Press releases

Neath Port Talbot Council must run leisure services directly, says UNISON

Neath Port Talbot Council workers are calling on the local authority to take direct control of local leisure services to ensure the community has the best possible facilities as they emerge from lockdown

Supreme Court judgement means Welsh government must act to protect care workers

UNISON Cymru Wales says thousands of mainly female, low-paid care workers here will be bitterly disappointed at the judgement and there is an onus on Welsh ministers to urgently guarantee all care workers will be paid the national minimum wage for sleep-in shifts.

Pandemic bonus for NHS and care staff is ‘timely boost for worn-out workers’, says UNISON Cymru Wales

UNISON Cymru Wales has welcomed the bonus payment announced today (Wednesday) by health and social services minister, Vaughan Gething, as a timely boost for worn-out NHS staff and care workers.

Recruitment pledges must be backed by decent wage rise if NHS is to thrive, says UNISON

Paying staff properly is a vital part of building the NHS for the future, says UNISON as it calls on the public to protest ​this evening (Thursday) about the government’s “pitiful” wage offer. Plans to recruit more staff are not enough to protect the health system and will only have an effect if experienced staff are also […]

Let’s call the UK government out on pay with handclap protest, says UNISON

People are being asked to stand on their doorsteps and balconies tonight (Thursday) to slow handclap the government over its proposal for a 1% pay rise for NHS staff. The public action – backed by UNISON, health unions and the TUC – is the latest step in the campaign to achieve fair pay for health workers who have worked tirelessly to keep the […]

UNISON Cymru Wales: Police staff should be given vaccine as priority

A trade union representing thousands of police and community support officers and police staff has spoken of its disappointment that key public service workers are not to be given priority status in the next round of vaccinations.

Women on Wales frontline feeling pressures at work & home during pandemic, says UNISON  

Women in key worker positions across Wales are losing sleep, spending more on household bills, and worrying about the pandemic’s impact on their children’s education and mental health, according to a survey published today (Wednesday) by UNISON. The findings are based on responses from over 2,700 women including teaching assistants, nurses, council workers and police staff. They provide a comprehensive […]

UNISON: Extend deadline for EU nationals to claim Settled Status

Public services union, UNISON Cymru Wales, has today (Friday) launched a campaign to encourage the UK government to extend its deadline for applications to the Settled Status Scheme

UNISON: Ceredigion council leader wrong to talk of cutting services

The leader of Ceredigion County Council was wrong to talk publicly about cutting jobs before speaking directly to employees, according to UNISON Cymru Wales.

An early wage rise for health workers in Wales would improve morale, says UNISON

A £2,000 pay rise for all NHS workers across Wales would boost morale amid unrelenting pandemic pressures, says UNISON today (Wednesday). The union is calling ​on the government ​to deliver an early and significant wage increase ​– of at least £2,000 ​– to show staff are valued as they face unprecedented hospital admissions. ​A recent UNISON survey shows ​more than nine out of ten NHS staff […]

UNISON meets mental health minister to press the case for public service workers

Carmen Bezzina, UNISON Cymru Wales lead officer for mental health   UNISON last week met with Wales’ mental health minister, Eluned Morgan, to press the case for urgent and comprehensive mental support for any public service worker in need. The trade union says the Covid pandemic has placed unpreceded pressures on many public service workers […]

Welsh schools must remain closed until February

School support staff want Welsh schools to remain closed to face-to-face teaching for the whole of January and UNISON urges Welsh government to urgently consider, as in England, staying closed until after the February half-term because public safety is at risk with spiralling infection rates.

UNISON reaction to statement by Welsh education minister

Responding to the announcement from the Education Minister, UNISON Cymru Wales lead officer for schools Rosie Lewis said, “UNISON welcomes the announcement by the Education Minister this afternoon that all secondary schools in Wales will close to pupils and move to online learning for the remainder of term. “Earlier this month, we  wrote to the […]

Nine health unions issue plea in desperate bid to protect NHS

Nine unions representing frontline healthcare workers have joined forces to highlight the impact the rise in cases is having on the staff providing care, and to urge the public to do all they can to protect the NHS

Two thirds of Black NHS Wales workers have experienced racism at work

Two thirds of NHS Wales’ Black workers have experienced racism at work, a joint survey between UNISON and ITV Wales has found.