coventry unison

PRESS RELEASE – Coventry Libraries – An Express service to nowhere?

Standard

Coventry City UNISON condemns the Proposals for Libraries in the public consultation which was undertaken by the library service from 19thNovember to 23rdDecember 2018.

The proposals were to;

  • Remove all hard copies of newspapers and magazines;
  • Open Central as an express model from 9-11 and on Sundays;
  • Remove overdue charges for late return of books for children ages 8-16;

What an express model would look like for service users was not detailed.

What was not consulted on, either by staff or the public, was to introduce single staffing in four libraries – Aldermoor, Caludon Castle School, Canley and Coundon.

UNISON have a major concern over the safety and wellbeing of the staff and users of the libraries if they were single staffed.

This in a time when a Coventry Violence Summit was called on Monday 28thJanuary as victims of serious violence has increased by 17.4 per cent from 2017 to 2018. There has also been an increase of 16.7 per cent in knife crime.

These current levels of violence have been branded “unacceptable” by Martin Reeves.

What does the council see as the purpose for a library? It’s hard to see in the proposals.

The proposed annual cost saving alone of £319,000 for libraries is less than the ‘clean up’ costs for the Godiva Festival at £460,000. The Godiva festival is a wonderful thing for Coventry, and so are libraries which are open and available all year round.

Libraries should be at the Heart of our community, not marginalised and under resourced.

People use then for all sorts of reasons and especially in times of austerity they are more valuable than ever.

The Libraries Taskforce set up by Central Government said;

“Libraries are open to everyone. Their staff understand their community’s needs and are trusted to provide reliable guidance and support on a wide range of issues when people need help. They provide a vital role in helping public services reach out into communities.

They bring people together in vibrant community hubs which host local events and provide a shared sense of place for their users – something that is ever more important in an increasingly digital age”.

This is yet another nail in the coffin to a vital asset when we have been awarded the City of Culture 2021. Our Libraries can and should help to further develop the immense cultural and diverse asset which our members and the people of this great city deserve.

Follow @coventryunison on twitter.

 

ENDS

310119unisonpressrelease

Mental Health in Coventry City Council – Update to Council Staff

Standard

Meetings identify significant issues around Mental Health & Wellbeing in Coventry City Council

UNISON has held two meetings with staff in recent weeks to discuss the impact of mental health on the workplace, how issues have been with by the employer and what other steps might have been taken to address them.

We wish to thank all those who attended the meetings.  Staff gave the union a big insight into the depth of the issues and concerns that people have.  For some this may not have been easy.  We really appreciate the input we have received.

UNISON will now be considering the information we have received, identifying any common themes, and making arrangements to establish a working group with members.  The working group’s task will be to come up with specific actions for the employer which could improve Mental Health & Wellbeing in the workplace.

Together we can be better. Join UNISON today to help us fight to end discrimination.

Download this statement – hotline281118

Thanks

Coventry City UNISON

Exciting, Free Training Event for school support staff

Standard

This offer is open to all support staff. It will be of particular interest to UNISON members, given that it concerns opportunities available through UNISON. We suggest interested parties contact us at the earliest date. Places are limited. While we were able to secure funding for this event, we don’t know if, or when, we will be able to do this again.

We have taken the unusual step (for us) of running this on a weekend. We know staff are busy at work and may have to juggle family commitments as well during the week. And the lead up to Christmas can be stressful. So to sweeten the deal, we are offering refreshments and a draw for shopping vouchers, so participants have the option of combining the event with their Christmas shopping.

We look forward to receiving expressions of interest in attending as per the contact details on the poster.

superchargeflyer

In the meantime, we are still accepting bookings for Stars in our Schools events in schools and star nominations for a national prize draw. Contact us if you need further details of these.

Unity Demonstration – No to Racism. No to Fascism – November 17

Standard
THIS ONE IS LOOKING TO BE VERY BIG AND VERY POSITIVE – PLEASE SUPPORT 🙂
Transport details: Coaches provided by Unite the Union.
Phone their regional office to book seats by ringing West Mids Reg Unite office: Sallie Aspindale 0121 647 4832 / or email membership.westmids@unitetheunion.org.
Alternatively people can book via the web address or scan the code on the flyer.
6f49c310-3504-47cc-9600-834df6ce3f43

World Mental Health Day – Wednesday 10th October 2018

Standard

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Lets’ End Mental Health Discrimination Together

Mental health and wellbeing are major issues in our world and also in the workplace today. A recently produced report in the West Midlands says that “40% of all absenteeism can be attributed to poor mental health. In five years, this is expected to rise to 70%”. These figures are truly shocking and serve as a wake-up call to our employer for appropriate supportive action for all employees. Austerity cuts have left staff under more pressure, facing increased stress and anxiety.

For our part UNISON takes the issue very seriously and has worked with the City Council and MIND to provide a training programme for managers on Mental Health. We would like to see this go further and introduce training for all employees on Mental Health awareness. For those of us who represent members in the workplace we have seen a marked increase in mental health issues presented to us. Mental health needs a much more prominent role in our workplace, a subject which is still too much of a taboo. We must challenge this and as the report suggests “value mental health wellbeing as an asset, not as a hindrance”.

We must create a more open culture and we can do this if our employer steps up to the issue and works with us. We know we work in an environment of constant pressure too and this must be balanced by a supportive workplace culture where employees feel valued.

We have raised the issue with the City Council and intend to discuss a new strategy for Mental Health in our workplaces. Together we can be better. Join UNISON today to help us fight to end discrimination.

wmhd

Follow WMHD on twitter via – https://twitter.com/WMHDay

Protest at the Tory Party Conference

Standard

lobbytorypartyconference

 

Victoria Sq, Birmingham | 29 September| 11.00am

Ahead of the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, join thousands of ordinary workers as we march to call time on failed austerity and instead to campaign for a new deal for working people.

Our message could not be clearer. There is an alternative:

  • We need a minimum wage of £10 an hour, now.
  • Ban those exploitative zero hours contracts.
  • Fund our NHS and public services properly.
  • Repeal the trade union act which makes it harder for us to stand up for working people.
  • Crack down on tax dodgers who starve our schools and hospitals of funding.

Together – we can build a growing economy for the many not the few. Together – we can nurture a society free from sexism, racism and discrimination. And together – we can win the New Deal working people are crying out for.

Let’s get to it.