Campaigns 2024
Council And School Pay
We’ve submitted our local government pay claim for 2024. We’ve asked for:
– £3,000 or 10%, whichever is greater
– Review of equality pay gaps
– Reduction of the working week
– Additional annual leave
More information link here
Apprentice Members
Apprentices can join UNISON from £10 a year which gives you the support of a union – our reps, legal team, a helpline and more.
UNISON organises, protects and campaigns for apprentices #NationalApprenticeshipWeek #NAW2024
Local Services Champions Awards 2024
Our annual Local Service Champions Awards celebrate the incredible work that local authority staff do and its impact on the lives of the people who depend on it. Without dedicated workers who make a difference so many invaluable services would disappear, so we owe our champions a huge debt.
Nominate Someone Today
Nominate someone that you feel has gone above and beyond during the past year. We are giving £500 Love2Shop vouchers to the winner and £250 Love2Shop vouchers to two runners up so it’s well worth nominating someone you feel represents the best of local government. We want to hear all about how they have supported their community in their role, with the more detail the better!
Save Money, Save The Planet
The new Unison Wales “Saving Energy in the Kitchen” webinar will now run on the evening of Wednesday 24 January.
Learners already booked on the original date have been informed, and we still have a few places remaining.
All other sessions in the “Good For Your Pocket, Good For the Planet” series are now fully booked, but waiting lists are open.
Prioritise A National Care Service And Protect The NHS
New Welsh Labour leader, Vaughan Gething MS, must prioritise a national care service and protect the NHS from privatisation.
March For The Right To Strike
UNISON Cymru/Wales is encouraging all members and branches to take part in a march to protect the right to strike.
The event takes place at Montpellier Gardens in Cheltenham starting at midday on Saturday January 27.
UNISON will run a coach picking up in Carmarthen, Swansea and Cardiff. To book your seat email cymruwales@unison.co.uk
40th Anniversary
There is a special conference taking place in Cardiff on the 2nd of March marking the 40th anniversary of the 1984/85 miners strike. More details are in the post below – a special conference for a time that should never be forgotten.
LGBT+ Workers
At UNISON’s LGBT+ conference in November, delegates welcomed the launch of the Year of LGBT+ Workers, which will take place throughout 2024.
This campaign follows UNISON’s successful Year of Disabled Workers campaign in 2022 and the Year of Black Workers in 2023. It is an excellent opportunity to engage LGBT+ workers, grow the union’s LGBT+ membership and embed LGBT+ rights in its organising, campaigning and bargaining strategies.
Campaigns 2024
Campaigns 2024
Please Sign
Together with the education unions we have formulated a petition on the reform of the school year. If we collect more than 10,000 signatures the petitions committee will consider referring to a debate in the Senedd. The reform of the school year is not only relevant to those who work in schools but to parents, carers, and other interested parties.
Keep Warm This Winter
UNISON’s charity, There for You, is again helping members stay warm this winter with grants of up to £200 towards your fuel bills.
Set a reminder for Wednesday 24 January, as grants go live at 8.30am and 5pm and they go fast.
UNISON Pod Cast 2024
A new episode of the UNISON Local Government podcast is out now. Yesterday, an all-member email was sent to local government members advising them of the podcast. After evaluating series 1, we’ve changed the podcast’s name to ‘Behind the Service: a UNISON insight into Local Government’.
In this podcast, Ruth Levin and Paul Bell chat with Tony Wright and Abi Coombs from UNISON’s charity, There For You.
This episode of the UNISON Podcast covers:
– What ‘There For You’ is, and how it works
– The sheer range of support available
– Quantifying the charity’s massive impact across the year
– How UNISON members can access support and get involved with the charity
Listen now on your favourite podcast platform via the links below! Please promote the podcast within your branch and regional networks.
Listen online: http://www.unison.org.uk/podcast
Listen on Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/mwdhy3ds
Listen on Apple: http://tinyurl.com/32xt2vjd
Listen on Google Podcasts: http://tinyurl.com/w4s2evrx
Listen on Amazon Podcasts: http://tinyurl.com/y6hp3z62
Your UNISON Branch
City and County of Swansea Branch serves Swansea and the surrounding areas.
A Swansea Welcome
Welcome To UNISON Swansea Branch. Here you can find information on membership and joining UNISON ….. joining fees ….. what we do ….. getting help and support ….. campaigns ….. and all the latest news.
Swansea Pride Partners
We are proud to have sponsored ‘Pride’ 2019
Many thanks to all our volunteers for the build-up and on the day participants for the ‘Pride’ event.
Update Your Details
Please use the link here to update any change in membership details. It is important you keep up-to-date inorder to make you aware of the latest developments. Thank you.
UNISON useful links to save members money
As well as the links below you can visit UNISON latest benefits page. Full article here.
Help & Support
Christmas Rewards
As a UNISON member you can save £££’s on discounted gift vouchers and shopping cards and get cashback from top retailers such as M&S, Very, Comet, Thorntons and more.
#ChristmasRewards #SaveMoney View website detail link here
School Uniform Help
For members on means-tested benefits, or net household incomes of under £26,000/yr. For full eligibilty And application details, please visit here. Thursday 1st June 2023. Online at 8:30am and 5pm.
Help With Debt
There’s lots of help out there to get you back on track and it’s important to know you’re not alone. You can turn to UNISON Debtline, a free debt advice service.
Budget Planner
Our user friendly budget planner is free to use and should only take minutes to complete if you have all your financial information to hand.
Long COVID
UNISON fights to protect rights of workers with long COVID. Almost 5% of the UK workforce are struggling with long COVID. UNISON’s legal advice is clear that the Equality Act 2010 means that anyone with a long-term physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial impact on their day-to-day activities, is likely to be a disabled person. Support information is here.
Help & Support
Join A Union
Check Your Benefits
It can often be tricky to figure out which benefits you are eligible for and how to claim. Check your support now with the UNISON benefits calculator.
Not Just Today But Everyday Of The Year
If you live in Wales or speak Welsh and are struggling with your mental health and need to talk to someone, there is always someone there who wants to listen. Use these free helplines and listening services for information, support and advice. Information and help link here
Wellbeing Matters
Wellbeing breaks can provide welcome relief from stress and respite from difficult circumstances – this can include assisting with recovery from illness to help prepare for a return to work. eing breaks
Wellbeing breaks can provide welcome relief from stress and respite from difficult circumstances – this can include assisting with recovery from illness to help prepare for a return to work. If you are on a low income or in hardship and cannot afford the cost of a break, There for You may be able to help you towards the cost.
Help & Support
Energy Support Appeal
There for You is proud to support thousands of members and their families every year with things such as: general living cost, household appliances, urgent repairs, disability equipment and adaptations, utility bills and funeral costs. The support fund is there to help members through this cost-of-living crisis.
Cost Of Living Survival Event
Vital knowledge to help you and your colleagues survive in these challenging times. Full details here.
When Will It Get Better
Help For Ukraine
UNISON members and activists across Wales have been raising funds and holding vigils in support of the people of Ukraine. More information.
Become A Regional Organiser
Ever thought about becoming a UNISON regional organiser?
UNISON is now recruiting and looking for a fantastic regional organiser in Wales.
Become A Health And Safety Rep
Special Events
International Women’s Day
There’s an exciting online event coming up for International Women’s Day.
To register your interest for this excellent event, click the link below.
Register link here #IWD24
Wear Red Day ’23
Show racism the red card. Proud to support #WRD23
Text ‘RED’ to 70470 to donate £1
Text ‘RED5’ to 70470 to donate £5
Text ‘RED10’ to 70470 to donate £10
Text ‘RED20’ to 70470 to donate £20
Saluting Our Sisters
This year’s Black History Month, in October, is themed ‘Saluting our Sisters’. UNISON is using the month to celebrate exceptional women working in health
Happy 75th Birthday To Our NHS
Staff are the backbone of our NHS, with over 1.5 million people working as one team to deliver safe patient care.
From wards to walk-ins, corridors to communities, offices to operating theatres, labs to laundries and everywhere in between, UNISON celebrates the dedicated and diverse team of staff who have steered our health service to its 75th birthday.
Happy birthday NHS! #75Today #NHS
Happy Birthday UNISON
On Saturday July 1, 2023, the Uk’s largest Union turned 30. What year did you join?
#Unison30 #Unison #UnisonWales
Annual Events
Stars In Our Schools Event
Stars in Our Schools is an annual celebration of school support staff. This year the event will take place on Friday 24 November 2023 – but we encourage schools to join in whenever suits them!
#StarsInOurSchools #EarlyYearsStars View Stars In Our Schools website link here
National Delegates Conference 2023
It’s that time of year once again when the gang gets together for National Delegates Conference 2023!
#UNDC23 #NationalCareService #ShowRacismTheRedCard #UnisonWales
Remembrance Day
Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day as it’s also known, marks the very day that World War One ended in 1918. We hold a two-minute silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month to remember those who have died in any conflict.
6 Reasons To Join UNISON
Heart UNISON is part of Heart Unions Week, the TUC’s annual event celebrating unions – to make sure everyone knows why we’re vital in the workplace and to encourage everyone to join one. Video information link here.
Annual Events
Not Just Today But Everyday Of The Year
If you live in Wales or speak Welsh and are struggling with your mental health and need to talk to someone, there is always someone there who wants to listen. Use these free helplines and listening services for information, support and advice. Information and help link here
Mental Health Awareness Week
Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.
Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food. But anxiety can be made easier to manage.
Focusing on anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people’s awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. At the same time, we will keep up the pressure to demand change – making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole.
Celebrating Working Women
UNISON International Women’s Day is celebrating working women. UNISON prepares for IWD 2023. The union will celebrate International Women’s Day with an event in Glasgow in March 2023.
UNISON is organising an International Women’s Day event in Glasgow on 8 March next year to celebrate the contributions of care workers, cleaners, school workers, librarians, and administrators to their workplaces, communities and the union.
Find out how to book your place on the buses here: International Women’s Day link here.
Workers’ Memorial Day
You are invited to attend Wales’ National Workers’ Memorial Day event.
Join us for refreshments followed by a short ceremony to lay wreaths at the National Workers’ Memorial Stone. We will be joined by dignitaries including trade union leaders.
Find out how to book your place on the buses here: Memorial Day link here.
Training And Events
UNISON College
There’s still time to book on to our Borrowing: Dealing with Debt session on Tues 6 February 12.30 – 1.30pm. We know money is a tough subject, but it’s always good to get as much control as possible. Whatever you do for a living, this session is aimed at those with questions about borrowing money — past, present and future.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Feb 7 – UNISON Learning Cafe
Feb 14 – Introduction to Excel
Feb 14 – Budgeting in 2024
Feb 15 – Getting started with Mentoring Skills
Feb 28 – Disabled Members Branch Officer Training
For more information and to register, please click the link
Autumn Online Courses
Unison Cymru Wales Learning is with Green Squirrel and Unison Wales. Learn fun, practical and useful environmental skills on Monday lunchtimes this autumn with our new webinar series created and delivered by the wonderful people at Green Squirrel.
These sessions are the perfect build-up to #COP28 and great for anyone who wants to take the important actions – big and small, individual and collective – that will make a difference to the #ClimateChange and #Biodiversity emergencies.
UNISON Cymru Wales Learning
Places on all our courses this March are going quickly, so don’t miss out.
We put on courses, workshops and conferences aimed at building the skills and confidence of the public service workerforce, working in partnership with our Branches, employers and specialist learning providers.
Find out how to book your place on the buses here: Eventbrite link here.
Training And Events
TUC 2023/24 Training Courses
There is some fabulous learning available with the TUC coming soon.
Develop yourself and your skills and knowledge with some of our amazing Trade Union learning offers.
Further information and booking.
WALES: TUC Wales courses link here here
ALL: TUC courses link here here
Autism Awareness
We’re delighted to be able to offer UNISON members in Wales the opportunity to learn more about Autism with the wonderful Adjust Services – a provider we’ve trusted for many years.
The online session is a members-only event on Wednesday 22nd November 2023, starting at 12:45
Book now to avoid disappointment
Autism Awareness
Our exclusive UNISON member-only courses for schools staff this autumn will help you to deal with some of the most the challenging and rewarding parts of your job – working with children with autism, ADAD and low-level behaviour issues.
Tutors from expert provider 2Resolve will guide you though these important topics, with online sessions starting at 3pm in October and November.
Book now to avoid disappointment
Training And Events
Activist Training Pathways
We offer a range of courses from getting started as a union representative to developing your branch and building the union. Details link here.
Are you a Disabled Members Branch Officer?
Are you a Disabled Members Branch Officer or Contact or a Disabled Member who wants to get more active in your branch?
The training is for disabled members and will focus on:
– Working for disability equality in UNISON
– Role of branch disabled members officer or contact
– Bargaining for workplace reasonable adjustments
– Disability campaigning and organising in your branch
– Support and resources
– It’s also a great networking opportunity!
– This is a 1 day training course to be held online between 10.00am and 4.00pm.
Details link here..
Cost Of Living Survival Event – Sessions
Here are the edited versions of the talks, workshops and webinars that made up the Unison Cymru/Wales Cost of Living Survival Event on 20 October 2022.
Cost of Living Survival – Sessions | Cost of Living Crisis Survival | UNISON Cymru/Wales
Cost of Living Crisis Survival link here.
UNISON Wales Union Learning
Using film in the classroom tickets are available for matters to do with children mental health.
Ticket link here.
