UNISON IN GWENT is the largest Public Services Trade Union in the region
With some 15,000 members, UNISON In Gwent is the largest Public Services Trade Union in the region and Britain’s largest Public Services Trade Union. As a consequence of the UK Governments austerity agenda, Unison branches and Local Authorities across Wales have needed to work more collaboratively. In Gwent Unison branches have a long tradition of working together. Building on the success of our achievements to date this website has been created and developed to keep members informed, to become a destination for those seeking help and support and to ensure that branches are accessible to all staff working across the region.
UNISON USEFUL LINKS TO SAVE YOU MONEY
Please inform us if you see an outdated link, thank you.
January - 2022
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Thank you to all UNISON local government members who completed and returned their ballots over the last few weeks.
The ballot closes today, and we will provide an update as soon as we have the results.
#enoughisenough
January - 2022
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
January - December 2021/22
UNISON MEMBERS THANK YOU
A big thank you to all Unison Members working over the Christmas and New Year period.
December 2021
VOTE YES! THIS CHRISTMAS
Please get your ballot papers in or contact your branch if you have not received them. Thank you.
December 2021
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THANK YOU
UNISON staff have made a film, sending a festive message to all of our brilliant members.
December 2021
VOTE YES
Ballot Papers have started to arrive, have you had yours yet?
#EnoughIsEnough #VoteYES
November 2021
RADICAL HISTORY - 3D SCAN WALKTHROUGH
First look at the photos from our exhibition launch yesterday - UNISON and the Welsh labour movement #RadicalHistory
3D Scan Walkthrough link to website
Photo credit: Natasha Hirst
November 2021
November 2021
MARCH WITH US - COP26
March with UNISON on the Cardiff COP26 Day of Action: 6 Nov. Assemble 12pm in front of the City Hall (by Brodies Coffee, Gorsedd Gardens, Cardiff, CF10 3NP).
Bring flags, banners and friends on this family-friendly march #wemaketomorrow
Closing Date
November 2021
STARS IN OUR SCHOOLS 2021
Stars in Our Schools 2021 is fast approaching and we've just opened up our 'nominate a star' prize draw.
This is your chance to let a member of school support staff know how much you value the fantastic work they do. Anyone can nominate a school support staff worker for entry into a prize draw to win a £25 Marks and Spencer voucher. (And if your nominee wins, you'll receive a £25 Marks and Spencer voucher too!)
Entries close on 30 November 2021.
Just know, that even in these difficult and unprecedented times, there is help and support. Link to nominate a Star in Your School
October 2021
SHOW RACISM THE RED CARD
UNISON is proud supporter of Show Racism the Red Card and we are backing THIS FRIDAY’S awareness raising Wear Red Day. The need for all of us to actively challenge racism has never been greater with an increase in race hate crime during the pandemic.
Read more info here. Link to Wear Red Card October 21
October 2021
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
October 2021
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
October 2021
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Wales will be first UK nation to make teaching of black histories compulsory #BlackHistoryMonth
A MONUMENT of Wales’ first black headteacher and #BlackHistoryMonth campaigner was unveiled in Cardiff.
Betty Campbell, who died in 2017 at the age of 82, defied her doubters after being told as a child that her dream to become a head teacher was “insurmountable”.
September 2021
BLACK LGBT+ NETWORK
Last chance to sign up for UNISON's Black LGBT+ network meeting on 17 September. 1:30am–2:00pm.
This meeting gives you the opportunity to find out about the work that UNISON does for LGBT+ equality for Black LGBT+ members in the workplace and wider community. You'll have the opportunity to talk to and question your reps on the national committee and also influence the work that UNISON does on LGBT+ equality. For more information please message us, or email out@unison.co.uk
September 2021
DISABLED LGBT+ NETWORK
Last chance to sign up for UNISON's Disabled LGBT+ network meeting on 17 September. 4:00pm–6:30pm.
This meeting gives you the opportunity to find out about the work that UNISON does for LGBT+ equality for Black LGBT+ members in the workplace and wider community. You'll have the opportunity to talk to and question your reps on the national committee and also influence UNISON LGBT+ policy. For more information please message us, or email out@unison.co.uk
September 2021
REJECT VOTE
Despite your courage and sacrifice throughout COVID-19, council and school workers have been offered 1.75%. With inflation at 3.8%, that’s a real terms pay cut. UNISON is launching a consultation and strongly recommends members vote to reject such an unfair offer.
Read more info here. Link to Council and school pay reject vote
August 2021
CLAPPING DOESN'T PAY THE BILLS
Public service workers deserve a decent pay increase.
Staff in the NHS, in social care, in schools, in councils, in the police and elsewhere, have provided vital services to our communities during the pandemic.
Pay has been cut in real terms over a decade of being frozen or capped. Follow UNISON Cymru Wales campaign. Campaign details along with our consultation on unfair pay offers
August 2021
TIME TO UPDATE YOUR DETAILS
Where do you work now? You can change your details online at this link: Online membership update here.
To update your details via telephone, please ring your regional office and ask for the membership department. You can then let them know what needs changing: Call us to update your details here.
July 2021
LET'S TALK - TALKING THERAPIES
UNISON Monmouthshire are launching a brand new service for its members! Any Monmouthshire member can now refer themselves to our online counselling support service. All you need to do is complete a short referral form.
Full details will be sent to all our members soon, or you can watch our short Facebook video here. This video is a short explanation of Talking Therapies for our members.
Referral forms can be requested by email at unisonmon@btconnect.com or by calling 01291 675502.
Remember- it’s always good to talk #itsokaytonotbeokay Apply for Talking Therapies.
July 2021
Read the PDF report link here:
RACE EQUALITY FIRST - REPORT FOR WALES
UNISON Cymru/Wales Black Members’ Group has been working with Race Equality First on its report on the scale of racial inequality in Wales and how Westminster and Welsh governments must do a lot more to tackle racism. Chair of UNISON Black members, Kebba Manneh, said:
“This report is hard-hitting and the scale of the racism revealed may be shocking to some, but this is the reality for Black people every day. Our governments are failing to effectively tackle racism and address ethnic disparities in all areas of life. We want a Wales free of racial discrimination and Welsh government must take this report seriously and act on the recommendations. We need action! Well done to Race Equality First and UNISON Cymru Wales for all the work you have done on the report.”
The report identifies: -
• Police-recorded hate crimes rising by a third since 2016/17
• Ethnic minorities disproportionately stop-searched by the police across all four of Wales’ force areas
• Ethnic minorities remain substantially underrepresented in senior jobs in the public sector
• Ethnic minorities are more likely to live in poorer quality housing or work in precarious jobs, and face racial bullying in school and into their adult lives
The report has been submitted to the Committee of the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
July 2021
THERE FOR YOU - FINANCIAL SUPPORT
There for You School Uniform Grants 2021
There for You has once again set up a fund to help members on low incomes struggling with the cost of school uniforms. Grants of £50 per child are available, up to a maximum of £150 per family.
Applications are by downloadable form and will be available from Thursday 1 July at the link below. As always, this is a limited fund and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Please ring 01495 355252 if you require a hard copy of the application form.
July 2021
UNISON WALES SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF
Feedback on rapid COVID-19 testing using Lateral Flow Devices (LFD’s) – your experience.
Welsh Government are keen to hear feedback from school staff and learners about their experience of the COVID rapid testing programme to help plan for the future, improve the service and understand the impact of testing in Wales.
You can take the survey via these links:
Survey link in English
Survey link in Welsh
July 2021
GREEN UNISON
Climate change: ‘there will be no jobs on a dead planet’.
UNISON’s special delegate conference gets serious about the scale of the climate challenge
June 2021
MANDATORY COVID VACCINATION
The Westminster Government has today confirmed that they will make it mandatory for care workers to be vaccinated against covid, which is a huge disappointment to UNISON.
UNISON supports and encourages members in health and social care to take up the offer of a vaccine. But we have resisted moves from some employers to introduce changes to contracts to allow them to dismiss workers for failing to have be vaccinated and we have also opposed the Tory Government in Westminster’s suggestions that they may make it mandatory. We have argued that it is counterproductive and may reinforce some in their reluctance to have the jab. We have added again today that, in a low paid, high turnover sector, the impact of making vaccination mandatory could be a flight of workers from the sector, placing our most vulnerable at risk in a new recruitment crisis.
Cymru Wales members should be reassured that Welsh Government has consistently stated that they have no intention of following the Westminster route and that there is no need to consider it in Wales because of the high take up of vaccination amongst health and social care staff. Also, in the Social Care Fair Work Forum, the Social Care Wales representative confirmed that they do not see the failure to be vaccinated as a fitness to practice issue. We are not expecting this stance to change, though obviously, if there are any new developments, we will share this information with Branches. I’m sure that we will also be seeking fresh commitments following today’s troubling England only announcement.
Mark Turner
Regional Organiser
Lead for Social Care
UNISON Cymru Wales
June 2021
WORKPLACE DISPUTES
Employers can no longer mistreat staff who take part in industrial action, says UNISON. Christina McAnea hails important victory for staff involved in strikes or disputes
Employers will no longer be able to get away with mistreating any employees who take part in union-organised workplace disputes following an important legal decision, says UNISON.
Contact Your Local UNISON IN GWENT Branch
UNISON
Blaenau Gwent
County Branch
UNISON Office
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Municipal Offices
Ebbw Vale
NP23 6XB
Telephone: 01495 355252
UNISON
Caerphilly
County Branch
UNISON Office
Tredomen Business & Technology Centre
Tredomen Park
Ystrad Mynach
CF82 7FN
Telephone: 01443 863279
UNISON Monmouthshire
County Branch
UNISON Office
1st Floor Community Education Centre
18 Maryport Street
Usk
Monmouthshire
NP15 8AE
Telephone: 01291 675502
UNISON
Torfaen
County Branch
UNISON Office
Civic Centre
Pontypool
NP4 6YB
Telephone: 01495 766356
UNISON, UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY. Telephone: 0800 0 857 857
UNISON Cymru/Wales, UNISON House, Custom House Street, Cardiff, CF10 1AP. Telephone 0800 0 857 857
