UNISON ELECTS FIRST WOMAN GENERAL SECRETARY
UNISON Northern Ireland welcomes the election of Christina McAnea as our incoming General Secretary.
News
UNISON views the decision by the Belfast Trust to suspend scheduled surgical interventions in cancer treatment with alarm
UNISON views the decision by the Belfast Trust to suspend scheduled surgical interventions in cancer treatment with alarm. This is truly a very serious development and will be deeply distressing for affected patients.
There are privately owned health resources which must now be marshalled. There is no reason why this cannot be effected without delay and on a not for profit basis.
UNISON UPDATE FOR MEMBERS WORKING IN EDUCATION
UNISON has met DE EA and the PHA as part of an all education union delegation and raised a wide range of concerns for staff and pupils on substantive matters of health and safety.
UNISON UPDATE FOR MEMBERS WORKING IN NURSING & HEALTHCARE
Your UNISON NI Health Team across the HSC continues to support members and make challenges on all the key issues arising for our members.
The current surge and escalation of infection and hospital admissions has increased pressures on our members who have already been holding the line over a number of months.
Our health workforce members are appealing to the general public to comply with the regulations. This the best way to support them, protect the health service and save lives.
UNISON UPDATE FOR MEMBERS WORKING IN EDUCATION SETTINGS
The UNISON Northern Ireland Education Team has been active throughout the Christmas period on our members behalf raising challenges and seeking answers on a range of concerns.
The initial postponement in reopening most schools to January 11th (announced last Thursday December 31st by the NI Minister and circulated to all our branches) was in fact secured by the joint efforts of education trade unions during the Christmas period.
There is no doubt that the attempt to force schools back on January 4th across England, Scotland and Wales caused some confusion and raised concerns for our members. However, we continued over the few days to advise members that we fully expected the NI Executive would announce closure as in the other parts of the UK.
JOINT STATEMENT BY HSC TRADE UNIONS ON DEVELOPMENTS ON ROLLOUT OF VACCINATION PROGRAMME
Our members working across Health and Social Care are under intense pressure as Covid cases continue to rise alarmingly. Large numbers of workers continue to have to self-isolate as close contacts or being symptomatic due to Covid-19.
In such a stressful environment they need clear information as to why the JCVI (joint committee on vaccination and immunisation) have recommended the application at a later date of the second vaccine dose. This is important particularly for those workers who have already received the first dose and have seen plans subsequently change.
Current Advice for UNISON members working in special schools and colleges, and alternative education settings – January 2021
Context:
With the new variant of the virus shown to being considerably more transmissible than the version prevalent in 2020 the previous risk assessment will no longer be fit for purpose.
As a matter of priority, specialist schools and colleges focus on:
UNISON UPDATE FOR EDUCATION
The situation with schools at the moment is very fluid.
UNISON along with teaching unions and other support staff unions were given a schedule last Thursday announced publicly on the same day by the Education Minister of how schools would re-open.
This was set out in a circular from the EA which we attach a link to HERE.
It set out dates which are different in part from the rest of the UK.
UNISON UPDATE FOR HEALTH
Critical and Intensive Care - Staffing Pressures.
UNISON along with other health unions is currently engaging with Health Trusts and The Department of Health on a number of critical issues.
Staffing pressure which are causing real challenges in the delivery of intensive care covid and non covid related across the acute sector.
Employers are working to respond to the growing crisis by seeking voluntary response from staff.
However nursing staff may soon be faced with directed assignments outside of their normal duties.
UNISON MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MIGRANT WORKERS WITH CALL FOR ACTION
To mark International Migrants Day on 18 December, UNISON pays tribute and thanks all workers, migrant and local, who continue to risk their lives to provide essential services and keep vital sections of the economy going through the COVID19 pandemic.