Category: News

As one of UNISON’s approved providers who work with people like yourself, we want to help make all members aware of the fantastic deals and offers that are exclusively available to them via UNISON Living as a key part of their member benefits.

We want to make sure all members get the chance to enter the £250 cash-free prize draw and/or apply for the UNISON NHS Dental Plan.

The UNISON Free Prize Draw to win £250 of Shopping Vouchers is open to enter until the 30th April 2023 so put your name in the hat now – it only takes a few seconds using the button/link below (or simply reply to this email saying “Agree & Enter”).This UNISON free prize draw is available to you, your friends, family and colleagues and there’s no purchase obligation. You may post the prize draw link of https://offers01.unionbenefits.co.uk onto your social media or email it so others can enter for free too.

As some of you will already be aware at the Special Council Meeting today, Elected Members voted for an additional day’s fixed leave on Monday, May 8 in recognition of the Coronation. Those required to work on that day would be able to take it at another time agreed with their manager/service. Colleagues in HR are now drawing up details of how this will work and will update staff next week.
Our understanding is that this will mainly be implemented as it was for the Queen’s Jubilee and the Queen’s funeral.

As you will be aware the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulates 15 health and care professions across the UK.  The HCPC is proposing to increase regulation fees by 20%.

The rise means registration fees will be £117.74 per year!

UNISON is calling on the Scottish government to use its powers to stop this unjust increase on hard-working and loyal health staff.

This increase will hit paramedics, occupational therapists, radiographers, ODPs, clinical scientists and other members who are required to register before they are allowed to practise.

The 20% rise in fees outstrips even today’s rocketing inflation. This rise follows the 9% rise implemented in 2021. And, if this year’s increase is imposed HCPC fees will have risen by 47% since 2014.

UNISON believe that:

1. fee increases should not be made unless it is absolutely essential.
2. nor should fees rise when registrants have suffered real terms pay cuts, pay freezes and years of austerity.
3. the HCPC should be made to live within its means.
4. Government should protect hard-working NHS staff and hard one pay rises.

Therefore, we encourage you to act now and encourage members affected by this rise to write directly to the Cab Sec for Health and Social Care. To make this as easy as possible we have created a webpage https://action.unison.org.uk/page/123783/action/1, all you have to do is fill in your details.

As you will be aware the current cost of living crisis is affecting all organisations, and Local Government is not immune from that pain. The lasting effects of Covid, alongside other global and national events, have led to inflation levels not seen since the early 1980s. This has also not been helped by the year in year out real term cuts to Local Government budgets passed on by the Scottish Government.

Stirling Council is now looking at a budget gap of £17m for 2023-24.  Stirling Council held their budget meeting yesterday in the Council Chambers, Old Viewforth, Stirling and by Microsoft Teams on Thursday 2 March 2023 at 10.00 am. The link to the papers put to council today is below. It is important to point out that the administration’s budget proposals were approved.

Access the Stirling council Agendas here

It was evident and regretful that savings of this scale won’t be possible without cuts to services and a likely reduction in the number of staff working for the Council over the next 12-18 months. Please be assured that we currently have a No Compulsory Redundancy commitment and the focus is on anyone leaving the Council doing so voluntarily, and we will work closely with management throughout the process, in line with our existing Organisational Change Policy. Please be assured  UNISON does not support job losses, however, given the budget gap it was inevitable that savings had to be made. We have concerns for those staff who will be working to deliver services where the workforce is reduced and for some this may mean a cut in hours/pay. Please be assured we will work closely with the employer to ensure that the appropriate processes are followed should staffing resources be reduced within your service. Unfortunately, we have had little detail, particularly where proposals relate to redesign, restructure and review. We have been assured that Trade Unions will be fully consulted on all the agreed proposals, however, it was difficult for us to take a view on the proposals when we have no further information.

Should you be concerned about any of the accepted budget proposals please do not hesitate to contact your UNISON steward or the UNISON Stirling Branch directly. You can also go to the UNISON Scotland website to see how you can join and help with our Local Government Finance Campaign where we continue to lobby the Scottish Government on the unfair budget settlements they continue to pass onto Local Authorities.

We know how unsettling all of this will be, and we’ll keep you informed and involved at every stage.

Tuesday 7th of March 2023 | 6pm | Online

Join the STUC Women’s Committee, the Scottish Youth Parliament, and
Professor John McKendrick to mark International School Meals Day to
discuss young people’s right to food and the campaign to expand universal
free school meals in Scotland.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on its draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan. This short briefing looks at key aspects of the draft and some of the issues UNISON Scotland will be raising in our response

Read the e-briefing below.