Dear Member
Hello again! We hope this email finds you all well. We continue to find ourselves living (and working) through very challenging times and we hope that these regular updates continue to offer information and support that is useful.
Schools
The government has announced today that only half of all schools opened for reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils last week, with many schools and council’s recognising that there remain concerns about safety in schools. It would also appear that many parents around the country share these concerns as only 25% of eligible pupils in these year groups attended school. In a further U-turn from government, the education secretary, has today said there will be no requirement for primary schools to get all children back before the summer holidays.
Wirral Unison welcomes the government U-turn and retains concerns about safety, particularly given the increased R rate in the North West. We are continuing to examine the risk assessments and plans for any schools that are indicating that they will press ahead with a wider reopening. We will also support any of our members in schools who have concerns about returning to the work place. Employers have a duty of care to keep you safe at work and they should revise their risk assessments as the risks evolves; this includes revising risk assessments in light of the information we have about the R rate in the North West. Your employer should show this risk assessment to you. If this hasn’t happened and you feel that as a result you will not be safe if you attend the workplace, please feel free to use the letter in the link below to send to your Head Teacher and please copy us into the correspondence.
https://www.unison.org.uk/june-template-letter-for-members/
Unison amendments to Domestic Abuse Bill
The Labour Party has announced it is to take forward two UNISON workplace-related amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill. UNISON is concerned about how domestic abuse affects victims in their workplace as well as in the home. Protections at work can ensure that victims are not trapped in a dangerous relationship because they are concerned about the security of their employment.
For victims of domestic abuse, work can be a lifeline to independence and survival. The amendments suggested by UNISON and being taken forward by Labour are:
Paid domestic abuse leave
The government has a responsibility to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are given the time and space to address impacts of domestic abuse, without having to worry about being able to pay their bills. Workers may need time off to access legal or financial advice, to arrange childcare or alternative accommodation and to seek medical advice. Victims should feel safe in the knowledge that they can work to begin to put their lives back together with their employment secure. Without this guarantee, many women may stay in dangerous situations with their abusers because they cannot risk losing their employment.
Extend domestic abuse protection orders (DAPO) to the workplace
DAPOs restrict a domestic abuse perpetrator’s ability to harass a victim at their home. UNISON is calling for the government to extend the remit of DAPOs to include workplaces. Without this amendment, victims can be harassed at work by abusive partners, threatening their job prospects and safety. Currently, victims on visas with no recourse to public funds cannot access domestic abuse refuges or benefits. This leaves migrant survivors of domestic abuse trapped with violent, controlling partners. UNISON believes that anyone experiencing domestic abuse in the UK should have state support.
The union’s national women’s officer Josie Irwin said: “Getting these amendments accepted into law would help ensure security for victims of domestic abuse in the workplace and create time and space for them to start to rebuild their lives.”
The long-awaited bill is now in the committee stage, where MPs will listen to expert evidence from groups such as UNISON, and the wider domestic abuse sector.
Local Government Pay Offer
Unison has announced that it will begin a consultation process from the 22 June on the pay offer made by the Local Government Association of a 2.75% pay increase. Wirral’s branch stewards will be meeting shortly to discuss how we will conduct this consultation and what recommendation to make on the offer.
Members may be aware that the Unions put in a pay claim of 10%. Whilst this may seem a large claim to some people, it is worth reflecting that council workers have had a 20% pay cut in real terms over the last decade. Whilst we are aware that the current pandemic has entailed an increase in expenditure, it has also clearly highlighted how public services are in desperate need of additional resources. This includes council workers many of whom have been at the front line in the struggle against this pandemic. Rhetoric and platitudes around heroic public servants is simply not enough, now more than ever their work should be properly valued- our members in local government need a pay rise!
It will not be possible during this consultation to undertake workplace meetings or paper based votes and instead we will conduct this consultation electronically. If you know of any Unison members who are not receiving our regular emails, please tell them to get in touch and give us their email address to ensure they have their voice heard in this consultation.
Health and Safety Representatives Needed
Health and safety representatives care about workers’ safety and campaign for better working conditions. They play a vital role in keeping our members healthy and safe at work.
They investigate potential hazards, consult members on working conditions, lobby your employer to improve safety, support members with complaints about safety, recruit new members, identify members who could become more involved in health and safety issues.
Safety representatives have a specific role and functions and responsibilities and also have important legal rights. A health and safety representative has the right to training and to raise issues which affect the health and safety of members.
UNISON aims to have at least one health and safety representative in every workplace where we have members.
If you have any members interested in becoming a Health and Safety Rep then we have an online meeting on Wednesday 17th June at 10:00am contact Kim Scott k.scott@unison.co.uk
TUC reports growth across Trade Union movement
The TUC has reported that over the last year union membership increased by 91,000 - meaning union membership has increased by over 200,000 since 2017.
This year’s increase was driven by an incredible rise in union membership amongst women workers, of 170,000. There are now more women carrying a union card than at any time since 1995. There are now 6.44 million union members in the UK. It means that unions have now largely recovered from the significant drop in membership of 216,000 in the year to 2016.
Union membership increased in both the public and private sector by 74,000 and 17,000 respectively and the proportion of all workers who are union members increased to 23.5 per cent.
The proportion of workers covered by union collective agreements increased and these workers continue to be better paid than workers who aren't. Over the year this union wage premium increased in the private sector to 3.6 per cent.
Over the last 18 months, Wirral Unison has seen a month on month growth in our membership levels and since the beginning of this pandemic we have seen nearly 400 people join Wirral Unison. Hopefully this is reflective of the proactive approach we have taken during this crisis and the positive impacts we have had upon protecting our members.
Don’t Forget – Recruit a Friend this Month
We believe Unison has been an effective voice for members across Wirral during this pandemic, achieving many positive results, providing information and reassurance for many members. We hope you can agree. We have seen many people joining recently, but we know that there is scope for further recruitment. The more members we have in a workplace, the more effective we can be.
Do you know someone who is not in a union, a friend, family member, or colleague - why not share this email with them and encourage them to join.
Just click this link: JOIN UNISON
We represent workers in Wirral, in the Council, housing, social care, childcare, education – in fact pretty much the whole public sector other than the NHS (a different Branch of Unison) and the Civil Service (a different Union).
Prize Draw: Anyone joining in May or June will be entered in a draw for one of five £50 prizes. If you encourage someone to Join, simply email us (unison1@wirral.gov.uk) your name and the new member’s name and you will also be entered into a draw for one of five £50 prizes.
That’s all for today. Take care of yourselves and each other.
In solidarity!
Lois and Dave
Dave: davidnjones@wirral.gov.uk 07880199539
Lois: loisfounds1@wirral.gov.uk 07384512521
Published on: June 10, 2020