Blog: Tags > Sector News
JANUARY 21, 2020
Staff at St Mungos urged to vote YES to defend jobs, skills and quality services
Unite believes that its members deserve to be treated fairly and with respect and are urging members to vote for strike action as it reballots workers at St Mungos. The decision to reballot members has been taken as St Mungos push ahead with changes ... Read more
JANUARY 09, 2020
Retail expert to take top job at the NCS Trust
Mark Gifford, Director for Shop and Trade at Waitrose will become the new chief executive of the NCS Trust in March after Michael Lynas announced that he would be stepping down last year. A novice to the voluntary sector, Gifford will ... Read more
JANUARY 06, 2020
Email blunder at St Mungo’s exposes shameful anti trade union tactics
Unite has called on Howard Sinclair, CEO of homelessness charity St Mungo’s, to step down immediately after a misdirected email revealed that the charity had been working with a top London PR agency on a strategy to stop people joining ... Read more
DECEMBER 03, 2019
Peabody's CEO leaves staff and residents unimpressed
Businesses "driven by money concerns" Last week’s column by Peabody Chief Executive, Brenden Sarsfield (Inside Housing 29/11/2019) makes the call for change many in the social housing sector would want. But staff and residents are not impressed. Mr Sarsfield writes, “Some say we ... Read more
NOVEMBER 06, 2019
£1 million cuts plan: Peabody workers announce strike ballot
Peabody housing plan £1 million cuts to housing management budgets by March 2020 with potentially devastating consequences to residents and workers. Unite members have voted overwhelmingly to start a formal strike ballot. In the spring management launched a brutal restructure and ... Read more
OCTOBER 24, 2019
Shadow minister criticises DCMS for withholding data on NCS Trust spending
Vicky Foxcroft, Labour shadow minister for civil society, has criticised the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport after it declined to reveal details of any underspend by the NCS Trust. The NCS Trust is the royal charter body that was ... Read more
OCTOBER 23, 2019
Greenwich housing repair workers to strike
About 120 housing repair workers at Greenwich council are set to strike for five days over plans to introduce a new pay structure which will see cuts in pay. Unite said its members voted by 95 per cent for strike action ... Read more
OCTOBER 22, 2019
More trouble ahead for NCS Trust
With The Challenge already suing the NCS trust for £22m, the DCMS has revealed that it has received a separate complaint from a small NCS delivery partner. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has revealed that it received a ... Read more
OCTOBER 22, 2019
'Taking back control' - Unite members successfully confront Brexit challenges in the workplace
Major new research shows that Unite members are working together to successfully confront the challenges Brexit is presenting in workplaces up and down the country. Despite widespread political and public division over the UK’s relationship with the EU, the academic research found Unite ... Read more
OCTOBER 16, 2019
Employment Tribunal finds that St Mungos victimised female worker
A recent judgement from by an Employment Tribunal found that St Mungos had victimised a staff member following her submission of an equal pay questionnaire. The HR director, Helen Giles, had told the staff member that she would never work in the ... Read more
OCTOBER 10, 2019
National Citizen Service accused of "mismanagement and failure of leadership"
The National Citizen Service Trust is being sued by its largest provider, The Challenge, for at least £20m with claims it has breached contracts in seven regions. The Challenge, which in August lost a contract believed to be worth more than £60m a ... Read more
OCTOBER 04, 2019
Are knife crime orders the solution to rising levels of violent crime?
Tough new laws to tackle knife crime could harm relationships between police and local communities and fail to properly consider the needs of vulnerable groups of young people, children's services leaders have warned. In its response to the Home Office consultation on knife crime ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
Amnesty staff ballot for industrial action over redundancies
Unite to ballot its members employed by Amnesty International for industrial action in a dispute over redundancies. Amnesty International announced in June that it was planning to cut 146 posts which would result in 93 job losses. While the number of job ... 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
AUGUST 20, 2019
Charity workers share personal experiences of racism via social media
The hashtag #CharitySoWhite has been trending on Twitter as people in the sector share their experiences of racism and discrimination. By 5pm on Tuesday, there had been over 2,000 tweets, with many of them liked and retweeted multiple times over, and ... Read more
AUGUST 14, 2019
Government’s latest knife crime initiative “wrong.”
The campaign to brand chicken shop take away boxes with #knifefree has been launched by the Home Office in response to the rising levels of knife crime. The boxes will replace packaging in chains such as Morley’s, Chicken Cottage and Dixy Chicken ... Read more
AUGUST 12, 2019
Insecure workers entitled to 28 days paid leave
In a blow against precarious work, senior judges have ruled all workers are entitled to a minimum of 28 days paid annual leave, even if they do not get given work or are not paid for parts of the year. The ... Read more
AUGUST 05, 2019
St Mungo’s balloted amidst victimisation row
Unite is urging Robert Napier, the chair of the board of the homeless charity St Mungo’s, to carry out an immediate investigation into an allegation of victimisation of a lead Unite representative. The call comes in response to emails, obtained under ... Read more
AUGUST 01, 2019
400 jobs affected as largest NCS provider confirms departure from the scheme
The National Citizen Service Trust, the royal charter body that runs the scheme on behalf of the government, confirmed that it would no longer contract its largest provider, The Challenge, after it had been 'unable to reach an agreement on a requirement to ... Read more
JULY 31, 2019
Further calls for investment in a ‘statutory youth service’
The Serious Youth Violence report published by the parliamentary home affairs committee has called for local authority funding for youth services to be statutory, ring-fenced and focused on preventing young people becoming caught up in violence. The inquiry highlights the connection between deprivation ... Read more
JULY 25, 2019
Parliamentary debate on the role and sufficiency of youth work
A general debate was held on the role and current sufficiency of youth services in the UK was held yesterday in the House of Commons as a response to the publication of the inquiry by the all-party parliamentary group on ... Read more
JULY 11, 2019
Review launched into statutory guidance for Local Authorities on providing youth services
New deal for all young people On July 25th, Lloyd Russell Moyle MP and others will lead a three hour debate in Parliament on the findings of the report and wider issues. Anyone passionate about youth work and youth services is invited to ... Read more
JUNE 27, 2019
Welsh Government more than doubles youth work funding
The Welsh Government chose Youth Work Week to recognise the important and vital role of youth work and youth services and launched a new Youth Work Strategy and a commitment to more than double youth service funding to over £10 ... Read more
JUNE 26, 2019
NUBSLI continue to be a powerful voice
The National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters (NUBSLI) celebrates its fifth anniversary amid renewed warnings that government cost cutting and the unethical behaviour of some interpretation and translation agencies is harming deaf people’s access to public services. NUBSLI, one the ... 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 30, 2019
The first episode of a profoundly bleak but necessary two-part Panorama, Crisis in Care (BBC One), highlighted how the adult social care system is on the brink and in dire need of reform after years of austerity. This hard hitting documentary put a human face ... 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 28, 2019
Tackling serious violence needs real investment in preventative services!
Unite has submitted its response to the Home Office's draft plans for a new legal duty to support a multi-agency approach to preventing and tackling serious violence. Whilst Unite is supportive in principle with taking a public health approach to tackling serious ... Read more
MAY 23, 2019
Voices need to be heard. The young and people supporting them must be recognised.
For many years the government and local authorities have neglected the Youth; we’re expected to be docile, to not question their authority or our rights, and allow our futures to be decided for us or have them be destroyed. Subsequently ... 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
MAY 08, 2019
Another APPG Report – another call for investment in youth services
It is not surprising that analysis by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Knife Crime, a group of over 40 MPs and Peers, has found that the areas suffering the largest cuts to youth spending have seen bigger increases in ... Read more
APRIL 12, 2019
Over 1.5 million young people aged 16 and 17 years are currently denied the vote in the UK. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Votes at 16, founded in April 2018 following years of lobbying for a lower voting age ... Read more
APRIL 04, 2019
There really is No Time to Waste as APPG on Youth Affairs publishes report
Today saw the official release of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Youth Affairs report from its Inquiry into Youth Work. The APPG, a cross-party group chaired by Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, was established in 1998 to raise the profile of issues ... Read more
MARCH 27, 2019
Housing Association's Horrors Exposed
Many people viewed with horror the Channel 4 Dispatches programme on Monday night, with its images of mouldy walls, rotten windows, damp rooms, flooded light fittings, rotting floors and general disrepair. The programme, entitled ‘New Landlords from Hell’, alleged that ... Read more
MARCH 18, 2019
Workers’ Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the UK Government on 28 April each year. Safe work is a right not a privilege. Workers' Memorial Day brings together workers and their representatives from all over the ... Read more
MARCH 18, 2019
Council Cuts Have Hit The Poorest
Despite talk of ‘deal dividends’ and ‘Brexit bribes’, there seems to be no end in sight for local government when it comes to austerity. As the Local Government Association (LGA) recently highlighted “councils were at the front of the queue ... Read more
MARCH 14, 2019
Groundbreaking agreement signed with Manchester city council
A groundbreaking agreement between Unite the Union and Manchester City Council requires all voluntary sector organisations operating with the support of the local authority to follow ethical employment standards. The agreement, the first of its kind in the UK, covers all ... Read more
MARCH 08, 2019
A new report entitled ‘Triple Whammy’ has been published by the Women's Budget Group, setting out clear findings that show how women are the hardest hit by government cuts made in the name of austerity. Cuts to central government funding to local authorities have and are affecting ... Read more
MARCH 04, 2019
NCS doesn't need a revamp - it needs a total rethink
As the NCS Trust puts out a contract worth up to £10m to revamp its brand is this the time to think again? The Trust, - a not-for-profit organisation incorporated by Royal Charter, is initially offering a two-year contract to deliver a ... Read more
FEBRUARY 08, 2019
Perverse childcare policy entrenching disadvantage
A report published by the commons Education Committee has found government early years policy is entrenching disadvantage and has called for an urgent reform of the 30 hours funded childcare offer. The Committee found that the government's "confused approach" to early ... Read more
FEBRUARY 07, 2019
Mental health problems affect one in four of us, yet lots of people are still afraid to talk about it. Today is Time to Talk Day and Unite and other organisations are hoping to tackle the stifling silence and stigma attached to ... Read more
DECEMBER 10, 2018
Strikes off as Shelter workers secure new pay deal!
Huge congratulations to housing sector members employed by housing charity Shelter, who are celebrating victory after agreeing a vastly improved pay offer. The decision to accept the new deal means that the scheduled strike due to begin tomorrow (11 December) ... Read more
DECEMBER 07, 2018
Safeguarding at work - new reps guide for international and aid workers
Recent press interest in international development and aid organisations has revealed the failings of the leadership of our organisations to address sexual exploitation and abuse issues that we, as workers, have been highlighting for many years. This has brought a ... Read more
DECEMBER 06, 2018
Cuts have left young people feeling abandoned
There is no argument that can deny that the consequence of Tory austerity on young people has been devastating. As the Labour Party’s consultation into what a statutory youth service might look like ends, Cat Smith MP tells us how Labour ... Read more
DECEMBER 05, 2018
Housing workers get ready to strike following ‘derisory’ pay offer
Over 400 members of Unite employed by the housing and homeless charity Shelter, will take three days of strike action beginning on Tuesday 11 December in a dispute over pay. The 72 hour strike follows a ‘derisory’ pay offer of a ... Read more
NOVEMBER 28, 2018
Management at Peter Bedford realise the error of their ways!
Hackney housing strike off as Unite celebrates victory in pay dispute Planned strike action at Peter Bedford Housing Association, in Hackney, involving members of Unite has been called off after management agreed to honour the pay deal they had previously failed ... Read more
NOVEMBER 27, 2018
Unite community national day of action on Universal Credit
This Christmas will be cancelled for thousands of families claiming the new benefit Universal Credit. Despite knowing Universal Credit causes serious problems for claimants, Theresa May's Tory government is pressing ahead and rolling it out to thousands of people who ... Read more
NOVEMBER 23, 2018
Youth volunteering charity vInspired collapses
The charity has helped more than a million young people volunteer since 2006, but its funding levels tumbled after the coalition government introduced the National Citizen Service in 2010 and it can no longer survive financially. The youth volunteering charity vInspired, set up under ... Read more
NOVEMBER 13, 2018
NUBSLI raise concerns over the conduct of Language Empire
The National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters (NUBSLI), which is part of Unite the union, is writing to NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCG) in the north west of England after the interpreting provider Language Empire was ordered to pay ... Read more
NOVEMBER 12, 2018
Labour consultation on Building a Statutory Youth Service
As the leading trade union for community, youth and playworkers, with thousands of members across the United Kingdom, and a specialist section for Community, Youth and Playworkers (CYPW), we work tirelessly to campaign for an end to the destruction of community, youth ... Read more
NOVEMBER 05, 2018
It's Youth Work Week 18 and Youth Work Works!
Happy Youth Work Week. A key part of the National Youth Agency’s (NYA) celebrations this year is asking the sector to create and share short videos celebrating and emphasising the amazing impact youth work can have in the wide variety of ... Read more
OCTOBER 31, 2018
Youth Work Inquiry Reports Back!
The all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on youth affairs, a cross party committee headed up by Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP and with input from the National Youth Agency (NYA), has released its initial recommendations and a summary of its findings and has called on ... Read more
OCTOBER 25, 2018
Amnesty International must improve staff wellbeing and management accountability
Following the tragic death of Gaëtan Mootoo, Unite seeks commitment from Amnesty International to take concrete steps in improving staff wellbeing and management accountability. Without this, it is impossible to create a safe and healthy workplace where employee ill-treatment is never ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 25, 2018
UNITE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORKERS VOTE TO ACCEPT JNC PAY DEAL
Youth and community workers, members of Unite, along with staff side unions have voted to accept a two year pay deal starting from September 2018. Unite members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the two year JNC (Joint Negotiating Committee), pink book ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 22, 2018
Theresa May: no solution to housing crisis
Housing association chiefs gave Theresa May a standing ovation for her speech to the National Housing Federation on Wednesday. There can’t be many audiences in the UK where she could expect that. Not many tenants feel they have anything to stand ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 06, 2018
UNITE HOUSING SECTOR PAY CONFERENCE
While Chief Executives receive year on year inflation busting average pay increases housing sector staff are expected to work harder for less pay and reduced pension provision. Despite the gross value of housing association properties now approaching £1.5 billion and the sector ... Read more
JULY 04, 2018
JNC Employers meet with unions on Monday to put forward pay offer
JNC Staff Side unions will meet employers on Monday (9th July) to see if they are ready to #PayUp for youth work. The joint unions representing thousands of Youth and Community Workers across England and Wales in Local Government and the community, ... Read more
JULY 04, 2018
The Parliamentary Inquiry on the role and sufficiency of youth work is part of the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Youth Affairs (APPG) which is a cross party group established in 1998 to raise the profile of issues ... Read more
JUNE 01, 2018
Call for investment in youth work and youth services on International Children’s day
The destruction of the youth services and de-professionalisation of youth work shows youth worker morale at rock bottom. Unite the Union, the leading trade union voice for youth and community workers in the UK, is calling for a substantial increase in ... Read more
MAY 17, 2018
Manifesto for culture change in the international development sector
Recent press interest has once again revealed the failings of the leadership of international development organisations to address sexual exploitation and abuse issues that we, as workers, have been highlighting for many years. This has brought a renewed commitment to ... Read more
MAY 11, 2018
Trade Unions demand that employers and the Government pay up for youth work and youth services
Joint pay claim from Unite, Unison, NEU and UCU asks for a £1000 or 5% pay increase for youth and community workers on the JNC Pink Book after almost a decade of pay restraint. The four unions representing thousands of Youth ... Read more
APRIL 26, 2018
Housing workers prepare for strike action
Unite members employed at Helena Partnerships Limited, Golden Gates Housing Trust and Torus 62 Limited, who undertake housing maintenance on social housing in Warrington and St Helens, are preparing to ballot for industrial action after their parent company (Torus Group) ... Read more
APRIL 18, 2018
Workers in legal aid and advice organisations are at breaking point according to a survey undertaken by their union Unite. The survey was released yesterday in advance of today's Vigil for Justice, organised by the Justice Alliance and supported by Unite, which will be ... Read more
MARCH 27, 2018
Social cleansing of city centres
Members of the Unite LE Housing Branch 1111 stood alongside tenants yesterday opposed to ‘the social cleansing of city centres’ by the same housing associations that are derecognising unions and cutting staff and who are also alienating residents and anyone ... Read more
MARCH 22, 2018
Creating a Statutory Youth Service!
ChooseYouth are holding a roundtable event in Westminster on April 23rd, 4-6pm, and invite those with an interest in protecting, resourcing and delivering a statutory youth service to get involved. This event follows the successful parliamentary event held earlier this year. Youth ... Read more
MARCH 16, 2018
In a TV programme screened last night, Conservative MP Adam Holloway spent a week sleeping rough in London. His written report on The Daily Telegraph website gives some insights into what it is like sleeping rough but avoids the causes ... Read more
MARCH 08, 2018
International Women's Day 2018 and Women's Pay Day for many!
It’s International Women’s Day today - a day to celebrate the many achievements of women as well as highlight the inequalities women continue to face in the workplace and society. Nearly 50 years since the Ford machinists went on strike ... Read more
MARCH 08, 2018
Women in the Workplace: Thoughts for International Women’s Day
The TUC Women’s Conference, the democratic voice of women at work, is convening this International Women’s Day at Congress House to discuss the issues of low pay, pay restraint and the yawning gender pay gap. How can we best support ... Read more
MARCH 05, 2018
Government plans to transform children and young people’s mental health provision lack boldness
The government’s green paper on transforming children and young people’s mental health provision in England lacks the boldness and scope needed to address the ‘burning injustice’ of young people’s mental ill health says Britain’s largest union Unite. In its response to ... Read more
FEBRUARY 23, 2018
Labour pledges for a statutory youth service
Labour's shadow chancellor has said he wants to include a commitment to making youth services statutory in the party's manifesto for the next general election. In a video address to the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU), John McDonnell said he ... Read more
FEBRUARY 15, 2018
London Mayor to invest in youth services
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced plans to invest £45m in youth services over the next three years in a bid to divert young people in London away from crime. With youth centres, outreach and after-school activities not a ... Read more
FEBRUARY 14, 2018
#HeartUnions week is back and union members from across the UK are taking part in the TUC's third annual heart unions week from the 12 to 18 February, celebrating all that is great about trade unions. ❤Unions Week gives us all ... Read more
FEBRUARY 13, 2018
Unite, the UK’s largest union, which represents staff at Oxfam, is seeking an urgent meeting with the organisation’s management in order to get reassurances, following the recent adverse publicity the charity has received. Unite represents around 300 Oxfam staff at the ... Read more
FEBRUARY 05, 2018
It’s all about #BeingOurselves!
Child Mental Health Week was given a royal seal of approval by the Duchess of Cambridge who recorded a video message of support for charity Place2Be's campaign encouraging children, young people and adults to celebrate their uniqueness. The theme this year ... Read more
FEBRUARY 01, 2018
HeartUnions week 2018 will be taking place from 12 to 18 February. It's a week of activity throughout England and Wales that highlights the good work that unions do everyday to offer everyone a voice at work. This year the campaign will ... Read more
JANUARY 24, 2018
Unite responds to Presidents Club sexual harassment expose
Responding to the shocking revelations of organised sexual harassment that occurred last week at the Presidents Club charity dinner at the Dorchester Hotel, Unite national officer Siobhan Endean said: “The sleazy and disgraceful events that occurred last week at the Presidents ... Read more
JANUARY 23, 2018
It’s about time we gave 16 and 17 year olds a vote
The arguments for and against continue but this week sees the news of two academics who will be conducting research into the issue of whether 16 year olds should be able to vote (https://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/2004665/academics-to-assess-case-for-votes-at-16). The research is being carried out ... Read more
JANUARY 22, 2018
4.5% pay boost at Peter Bedford Housing Association
Unite members at the small north east London supported housing organisation Peter Bedford Housing Association (PBHA) have agreed a pay deal which conjoins them to the nationally agreed local government scales. The result of this is that in future, members ... Read more
JANUARY 10, 2018
PARLIAMENTARY REPORT INTO BULLYING – MORE MUST BE DONE
Unite National Officer, Siobhan Endean appeared on Radio 5 live this morning talking about parliamentary staff and the work our union reps are doing to support dignity at work. Siobhan emphasised the need for the voice of staff to be amplified in ... Read more
DECEMBER 19, 2017
The Dan Baird "stop knife crime" Campaign
Daniel Baird was just 26 years of age when he was fatally stabbed in the early hours of 8th July 2017, outside The Forge Tavern, Digbeth in Birmingham following a night out with friends. Dan died shortly after arriving at ... Read more
DECEMBER 12, 2017
Work Voice Pay - 3% for Friends of the Earth!
Workers at Friends of the Earth (FoE) are celebrating as their pay negotiations have resulted in a 3% increase on all staff basic salaries (including a 3% increase in London weighting) - all backdated to the 1 June 2017. Aaron, Connor, Laura and Rose, Unite ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 14, 2017
The housing crisis - keenly debated at TUC Congress
Protecting workers' jobs and rights in Brexit Britain and an economy built on decent jobs with an active industrial strategy at its heart were among the key issues for Britain's largest union, Unite, at this year's TUC Congress in Brighton. With ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 01, 2017
Invitation to the 2nd Unite Social Care Forum, Birmingham
Unite Social Care Forum - Unite the Union, Thursday 28 September 2017, 6 Holt Court North, Heneage Street West, Birmingham, B7 4AX Following the first Unite Social Care Forum in London in March, Birmingham will host the 2ndSocial Care Forum to ... Read more
AUGUST 04, 2017
In their first decisive action, NUBSLI (the National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters) have won a victory over fees, terms and conditions with LanguageLine Solutions who hold one of the large government framework contracts. Under the National framework agreement interpreters' ... Read more
AUGUST 04, 2017
Help us celebrate [email protected]
It is 40 years since the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 created the role of trade union safety representatives to improve health and safety in the workplace and what a difference this has made to workplaces up and ... Read more
JULY 27, 2017
Playday - an opportunity to campaign on issues affecting children’s play
August 2nd is Playday and is the biggest play sector event in the UK, and possibly Europe! As well as a celebration of children’s right to play, Playday is a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives. ... Read more
JULY 26, 2017
Unite celebrates court victory as historic win for working people
The Supreme Court has quashed the government’s system of fees for employment tribunals following a four-year fight and is a victory for everyone in work . Responding to the decision today by the Supreme Court that the government was wrong to ... Read more
JULY 26, 2017
Unions victorious and another major blow for Theresa May’s weak and wobbly government
In yet another major blow for Theresa May's weak and unstable government and further evidence of how the Tories treat their own workforce and other public servants with contempt, the High Court has ruled that it was unlawful for the ... Read more
JULY 24, 2017
Another £1.5b confidence and supply agreement?
The Scout Association has entered into a three-year partnership with the National Citizen Service in a deal that is expected to be worth about £1.5m. The two organisations said they hoped the ‘arrangement’ would enable them to support more young people ... Read more
JULY 17, 2017
Launch of Proof, issue three - Life in the Justice Gap: legal aid matters
Issue three of Proof magazine, A Time To Rethink - Life in the Justice Gap: legal aid matters will be launched on Tuesday 18th July in Parliament with speakers including Ruth Hayes, Chair of CYNfP Sector Ruth Hayes and Richard ... Read more
JUNE 28, 2017
Grenfell Towers - Unite appeal
The full horror of the fire at the Grenfell Tower is yet to unfold but we do know that there has been many fatalities, serious injuries and hundreds of people have been left destitute and in despair. There are very many ... Read more
MAY 31, 2017
The Great Get Together - In memory of Jo Cox
The Great Get Together is a campaign of the Jo Cox Foundation in memory of Jo, who was killed on 16 June last year. Jo's family believe there is a groundswell of people who reject divisive politics and simply want ... Read more
MAY 18, 2017
Thirteen Group concede and agreement is reached
In the period leading up to Christmas 2015 Vela and Fabrick Housing groups were in the process of merging to become Thirteen Group and negotiations were taking place regarding group wide terms and conditions plus an annual pay rise. Included ... Read more
MAY 03, 2017
A vote is more than a cross on a piece of paper
There are lots of elections being held tomorrow across 27 English County Councils, 7 other English authorities, in all Welsh and Scottish Councils as well as elections for Mayors of 6 Combined Authorities. Some people don't think they need to ... Read more
APRIL 24, 2017
IWMD 2017: An organised workplace is a safe workplace
The 28th April is International Workers’ Memorial Day the day each year when workers come together and remember those who have been killed and injured at work. The slogan for the day is “remember the dead – fight for the ... Read more
APRIL 24, 2017
The draft Occupational Pension Schemes (Employer Debt) (Amendment) Regulations 2017
The Government has after long delay published a response to the consultation on employer debt in relation to non-associated multi-employer pension schemes and in doing so is now consulting on specific proposed change in the law. The proposal is that, subject ... Read more
APRIL 12, 2017
Rapport - for Community, Youth and Playworkers (April)
Regular electronic newsletter for Youth Workers, Community Workers and Playworkers We want to make sure that Branch Rapport is a monthly bulletin that hits your email boxes with information that is of interest and touches on subjects that concern you in ... Read more
APRIL 03, 2017
Unite supports calls to Scrap the Frameworks!
When NUBSLI first set up their #ScrapTheFramework campaign, raising issues around sustainability and the use of framework agreements, some felt that they were scaremongering. But a recently leaked insolvency document by Pearl Linguistics, the company that went into liquidation several weeks ... Read more
MARCH 29, 2017
In the UK we have been reeling from cuts, and playwork has been particularly affected. In North America they are growing playwork as a profession, and experimenting with different ways of offering it. I flew to California in February to speak ... Read more
MARCH 27, 2017
Department’s three-month extension for fixed-contract Youth Workers welcomed
Department of Education confirms more than one hundred fixed-term youth workers will have their contracts extended to the end of June 2017. Political parties now need to agree re-establishment of a functioning Executive to secure vital public services. Unite Regional Officer, ... Read more
MARCH 21, 2017
A call to end buck-passing and safeguard Youth Service
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland must intervene to end buck-passing and safeguard Youth Service jobs Unite Regional Secretary writes to James Brokenshire MP to request intervention to secure future of youth service jobs More than one hundred youth workers face redundancy ... Read more
MARCH 16, 2017
Rapport - Electronic Newsletter for Community, Youth and Playworkers
Regular electronic newsletter for Youth Workers, Community Workers and Playworkers We want to make sure that Branch Rapport is a monthly bulletin that hits your email boxes with information that is of interest and touches on subjects that concern you in your working ... Read more
MARCH 10, 2017
Housing workers welcome Clarion climb down on sick pay
Clarion had proposed to deny full sick pay for the first three days of any illness under new contracts at the giant housing group. Housing workers were celebrating today after it was learnt that Clarion had backtracked over its decision to ... Read more
MARCH 09, 2017
Rough sleeper immigration raids and homelessness charities
Homelessness agencies accused of being complicit in coercive deportations This blog was written by Paul Kershaw, Chair of the Unite Housing Branch LE1111 and was first published on the branch website on 8/3/17. Homelessness agencies including St Mungos are identified as complicit ... Read more
MARCH 07, 2017
4% for all Unite housing workers - pay up 2017
Unite's housing workers demand a minimum 4% pay rise for 2017 Unite Housing Workers demand a minimum 4% pay rise in 2017 and this is why! The cost of living is rising! Inflation is expected to be over 3% from April 2017 Housing ... Read more
MARCH 02, 2017
Final Call! Let’s show how much we love our NHS
Let’s show we value and cherish our NHS and reject attack on the quality of our health services! Join us on Saturday March 4th in London. I am stilling reeling from result of the Copeland by election last week in Cumbria. ... Read more
FEBRUARY 22, 2017
Unite member in the Charities Sector?
Charities Sector Briefing Day 1st March 2017 1100 – 1500 Unite House 128 Theobald's Road London WC1X 8TN This event offers a great opportunity for Unite reps working across the charities sector to meet with other reps and help build a ... Read more
FEBRUARY 21, 2017
Government fail to act on gender pay gap
MPs on a select committee have attacked the government for failing to implement reforms aimed at eliminating the gender pay gap. The Women and Equalities Committee have said the government have failed to act on its recommendations on tackling the structural ... Read more
FEBRUARY 20, 2017
Work Your Proper Hours Day, Friday 24th Feb 2017, is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year, and starts earning for themselves. We think that's a day worth celebrating. Over ... Read more
FEBRUARY 14, 2017
Unite believes in an integrated health and social care system, but demands minimum commissioning standards on both cost and staffing levels that would enable employers to retain experienced employees with decent wages and conditions, fair and reasonable working patterns, job ... Read more
FEBRUARY 08, 2017
This is our chance to celebrate our successes and share the stories of Unite members, reps and activists and the amazing work that they do in workplaces and communities up and down the country. We want your stories to inspire a ... Read more
FEBRUARY 06, 2017
Are you ready for heartunions week?
Following the popularity of the ♥unions campaign week last year the TUC family of unions has agreed to run the campaign again, this time 8 – 14 February 2017. Heartunions week is all about building a stronger movement after the trade ... Read more
JANUARY 20, 2017
Youth Workers Breakthrough on Work Life Balance and Flexible Working
Youth and Community workers have reached a significant agreement with Local Government employers group the LGA (Local Government Association) on flexible working and work life balance arrangements which could affect thousands of people working with Children and Young people in ... Read more
DECEMBER 13, 2016
Clarion threatens to withdraw from union recognition
New housing association Clarion, created through a merger of Affinity Sutton and Circle Housing, has angered union members by threatening to withdraw union recognition from a section of our members. Unite members took part in a lobby of Clarion’s launch event, ... Read more
DECEMBER 01, 2016
In a sector which prides itself on helping others, fighting for equality, diversity and well-being, do international development and humanitarian organisations practice what they preach? International Development and Humanitarian Aid Workers need protection at work just like everyone else – ... Read more
NOVEMBER 24, 2016
Please support the call to stop the salary slashing of supported living workers
Supported Living (SSL) Workers at Sanctuary staff have received letters from their employer threatening a possible dismissal and re-engagement if they do not agree to huge pay cuts, even though the project makes an annual surplus. The SSL project contributes ... Read more
OCTOBER 28, 2016
No Salary Slashing at Sanctuary!
Unite members demonstrated outside Sanctuary Group's headquarters in Worcester yesterday in protest over proposed cuts to pay conditions. Members of the Unite union highlighted to members of the public the difference between CEO David Bennett’s £320,000 salary and the £8,000 pay ... Read more
AUGUST 23, 2016
Unite serves notice on London’s ‘unethical’ hotel sector
Global hotel chains stand accused of making London one of the most ‘unethical' tourist destinations in the world by its own workforce in a hard hitting report launched by Unite, Britain's biggest union. Unethical London, written by Unite, exposes the low ... Read more
JUNE 22, 2016
Michelle’s story: I don’t want to risk losing pregnancy, maternity and family leave rights
Rights to paid time off for antenatal appointments and strong duties on employers to protect pregnant women were introduced in the UK as a result of EU law. Read more
JUNE 20, 2016
Maurice's story: Bad bosses will exploit workers' if we leave the EU
Maurice works in an office. His new boss was going to make him work longer hours for less pay - which is illegal under EU law. Maurice is protected under EU law, that's why he's voting to remain. Read more
JUNE 07, 2016
We have heard today the great news that the campaign to reinstate Alison Morris has been successful! "Following lengthy negotiations I can confirm that Alison Morris has been reinstated by CGL. Both Unite and CGL have committed to work together to ... Read more
JUNE 06, 2016
EU Referendum - Last chance to register to vote!
Good jobs, rights at work. The Trades Union Congress believe there's a huge amount at stake for working people in this referendum and believe a vote for Brexit could see huge damage to our industrial base and the good jobs ... Read more
MAY 19, 2016
On June 23rd Unite is asking you to vote for the UK to remain in the European Union. This is the biggest decision facing the people of the UK for generations. Voting to remain is a vote for jobs; employment rights; ... Read more
MAY 13, 2016
Unite members working at the HCA will be on strike on Thursday 19th May! Unite members at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) are taking industrial action after rejecting a pay offer from the agency this week. In February, the HCA offered to ... Read more
APRIL 27, 2016
Alison Morris, Team Leader with years of exemplary experience in the field of substance misuse treatment, was summarily dismissed from her job at Reach Out Recovery on 11th April 2016. Alison, an accredited Health and Safety Rep for Unite the Union, ... Read more
APRIL 27, 2016
Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don't die of mystery ailments, or in tragic "accidents". They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority. Workers' Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates ... Read more
APRIL 21, 2016
Industrial Action at Catalyst Housing
Plan to halve the number of neighbourhood managers Catalyst Housing plan to halve the number of Neighbourhood Managers it employs. Unite members at Catalyst say this will result in a drastic decline in service. Staff say that the workload of neighbourhood ... Read more
APRIL 21, 2016
More cuts for young people as Regional Youth Work Unit closes
Cuts blamed as Learning South-West, which houses the Regional Youth Work Unit, closes in dramatic fashion with eight staff being made redundant. The Regional Youth Work Unit supports young people and the youth sector to have a voice in decisions ... Read more
MARCH 21, 2016
RSPCA management being ‘dragged kicking and screaming into 21st century’
Moves to bring the top management of the RSPCA, the world’s oldest animal welfare organisation, ‘kicking and screaming into the 21st century’ have received a cautious welcome from Unite, the country’s largest union. Unite has been pushing for an external ... Read more
FEBRUARY 10, 2016
ANTI-ADVOCACY CLAUSE IS COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE
The government announcement of an anti-advocacy clause being put into charities’ grant agreements is an unwelcome development for the voluntary sector. It builds on a clause implemented by DCLG last year and one that has already received criticism from the ... Read more
