Lighthouse Financial Advice – Essentially Mortgages Newsletter Q2 2022
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COME AND WORK WITH US- Pre-recruitment events
Come and work as an Organiser in UNISON North West
Are you ready to lead the fight-back against stagnating wages, the cost-of-living crisis and attacks on our public services?
UNISON North West is seeking to recruit 9 Local Organisers and 1 Area Organiser to work with our branches to build power and fight for better pay and conditions for workers in the public sector
These new, permanent organisers will recruit new members and activists, develop leaders, build activist networks and win campaigns through supporting members to take escalating collective action.
We need committed, proactive and enthusiastic people to organise and empower workers to win improvements in their workplace.
We want applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds, skills and experience, both within the trade union movement and our allies in the wider community
We encourage applicants from groups that are under-represented in our organising staff, particularly women and those from Black communities.
Does this sound like you or someone you know?
The jobs will be advertised and open to applications in the coming weeks and there is a sample person specification and job description attached
We will be holding information sessions for those interested in finding out more and considering submitting an application for the jobs, including:
- what is involved in the role
- our approach to organising
- guidance on how to complete an application form
- an opportunity to talk to those already doing the job
Sign up to attend via Eventbrite using the links below
Open Day- Saturday 9th July 2022
Friends Meeting House, School Street, Liverpool L1 3BT
Sessions at 10 am
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/373195757557
and 1 pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/373195757557
Open evening : Tuesday 12th July
Arena Point, Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1UN
6 pm – 8 pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/373197452627
Online event: Wednesday 13th July
Via zoom
6 pm- 8 pm
14th June Grenfell commemoration Bolton TUC annual event
Come and show your solidarity with the people of Grenfell by holding a pictures of a victim of the fire
- 17:45 Assemble BL1 1RU Bolton Town Hall steps
- 18:00 Stand in silent reflection
- Say their names
- 19:00 Housing debate, Wood St Bolton
Exactly 5 years on from the fire that took 72 lives we will assemble outside Bolton Town Hall in silent commemoration as the clock strikes 6
We will hold their pictures aloft as their names are read out.
This will be followed by a housing debate at the Socialist Club, Wood St, Bolton
Britain Deserves a Pay Rise – Join the TUC Campaign at a Public Meeting in Blackpool on 15 June 2022
When: Wednesday 15 June 2022, 6pm for a 7pm start
Where: The Winter Gardens, 97 Church St, Blackpool FY1 1HL
As inflation hits 9%, the highest for forty years, and creeps ever higher.
¨ The cost of living crisis is bringing stress and pain to working people.
¨ The government has acted far too slow and done too little to help.
¨ Hard-up families on stretched budgets need emergency support.
¨ Lifting wages of public service workers above rising costs are a must if families are to have any hope.
¨ Proper pay rises will ease financial hardship, protect essential services and put money back into forgotten local communities.
¨ Come and hear how this can work, and add your voice to our campaign. Britain needs and deserves a pay rise. We deserve better than this.
Calling all UNISON members under 27!
Hiya,
Attached is a flyer advertising our next event with the North West Young Members Forum. It’s a training and social to get more young members involved in the union, and is happening on Saturday 21st May 11-5pm at Arena Point in Manchester. Unison members under 27 can sign up here: https://forms.gle/dEz8ZrKoEReGBb1n6. Please circulate the flyer and sign up link to your branch and encourage any young members to attend!
All best,
Iris Breward
Calling all UNISON members under 27!
Do you want to improve things at work but not sure how? Have you ever wondered how to get more out of your UNISON membership? Join us for an exciting event in May to get free training and join a supportive network of other young union members.
No prior experience is necessary – this is a great first step to take! The event takes place at the Arena Point, 1 Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1UN on Saturday 21st May from 11am-5pm. It’s open to any Unison member under 27 years and includes free food and refreshments.
Fill out this form to sign up now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePr9QZ4-PoO8ksEyjHS8cFGAYqKlIiJvctqK6gLUUWZ2Svfw/viewform
We look forward to seeing you there. Feel free to invite friends too!
Probation Service Pay Claim 2022
International Workers’ Memorial Day 28th April
International Workers’ Memorial Day
On 28 April each year, International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) is a time to remember those who have died either because of a workplace accident, ill health or diseases as a result of work.
Why we ‘remember the dead and fight for the living’
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual statistics show on average that 135 workers are killed in work related accidents each year. They also estimate that there are around 13,000 deaths each year from occupational lung disease and cancer caused by past exposure at work to chemicals and dust (such as asbestos or silica).
However, safety campaigners estimate that the true figure for all work-related deaths is closer to 50,000 each year.
Although it is rare for a UNISON member to die in a workplace incident, unfortunately some do suffer serious injuries and work-related ill health, including musculoskeletal disorders, stress, anxiety and depression. This can significantly affect them, their family, friends and other work colleagues.
UNISON knows that the key to providing safe and healthy workplaces is effective risk management, eliminating or reducing the risk of harm and having safe systems of work, including training and access to protective equipment.
Additionally, UNISON health safety representatives play a vital role in keeping workplaces safe and healthy by working with employers and raising members’ concerns about working condition, as well as undertaking inspections of workplaces to check all steps are being taking to keep workers safe.
As an international day, each year a theme is chosen to help focus on a campaign for change.
This year the theme is
Make safe and healthy work a fundamental right
How members and Branches can get involved.
Branches can hold an in person or virtual workplace event such as a minute’s silence.
As well as holding an event you can also show your support via social media using #IWMD
Your branch may also wish to send representatives to any local events organised by the TUC, Trades Councils and others.
Branches can also purchase other items including purple ribbons worn as a mark of remembrance, from Greater Manchester Hazards Centre
(Funds raised from the sales of the ribbons supports FACK – Families Against Corporate Killers)
A list of advertised events can be found or registered via the TUC website
Greater Manchester Hazards Centre IWMD 2022 order form
Download this year’s UNISON IWMD poster here
Download UNISON IWMD graphics here
Download PowerPoint Presentation here
Download MS Teams and Zoom background here
Another way to get involved is by volunteering to become a UNISON Health and Safety Rep
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Latest news
New Show Celebrating Ship Builders’ Work-In
Townsend Theatre Productions’ new play is coming to Manchester in April (dates below) to perform their new play celebrating 50 years since the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ work-in (more information about the show below).
Tickets can be purchased via email /website or phone.
APR 22 – 5PM – FRIENDS’ MEETING HOUSE, MANCHESTER
6 MOUNT ST, MANCHESTER, M2 5NS
BOX OFFICE: info@townsendproductions.org.uk / https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/UCSGOVAN/t-onyvzg
It’s 1971 and Aggy McGraw, straight out of school, gets an office job at Fairfields shipyard in Govan a week before the new Tory government decides to stop any investment in what they call ‘lame duck’ industries, which includes shipbuilding on the Clyde. Facing an uncertain future, she has nothing to lose, except her job, and is swept up into the famous ‘Work In’ to demonstrate to the government that shipbuilding has a future – that the jobs, traditions, skills and communities can be saved.
Townsend Theatre Productions’ new play Yes! Yes! U.C.S! is a celebration of the community solidarity and collective resistance inspired and led by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders’ shop stewards Jimmy’s Reid and Airlie, attracting massive national and international support that led to victory in the fight for Right to Work.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono sent a bunch of roses
with message for the people of Glasgow; it read:
Power to the People!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A Theatrical triumph’ Claire Jenns Voice Magazine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Come with us, run with us, we’re going to change the world’. Lynne Walsh Morning Star
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Superbly played and sung ….. compassionate commemoration’ Joyce McMillan The Scotsman Read the full review
” It’ll leave you wondering, does it get any better!’ Ron Simpson Theatre Review Read the full review
‘Yes! Yes! UCS! is real, raw, and riveting’. Yorkshire Live
Amber O’ Connell Read the full review
‘The balance between human interest & the bigger picture is well struck, & the show’s themes & motifs certainly remain relevant today Musical Theatre Review Sara SmithRead the full review
UNISON Black Members Conference 2022
UNISON Black Members Conference 2022 was cancelled as a physical event. It has now been rescheduled as a Virtual Event – details as follows:
North West Black Members Committee wants to see if delegates from NW branches would like to come to Arena Point , to at least experience the Conference together?
Please complete the doodle link to let us know if you would like to attend Arena Point, so we can make necessary arrangements.
Please respond no later than 29th April. https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/DbDKZkBa
Virtual Black Members Conference- Online- Friday 27th and Saturday 28th May 2022 9:30 – 16:00 on both days.
National Black Members Committee require representatives for the June Conferences.
We have the following vacancies.
· 2 delegates to Local Government Conference
· 2 delegates to WET Conference
· 1 delegate to Energy Conference
Do you know of any Black members from your region and the service groups above who would be interested in attending conference (Brighton) and moving the NBMC motions? If you can please share the request with your networks and put potential delegates in touch with me, I would be grateful. The deadline for delegate registration is the 24th March.
North West Black Members Committee Meeting.
Open to all Black Members with discussion around Racism in the NHS, Islamophobia and the Racism at Work Tool Kit.
5 pm to 6.30 pm Thursday 5th May
Please register to attend.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83618846491?pwd=TWdudzRWdVlRTDRrQWJYVStEWS9DUT09 Also please click on the attachment and add to your diary.
Probation Service 2022 Pay Consultation
** All comments/ideas to unison20085@hotmail.co.uk by Friday the 25th of March **
AGM Update
Colleagues,
This is another reminder about the up and coming AGM’s for our Branch. This year we are holding two face to face meetings, however you will be able to join either via teams.
AGM 1 16th March 2022 at 5pm for a 5.30pm start The Mechanics Institute, Manchester
AGM2 23rd March 2022 at 5pm for a 5.30pm start The Gujarat Centre, Preston
It has been confirmed by our Regional Directors that they are happy for members to leave work early to enable them to get to the meetings, without having to use any toil or leave time. However, all members must inform their Line Manager that they will be leaving the office early, to allow them to ensure that the office remains operational and open.
Food and refreshments are provided, you will not go thirsty or hungry!
GUEST SPEAKER – Damian Isherwood Unison talking about the Citizens UK initiatives to improve pay and conditions for working people
If you wish to join the meetings remotely, please email unison20085@hotmail.co.uk and ask to be added to the list for your chosen meeting and you will be sent an invite nearer the time.
We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
Zoe Todd
Branch Secretary
New Proposed Receptionist Job Description/Phasing out of Pay Band 1
E05-2021
Dear Colleagues
Please find attached a new draft job description (JD) and job description questionnaire (JDQ) for the Probation Service Receptionist role. These were drawn up by a focus group of ex-CRC and ex-NPS receptionist staff. The JD and JDQ are the documents which will be job evaluated to determine the pay band for the revised duties described.
The JD and JDQ have been drafted to deliver on the promise from the 2020 NPS pay award that the NPS would phase out all existing pay band 1 jobs with effect from 1 April 2021 and offer staff in these roles the opportunity to become pay band 2 staff. Although this has yet to happen, in the interim the NPS has stopped recruiting to pay band 1 jobs, and no CRC receptionist staff were transferred into pay band 1 jobs when they joined the new Probation Service from 26 June last year. This is because at the time of the transfer of CRC staff to the new Probation Service last June, no CRCs were employing receptionists on pay band 1 – they were all on pay band 2.
The work to phase out all existing ex-NPS pay band 1 receptionist roles, and offer all ex-NPS pay band 1 staff the chance to move onto pay band 2 roles, was delayed for a number of reasons, but now is back on track. The intention is to offer this move by means of a new receptionist job description which, via job evaluation, it is anticipated might meet the threshold of a pay band 2 job.
Branches are therefore asked to send this e-mail and the attached JD and JDQ to all receptionist members (both ex-NPS and ex-CRC) as a matter of urgency to ask for any comments on the proposed JD and JDQ.
Please send any comments back to me by Friday 25 March b.priestley@unison.co.uk with any tracked changes and/or comments they wish to make on the attached documents and UNISON will review, respond and then get these submitted to Job Evaluation Team so that we can get a job evaluation panel decision of the true grade for the receptionist role which the Service needs doing going forward.
Any questions, please let me know.
Otherwise I look forward to hearing from you.
This e-mail has been sent to all branches with probation members and members of UNISON’s Probation Service Committee.
Regards
Ben Priestley
National Officer
UNISON Survey of All CAFCASS Employees
UNISON is currently undertaking a survey of all CAFCASS employees to establish what matters to us at work. The outcome of the survey will form UNISON’s priorities and work plan. You don’t have to be a union member to take the survey and it should take you no longer than 5 minutes. We really appreciate your time in completing it. No identifiable information you share as part of the survey will be shared with CAFCASS. Here is the link to the survey
https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90431253/CAFCASS-Survey
UNISON Reps for CAFCASS
Penny Forman – Derby
Lynsey Robertson – Exeter
Jane Dodds – Nottingham
Shama Hayat – Newcastle
Amy Norris – London Bloomsbury
*Not a UNISON Member but want to join https://join.unison.org.uk/
*Want more information on the benefits of becoming a UNISON member https://joining.unison.org.uk/
*Do you want to get more involved in UNISON’s campaigns or want more information on becoming a UNISON rep or Contact for your workplace? Contact Sarah s.renshaw@unison.co.uk