Press releases

UNISON comment on staff shortages at Singleton hospital

Responding to news a shortage of staff may lead to the temporary closure of a ward at Singleton hospital, Donna Hutton, UNISON Cymru head of health said, “We need to know more about the reasons behind the shortage of nurses in this case but it’s clearly worrying when a hospital says it doesn’t have the […]

‘Gaping holes’ in government mental health plan

Reacting to the UK health secretary’s announcement on mental health services today, UNISON Cymru/Wales accused the government of pursuing an unrealistic strategy. The trade union also said Jeremy Hunt MP was blind to the fact that the Conservative government’s own policies have had a detrimental effect on many people’s mental health. Carmen Bezzina, UNISON organiser […]

Further strike action at Bron Afon

  Support workers at Bron Afon housing association today (Friday) begin their second period of industrial action in protest at their wages being slashed by more than £3,000 per year. The Supported Living Team will form a picket line outside the organisation’s Cwmbran office from 7am until 10am. At emergency talks convened by UNISON on […]

Bron Afon wage cut: staff desperate

  UNISON Cymru Wales representatives will meet with Bron Afon housing association today in a bid to resolve the increasingly bitter industrial dispute. Support workers walked out on Thursday (13 July) last week because the employer slashed their wages by more than £3,000. Discussions will be convened at the request of the trade union, ahead […]

First Minister: “No’ to compulsory redundancies’ at Bangor university

  Trade union representatives of staff at Bangor university have welcomed the support of the First Minister in their campaign to oppose compulsory redundancies to meet a budget shortfall. Carwyn Jones AM, met with the trades unions in north Wales on Friday last week to hear their concerns about the proposed job losses at Bangor […]

Strike action at Bron Afon housing association

  Support workers at Bron Afon housing association in Cwmbran will go on strike tomorrow (Thursday), in protest at the decision to reduce annual salaries by more than £3,000. UNISON has said three, twenty-four hour stoppages are planned in response to the move which has slashed annual wages for the overwhelming majority of staff in […]

UNISON Cymru comment on NHS pay cap

Donna Hutton UNISON Cymru/Wales head of health said, “Healthcare workers in Wales have suffered seven years of poor pay awards as a direct result of UK Conservative government austerity policies. All public sector workers have experienced a real term drop in wages since 2009. “There’s no doubt that the cuts are hurting and it’s disgraceful […]

University creche to be privatised

The news that the University of South Wales intends to privatise its popular crèche has met with anger amongst staff. The nursery is to be outsourced on 31 July with the twelve members of staff moving to the new company. UNISON has complained that the university has not properly involved members of staff in the […]

More than 100 jobs to go at Bangor university

  Reacting to the news that 115 jobs are threatened at Bangor university, Geoff Edkins, UNISON organiser said, “Whilst UNISON is committed to working with the University and the other trade unions to ensure there is a sustainable structure fit for the future, there’s no escaping the fact that our members are alarmed at the potential […]

Welsh minister addresses UNISON conference

Welsh Assembly leader of the house and government chief whip, Jane Hutt, will address a fringe event at UNISON’s annual conference in Brighton tomorrow (Thursday). Jane will describe how the Welsh government is improving wages and working conditions for those in the UK and around the world by ensuring that only companies paying decent wages […]

Welsh trade unionist chairs NHS event at UNISON annual conference

  UNISON member and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board healthcare worker Jan Tomlinson is to chair a fringe event at the union’s annual conference in Brighton today (Tuesday). She will be joined by shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth MP and Guardian columnist Owen Jones in a debate on the future of health services. The Save […]

Social care sector starved of money

Responding to Welsh government plans to curb zero-hours contracts in social care, Andy Rutherford, UNISON Cymru organiser said, “The social care sector is in crisis because it has been starved of money as a result of seven years of brutal Tory spending cuts. Many councils have farmed out social care in a bid to make […]

Bangor university finances ‘alarming’

Reacting to the news that 170 jobs are threatened at Bangor university and staff are being asked to take a pay cut, Geoff Edkins, UNISON organiser said, “University staff are alarmed at the apparent state of Bangor University’s finances. They are angry that management of the university has put their jobs at risk and threatened […]

Support staff win protections for medicine administration in schools

For the first time in Wales, school support staff in Swansea will benefit from new guidelines on the administration of medicines to children in their care. Their union, UNISON has said more children than ever in mainstream education require specific health care, yet support staff receive little or no training in this area and many […]

Union campaign secures nursery future

  Public services union, UNISON has hailed the news from the University of South Wales that its nursery will not now close as a victory for ‘people power’. The crèche was earmarked to close in September with 22 staff losing their jobs. The trade union helped to co-ordinate opposition to the proposal from nursery staff, […]