals, communities and nations to do their bit – and to push all our governments to work together.

UNISON has some specific asks too, for a just transition commission with dedicated ministerial oversight, real power to act and with input from trade unions, climate experts and community representatives.

The role of trade unions will be to keep workers’ voices central, to secure that just transition, and to encourage all our members to campaign for and negotiate green policies in their workplaces – because every action matters.

We can’t afford to wait for a more convenient time, we must have ambitious plans to meet this crisis head on.

Click here to sign up to our Green UNISON Network and find out more about events and ideas for how you can participate in Green UNISON Week, sign up to our webinars and find guides and resources for if you’re thinking of being a green rep for your local branch.

The article Blog: Climate change is real, destructive and is an absolute emergency first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Top 5 ways to help planet Earth this week

This year, UNISON’s Green week runs from 15-22 September to coincide with two major global mobilisations Fridays for the Future – a youth led protest about the threat posed by climate change (15 September) – and Fight Fossil Fuels which demands ‘a rapid, just and equitable’ end to fossil fuels (15-17 September).

Here are five ways you can still get involved…

1. Read this

If you don’t know where to start with Green Week, read this feature where two UNISON green activists explain why the week is so important and why UNISON takes the issue so seriously.

The Earth will continue … But we won’t

2. Sign this

Four smoking chimneys

If that article inspired you to take action, your first port of call is to sign UNISON’s petition to tax oil and gas giants.

The fuelers of climate change are regularly in the news this year for making record profits and paying out billions to their shareholders. With people struggling to pay their energy bills, UNISON believes it’s time they paid more of a fair share.

Sign the petition

3. Go to one (or both) of these

Once you’ve done that, here are two webinars you can sign up to:

How to have conversations about climate change that matter – Larger Us

Register here – Thursday 21 September 12:30-1:30pm

UNISON has teamed up with Larger Us – which works to build broader coalitions for change – to deliver free online training to anyone who wants to up their game when it comes to climate conversations.

This webinar explains the project in detail and explores what the training will look like and what this pilot project will involve.

Sustainable healthcare – why greening the NHS matters for us all

Register here – Monday 25 September 12:30-1:30pm

Haley Pinto from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare gives a clear and comprehensive round up of the impact of the climate crisis on our health and on the NHS, including some of the initiatives that are already happening and many that need to happen urgently.

4. Support like this

During the week its vital that we spread the message as far as possible. You can do this by talking to your friends, family and colleagues or by posting to social media – below are two easy ways to get the message out.

Click here to ‘tweet’ your support:

Or to share information with your friends and groups on whatsapp click here:

Send a WhatsApp

5. Be one of these

If all of the above seems right up your street, you should consider becoming a UNISON environment, or green, rep. Or, if it’s not for you, talk to some of your colleagues who might be interested and get them involved.

The role is very flexible from being a contact point to running campaigns greening your workplace, with lots of training and resources to get you started.

To find out more about what the role entails and how to get involved the best places to start and are this leaflet and poster.

The article Top 5 ways to help planet Earth this week first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Top 5 ways to help planet Earth this week

This year, UNISON’s Green week runs from 15-22 September to coincide with two major global mobilisations Fridays for the Future – a youth led protest about the threat posed by climate change (15 September) – and Fight Fossil Fuels which demands ‘a rapid, just and equitable’ end to fossil fuels (15-17 September).

Here are five ways you can still get involved…

1. Read this

If you don’t know where to start with Green Week, read this feature where two UNISON green activists explain why the week is so important and why UNISON takes the issue so seriously.

The Earth will continue … But we won’t

2. Sign this

Four smoking chimneys

If that article inspired you to take action, your first port of call is to sign UNISON’s petition to tax oil and gas giants.

The fuelers of climate change are regularly in the news this year for making record profits and paying out billions to their shareholders. With people struggling to pay their energy bills, UNISON believes it’s time they paid more of a fair share.

Sign the petition

3. Go to one (or both) of these

Once you’ve done that, here are two webinars you can sign up to:

How to have conversations about climate change that matter – Larger Us

Register here – Thursday 21 September 12:30-1:30pm

UNISON has teamed up with Larger Us – which works to build broader coalitions for change – to deliver free online training to anyone who wants to up their game when it comes to climate conversations.

This webinar explains the project in detail and explores what the training will look like and what this pilot project will involve.

Sustainable healthcare – why greening the NHS matters for us all

Register here – Monday 25 September 12:30-1:30pm

Haley Pinto from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare gives a clear and comprehensive round up of the impact of the climate crisis on our health and on the NHS, including some of the initiatives that are already happening and many that need to happen urgently.

4. Support like this

During the week its vital that we spread the message as far as possible. You can do this by talking to your friends, family and colleagues or by posting to social media – below are two easy ways to get the message out.

Click here to ‘tweet’ your support:

Or to share information with your friends and groups on whatsapp click here:

Send a WhatsApp

5. Be one of these

If all of the above seems right up your street, you should consider becoming a UNISON environment, or green, rep. Or, if it’s not for you, talk to some of your colleagues who might be interested and get them involved.

The role is very flexible from being a contact point to running campaigns greening your workplace, with lots of training and resources to get you started.

To find out more about what the role entails and how to get involved the best places to start and are this leaflet and poster.

The article Top 5 ways to help planet Earth this week first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Get set for Green UNISON week

As we head towards Green UNISON week, which runs from 15-22 September this year, it’s the ideal time to start planning.

Green UNISON week is a chance to raise awareness of green issues nationally and locally, plan activities to encourage and enable members to get more active and to celebrate all the things they are already doing in support of the green agenda – not just in work but anywhere.

There are many things that you could do to mark the week – here are just a few ideas.

Hold a UNISON green event

You could run a lunchtime stall in the canteen, show a film or arrange a talk. Why not invite a speaker from a nearby environmental campaigning organisation to come along? Ask people to make personal – or team – green pledges, such as committing to create less waste, to recycling targets, green office practices (less printing, switching from plastic to cardboard folders etc) anything green.

Promote our Green UNISON week webinars to your colleagues

Two webinars are being planned this year – there’ll be more details in the coming weeks.

Run a green workplace training activity

Talk to your UNISON learning rep and look into running a lunchtime activity session for green reps and members who’d like to learn more.

Run a green survey

Ask your friends and colleagues for ideas on how to ‘green up’ your workplace. Get people involved and offer a prize or raffle.

Find out what your employer is doing to reduce their environmental impact

Ask your employer to share this information with UNISON and consider how you could bring climate change commitments onto the bargaining agenda.

Find out if your UNISON branch has an environment rep

If not, encourage your branch and any interested members to get involved and become green reps.

A downloadable poster and leaflet are now available here and here respectively.

Set up a local green network

You can find other colleagues who share your concerns about climate change and let Green UNISON week be your springboard into starting a new green union network where you work that can link to the regional and national networks for support and to share ideas.

Sustainable healthcare – why greening the NHS matters for us all
Haley Pinto from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare recently gave a talk to health group members interested in this area. It was a clear and comprehensive round up of the impact of the climate crisis on our health and on the NHS, including some of the initiatives that are already happening and many that need to happen urgently.

UNISON thinks all members would benefit from this engaging presentation and has persuaded her to do it all again as part of the scheduled activities.

This will take place on Monday 25 September, 12:30-1:30pm. You can register now here.

Find out more about UNISON’s green work here.

The article Get set for Green UNISON week first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Get set for Green UNISON week

As we head towards Green UNISON week, which runs from 15-22 September this year, it’s the ideal time to start planning.

Green UNISON week is a chance to raise awareness of green issues nationally and locally, plan activities to encourage and enable members to get more active and to celebrate all the things they are already doing in support of the green agenda – not just in work but anywhere.

There are many things that you could do to mark the week – here are just a few ideas.

Hold a UNISON green event

You could run a lunchtime stall in the canteen, show a film or arrange a talk. Why not invite a speaker from a nearby environmental campaigning organisation to come along? Ask people to make personal – or team – green pledges, such as committing to create less waste, to recycling targets, green office practices (less printing, switching from plastic to cardboard folders etc) anything green.

Promote our Green UNISON week webinars to your colleagues

Two webinars are being planned this year – there’ll be more details in the coming weeks.

Run a green workplace training activity

Talk to your UNISON learning rep and look into running a lunchtime activity session for green reps and members who’d like to learn more.

Run a green survey

Ask your friends and colleagues for ideas on how to ‘green up’ your workplace. Get people involved and offer a prize or raffle.

Find out what your employer is doing to reduce their environmental impact

Ask your employer to share this information with UNISON and consider how you could bring climate change commitments onto the bargaining agenda.

Find out if your UNISON branch has an environment rep

If not, encourage your branch and any interested members to get involved and become green reps.

A downloadable poster and leaflet are now available here and here respectively.

Set up a local green network

You can find other colleagues who share your concerns about climate change and let Green UNISON week be your springboard into starting a new green union network where you work that can link to the regional and national networks for support and to share ideas.

Sustainable healthcare – why greening the NHS matters for us all
Haley Pinto from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare recently gave a talk to health group members interested in this area. It was a clear and comprehensive round up of the impact of the climate crisis on our health and on the NHS, including some of the initiatives that are already happening and many that need to happen urgently.

UNISON thinks all members would benefit from this engaging presentation and has persuaded her to do it all again as part of the scheduled activities.

This will take place on Monday 25 September, 12:30-1:30pm. You can register now here.

Find out more about UNISON’s green work here.

The article Get set for Green UNISON week first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON’s response to Labour’s new Green Prosperity Plan

The Labour party announced their new Green Prosperity Plan in a speech by leader of the party, Sir Keir Starmer, in Edinburgh on Monday.

Outlining the key elements of the party’s plan, the Labour leader called it “the race of a lifetime,” and added “the prize is real.”

The plan aims to make the UK a global green leader through a just transition to net zero. Sir Keir added: “We’re going to throw everything at this: planning reform, procurement, long-term finance, R&D, a strategic plan for skills and supply chains. A new plan for a new settlement … all pulling together for a simple, unifying priority: British power for British jobs.”

Earlier this year, UNISON launched a report detailing the views of its members which demonstrated the increased interest and momentum in the union to take more action to pursue a just transition to net zero. It identifies the key role which public services have in decarbonising the UK.

Read the report

Speaking of Labour’s announcement, UNISON general secretary, Christina McAnea said: “The UK can’t afford to sit back and watch the climate crisis unfold.

“UNISON has long campaigned for a proper plan that gets on with decarbonisation, fast tracks investment into renewable energies, creates new jobs and saves our planet.

“Unlike the Conservative government in Westminster that sleepwalks from one crisis to another, it’s encouraging to see Labour making the vital issue of climate change a priority.

“The immense change needed to get us to net zero in time, will impact all workers and communities. UNISON wants Labour’s Green energy plans to be part of a wider strategy to ensure a just transition for all.

“So we plan to work with Labour to make sure public sector workers – particularly those in the energy sector, many of whom are our members – are not left behind.

“A challenge on this scale needs up-front government investment, and future generations are relying on the next Labour government to get this right.”

You can find out more about what UNISON is doing on Climate Change, including our report on a fully funded plan for getting to Net-Zero in public services by 2050 and join UNISON’s green network here

The article UNISON’s response to Labour’s new Green Prosperity Plan first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON’s response to Labour’s new Green Prosperity Plan

The Labour party announced their new Green Prosperity Plan in a speech by leader of the party, Sir Keir Starmer, in Edinburgh on Monday.

Outlining the key elements of the party’s plan, the Labour leader called it “the race of a lifetime,” and added “the prize is real.”

The plan aims to make the UK a global green leader through a just transition to net zero. Sir Keir added: “We’re going to throw everything at this: planning reform, procurement, long-term finance, R&D, a strategic plan for skills and supply chains. A new plan for a new settlement … all pulling together for a simple, unifying priority: British power for British jobs.”

Earlier this year, UNISON launched a report detailing the views of its members which demonstrated the increased interest and momentum in the union to take more action to pursue a just transition to net zero. It identifies the key role which public services have in decarbonising the UK.

Read the report

Speaking of Labour’s announcement, UNISON general secretary, Christina McAnea said: “The UK can’t afford to sit back and watch the climate crisis unfold.

“UNISON has long campaigned for a proper plan that gets on with decarbonisation, fast tracks investment into renewable energies, creates new jobs and saves our planet.

“Unlike the Conservative government in Westminster that sleepwalks from one crisis to another, it’s encouraging to see Labour making the vital issue of climate change a priority.

“The immense change needed to get us to net zero in time, will impact all workers and communities. UNISON wants Labour’s Green energy plans to be part of a wider strategy to ensure a just transition for all.

“So we plan to work with Labour to make sure public sector workers – particularly those in the energy sector, many of whom are our members – are not left behind.

“A challenge on this scale needs up-front government investment, and future generations are relying on the next Labour government to get this right.”

You can find out more about what UNISON is doing on Climate Change, including our report on a fully funded plan for getting to Net-Zero in public services by 2050 and join UNISON’s green network here

The article UNISON’s response to Labour’s new Green Prosperity Plan first appeared on the UNISON National site.