At UNISON, we believe in creating an inclusive workplace where every member is treated with dignity and respect. Our commitment to tackling racism and promoting equality is unwavering. We invite all Black members to join us in this critical mission to challenge discrimination and improve equality in the workplace and beyond.

???? Get Involved with UNISON Black Members

•Campaign for Equality: Join the Scottish Black Members Committee to actively campaign for equality and challenge racism. Your voice and experiences are vital to making a difference.
•Support and Representation: UNISON offers comprehensive support and free legal advice to Black members facing discrimination. Contact your local branch for immediate assistance.
•Training and Resources: Access valuable resources, including our Race Discrimination Protocol, animations, and guides to help you understand your rights and take action against racism.

????️ Resources and Support

•Race Discrimination Protocol: Our protocol provides a clear, step-by-step process for addressing race discrimination cases, ensuring consistency and transparency in our support.
•Educational Materials: Watch our animations and read our guides to raise awareness about racism and discrimination in the workplace.

Tackling racism information pack

Race discrimination protocol

Animation:
https://vimeo.com/sundstedt/unison


Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9_gZEpHx3k


???? How to Join

•Become Active: You don’t need to be an expert or commit a lot of time. Your enthusiasm and willingness to participate are all you need to help grow our union and campaign alongside like-minded activists.
•Stay Connected: Visit our Facebook campaign page for updates and more information on how to get involved: UNISON Black Members Campaign

Contact Us

If you need support or more information, contact your UNISON branch. Use our branch finder or reach out to UNISON Direct at 0800 0857 857. Together, we can build a more equitable and just workplace.

Join us in the fight against racism and for equality. Every member has a part to play.

For more details, visit join.unison.org.uk.

#UNISON #BlackMembers #TacklingRacism #Equality #JoinUNISON

UNISON Scotland, together with other unions, has submitted a joint pay claim to the Scottish government for all workers who are in the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system.

The pay claim is calling for negotiations to secure:

• An offer in which NHS AfC pay is uplifted by a cost of living element which fairly rewards our members in the current financial climate and seeks to resolve historic erosion of their pay
• A robust fully funded proposal to deliver on the areas of consensus previously identified in the AfC Pay Modernisation paper; which does not divert funding from the core pay quantum, during the lifetime of any implementation phase
• A commitment to further discuss those areas of AfC pay modernisation where consensus could not be reached.

You can read the full pay claim here.

What happens next?

Following months of delays, the Scottish government has agreed to open pay talks for Scotland’s health workers on July 31.

UNISON, together with other NHS unions, submitted its pay claim in February and says health workers are disappointed it has taken the Scottish government so long to respond.

In the past weeks, UNISON health members have sent more than 15,000 letters to MSPs from NHS workers calling for the Scottish government to open pay talks.

Matt McLaughlin, UNISON Scotland’s lead organiser for health, said:

“Despite submitting a pay claim at the beginning of the year, the Scottish government has dragged its heels and taken months to get around the table.

“NHS staff are rightly frustrated they have been left struggling with rising living costs while their calls for a fair pay rise are ignored.

“Health workers are the glue that holds the NHS together and the government has to recognise their hard work by putting NHS pay right.”

Non-pay reforms

There were ‘non pay’ reforms agreed as part of the 2023/24 pay deal. The Scottish government, unions and employers were tasked with bringing forward proposals for a review of band 5 nurses; to reduce the working week with no loss of pay; and to protect time for learning at work. We are disappointed that the Scottish government has not yet put forward proposals to implement these promised reforms.

UNISON, with other health unions, sent our proposals to the cabinet secretary for health, Michael Matheson MSP, in November. UNISON has been in regular contact with the cabinet secretary pressing him to publish an implementation strategy as soon as possible.

In mid-January, the cabinet secretary wrote to unions asking for an urgent meeting (read the full letter here). UNISON is always available to meet with government ministers and employers, however, the NHS unions have also written to the minister to make clear we expected him to publish an implementation plan without delay (read the full letter here).

It is not acceptable that the Scottish government has not published an implementation programme for the outstanding elements from the 2023/24 deal. We are clear the Scottish government needs to deliver on what’s been promised.

Get ready for the months ahead

Please look out for future information on these crucial issues. In the meantime you can help us to get ready for the months ahead:

• Make sure your details are up-to-date by logging in to My UNISON
• Keep in touch with your local UNISON branch
• Please fill out our safe staffing survey
• Ask your colleagues to join unison – we are stronger together

Colleagues 

As we approach the closing date for the Violence at Work - UNISON National Health and Safety Survey on 28 June 2024. We are reaching out for your support in this final push to gather crucial data. 

We kindly request you share the survey as widely as possible within your networks to ensure we capture comprehensive data from across our union – survey link: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90702770/Violence-at-work-National-Health-and-Safety-Survey    

The results of the survey will be used to develop a UNISON national report on violence and harassment at work. To ensure our report has credibility, it should reflect the views of as many UNISON members as possible (The survey is open to all UNISON members). 

UNISON Health and Safety has partnered with Dr. Jane Pillinger, (a global expert on the subject) to create a report on Violence and harassment in public services.We hope this research will act as a springboard to increase the reach of our Charter, Update our existing guidance and support our wider campaigning objectives.

It is very important we capture previous and existing UNISON work and research from across our nations, regions and groups. I appreciate you will all be very busy at the moment, but if you or a member of your team could spare some time by letting me know about any of the following (over the last two to three years) I would be hugely grateful; 

• campaigns on violence and harassment
• examples of negotiated policies and agreements as a result of collective bargaining
• examples of successful action taken by UNISON members
• recent surveys or research or external research and reports by other organisations you would like to highlight

We are looking to start the report literature review on the 15 July 2024 - if you are able to respond before this date It would be very much appreciated. 

Best regards

UNISON PRESS RELEASE - 07 MAY 2024

UNISON has today (Tuesday) revealed a survey which shows the widespread failure of the Scottish government to prepare the NHS for the country’s new Safe Staffing Act.

Despite the Act coming into effect on April 5, Scottish government guidance was only made a few days prior, meaning the majority of staff have still received no training or guidance on the new rights and obligations under the Act.

The survey lays bare the reality of working in Scotland’s NHS and reveals:

· Eight in ten staff no longer have confidence in existing procedures for dealing with inadequate staffing
· Almost two thirds (65%) of staff were unaware of the NHS Safe Staffing legislation
· An overwhelming majority (89%) of staff had received no training on the new regulations

Matt McLaughlin, UNISON Scotland’s head of health, said: “The government has had over four years to prepare for this new law, yet guidance was only made available four days before it became law.

“There’s a direct link between staffing levels and high quality outcomes for patients. Our members repeatedly tell us they do not have enough staff or enough time to give patients the care they need and deserve.

“In wards where they do meet staffing requirements, there is often not the correct skill mix to meet patients’ needs. This puts patients’ safety at risk and puts staff in unacceptably stressful situations.

“The reality is that staff don’t believe things are safe and NHS staff are left picking up the slack while no one holds their hospitals accountable.”

UNISON says many incidents of short-staffing is not reported as the recording tool, Datix, is time-consuming and cumbersome, meaning many incidents of short-staffing are not reported. We also received many reports that staff were discouraged from making reports at all.

Matt McLaughlin continued: “The Scottish government does not have a true picture of the scale of the short-staffing situation in the NHS as incidents of short-staffing are chronically under-reported – staff simply do not have the time. And an obvious weakness is that key support staff are not included.

“The Act is potentially a powerful tool for driving up standards – but it can only make a difference if people know how to use it. And when incidents are reported, there is help from health boards to fix the situation.

Despite the Act being in place for almost a month, the majority of staff have received no training on the new legislation. The Scottish government is failing patients and staff and it’s high time it prioritised tackling the staffing crisis in the NHS.”

Further information

· You can view UNISON Scotland’s NHS staffing survey here: https://unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/010524-NHS-safe-staffing-survey-FINAL-DP-TH.pdf More than 3,500 NHS members who are covered by the Act took part in the survey.

· Case studies are available on request. You can make a bid by contacting d.phillips@unison.co.uk

· UNISON is Scotland’s largest health union and represents health workers across the NHS including nurses, midwives, paramedics, porters and administrative workers.

· The Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 – more commonly known as the Safe Staffing Act – came into force in April 2024. It places a duty on health boards to ensure adequate numbers of appropriately qualified staff are working in healthcare settings.

Comments from NHS staff

“Our ward is always short staffed, I can count on one hand the amount of shifts that have actually been fully staffed in the last 2 years” Staff nurse, Highland

“Increased staff patient ratios recently due to surge in beds being used in non traditional bed spaces such as corridors. This is being accepted as normal practice within the organisation.” Occupational therapist, NHS Grampian

“Have been on nightshifts when there have been only 2 midwives and me with a full ward of 24 mums and babies.” Maternity care assistant, NHS Lothian

“Regularly work on a night shift as the only band 5 for 27 mental health patients.” Staff nurse, NHS Lothian

“Nurses simply do not have the time to give the patients the time and care they deserve.” Staff nurse, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

“No point in doing datix as nothing gets done.” Staff nurse, NHS Lothian

Introduction

In a concerning trend, instances of workplace violence, particularly in public services, have been on the rise. Employees face verbal abuse, threats, and even physical assaults simply for performing their duties. This issue not only impacts the well-being of workers but also the quality of services provided to the community.

Understanding the Scale of the Problem

Recent statistics from the Health and Safety Executive, based on the Crime Survey for England and Wales, estimate that there were 688,000 instances of violence and aggression at work across the UK between 2019 and 2020. These figures underscore a harsh reality—many of these incidents go unreported, leaving the true scale of the problem even larger.

UNISON’s Proactive Approach

UNISON, one of the leading unions in the UK, is at the forefront of advocating for the safety of public service workers through its End Violence at Work Campaign. The campaign is supported by the Violence at Work Charter, which serves as a comprehensive framework aimed at urging local councils and organisations to adopt serious measures to protect their employees.

The Charter's Impact

By meeting the standards outlined in the UNISON Violence at Work Charter, organizations can demonstrate to their workforce and stakeholders that they are committed to creating a safe working environment. This commitment is crucial in sectors such as social and healthcare, law enforcement, education, and housing—where employees are frequently in direct contact with the public and, consequently, at increased risk.

Digital Advocacy Tools

A notable innovation in UNISON’s campaign is the launch of a new website that provides access to data on recorded incidents of workplace violence. It also offers tools for individuals to directly engage with local councilors. Users can email their councilors to encourage them to sign up for the charter and advocate for its adoption at local council meetings.

Legislative Successes and Future Goals

UNISON’s efforts have already yielded significant outcomes. The successful campaign for the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 is a testament to the union’s impact, providing greater protection for police and emergency service workers, as well as NHS staff. Building on this success, UNISON continues to push for extending these protections to all public service workers.

Call to Action

The call to end violence at work is more urgent than ever. Each one of us can contribute by raising awareness, advocating for protective policies, and supporting campaigns like that of UNISON. Visit LINK HERE to find out how you can get involved and help make our workplaces safer for everyone.

Conclusion

It is unacceptable for workers to face violence while simply doing their jobs. By supporting initiatives like UNISON's End Violence at Work Campaign, we can help ensure that public service workplaces are not only productive but also safe. Let’s stand together to protect those who serve our communities every day.

CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY