Tag: News

Have a great Christmas New Year

Just a brief and final update for 2023. It’s been quite a year!

This year has been unprecedented in terms of the workload, levels of disputes and the time and commitment you have given in pursuit of safer workplaces, fair pay etc… and all whilst continuing to deliver the valuable services all year round to the communities you serve.

The UNISON Stirling Branch members in Waste Services and Education and Early Years services here in Scotland have played a key role in delivering strike action in pursuit of a fairer pay claim for all Local Government Workers. Again we have achieved the highest pay award yet in Local Government, we have seen our highest recruitment levels within the branch over the last 6 months and delivered successful campaigns. We have hit it out the park and all thanks to the combined efforts of all our members and activists.

We want to thank each and every one of you who have participated in the work of our union/branch and achieved strength and success as a consequence. It will stand us in good stead for the challenges ahead.

We are absolutely confident we will succeed again next year and work forward through what will again be an ultimately challenging year for Local Government.

If you are a member that  may be struggling financially particularly at this time of year please remember that our Branch can offer financial support through our UNISON “There For You” Charity. To find out more please contact our branch Welfare Officer Julie Morrison by e-mailing morrisonju@stirling.gov.uk

Our UNISON members Xmas party was a great success and hopefully has seen a lovely finish to the year for those members that attended.

Have a great Christmas New Year and for those of you who will be working hard throughout the festive period providing vital public services, support and assistance and doing what you do best, please know how much you are appreciated and we do hope you manage to have some restful time and a great festive season with your loved ones.

Again, thank you

Best wishes,

Lorraine Thomson
UNISON Stirling Branch Secretary
Viewforth
Stirling
FK8 2ET

e-mail address  thomsonl34s@stirlingcouncil
Branch tel.  01786 233093 or mobile 07826903559

Winter Fuel Grant Opens 25 January

The Winter Fuel Grant programme opens at 10am on Wednesday 25 January, applications will be made via an online form. The grant is a one-off, non-repayable grant of £200 to help UNISON’s most vulnerable low-income members and to help ease the worry of paying for their next fuel bill during the coldest months of the year.
 
The application only requests limited information, including, name, membership number and email address, to make it as easy as possible to apply. You can find further information on eligibility and the application process on the UNISON website.

The grant programme will close once 2,000 applications have been received.

Winter fuel grant 2023 eligibility   

Applicants must:   

  • be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks subscriptions as of 25th January. Subscriptions must be up to date;
  • not have been a successful recipient of our recent energy support fund grant;   
  • not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 31 July 2022, excluding the school clothing grant;   
  • not have received more than £750 in UNISON Welfare grants if applying within the first year of membership;    
  • have savings (including the total rolling balance on current accounts) below £1,000 to qualify.;   
  • must be responsible (or their partner, if applicable) for household fuel bills. Only one application per household will be considered.   

And either …

 Be on a low income, meaning:   

  • for a single person (living alone with no dependent children): Net household income* of no more than £18,200/year (£1,516.67/month);
  • living with a partner (living with no dependent children): Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month);  
  • for a single person (living alone with dependent children): Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month);   
  • living with a partner (living with dependent children): Net household income* of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month). 

* Net household income includes your monthly take-home pay from work (plus your partner’s if applicable), any income from child maintenance payments, any income from student finance loans or bursaries, pensions (excluding pension credit) and any income from people living with you (for instance, adult children or lodgers). 

or … 

Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. These include:

  • universal credit;
  • housing benefit;
  • child and/or working tax credits;
  • pension credit;
  • means-tested jobseekers’ allowance;
  • means-tested employment support allowance;
  • income support.

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