UNISON’s national strike ballot for local government workers has closed. At Hampshire County Council 70.91% voted for strike action on a 25.49% turnout, this is broadly in line with the national average (75% voted for strike action on a turnout of 31.4%). As the ballot was disaggregated, strike action can be taken at those employers […]

UNISON members at the University of Winchester are joining many other universities nationwide in taking industrial action. This decision has not been taken lightly, but in response to the employer’s decision to offer most university workers a 5% pay award. With inflation at over 13%, and the cost of living skyrocketing, this is a huge […]

We had arranged to meet at Miss Moody’s Tudor Tearooms, near King John’s House and Museum in Romsey, and although several members had already said they couldn’t come, Chris and Lynda, Sue, Joe, and Diana were pleased that John and his son (and wheelchair pusher), Mark, turned up. We had an enjoyable lunch, and set […]

Every year on 28th April, all around the world the trade union movement unites to mark International Workers Memorial Day. The purpose is to remember those who have lost their lives at work or from work-related injury and disease. Additionally, to renew our efforts to organise collectively to prevent more death, injuries and disease as […]

Some of you may have attended the Tolpuddle Festival, perhaps even in company with other trade unionists, proudly carrying your Unison banner along the village’s main road. The purpose of the Festival is to celebrate the contribution to the development of trade unionism made by the five martyrs who in 1834 were the subject of […]

Fifteen years of austerity has led to crumbling public services with no end in sight.  A pandemic which swept around the world killing tens of thousands, particularly the elderly, appears for the present to be under control.  A war involving most of Europe continues into its second year.  These problems have recently been aggravated in […]

Steve Squibbs, a member of our Branch and Chair of the Southampton Stand up to Racism group, alerted us that Britain First, an unpleasant fascist and racist organisation, intended to hold a public meeting in Southampton on the evening of 7 February. Your Retired Members’ Committee unanimously agreed to support an event organised by Steve […]

The government altered the Triple Lock protection on the State Pension increase 2022/23 to our detriment. I am tempted to believe that without the substantial activity of groups such as ours, representing pensioners‘ interests, the same might have happened this year. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure in September 2022 was 10.1%. As a result, […]

I attended the National LGBT+ Conference in Edinburgh from 18th-20th November, on behalf of the Regional Self Organised Group. The first session I attended was the caucus meeting for Disabled LGBT+ members, which began with a report on the work the group’s representatives on the National Committee. During the meeting we also discussed the motion […]

Hampshire UNISON’s Rory Elliott gave a presentation to this year’s UNISON Higher Education seminar as the national dispute over pay gathered momentum. The presentation focused on how branches can boost participation in strike ballots and on the lessons learnt from the campaign so far. The strike ballot at the University of Winchester where Rory represents […]