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The Year of Black Workers 2023 is already in full swing mode, join the train
now and make meaningful impact that affects Black Members in your local
branch, particularly to ensure the race equality campaign remains a vibrant
course in your branch.
Links to two new bargaining briefings
Occupational Therapists and a National Social Work Agency
The government intends to create a National Social Work Agency as part of the proposed National Care Service.
The NSWA would have a Workforce remit including pay and conditions and the current intention is to remove the majority of social work staff from SJC collective bargaining.
The Social Work Issues Group has successfully pressed for UNISON to have representation on the Scottish Government groups developing the Agency.
These briefings give an overview and identify the key issues.
They also identify areas where we need to develop a policy.
Could members please contact their workplace reps or the branch office directly with any questions/feedback.
School uniforms should be the least of parents’ worries. That’s why UNISON’s very own charity, There for You, gives School Uniform Grants to members who need a helping hand in getting their kids kitted out for the new term.
The grant programme is limited to 2,000 applicants and will close once the maximum number of applications has been received. This is due to the limited amount in the School Uniform Grant Fund.
We’ve been running online grant applications for a year, and this has been largely positively received by members. Some feedback specifically asked for the launch times to be adjusted to allow those with daytime commitments to be able to apply.
That’s why this year, we’re launching the school uniform grant during half term: on 1 June 2023. And releasing 1000 applications at 8.30am, and another 1000 applications at 5pm. So that members can apply when it works for them.
Making welfare work for you.
All applications should be submitted online. Once launched, the application form will go live here: https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/school-uniform-grant/
Those members who have access needs which means that they can’t apply online should contact UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857, whilst the grants are open; where our agents will be able to assist.
This is a one-off grant of £50 per school-aged child, up to a maximum of £150.
Applicants must:
Be a UNISON member
Have paid at least four weeks of subscriptions at the time of applying. Subscriptions must be up to date.
Not have received a grant through our main applications since 01 December 2023
Not have received more than £750 in total if within the first year of membership
Have savings (including the total rolling balance on current accounts) below £1,000 to qualify.
Be financially responsible for the school-aged child(ren) and receive Child Benefit for them. By school-aged, we mean children aged between 4-17 years old who will be returning to school in the autumn.
Only one application per household will be considered.
And EITHER:
You are on a low income:
Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month)
OR:
In receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:
Universal Credit
Housing Benefit
Child and/or Working Tax Credits
Pension Credit
Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
Income Support
Today, Friday 28 April 2023, Stirling UNISON held a memorial day for those who have died at work. The day was well attended by UNISON members, stewards and officers. Also in attendance were some of the elected members and officers in Stirling Council.
Abigail Robertson gave a speech on Health and Safety at work.
“The theme this year is ‘Organising for Health and Safety’, and it is incumbent upon all of us to do just that. Pressures on our public services, our public purse have resulted in the erosion of our workforce and the dismantling of services designed to support individuals and our communities, at a time when the public have never needed us more. Society is struggling, ordinary people are poorer than ever and poverty is directly linked to mental health and other health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, crime, homelessness, hunger, desperation and all kinds of anti-social behaviours.”
read more…
There are some excellent events around May Day celebrations this year. Info on Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow celebrations is at: https://stuc.org.uk/campaigns-and-events/events/mayday hopefully more to follow.
Please mobilise members, friends and families to attend. If you need UNISON flags etc contact Lorraine Thomson.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
A year ago we featured drugs issues (including alcohol) as a topic for a lunchtime webinar and this proved so popular we thought we should look again at the subject. This time we have Anne Marie Ward who heads up Faces and Voices of Recovery in Glasgow. Anne Marie is an outspoken critic of government policy and investment in effective recovery. We also hope to have a social work practitioner in the field , and a speaker involved in policy and strategy.
NB – the event will be recorded and signing up signifies consent.
Recording will be later available to view on UNISON SWIG website.
Please follow the link below to register:
A Teams Link will be sent out to all who sign up and provide an email address.
Stirling UNISON 