A shortage of staff and lack of funding is the real threat to the NHS, not too few staff getting the flu jab, health service union UNISON has said. Commenting this week after the government’s top medical advisers indicated the flu jab should be compulsory for NHS staff, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: … Continue reading Flu jab is not the answer to the health service crisis

Mark Serwotka is urging the government to stop its attacks on civil servants, ensure that money is made available for above inflation pay rises and for the programme of office closures to stop. Our general secretary has issued the following new year message. “Years of government austerity have forced down wages in real terms in … Continue reading Austerity must end in 2018

8.NW Newsletter Dec 17 ARTWORK-9099-Up in arms issue3 2017  

The average UK family will spend over £800 on Christmas* but our members are struggling to pay for the basics after seeing their pay effectively cut by £3,504 in 7 years. The Tories have behaved like Scrooge on pay and public services since 2010 in the name of their failed austerity project. We’re continuing to … Continue reading Chancellor, act like Santa and give us the pay rise we deserve

As 2017 draws to a close we would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication this year in supporting PCS campaigns and helping to promote your union. For too many 2017 has been a year of increasing insecurity, poverty and wider political challenges. PCS campaigns both at home and in global solidarity … Continue reading Next steps in pay campaign and season’s greetings

Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union may end up with stronger guarantees of animal rights than workers’ health and safety rights if the government has its way, the TUC has said.  TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson was commenting after environment secretary Michael Gove announced new legislation to protect animals. The draft bill says the government … Continue reading Animals guaranteed more rights post-Brexit – what about workers?

Staff who feel they are treated unfairly at work are at increased risk of being off sick more frequently and for longer, according to new research by the University of East Anglia and Stockholm University.   The new study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, focused on the impact of ‘interactional justice’, which relates … Continue reading Unfairness at work ups risk of long-term sick leave

Workers who are subject to sexual harassment at work suffer more sickness and are at risk of a wide range of serious health problems as a consequence, a new report has said. ‘It’s not OK’, a special report from Hazards magazine, notes: “The consequence of sexual harassment is that workers suffer physical or mental harm. … Continue reading Sexual harassment at work is a chronic health problem

Employers should be extra vigilant during the office Christmas party season, when sexual harassment can be a particular problem, the TUC has said.   Polling for the TUC discovered 1 in 7 victims of sexual harassment said it took place at a work social event. This number rises to 1 in 5 for women employed by … Continue reading Warning on sexual harassment at Xmas parties