Coventry City #UNISON Members employed in private care settings – #Vaccination as a condition of Deployment (VCOD)…

During the consultation, UNISON was very clear that we do not agree with mandating vaccinations – which should always be voluntary. However, on 14 December 2021 Parliament agreed to regulations to mandate vaccination as a condition of working in further care settings. Guidance on how these regulations apply to any other Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activity in health and social care was issued on Thursday 20th January.

If you work in an organisation that delivers CQC-regulated activity this will apply to you. Your employer is obliged to ensure that all staff in scope are doubly vaccinated on 1st April. As the last date to access a vaccination to fit in the timescales is 3rd February, your managers should be having supportive conversations around your vaccination status and your options if you are not vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated and are not medically exempt, pregnant, or on maternity leave, you may face dismissal from 1st April.  

UNISON expects that your employer should seek to redeploy you, where possible, to avoid dismissal. Please contact the branch as a matter of urgency if you require advice about your individual circumstances or support in your conversation with management. 

UNISON remains extremely concerned about the impact that the VCOD policy will have on numbers of staff leaving the care sector. Our National Officers have raised, and continue to raise, these concerns with policy makers and politicians.
Further Reading…

VCOD – FAQ’s

#Coventry City UNISON – Member Update on Unite Strike Action in Coventry City Council

Unite Strike Action…

Coventry City UNISON are aware that a number of service areas are trying to take action to alleviate the impact of the bin drivers strike. We have had contact from multiple members who are concerned that what they are being asked to do may undermine the lawful industrial action being undertaken by UNITE.

The branch is aware that there will be a variety of views amongst our membership on the action taken by Unite but we are clear as your Trade Union. It is unacceptable of managers to ask you to do the work of a striking colleague. If this is happening to you, we would urge you to get in touch with us to discuss your concerns. We will support you to tell your manager that your union has given clear advice: you should not be doing the work of a striking colleague. For the avoidance of any doubt, this would be about being told to collect domestic rubbish, moving rubbish around the city – whether it be from your workplace or a household.

Update from #Coventry City #UNISON. #COVID Vaccination as a condition of Deployment (VCOD)…

During the consultation, UNISON was very clear that we do not agree with mandating vaccinations – which should always be voluntary. However, on 14 December 2021 Parliament agreed to regulations to mandate vaccination as a condition of working in further care settings (VCOD). Guidance on how these regulations apply to any other Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activity in health and social care was issued on Thursday 20th January.

If you work in a setting that delivers CQC-regulated activity this will apply to you. Your employer is obliged to ensure that all staff in scope are doubly vaccinated on 1st April. As the last date to access a vaccination to fit in the timescales is 3rd February management should be having supportive conversations around your vaccination status and your options if you are not vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated and are not medically exempt, pregnant, or on maternity leave, you may face dismissal from 1st April.

UNISON has discussed with management the support available to redeploy unvaccinated staff to current vacancies in the wider Council. This process will be shared with you in one-to-one discussions with your manager very soon. Please contact the branch as a matter of urgency if you require advice about your individual circumstances or support in your conversation with management.

UNISON remains extremely concerned about the impact that the VCOD policy will have on numbers of staff leaving the public sector. Our National Officers have raised, and continue to raise, these concerns with policy makers and politicians.

Further Reading…

VCOD – FAQ’s

Coventry City UNISON Statement on #UNITE Industrial Action in Coventry City Council #CovBinStrike

UNISON supports the right of UNITE members to take strike action following a large majority vote by their members. We offer our full solidarity during their strike action.

We urge Coventry City Council to recognise the legitimate issues raised by UNITE, to consider any and all options that exist to address them and to reach a negotiated agreement to avoid disruption to waste collection for Coventry residents.

We urge the City Council to continue private and meaningful negotiations in order to resolve the issue for the staff involved, who like all frontline staff have delivered vital frontline services in the most challenging of circumstances throughout the COVID pandemic.