News

UNISON CAUTIOUSLY WELCOMES RETURN TO DOWNE HOSPITAL

Tuesday 16 June 2020

UNISON, the largest union in the health and social care system, has met with the South Eastern Trust regarding the return of services to the Downe Hospital.

UNISON HEALTH AND SAFETY VIDEO BECOMES A MUST WATCH ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Monday 15 June 2020

A video created by UNISON Education Organiser Caitlin NiChathail on Returning to work safely has become a must watch feature on the UNISON Northern Ireland Facebook page. The video which has been viewed by almost 3,000 people and reached over 10,000 users in two days, is fast becoming an important source of information for members who are anxious about returning to work as lockdown measures ease.

Education unions call on the Minister to enter into meaningful consultation with the Trade Unions re-opening schools

Thursday 11 June 2020

Speaking after the Education Minister Peter Weir set a target date of Monday 17 August for some pupils to return to school, the Chair of the NIC-ICTU Education Group Denise Walker ( has stated that: “It is now abundantly and alarmingly clear that the Minister of Education has no intention of engaging in proper consultation with trade unions.

UNISON SAYS MINISTER HAS RIGHT IDEA TO REBUILD SERVICES BUT WE ARE CONCERNED HE IS USING THE WRONG TOOLS

Wednesday 10 June 2020

UNISON notes the publication (9th June) by the Minister of Health, Robin Swann MLA, of the Strategic Framework for Rebuilding Health and Social Care Services and the creation of a new Management Board for the health service.

UNISON PAYS TRIBUTE TO EILEEN SWEENEY

Tuesday 9 June 2020

UNISON deeply regrets the death of our friend and comrade Eileen Sweeney and sends condolence to Eileen's family and to Patricia King, General Secretary ICTU. She will be a great loss to our movement.

Message from Patricia King General Secretary ICTU on the death of our esteemed colleague Eileen Sweeney

UNISON WELCOMES RETURN TO DAISY HILL

Monday 8 June 2020

UNISON, the largest union in the health and social care system, has welcomed the latest announcement from Shane Devlin, the Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, that Daisy Hill Hospital will be fully functioning and that emergency medicine will soon return.

COVID-19: What you need to know

Thursday 4 June 2020

UNISON WELCOMES SICK PAY ANNOUNCEMENT AS STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED

Wednesday 3 June 2020

UNISON notes and welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Health, Robin Swann MLA, that the Department of Health will provide funding for care homes to pay staff 80% of their salary when on sick leave for Covid-19 related reasons. UNISON Regional Secretary Patricia McKeown said:

Update for UNISON Education Workers on schools restarting

Tuesday 2 June 2020

UNISON has received the attached letter from the Minister for Education, Peter Weir MLA, explaining the approach the Department of Education intends to take in relation to the reopening of schools. UNISON has been engaging throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with the Department to ensure that the concerns of our members are heard and acted upon. We will continue to do so as part of the process around the reopening of schools. Members should continue to check our UNISON website and social media sites for updates as the planning around the reopening of schools continues.

NIC-ICTU EDUCATION GROUP CALL FOR EXTENSION OVER SUMMER OF FREE SCHOOL MEALS PAYMENTS

Monday 1 June 2020

Denise Walker, the chair of the Education Trade Union Group, representing unions with members working at all levels of education, has called on the NI Executive to ensure the continuance over the summer of the successful emergency measure to provide payments to almost 97,000 children entitled to free school meals who are receiving payments of £27 every fortnight per child instead.