News

UNISON backs Brexit amendment to save the Good Friday Agreement

The UK government needs to show it is ‘genuinely committed’ to upholding the peace process, says the union

UNISON is backing an amendment to the controversial EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which seeks to preserve the rights enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement after the UK exits the EU.

The union’s backing for the amendment, which will be tabled by Labour’s shadow Brexit team during the committee stage of the bill in the House of Commons, comes after the Brexit negotiations stalled over proposals for the future of the Irish border.

UNISON calls on MPs to respond to the public sector pay debate - 4th December

UNISON have today written to 10 DUP MPs and the 7 Sinn Fein MPs plus Lady Sylvia Hermon in a bid to scrap the 1% pay cap.

Since 2010, public sector workers in Northern Ireland have seen the value of their pay fall year after year. While the cost of living has soared, public sector wages have barely risen. That means the people we rely on to educate our children and care for our loved ones in hospitals and in the community are being pushed closer and closer to breaking point.

Serious Nursing Shortage – NI Health Regulator

Northern Ireland's health regulator has formally notified the health department there is a serious nursing shortage across hospital and community services.

It is the first time the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority has issued such a notice.

It was its duty to inform the department, it said, after identifying a number of failings in almost every area it had inspected.

It noted a reliance on agency and bank nursing staff which it said was due to a shortage of permanent staff.

UNISON joins a trade call for all 8 Outdoor Education Residential Centres to remain fully operational

Today trade unions representing staff that provide outdoor education in Ardnabannon, Bushmills, Delamont, Killowen and Killyleagh are calling on the Board of the Education Authority not to implement controversial proposals to remove current service provisions.

NIC-ICTU Launch 'Better Work, Better Lives' Campaign

UNISON has pledged strong support for the NIC-ICTU Better Work, Better Lives campaign today with massive turnouts at the launch. Our activists cover every constituency and look forward to working with our colleagues across the movement.

Launch of major trade union campaign Tuesday 21 November 10:30, Girdwood Hub, Belfast

Trades unionists play part in major NI-wide campaign for proper wages, decent work & essential investment

UNISON RESPONSE TO NI BUDGET

Today (13 November 2017) the Northern Ireland budget 2017/18 has been published and is due to be approved at Westminster. Responding to the budget, UNISON Regional Secretary Patricia McKeown said:

‘‘Despite the ‘spin’ put on it by the Secretary of State, today’s budget announcement is not good news for Northern Ireland.

It is bad news for children and young people in schools, bad news for health and social services and bad news for public sector workers.

NIC-ICTU Education trade unions call on Secretary of State to defend and promote a progressive and holistic approach to Education

Speaking on behalf of the NIC-ICTU Education Group ahead of next Monday’s NI budget statement from Secretary of State James Brokenshire, its Chair Gerry Murphy commented:

“Trade unions representing education support service workers welcome the declaration by many school principals that they will not implement further cuts. We have common cause with their resistance.

NIC-ICTU Health trade unions demand the pay cap is lifted for public sector workers

In September Health Trade Unions in Northern Ireland joined their English, Scottish and Welsh counterparts in making public a claim for a fair pay rise and a universal lifting of the public sector pay cap.

NHS Staff in Northern Ireland are suffering a minimum 3% deficit in pay compared to colleagues in the other regions and with the costs of living rising, dedicated Health workers here are suffering financial loss whilst pressure on workers mount, workloads increase, and services suffer.

The President’s Charity - Margaret McKee & Rosemount House

Margaret McKee has chosen Rosemount House as her presidential project for 2017 – 2018.

Watch the film and find out why Rosemount House is so close to Margaret’s heart.

UNISON Organising Awards

The UNISON Organising Awards for 2017 took place on Thursday 22nd March 2018 in the Belfast Castle.

The awards took the chance to showcase the work that UNISON branches across Northern Ireland had successfully completed in 2017 and were attended by branches, regional staff, members of the NEC and the UNISON president Margaret McKee.