Blog: Tags > Health and Safety
APRIL 28, 2023
Today is #IWMD2023. A day to remember all workers who have died due to unsafe workplaces and to continue fighting for every workers’ right to a safe workplace. We remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related ... Read more
FEBRUARY 03, 2023
Wirral housing workers to strike over deadly asbestos fears
Workers at social housing landlord Magenta Living are to take extensive strike action over fears that new working practices will expose them to asbestos. The 100 plus workers, who are members Unite, the UK’s leading union, are employed in repairs and ... Read more
DECEMBER 06, 2022
Unite ballots 4,000 Health and Social care workers for strike in early 2023
Healthcare staff warn NHS on life support and may not survive staffing crisis Nearly 4,000 more health and social care workers across Northern Ireland have begun balloting for strike action, Unite, which represents some 100,000 NHS workers across the UK, said today. Unite said its healthcare members are ... Read more
OCTOBER 10, 2022
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. The theme of this years World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'. For over ... Read more
APRIL 28, 2022
A message from Sharon Graham on International Workers’ Memorial Day
When my great uncle died at work in the mines in 1933, he left behind three children and a family to feed. The employer paid out a paltry sum and that was that. But for those left behind, the failure ... Read more
JANUARY 13, 2022
Health committee calls for Boris Johnson to resign
Unite’s national health committee, representing 100,000 health workers, has called for Boris Johnson to resign as prime minister due to his ‘disastrous’ handling of the pandemic. Unite national officer for health Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe said: “Health workers have toiled long and sacrificed ... Read more
JANUARY 12, 2022
High court rules that the VIP Lane for awarding PPE contracts was unlawful
The government's use of a "VIP lane" to award contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) to two companies was unlawful, the High Court has ruled. Campaigners claimed the VIP lane was reserved for referrals from MPs, ministers and senior officials and ... Read more
JANUARY 11, 2022
Support Unite's action against the Health and Care Bill
Unite are holding a month of action in February including online activity, in person actions and pushing our digital pages to raise awareness and make our industrial, political and community demands for the NHS and social care services and to ... Read more
JULY 20, 2021
Unite criticise Government decision to end free Covid test for employers
The government’s decision to no longer supply free lateral flow tests to employers has been labelled ‘barmy’ by Unite who warn that the decision will lead to an increase in exposure to Covid-19 in the workplace. The final day for employers who ... Read more
JULY 14, 2021
Mask wearing should be compulsory in NHS settings as Covid infection rates soar
Unite have said that mask wearing in should remain compulsory when Covid restrictions are eased next Monday (19 July). Responding to Boris Johnson’s press conference, Unite have said that mask coverings and social distancing should remain in place for the foreseeable ... Read more
JULY 05, 2021
Living with Covid without furlough or sick pay irresponsible and will cost jobs
The country's leading union, Unite, has denounced the government's insistence that the country must `live with Covid', while refusing to provide the furlough and sick pay support needed to protect workers' jobs and health. Steve Turner, Unite's assistant general secretary, who was ... Read more
JUNE 16, 2021
Proposals for compulsory vaccination of care home staff condemned by Unite
‘Encouragement, not compulsion’ for health and social care staff when it comes to vaccination against Covid-19 is the best approach, Unite the union. Unite, which has 100,000 members in the health service, was commenting on reports that the government is to ... Read more
MAY 13, 2021
Unite members in the property services department at St Mungo's have been on indefinite strike against a campaign of bullying and intimidation by senior management since April 22nd. Please support members where possible at their planned strike events: Friday 14th May - 8.30am to ... Read more
MAY 03, 2021
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) sets out the latest picture of what is known about depression and adults during the pandemic so far with findings estimating that one in five adults have experienced some form of depression during the ... Read more
APRIL 28, 2021
International Workers Memorial Day
Today the trade union movement unites to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day. We remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury and diseases. We renew our efforts to organise collectively to prevent more deaths, injuries and ... Read more
APRIL 14, 2021
Compulsory vaccinations for care home staff must be thought through
Unite has urged the government to carefully examine the pitfalls, as well as the advantages, of requiring care home staff to be compulsorily vaccinated for Covid-19 following the launch of a five-week consultation with a decision to be made over ... Read more
APRIL 08, 2021
Industrial action called at St Mungo's
Maintenance workers at the St Mungo’s housing charity will begin indefinite strike action from Thursday 22 April in response to ‘appalling treatment’ by senior management, Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, said today (Thursday 8 April). The all-out strike follows a warning in March by Unite, which has ... Read more
APRIL 01, 2021
Safe work is a right not a privilege
Workers' Memorial Day, held on 28 April every year, brings together workers and their representatives from all over the world to remember the dead and fight for the living. In 2021 the theme is: Health and Safety is a fundamental workers' ... Read more
MARCH 18, 2021
Management accused of targeting union reps at housing support charity St Mungo’s
Unite has called for a ‘bullying and anti-union culture’ amongst the management at London-based housing support charity St Mungo’s to end. With more than 500 members at St Mungo’s, Unite said that a ‘disproportionate’ 44 per cent of Unite stewards ... Read more
MARCH 14, 2021
The fundamental freedom to protest is under grave threat, Unite has warned, as new draconian legislation significantly expanding police powers over public demonstration is being rushed through Parliament this week. MPs will be weighing up the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts ... Read more
JANUARY 19, 2021
Health and Social Care Workers to be offered Covid vaccination
Tragically, over 200 UK frontline health and social care workers have died after contracting coronavirus and Unite believes that the government’s chaotic approach to the vaccination of health and social care workers has put its members at risk. Unite has published ... Read more
JULY 29, 2020
Government accused of a ‘negligent’ approach to social care during coronavirus
The damning report by MPs into hospital patients in England being discharged into care homes without a Covid-19 test reinforces the need for a public inquiry, sooner rather than later, into the government’s handling of the pandemic. The influential cross-party Public ... Read more
JULY 01, 2020
We need to care for our carers
Unite has welcomed the Labour Party’s call for fast-tracked mental health support for all people working in the NHS and social care. The party has developed a mental health support package for these workers, which would also include contracted workers such porters ... Read more
MAY 19, 2020
Research conducted by the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (Class) think tank found that one in five people – or six million workers – feel ‘confident’ or ‘very confident’ that they will lose their jobs in six months’ time. The Class ... Read more
MAY 15, 2020
Unite reveals pandemic’s impact on workplaces across UK
Workers’ worried about their mental health have skyrocketed since the lockdown began – a new Unite survey has shown. Dealing with employees’ mental health challenges on this scale is not going to be easy and Unite is calling on employers to ... Read more
MAY 13, 2020
Unions set out five tests government and colleges must meet before staff and students can return
Staff and student safety must be guaranteed before colleges can reopen, said trade unions today (Wednesday) as they set out five tests that must be met by government and colleges. Unions representing staff working in further education colleges have called for ... Read more
APRIL 06, 2020
#WhateverItTakes for Social Care
In our blog on 1st April, we highlighted the vital need for social care workers to be provided with adequate personal protection equipment (PPE) to enable them to work safely providing the much needed care in the community. The call for ... Read more
APRIL 01, 2020
Social care workers need PPE too!
Social care workers are amongst the army of key workers providing vital support to thousands of individuals who are more dependent on such services than ever before. But it seems that this group of workers is being put at risk during ... Read more
MARCH 23, 2020
Social Care sector at breaking point
Unite is warning that the social care sector is at breaking point and where workers do not even have basic personal protective equipment (PPE). Social care workers, many of whom are employed on low wages by private sector companies and who ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
World Suicide Prevention Day is on Social Media
The annual world suicide prevention day, organised by the The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) takes place today (10th September) The IASP was founded by the late Professor Erwin Ringel and Dr. Norman Farberow in 1960, and now includes professionals and volunteers ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
Unite at the TUC - Lessons from Grenfell going unheeded
Unite delegate and brother of a fire fighter James Mitchell spoke in support of the FBU motion to TUC , Grenfell Tower - Never Again highlighting the union’s calls for an immediate ban on the use of combustible materials on high rise blocks. In a poignant ... Read more
JUNE 04, 2019
‘Stop exploiting staff goodwill’
Our survey reveals staff in the community and voluntary sector including for big name organisations such as Save the Children, RSPCA, Friends of the Earth, Citizens Advice, Oxfam and others found that 80% have experienced workplace stress in the last year with ... Read more
MAY 29, 2019
Epidemic of mental health issues and stress for workers in our Sector
A confidential survey of members working within the Community, Youth and Not for Profit Sector has revealed an epidemic of stress related illness and massive mental health issues with the survey finding that 80% of respondents had experienced workplace stress ... Read more
MAY 17, 2019
Recognising IDAHOBIT and raising awareness
Unite the Union is proud to recognise International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia , known as IDAHOBIT for short, this date was chosen as it commemorates the date of the decision to remove homosexuality from classification as a mental illness ... Read more
MAY 16, 2019
Calls for action to build and promote positive body image
The UK Youth Parliament has been campaigning to bring about social change since 1999. Each year, following the Make Your Mark ballot and a vote by Members of Youth Parliament in the House of Commons, they set about campaigning on ... Read more
MAY 15, 2019
Mental Health at Work - an issue all year round
There are many ways in which work can contribute to or exacerbate poor mental health, and these can include the threat of redundancies, reorganisations, overwhelming workloads, being expected to do more with less, low paid jobs, discrimination or the uncertainty ... Read more
MAY 14, 2019
Stress and anxiety in the workplace
Mental Health Awareness Week is a great opportunity for branch reps and members to address the issue of mental health at work. Branches are encouraged to help remove the stigma and discrimination that people living and working with a mental ... Read more
MAY 13, 2019
Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 13-19 May 2019 and this years theme is body image. The Mental Health Foundation have released a report setting out the individual, family and cultural influences that sometimes result in a debilitating sense of dissatisfaction ... Read more