In line with the UNISON rule book, the national executive council has considered this matter further. The NEC meeting on 5 December 2012 agreed that membership of, or support for, the English, Welsh and Scottish Defence Leagues is incompatible with UNISON membership, under rules C5.2 and I3.

You can read the full story here...

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You can find the latest newsletter in the schools section of our website here...

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If every member of UNISON get's 10 signatures on the e-petition or our paper copy, (please see below) then it will have to be considered by the House of Commons!

Please all get on board with this, we need to save our service!

• SIGN THE E- PETITION HERE
• DOWNLOAD THE PAPER PETITION HERE

Please return all the paper copies to:
Helen Cottam @ HQ, Division Street, SHEFFIELD, S1 4GE.

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If you're struggling with the rising cost of living, and worried about how you'll be able to cope with back-to-school costs, UNISON might be able to help.

The union's welfare charity, There For You, has set up a limited fund to help with school uniform costs with a one-off payment of up to £120, and is now accepting applications from members on low incomes.

To apply, and to find out if you may be eligible, download the application form [pdf file]. Alternatively, you can contact your UNISON branch.

You will need to submit completed application forms by 5 July 2013.

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UNISON's key negotiating committee for local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will meet in early May to consider the union's response to the latest pay offer from employers. 

The meeting of the union's local government service group NJC committee on 7 May to discuss the employers' final offer and agree recommendation for the branch consultation which will start as soon as possible after 7 May. 

The joint unions will meet in the afternoon of 7 May.

UNISON members had rejected previous options - for a 1% pay rise with changes to terms and condition or a lower increase with no strings - put forward by the local government employers.

Now councils have come back with a final offer of:

• 1% on all pay points from 1 April 2013;
• deleting the bottom pay point (scale point 4) from 1 October 2013.

There are around 28,000 local government workers - mainly women working part-time - on the bottom pay point. 

Under the offer, they would get a 1% pay rise between April and 30 September and a further 1.4% increase on 1 October. Overall they would move from £6.30 an hour to £6.45 - a 2.4% increase.

Commenting on the new offer, UNISON head of local government Heather Wakefield said: "Local government workers have seen a 16% decline in the value of their pay in the last three years, coupled with significant local attacks on terms and conditions. 

"UNISON's local government committee will be mindful of this when we consider this improved offer. 

"We held out for a better deal and will now be consulting our local government members, the majority of whom are women who have been particularly hard hit by the coalition's cuts to jobs, services, pay and conditions."

Keep up to date with the local government pay campaign

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This short booklet has been prepared as a reflection and celebration with a specific emphasis on the LGBT people who live, study, work or are otherwise connected with Sheffield and the organisations based in this city who have made their contributions to breaking down the barriers – and how they broke!

You can find it here...

 

 

 

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Letter from a UNISON member...

Dear UNISON

I have 33 years unblemished service working in Sheffield Schools and have always been a member of UNISON. Sadly I have recently found myself under investigation which has led to disciplinary proceedings through a sheer misunderstanding.

Ever since my initial phone call to UNISON I have always felt supported and respected by all the staff there.

At times in the process I have felt confused, angry, degraded and saddened but Lisa Smith has always managed to keep me positive, motivated and strong so I have been able to keep going.

When I felt at my lowest, unable to speak to others Lisa was always there for me supporting and guiding me through complicated paperwork, meetings answering my questions and generally just being there for me at the end of the phone to reassure me and offer me kind words.

I can truly say I could not have got through this ordeal without UNISON’s help.

Thankfully the procedure is over for me now but I do, and always will feel for anyone going through similar circumstances, it really was horrid.

I would urge anyone who isn’t in a union to join UNISON and to those of you who wonder where your monthly subs go well I can only assume a small proportion of those go to the staff at UNISON who work tirelessly to support their members its worth every penny as you never know when you’ll need their services.

Thank you UNISON

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