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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
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February 2021
February 2021
Heart UNISON 2021
Heart UNISON is part of Heart Unions Week, the TUC’s annual event to celebrate unions, to make sure everyone knows why we’re vital at work, and to encourage everyone to join one. Read more ...
February 2021
HAPPY LGBT+
Here at Unison Blaenau Gwent, we're proud to be a welcoming, inclusive Union for all.
Happy LGBT+ History Month!
#LGBTHM21
February 2021
PAY FAIR FOR CARE
The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on the best and worst in our society. Nowhere more so than care.
COVID-19 has forced care workers into life-threatening working conditions and untold mental strain. Exhausted, dedicated; they have been applauded as national heroes.
Yet three out of four care workers do not earn a living wage. They cannot comfortably feed their families or pay the rent. Their pedestal is made of sand.
UNISON is leading the fight and asking all members to join care workers, celebrities, politicians, unions, charities and employers – show care workers the support they need, to win what is fair.
On Wednesday 3 February at 12:30pm, UNISON is hosting a carers' rally as part of the Pay Fair for Care national day of action.
Join the event to hear from care workers, celebrities and politicians. Wednesday, 3 February 2021 from 12:30-14:00 UTC, online with Facebook Live
January 2021
UNISON CENTRE PRESS RELEASE
Christina McAnea elected to lead UNISON, the UK’s largest union. She replaces Dave Prentis, who is retiring after 20 years as general secretary.
Voting in the ballot was as follows (in alphabetical order):
Paul Holmes 45, 220 (33.76%)
Christina McAnea 63, 900 (47.7%)
Roger McKenzie 14, 450 (10.79%)
Hugo Pierre 10, 382 (7.75%)
January 2021
VACCINE INFORMATION
The following information has been released by Public Health Wales.
January 2021
SCHOOL SUPPORT MEMBERS
UNISON Cymru Wales has written to school support members today (7.1.21). UNISON believes schools should not reopen for face-to-face lessons until after the half-term break and we are calling for a series of measures to be in place before schools return to face-to-face lessons. Read the letter via the attachment.
December 2020
JOINING FORCES
Nine health unions issue plea in desperate bid to protect NHS.
With widespread community transmission of Covid-19 across Wales leading to there being more Covid-19 patients in hospital than at any other time this year, nine unions representing frontline healthcare workers have joined forces to highlight the impact the rise in cases is having on the staff providing care, and to urge the public to do all they can to protect the NHS.
December 2020
2021 UNISON DIARIES
We're all glad that 2020 is nearly over. So now it's time to start planning for a new, more hopeful year with UNISON's 2021 diaries.
10p from every purchase will go to our charity, There For You. You will be helping members who are experiencing financial and emotional difficulties.
There for You has been vital for so many people this year. So get your calendar today and support other UNISON members.
October - November 2020
THE BIG VOTE: GENERAL SECRETARY ELECTION 2020
The general secretary election is your chance to vote to elect the most senior person in the union. Being a member, or retired member, of UNISON entitles you to a vote if you were a member on 28 July 2020. Make sure you post your completed ballot in plenty of time to CES by 5pm on November 27. It will be freepost, so don’t worry about a stamp.
Your election pack will include the ballot paper, and the pre-paid return envelope. There will also be information about the candidates who are standing to be general secretary.
If anything is missing from your election pack, or you lose your ballot paper please call our ballot helpline free on 0800 0 857 857 or on textphone 0800 0 967 968. The helpline opens on 10 November and closes on 20 November.
October 2020
OCTOBER IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
A time to celebrate how Black people and communities have shaped our history. This year’s Black History Month is bittersweet. There is a new visibility to Black lives, but for the worst of reasons. So many Black lives have been lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the reasons for this are complex, the main one is the ‘everyday’ racism deeply embedded across society. Read general secretary Dave Prentis' blog: This Black History Month, we won’t go back to the old normal.
September 2020
NO GOING BACK TO NORMAL
Back to normal shouldn't mean back to underpaid.
Challenge the government to rebuild public services and show real support to the people who provide them by signing our open letter.
Read more ... #NoGoingBackToNormal
September 2020
URGENT MESSAGE TO CAERPHILLY RESIDENTS FROM YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS
Unions UNISON, GMB and UNITE who represent Caerphilly council staff are calling on all Caerphilly residents to respect the new lockdown rules. Read more .....
September 2020
KEEP WALES SAFE
September 2020
HOMEWORKING VERSUS OFFICE
When homeworking versus the office isn’t a straightforward choice. Read more .....
August 2020
GIVE ALL NHS STAFF A WAGE RISE
UNISON – which is the UK’s biggest union and represents NHS staff including healthcare assistants, radiographers, porters, midwives and paramedics – says this rise is the equivalent of around £1 an hour for all staff. Read more .....
August 2020
SCHOOL UNIFORM GRANT UPDATE
Due to the overwhelming number of applications for school uniform grants, the fund is now closed. Latest update can be found here Read more .....
July 2020
MEMBERS SUPPORT LINKS
Mental health challenges beyond COVID-19. Looking after your mental health as we come out of lockdown will be as difficult as it was looking after it during the lockdown period. As we found ways of trying to cope during the lockdown, we also expect that it will take time to find ways of coping coming out. Read More ...
May 2020
MEMBERS SUPPORT LINKS
If you’re a local government member, it’s time for you to decide. Make sure you have your say on your pay.
April 2020
A HUGE THANK YOU
UNISON big thank you 'Public Service Champions' message. Read more .....
April 2020
FREE ONLINE COURSES
UNISON Cymru Wales to deliver free online Covid-19 training across Wales Read more .....
March 2020
NJC Circ Coronavirus and Critical Workers Update
School FAQ guidance coronvirus download file
FAQs for school staff download file
IMPORTANT NOTICE: COVID19 UPDATE
Statement by Kirsty Williams Minister for Education
I’d like to thank parents for listening to the advice and keeping most children at home. I’d be grateful if tomorrow morning you only use schools or childcare as a last resort.
The advice has not changed as a result of tonight’s decision to further restrict movement, which our First Minister, along with other UK leaders took with the sole aim of slowing the spread of coronavirus.
Children should be at home wherever possible, critical workers will still need to have safe care arrangements for their children. Our schools and childcare settings are providing a vital service to support critical workers and our most vulnerable children.
Those involved in the current arrangements looking after children should continue. Many thanks to our amazing teaching and childcare professionals for their commitment in this time of national need.
This situation will continue for the immediate term but we will be reviewing with healthcare professionals, local authorities and our teaching unions.
March 2020
IMPORTANT NOTICE: COVID-19 UPDATE
Coronavirus: your rights at work. As the COVID-19 virus spreads, find out what your rights at work are if taking sick leave or self-isolating.
Read More .....
February 2020
HELP FOR FLOOD VICTIMS FROM UNISONS CHARITY "THERE FOR YOU"
Advice for UNISON members affected by or worried about flooding. UNISON Welfare has issued the following guidance for members and to assist branch officers who are advising them.
February 2020
INITIAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY OFFER REJECTED - TALKS CONTINUE
The National Joint Council (NJC) Executive met today, for the employers to respond to the trade unions’ local government pay claim for 2020.
WALES UNISON LEARNING FUND
Dear Colleague,
- Do you work in schools, health or social care?
- Do you want to learn something new?
- Or are you keen to develop your career?
Please find attached information and application forms for the Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) £200 Qualification Grant.
Please can you distribute this information as widely as possible to ensure exposure?
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at cymruwaleswulf@unison.co.uk.
We look forward to hearing from you!
December 2019
FREE NEURODIVERSITY COURSE FOR UNISON MEMBERS
This introductory session is aimed at all staff with an interest in Neurodiversity - an umbrella term for autism, dyslexia, ADHD and dyspraxia.
October 2019
UNISON IS GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
”UNISON is going from strength to strength,” the union’s national executive council heard at its meeting in London today. “We are continuing to grow, with membership increasing by 8,413 so far this year,” general secretary Dave Prentis told the meeting. He noted that the biggest growth occurred during the week of the Labour Party conference - read more
September 2019
IN PICTURES: UNISON BACKING THE SCHOOL CLIMATE STRIKE
As part of Green UNISON Week, members across the regions supported the school climate strikes and took action themselves - read more
September 2019
BLOG: CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE GREATEST SINGLE THREAT HUMANITY FACES
The NEC declared this week Green UNISON Week and up and down the country our branches have responded. From canteen stalls, solidarity selfies, new volunteers for branch green reps, tree planting and using lunch hours to join climate strike rallies - read more
August 2019
LEGAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT
If you have been injured at work or a loved one has been injured outside of work you can claim with confidence using the UNISON legal service. UNISON Cymru Wales’ lawyers, Thompsons, won £169,800 for members in personal injury settlements in July 2019 alone. Legal support didn’t cost these UNISON members a penny. Advice, support and help when you need it - read more
July 2019
MEMBER LEARNING PROGRAMME - NEW COURSES AND DATES
Please find attached the current Member Learning Programme for 2019. We have added 4 new courses and dates until the end of the year.
July 2019
COLLECTIVES BARGAINING WILL TRANSFORM LIVES OF THOUSANDS
UNISON Cymru Wales has warmly welcomed the First Minister’s pledge to legislate to make the country a ‘fair work nation’ in his statement to the Senedd - read more
June 2019
UNISON LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO CELEBRATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS
A new campaign highlighting the contribution council staff make to public life is being launched at UNISON’s local government conference in Liverpool.
New film will kickstart recognition of overlooked council staff - click here to view
June 2019
UNISON FREE WILLS SERVICE
UNISON offers a free standard wills service for members and their partners (if doing a mirror will). We also offer reduced rates for members’ complex wills.
The simplest way to obtain your will is to use our bespoke on-line wills service. This, and other legal support for members on non-work related issues can be accessed by clicking the link below:
UNISON’s online wills service is very straightforward to use, just complete the online questionnaire. The questionnaire with its online guidance will carefully take you through the process.
We have also negotiated a low-cost wills service for members and their families.
April 2019
ONE WAGES FOR ALL AGES
UNISON launches #OneWageAnyWage campaign is it celebrates 20 years of the national minimum wage - click here
April 2019
CUTS INCREASE RISK TO PUBLIC IN ENGLAND AND WALES
UNISON report shows how austerity is damaging the environmental health service provided by councils - click here
April 2019
UNISON CELEBRATES THE "UNSUNG HEROES" OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
A new campaign will raise the profile of the union’s 600,000 local government members - click here
February 2019
DISABILITY AND REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS
Overview of Equality Act / Definition of Disability / Reasonable Adjustment / Disability-related sickness absence / Creating a supportive environment / Tribunal Claim / The Public Sector Equality Duty / Communication and Language / Directory of Impairments
Contact Your Local UNISON IN GWENT Branch
Contact Your Local UNISON Branch for latest news, campaigns. meetings and offers.
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
