With growing evidence of the airborne nature of coronavirus and concerns that the Delta variant is more easily spread, we have updated both our coronavirus webpage and our ‘How to Work Safely’ guide to include more information on ventilation and what employers should be doing as part of their risk assessments.
The Health and Safety Executive has additional guidance on ventilation including updated advice on using carbon dioxide meters which can be found on the link below.
Author: Stirling Websites
UNISON Risk Assessment Tool
Employers should be reviewing their health and safety risk assessments following any changes to government advice on coronavirus or following any incidents in the workplace such as outbreaks of coronavirus.
You can use the UNISON risk assessment review tool to examine whether your employer is taking the correct steps to protect workers and to identify any concerns. The tool can be accessed via the branch service portal following the link below. Branches and safety reps can find out more by registering for the webinar on 3 August 2-3pm using the link below.
Hazard Conference
Registration for the annual Hazards conference is now open. The conference, which takes place over the weekend of July 31st to August 1st will be virtual and has a varied programme to interest all safety representatives.
To register go to the link below. The conference is FREE of charge but branches/organisations, are invited to donate to the Hazards Campaign via the link on the registration page.
Updates on LG Pay, Long Covid and Mitigation in Schools
We understand that the Cabinet secretary for Finance has agreed to a joint meeting with COSLA Leaders to discuss the funding situation for local government and that meeting is due to take place this Wednesday.
LG Pay Negotiations Update
We understand that the Cabinet secretary for Finance has agreed to a joint meeting with COSLA Leaders to discuss the funding situation for local government and that meeting is due to take place this Wednesday. Thereafter COSLA Leaders are due to meet on Friday, at which point it is likely they will take a view on affordability with respect to improving the pay offer following the discussions with the Cabinet Secretary. This is the final week of the Scottish Parliament sitting before the summer recess and we have asked Mark Griffin MSP to see if he can get an urgent question laid on this issue to add additional pressure on the Scottish Government. We will keep you abreast of developments.
TUC webinar: Long Covid and the workplace
The TUC is hosting a webinar discussing the results of its survey of Long Covid in the workplace, current policy relating to the condition, the related campaign priorities and what unions can do to support workers experiencing symptoms. It’s open to all TU activists, reps and officers with an interest in the issue. It is being held at 7pm on the 30th June and you can register here: http://msg.unison.org.uk/c/1nhZGBmZ1Qq0KNsxs5tm9
Mitigations in Schools post-summer
Please find attached an advice note regarding planning for mitigations in schools post-summer holidays, including in respect of the schools asymptomatic testing programme. This has been developed with input from members, including unions, of the Covid Education Recovery Group (CERG) and draws on advice from the Advisory Sub-Group on Education and Children’s Issues.
The approach reflects the current uncertainty around the Delta variant and the position post-summer, and the advice received that removal of some key mitigations in school environments is significantly easier than reintroduction.
As referenced in the note, separate advice on ELC settings is expected to be produced and issued shortly. The ELC guidance is expected to reflect important key differences in the situation faced by schools and ELC settings, including that many ELC settings will be operating over the summer while local authority areas progress through different protection levels, and that some current mitigations result in capacity issues that will have a bearing on decisions that local authorities need to take about placements ahead of the next academic term.
Download or View the document below:
Scottish Pensions Bulletin No.60 May 2021
Pension contributions, from members and employers, are currently managed by 11 different pension funds across Scotland. Some are small – £400m – and some are huge – £27bn at Strathclyde. Most funds simply pass the funds to external investment managers to invest.
Pension contributions, from members and employers, are currently managed by 11 different pension funds across Scotland. Some are small – £400m – and some are huge – £27bn at Strathclyde. Most funds simply pass the funds to external investment managers to invest. Research by UNISON and the LGPS Scheme Advisory Board suggests that funds, and therefore members, are being ripped off. A single fund for Scotland could save £100m a year, according to Lothian Pension Fund by getting economies of scale, bringing some investment management in-house, and exposing the vast hidden fees which are charged at every opportunity. A bigger single fund could al-so improve the “Environment, Social and Governance” (ESG) of investments, helping to drop fossil fuel investments and invest more ethically. It could even help more local investment using in-house expertise. Read more..
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Online Courses – places available
Please find below details of July online training courses where we still have availability. If you are interested in attending any of these courses please arrange for the attached booking form to be completed and then forward to activisteducationscotland@unison.co.uk as soon as possible. Please note that all of the courses are subject to numbers:
- Online Organising for Health & Safety (5, 6, 12, 13 July – 1.00-4.30 pm each day)
- Online ERA Refresher (27, 28 July – 9.30 am – 1.00 pm each day)
Please also find attached calendar for details of all our courses for the remainder of the year (July Organising Stewards course is full).
Stirling UNISON 