Adult social care services back under council control in Bath

Community resource centres and extra care facilities will be back under full council control with effect from 1st September 2020.

Next batch of cheques issued to Discovery members

We are pleased to advise that we have sent the next batch of cheques to those UNISON members eligible for a share of UNISON’s Employment Tribunal settlement. As you will be aware UNISON secured this financial settlement after we settled an Employment Tribunal case against Somerset County Council. We secured this for the union as […]

Discovery Employment Tribunal Settlement Update

We are pleased to advise that we have sent the next batch of cheques to those UNISON members eligible for a share of UNISON’s Employment Tribunal settlement. As you will be aware UNISON secured this financial settlement after we settled an Employment Tribunal case against Somerset County Council. We secured this for the union as […]

Get help with winter fuel bills

Members living on a low income constantly struggle to make ends meet – and this can be particularly acute in the winter when the cost of heating homes rises as the outside temperature falls. But it’s not all bad news – help IS available. The union’s welfare charity There for You has once more set […]

Contacting UNISON over the festive period

UNISONDirect hours over Christmas and the new year

Discovery Employment Tribunal Settlement Update

We are pleased to advise that we have this week started sending out cheques to those UNISON members eligible for a share of UNISON’s Employment Tribunal settlement. As you will be aware UNISON secured this financial settlement after we settled an Employment Tribunal case against Somerset County Council. We secured this for the union as […]

Unsung heroes of South West schools celebrated by UNISON

School support staff across the South West have been recognised today (Friday) as part of UNISON’s UK-wide celebration of the invaluable contribution they make to children’s education. UNISON organised the annual ‘Stars in Our Schools’ celebration event to promote the wonderful work school support staff do every day and to make sure the world knows just how […]

South West councils spending £370m less on key services than in 2010

Commenting on research published by the TUC today (Monday) that shows that councils in the South West are spending £370m a year less on key services than in 2010, UNISON regional secretary Joanne Kaye said: “Local council-run services hold communities together but nine years of Westminster-imposed austerity has put an immense strain on their ability to do […]

Official figures for NHS waiting times in Bristol show services are at “breaking point”, says UNISON

New figures show patients across Bristol are waiting longer to be treated in A&E than many other parts of the country, while the number who leave without treatment is over double the national average.

One Team week in the South West

UNISON is celebrating the valuable work of NHS support staff during its One Team week of action this week.

UNISON comment on IOPC decision involving Devon and Cornwall police staff

Commenting on the decision of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) today (Thursday) not to proceed with disciplinary hearings against two Devon and Cornwall detention officers, UNISON South West regional secretary Joanne Kaye said: “This was a wise decision taken by an independent body, which carried out a robust examination of all the facts […]

High Court state pension judgment is terrible blow but campaign goes on, says UNISON

Commenting on the judgment from the High Court today (Thursday) over the raising of the state pension age and the impact this had on women born in the 1950s, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This is a terrible blow for the millions of women who will have been hoping for a very different outcome today. “The […]

Sirona gives notice on care contract in Bath

Carers, catering staff and domestic support staff in eight Sirona care & health-run residential facilities in Bath and North East Somerset were today informed that Sirona has given notice to terminate its contract to run the services.

UNISON members take part in beach clean in Devon. Several members stand on a beach holding a UNISON flag showing the rubbish they collected.

Beach clean up reduces plastic pollution in Devon

Devon’s beaches look a little bit tidier this week after UNISON members took the fight against plastic pollution into their own hands. Several volunteers from UNISON’s Torbay Local Government Branch took to the sandy shores on Saturday armed with equipment kindly supplied by Surfers Against Sewage. UNISON local organiser Joanna Wallace said: “The local Branch […]

UNISON settles employment tribunal case and receives more than half a million pounds

UNISON will receive compensation of £674,000 after the union settled an employment tribunal case against Somerset County Council. UNISON argued the council had flouted the law by failing to properly inform and consult with union officials about the impact on 1,100 employees of privatising the county’s learning disability services. When specialist company Discovery (part of […]