There is a brief reprieve from the high temperatures, followed by a further forecast of hot weather soon. Your health and wellbeing remain our priority. UNISON Health & Safety (H&S) reps have been walking through areas documenting temperatures and where it’s high, advising members to move to cooler locations if possible or requesting from managers […]
National Delegate Conference is the sovereign democratic decision-making body which sets the direction and priorities of UNISON. Branches from across regions and sectors (or ‘Service Groups’ in UNISON lingo) submit motions which call on the National Executive Council (NEC) to act over the issues affecting their members. UWE UNISON sent two of us to conference […]
Introduction to me and my role I’m Tom Carter, and I am the current UWE Unison Environmental Officer, having stepped into the role in May 2025. I currently work as a Technical Team Leader in SoAS, alongside several of our members, where we primarily support student practical activities and research projects. I have worked in […]
“UNISON and UCU at UWE Bristol, alongside the LGBTQIA+ staff network, stand in solidarity with UWE’s LGBTQ+ student society. We applaud their successful petition to stop Bristol Pride from accepting UWE’s sponsorship. Whilst this has received considerable public attention, we would urge others to recognise that at the heart of this decision is the University’s […]
Last week, The Students’ Union at UWE’s Board of Trustees passed our proposed Trans Inclusion Policy for staff members. The policy is closely shaped by the UNISON model policy which was drafted by Thompsons Solicitors. Especially in the context of rampant transphobia across society and cowardly employers unnecessarily throwing trans people under the bus, we […]
28th April, is International Workers Memorial Day. It’s a day we can come together to remember those who have lost their lives to work, and to remind us to continue to fight for the living to make work safe. It is often thanks to Trade Unions and Trade Unionists like yourselves that we now hardly […]
Our branch draws attention to the present grave and, for the most part, overlooked humanitarian crisis in North and East Syria.
Since the 2011 Rojava Revolution, the Kurdish-led democratic governance of multi-ethnic North and East Syria has been a beacon of hope in the region, and internationally. After breaking away from the Ba’athist regime during the Syrian Civil War, the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria has embraced democratic confederalism, promoting a progressive agenda of gender equality, social ecology, and direct democracy.
The city of Kobanê, in particular, has been symbolic of resistance against the Islamic State. Today, Kobanê is in extreme peril once more. The Ahmed al-Sharaa government has taken control of NE Syria’s principal cities Heseke and Qamişlo. Currently, the population of Kobanê is experiencing dire conditions as essential supplies have been blocked, with limited aid getting through, and communications have been cut. The current siege began on 18th January 2026.
We support the efforts of Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê) to bring humanitarian aid to NE Syria. We call for an end to UK arms sales to Turkey and to the former Al-Queda affiliates in the Syrian Transitional Government.
We would also like to express our academic solidarity with the education workers of NE Syria’s universities.
The latest raft of changes to workers’ rights, created by the Employment Rights Act, come into force in Great Britain next week. Chief amongst these is on statutory sick pay, which now becomes a day one right for all workers. Paternity leave also becomes a day one right, while there are greater protections against sexual harassment. […]
The branch has sent it’s additional documentation for the CATE Technical Re-Organisation to UWE management! Our feedback is based on the contribution of staff across CATE, both members and non-members, from individual meetings, written submissions and team meetings. We appreciate the collaboration with UWE UCU Reps, its members and wider academics who recognise the negative […]
Thanks to all members and staff that have submitted feedback to UWE UNISON on the CATE Tech Re-Org so far. The interim report from the union has been submitted and consists of two documents in the files below. One file is a summary report of themes that have come in as submissions to the union […]