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Politics can‘t interfere in the approval of PPE, warns UNISON

UNISON has reacted with dismay to reports that the government applied ‘political pressure’ to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to approve personal protective equipment (PPE) that did not meet safety standards.

As the UK deals with the second wave of COVID-19, rising infections and death rates, the union warns that this type of pressure from government – to ignore robust and trusted testing and regulatory procedures – will only increase once the UK finally leaves the EU when the transition period comes to an end on 1 January 2021.

The BBC report details email evidence that of the Department of Health pressurised the HSE earlier in the year to approve a piece of PPE as tested and safe for use, when it had not done so, resulting in £32 million of public money wasted on a product that was eventually deemed as not fit for the purpose.

“This story highlights the chaos at the heart of government over the procurement of PPE,” said UNISON’s national health and safety officer Robert Baughan.

“We sincerely hope that the government get its act together and that staff can be assured they will get all the PPE they need – and have confidence in it.

“In less than 50 days, the UK is due to leave the European Framework. The EU has been so important in keeping staff safe, and the UK being outside will pose many challenges – not least in how PPE is certified as safe to use.

“The BBC report showed a worrying degree of – thankfully unsuccessful – government interference in how the Health & Safety Executive does its job.

“We sincerely hope that the government stops this unwarranted interference and instead focusses its resources on keeping staff safe and ensure that everyone can have confidence in the safety systems in place.”

The original BBC story can be read here.

The article Politics can‘t interfere in the approval of PPE, warns UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634694287174565888

Government must end poverty pay for care staff, says UNISON

Commenting on polling published today (Friday) by Citizens UK showing public support for a pay rise for care workers, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“It’s clear there’s overwhelming public support for a pay rise for care staff.

“These workers do a skilled job looking after the elderly and disabled people. But many struggle on poverty wages despite their dedication during the pandemic.

“It’s time the government showed they valued care employees by ending poverty wages. Every worker should be on the real living wage as a bare minimum. This would help improve care and attract much-needed new recruits.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
– The union is a member of the Future Social Care Coalition. This new cross-party alliance of more than 80 organisations and individuals is calling for an immediate £3.9bn* emergency support fund for the care sector and a fair wage deal for low-paid staff. Members include former ministers Andy Burnham, Sir Norman Lamb and Alistair Burt as well as the National Care Association, the Care and Support Alliance – which includes Age UK, Carers UK and Alzheimer’s Society – and UNISON. The co-chairs are Christina McAnea and Phil Hope.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article Government must end poverty pay for care staff, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2020/11/government-must-end-poverty-pay-care-staff-says-unison/
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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634675461085069312

Government must urgently tackle funding problems for struggling councils, says UNISON

Commenting on the announcement of emergency spending controls at Croydon Council, UNISON head of local government Jon Richards said today (Thursday):

“Councils are facing massive pressures and their finances are in peril. While Croydon has had its own problems, this could be the first of many to take such drastic action.

“Local authorities were struggling to balance the books even before the huge costs of Covid, for which the government has given only short-term, inadequate handouts.

“Council workers have been at the forefront of running essential services during the pandemic and shouldn’t pay the price by losing their jobs because of government underfunding.

“This must be a wake-up call to ministers. A long-term plan is needed for local government, recognising the crucial work it plays in keeping communities going.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Government must urgently tackle funding problems for struggling councils, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2020/11/government-must-urgently-tackle-funding-problems-struggling-councils-says-unison/
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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634599962413498368

Pay rise and student support are key to increasing nursing numbers

Commenting on new registration data published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council today (Thursday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“Although the number of professionals on the register continues to grow, it’s slowed from last year, particularly for first-time joiners.

“As hospitals across the UK cope with a further spike in Covid cases and the usual winter pressures, it’s more important than ever to build the NHS workforce and deal with staff shortages.

“If the government hopes to meet its targets to grow the nursing workforce, despite the collapse in international recruits, it must do more to support students until they qualify and invest in apprenticeships.

“The best way for the NHS to retain staff, along with the many who’ve returned because of the pandemic, is for the government to give every one of them the early and significant pay rise they deserve.”

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Pay rise and student support are key to increasing nursing numbers first appeared on the UNISON National site.

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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634599961712066560

Staff need training and support to deliver mass testing to students, says UNISON

Commenting on Department for Education plans to allow university students to travel home for Christmas, UNISON senior national education officer Ruth Levin said today (Wednesday):

“Students want to share Christmas with their families like the rest of us. Thankfully, the government has finally come up with a plan, but many questions remain unanswered.

“University staff need clarity on who will deliver mass testing to undergraduates. Those who agree to be involved will need training and suitable safety kit.

“The whole testing process must be risk-assessed and properly supervised if it’s to be effective. Many students will need repeat testing if their results are inconclusive. Sufficient funding must be in place for universities so this programme can be carried out safely.

“The return of students in January will also be a major challenge. Ministers must release guidance as soon as possible to give universities the best chance to plan ahead.”

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk

The article Staff need training and support to deliver mass testing to students, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2020/11/staff-need-training-support-deliver-mass-testing-students-says-unison/
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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634505667105931264

Blog: This is a critical young workers’ month

November is young workers’ month and this year, more than ever, we all need to celebrate our young workers.

Young workers have been on the frontline of this pandemic, but apart from the health risks, we are also worried about the economic and social impacts of the virus on us in the years to come.

Many young members are worried about job security. We are more likely to be in lower-paid jobs, on zero-hour contracts and not have been in employment for as long as many of our colleagues – with possibly weaker redundancy rights.

With working from home due to COVID-19 becoming the new normal for many, what does this mean for young members when companies look at making further cost savings?

We don’t want young members to pay the price of the pandemic and unions now need to organise more than ever to protect young workers’ jobs and conditions.

As the country entered a second lockdown, my friends in the hospitality sector were particularly worried about their jobs, wondering what this means for them.

We need to make sure that young people know their employment rights and what they can do if this situation occurs.

Looking ahead at our working lives, we are also worried that opportunities for development will be hampered, especially if there are significant job losses.

Apprenticeships may be paused or access to education, mentors, professional development and graduate schemes may be restricted or withdrawn.

We need to ensure that this does not happen and that the post-COVID future is one where young workers can expect high-quality jobs with development and training opportunities.

UNISON’s national young members’ forum has previously made mental health one of our key priorities and this will be taken forward in 2021 too – young people tell us that mental health issues are one of their biggest concerns, and we know that this will only have increased during the pandemic.

Alongside this we also need to physically protect our young workers as they continue to work during the pandemic – both from home and on the front line in our schools, care homes and hospitals – by ensuring employers provide adequate PPE supplies and that unions are fighting for health and safety in the workplace.

A close friend of mine has been working as a student nurse on the frontline, treating COVID patients during the pandemic, and was told to re-use PPE for her entire night shift.

On top of this, there is the huge mental impact of seeing the effects of COVID-19 first hand, with little support from the employer.

This simply isn’t good enough. Young people deserve better.

During young workers’ month we are asking UNISON’s young members for their experiences of the pandemic.

We also have a programme planned of online events – sign up here to join.

The article Blog: This is a critical young workers’ month first appeared on the UNISON National site.

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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634418864939237376

UNISON prepares to mark One Team Day on 25 November

Knowing that operational services support staff rarely get the recognition they deserve, UNISON is preparing to mark One Team Day on 25 November. The goal is to celebrate everything that NHS staff have been doing behind the scenes throughout the pandemic.

UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “With the events of this past year, healthcare staff across the NHS deserve recognition for their hard work now more than ever.

“The NHS couldn’t run without cleaners, porters, security staff, cooks, medical secretaries and all the staff that are often overlooked when we praise the health service.

“One Team Day recognises and celebrates the vital role that everyone in the health team plays to ensure patients get the care they deserve.”

This year, One Team Day events will mostly take place online, in place of branch stalls and celebrations at hospitals.

Healthcare workers are being encouraged to nominate a hard-working colleague to be considered as One Team member of the year.

UNISON has created a range of resources and activities on the One Team webpage, including suggestions for branches on how to mark the day, posters to display in workplaces and a tool for members to nominate a hard-working colleague as One Team member of the year.

UNISON members are also being encouraged to take photos with our posters and share them on social media.

The article UNISON prepares to mark One Team Day on 25 November first appeared on the UNISON National site.

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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634418864563863552

UNISON prepares to mark One Team Day on 25 November

UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “With the events of this past year, healthcare staff across the NHS deserve recognition for their hard work now more than ever.

“The NHS couldn’t run without cleaners, porters, security staff, cooks, medical secretaries and all the staff that are often overlooked when we praise the health service.

“One Team Day recognises and celebrates the vital role that everyone in the health team plays to ensure patients get the care they deserve.”

This year, One Team Day events will mostly take place online, in place of branch stalls and celebrations at hospitals.

Healthcare workers are being encouraged to nominate a hard-working colleague to be considered as One Team member of the year.

UNISON members are also being encouraged to take photos with our posters and share them on social media.

The article UNISON prepares to mark One Team Day on 25 November first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2020/11/unison-prepares-mark-one-team-day-25-november/
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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634415088725540865

Any vaccine must be delivered by the NHS and public health bodies, not private firms

Commenting today (Monday) on encouraging preliminary findings for Pfizer’s Covid vaccine, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Although it’s still early days, this could be the news the world’s been waiting for.

“But after the test and trace fiasco, there must be proper transparency and scrutiny this time around.

“The government should use the next few days and weeks well to ensure that when the vaccine’s ready, its rollout is managed entirely by the NHS and public health bodies.

“Private firms mustn’t be allowed anywhere near the programme to give the vaccine to the over 80s, health and care staff, and then the wider population.

“The vaccine must be delivered by healthcare professionals. The thousands of ex-health workers who offered their services to the NHS as the first wave hit would be perfect to do this.

“Encouraging, rather than forcing, care and NHS staff to have the vaccine so they can be effective advocates for wider take-up among their colleagues, family members and friends will be important too.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Any vaccine must be delivered by the NHS and public health bodies, not private firms first appeared on the UNISON National site.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8239598 https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2020/11/vaccine-must-delivered-nhs-public-health-bodies-not-private-firms/
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From https://childrensplayareadesigns.tumblr.com/post/634350795532484608

Blog: Why we’ll never stop fighting for a real living wage for all

This is Living Wage Week and the Living Wage Foundation has announced an increase in the real living wage rate to £9.50 (£10.85 in London).

The good news is that approximately 250,000 low-paid workers can expect a much-needed pay rise from today.

But we mustn’t forget that the real living wage is voluntary, so the bad news is that many others – many of them putting their own health on the line fighting COVID-19 – will be less fortunate and will continue to live on poverty pay.

Care staff will also lose out despite supporting the most vulnerable – our loved ones in the most need – throughout the pandemic.

The increase also means thousands of the lowest-paid health workers employed by the NHS at the heart of the fight against COVID – cleaners, domestics, porters, security staff and drivers – will no longer earn a living wage as they are employed by private contractors, stuck on the national minimum wage.

Our union has a proud tradition of fighting poverty pay. UNISON was the first union to back a statutory national minimum wage, though we recognised early on that it wasn’t a living wage.

In fact the whole living wage movement was driven in the early days of this century by this union, its branches and its activists. And your union has never been afraid to shame employers and take industrial action to fight poverty pay.

The fight for proper pay goes through this union like a stick of rock. It informs everything we do, including our current No Going Back to Normal campaign.

Now more than ever before, as our members fight coronavirus, there is a need – an absolute requirement – for the government to pay them properly, justly and fairly.

You cannot praise public service workers for keeping our communities going, for saving lives, while simultaneously expecting the same people to survive on poverty pay.

You cannot clap for our carers one minute and deny them a fair and just pay rise the next. They are not mutually compatible. They do not go together. And the public agrees with us.

If you make a habit of thanking people for saving the nation you need to back up your words with deeds. The clock is ticking to right this wrong and your union will continue to fight on your behalf.

No more poverty pay. No more going back to normal.