Covid-19 Mass Meeting for Schools and Early Years Members 27th January

Covid-19 – Schools and Early Years Mass Meeting:

UNISON is holding a mass national on-line meeting for schools and early years members in England on Wednesday 27 January at 5pm. We will talk through the issues facing schools and early years workers right now and will be answering members’ questions throughout the meeting.

Southend UNISON urges our members in schools and early years to attend this meeting.

The meeting is on-line and you can find details, including of how to join up on the national website here.

The latest Covid advice can be found here.

Covid-19 Minute’s Silence

UNISON Marks International Workers’ Memorial Day

Pictures from Southend UNISON’s event at the Civic Centre and some selfies by members – Remember the Dead and Fight for the Living.

We joined the national minute’s silence for key workers who have lost their lives and in support of all those who are in the front line, in the NHS, social care, transport, retail, post office and other sectors. They need our solidarity and proper protection. Thanks to all those who supported (despite the rain!) #IWMD2020 #PPEnow

News on Schools Contractors

Advice on Contractors in Schools –

If you work in a school or work for a contractor in a school, there is new advice from the government about continuity for contractors. Essentially, UNISON advises that schools should continue to pay all their contractors – and that contractors should pay their staff!

This information should be used to help ensure all staff keep their jobs and their pay during the Covid-19 crisis. The advice is detailed but can be shared with your employer to help clarify what is expected. Contact UNISON unison@southend.gov.uk if you want to discuss how this affects your school or your position as the employee of a contractor. Click here to see the government document in full.

UNISON AGM 2020

Southend UNISON Annual General Meeting

5pm, Thursday 19th March 2020

Committee Room 4a, Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend

AGM poster 2020 Our Annual General Meeting is open to all our members. It’s when we get a chance as a branch to discuss our work over the year and decide what we want for next year. You can take part in electing your Branch Officers for the year ahead and you can ask questions about the union. We invite all members to come along – it’s your union!

There are free refreshments and a buffet at the end of the meeting (from 6:15pm). Thompson’s Solicitors and other organisations will be present with information stalls.

You can nominate people (including yourself!) to be officers and stewards, preferably in advance of the meeting and you can also raise motions and questions for discussion.

You should have received information in the post about this but if in doubt, email unison@southend.gov.uk for further details.

Please follow us on Facebook – there is a Facebook event here.

Southend members at the Trade Union Bill Lobby – Defend Our Unions!

#Tubill #Right2strike

Members of Southend branch joined thousands of other trade unionists on Monday 2nd November to lobby Members of Parliament. We were raising issues about the attacks on facility time, democracy and our right to take effective industrial action.

See more details here

The campaign goes on – here are some pictures from the day: