Author: Stirling Websites

Your Stirling UNISON Branch is writing to invite you to encourage and support any members in your workplace who can attend a joint union lobby of the Scottish Parliament on the 25^th of April at 11am.  This event is supported by UNISON alongside UNITE & GMB who form the STUC Care affiliate group. 

In 2021 following the Feeley report the Scottish Government committed to putting in place national minimum terms and conditions as a key component of new requirements for commissioning and procurement by Integration Joint Boards. Specific priority was to be given to pay, travel time, sick pay arrangements, training and development, maternity leave, progression pathways, flexible pathways, and pension provision.  Three years later none of these improvements have been delivered in the sector.

Social Care workers in private and charitable employers and our supporters are gathering to hold the Scottish Government to account for the #MissingMillions which have been extracted from Social Care either by the Scottish government or through profiteers in the sector.  All of this is money which could and should have been spent on improving the terms & conditions & pay of the social care workforce.

What are the #MissingMillions?

• In September 2023 £38 million was removed from the Scottish Government’s budget for advancing fair work in social care
• In 2024 there is zero allocation for fair work funding (previously it was £70 million).
• Profit from care in the private sector £216 million in 2020 & 2021 (‘Profiting from Care”, STUC 2023)
• Some large charities have reserves built up from funding to provide social care but still provide poor terms and conditions for the workforce  (The Richmond Fellowship Scotland holds more than £58)  

Any UNISON member who is a Social Care Worker who works within private and charitable employers wish to attend the rally at parliament on 25^th April can sign up here!

If you are a member of the Stirling UNISON Branch we will support the travel expenses of members (working in social care for private and charitable employers) so they can attend by covering travel costs. The Stirling UNISON branch recognises that you are members that are low paid, and are often on precarious contracts and need our support to have your voices heard.

The Megaphone page for the Missing Millions letter to the Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray is now live. Every time someone signs the letter, it will automatically go to his Cabinet Sec email address. The TUC has also added the three-union logos on the page. Please feel free to share it widely amongst your networks.

https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/pay-care-sector-workers-their-missing-millions

We have attached a graphic with the information which you can share on your social media accounts and members can use by scanning the QR code to sign up and encouraging others to do the same. 

We look forward to seeing you there.

International Workers Memorial Day, celebrated around the world and annually in Stirling; is held to remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injuries and diseases. This year’s theme is the climate crisis and workers’ health.

To mark the event the annual wreath-laying service will be held at the memorial tree in the grounds of Old Viewforth on Friday 26^th April at 10:45.

The occasion is held to remember all those killed through work, at home and around the world, ensuring such tragedies are not repeated.

Timetable as follows:

10:45    Gather on the grounds of Old Viewforth, beside the memorial tree

• welcome by Kate Hudson, Head of People and Community Wellbeing
• speeches by trade union representatives

10:55    Laying of the wreaths

11:00    One-minute silence

For UNISON, LGBT+ History Month is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible achievements and progress made by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) community.

Held every February, it serves as a reminder that the fight for equal rights and acceptance is ongoing, while also honouring the individuals who have paved the way for a more inclusive society. 

In 2024, the theme is ‘Medicine – #UnderTheScope’. The theme for 2024 has been chosen to shine a light on the contributions to the field of medicine, including staff in the NHS and other healthcare settings.

Throughout the month we’ll be sharing posts of importance and significance. Did you know that this is the 19th year of celebrating LGBT History Month in the UK?

#underthescope  #YearofLGBTplusworkers #UNISONtheunion #UNISONLGBT #UNISONscotlgbt

for more information visit https://unison-scotland.org/

To participate in a survey and sign a petition related to severe weather, please fill in the survey and visit the petition page. Your input can help raise awareness and drive positive change.

Please sign and share this new petition calling on the Labour Party to keep its spending pledges on climate action! 
https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/rAVyCovB3IX6vNZSOa1Sx?domain=actionnetwork.org

We just need to be raising our voices to counter the dangerous narratives coming from Sunak and the right-wing media. We hope the petition will provide one simple accessible way of doing that.

So please sign and share!