SUTR UNITY MARCH 24 10 26
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FREE COURSES FOR UNISON MEMBERS
UNISON Yorkshire & Humberside logo
November Online courses via Teams
Free courses for UNISON members to attend. You can find further details about each course by clicking the relevant link.
BSL Beginners on 3, 10, 17 November at 6pm – 8pm
Enhance Your Word Skills on 9 November at 10am – 1pm
Power of a CPD on 12 November at 10am – 12pm
Yorkshire & Humberside: Master your career: the power of the CPD | UNISON – the public service union
PowerPoint Basics on 18 November at 3pm – 5pm
Interview Skills on 24 November at 12pm – 2pm (*note change of date from the programme)
To register your place for any of the sessions, please email yhmemberlearning@unison.co.uk
More courses are available on the UNISON Yorkshire & Humberside website going up to February 2027, please do explore.
UNISON FINANCE WEBINARS: FREE FOR MEMBERS
Quilter Financial Advisers is the trusted financial advice partner of UNISON. We are a leading financial business, and our purpose is to help you achieve your aspirations through expert financial planning.
If you are interested in:
Planning your retirement and would like to book a webinar session click here
Investment tax planning Click here
An introduction to general financial planning Click here
ALL FREE FOR MEMBERS
STAND UP TO RACISM EVENTS
Dear member
We face the fight of our lives – we can see the rise of the Far Right – with the campaign to raise flags – the protests at hotels – the attacks on local mosques and the use of false racist narratives to justify these intimidatory actions.
We have a big task ahead which means challenging the false arguments to separate the soft racists from the hard right who have been at the centre of all the protests.
In the words of Malcom X “we are not outnumbered” we are the anti-racist majority but “we are out-organised”- that is why we need you to get involved.
First we need to challenge the racist narrative…
Join us this Saturday
South Yorkshire Opposing Racism and Far Right ideas in Our workplaces and Communities 6th September at 11am.
Please join this exciting initiative which is funded by the regional Trades Union Council and is a collaborative event taking on the ideas of Reform and the Far Right. It will include workplace anti racist training by the TUC, taking on the racialised narrative and Migrants rights. We have a curry being provided by Rotherham Friends in Deed.
Please book your space for this free event and food here https://forms.gle/7SRHkke8w1C9SrGa9
Secondly we need to mobilise…
Stop the Far Right- London Demo 13th September
Fascist Tommy Robinson AKA Stephen Yaxley-Lennon is calling for “the UK’s biggest free speech festival”
This is an attempt to build a fascist street movement, and his free speech is hate speech.
All summer the far right have been attempting to replicate last summer’s racist riots – that’s why this protest is so important.
Please join the protest – book your tickets now – we must make it clear that we are the anti-racist majority!
Tickets from Rotherham Sheffield & Chesterfield here
https://buytickets.at/sheffieldstanduptoracism
One of the racialised narratives … is the false claim that refugees and people of colour are a threat to women and girls. We have produced a leaflet to take on this narrative but also…
Women against the Far Right
Stand Up to Racism has launched a statement by
Women MPs, cultural figures and campaigners who have come together to reject the Far Right’s racist lies and weaponisation of sexual abuse
Read the Guardian exclusive https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/02/women-stop-linking-asylum-seekers-sexual-abuse
Sign the open letter: bit.ly/womenagainst
Share https://x.com/antiracismday/status/1962780933548883992?s=46&t=5P29KLPVUmRz6bepdyoH9w
UNISON SHU Recruit a Friend Scheme
The electronic gift vouchers are from High Street Vouchers
Note: the information provided on the form will be used solely for the operation of the voucher scheme. The Branch will check membership status and confirm with the named new UNISON member that the information provided is correct.
Recruit a friend terms & conditions – please read
1) The new member you have recruited must work for Sheffield Hallam University or Hallam Students’ Union, and must have joined UNISON on or after the 1 April 2026
2) You must be a paid-up UNISON member when you recruited the new member, and still be a paid-up member three months later when you become eligible for your £20 gift voucher.
3) The friend you have recruited must have been a paid-up UNISON member for at least three months before you become eligible to receive a £20 gift voucher.
4) Once the friend you have recruited has been a paid-up UNISON member for at least three months they will also be eligible to receive £20 gift voucher.
5) Gift vouchers will be sent via email to the preferred email addresses of the recruiting member and the new member as recorded in UNISON’s membership system. If you would like to check and/or update your email contact details you can do so via My UNISON: https://www.unison.org.uk/my-unison/
6) Existing members are entitled to a £20 voucher for each member recruited. If you recruit three friends who stay members for at least three months, you will be entitled to three £20 gift cards. There is no limit to the number of vouchers a member may receive.
7) UNISON officers and stewards are not eligible for the vouchers, but the individuals they recruit are eligible.
8) The Branch will confirm the information provided by contacting the new member using their preferred email address in UNISON’s membership system, and reserves the right to reject applications in the event that confirmation cannot be obtained.
9) To become eligible for a voucher, this form must be submitted.
All Members Vote for UNISON NEC Elections 2025: Branch Nominations
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UNISON’s National Executive Council runs our union and determines the kind of union we are and can become. It is made up of 68 UNISON lay members just like you!
NEC elections this year are hugely important to determine whether UNISON succeeds and wins for you at work and on pay.
How the election works:
Voting will be from 21 April to 21 May.
Lookout for your ballot paper which will be posted to your home address.
Members can vote in all the regional seats and all the national Black and disabled member seats, regardless of your own ethnicity or whether you consider yourself disabled or not.
Members will only be able to vote for the service group candidates for the service group you are a member of e.g. Higher Education only. And members only get a vote in the Young Member seats if you are under 30 years old.
Members are strongly encouraged to use all the votes available to them.
Who your branch has nominated:
UNISON, like any organisation, needs to change and adapt to new conditions if it is to succeed. Your branch committee believes that the candidates we nominated will continue to see through the kind of changes we need in UNISON and will deliver on their promises.
- UNISON must be a member-led union – this means that elected members should run our union, not appointed full-time officials. Elected members must be the real leaders.
- We need to be an organising, not a servicing, union – we cannot solve all of our members’ problems on a one-by-one basis. Members will always need individual support, but the focus should be on collective action.
- The pay crisis – UNISON must end the scourge of low pay. We need to deliver on national pay negotiations. We cannot simply approach pay negotiations the way that UNISON’s leadership has done in the past.
- UNISON should play a positive but challenging role with the Labour Government. We should promote UNISON policy on public services, and not accept austerity as inevitable from any government.
Take part in UNISON’s NEC elections. It’s your union, so have your say in how it’s run!
Below are the nominations your branch has made for the NEC elections.
UNISON Higher Education Service Group Member’s seats:
Name: Kath Owen
Name of seat: Higher Education, Female
Name: Jo Tapper
Name of seat: Higher Education, General
UNISON Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Members’ seats:
Name: Tony Wright
Name of seat: Yorks & Humb – Male
Name: Greta Holmes
Name of seat: Yorks & Humber – Female
Name: Julie Forgan
Name of seat: Yorks & Humber – Female
Name: Jayne Bouskill
Name of seat: Yorks & Humber – Reserved
UNISON Black Members’ seats:
Name: Amerit Raid
Name of seat: Black Members – Male
Name: Antonia Bright
Name of seat: Black Members – Female
Name: Julia MwAluke
Name of seat: Black Members – Reserved
Name: Tara Thomas
Name of seat: Disabled Members – General
UNISON Young Members’ seats:
Name: Micaela Tracey-Ramos
Name of seat: Young Members – Female
Name: Cameron Thompson
Name of seat: Young Members – General
NO TO WAGE THEFT!
UNISON wage theft poster
Sheffield TUC Diary of Events Spring 2024
Wednesday 1st May Workers Day of Action for Palestine
PSC, Stop the War Coalition, CND and others have declared May1st a workplace day of solidarity with the Palestinians. Talk to your workmates, friends, and neighbours. Do whatever act of solidarity you are able to on May 1st. Take a selfie, send it to social media including us. sheffieldantiwarcoalition@yahoo.co.uk
Saturday 4th May Sheffield May Day parade and rally
Bring your banners and celebrate trade unionism – our history; our battles; our victories; our humanity!
Monday 6th May Chesterfield May Day
Call out to all in Sheffield and South Yorkshire to support Chesterfield May Day on Bank Holiday Monday. Our Theme for the day is “Remembering the Past- Organising for the Future”. Marking the 40th anniversary of the great miners strike, our march will be led off by veterans of the strike and their families marching with the banners of the Derbyshire striking miners and the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign led off by the Ireland Colliery Band. Solidarity with Palestine is naturally our international theme is Palestine Solidarity and our strong panel of speakers will reflect the struggles for workers’ rights, anti racism and social justice which motivate our movement. Assemble from 10.30 am at Chesterfield Town Hall, Rose Hill S40 1LP to match off at 11.00am. Plus some great live music in New Square after the rally. https://www.facebook.com/events/1292428254751816
Tuesday 7th May Sheffield Stop the War public meeting
7pm St Mary’s Church Community centre, Bramall lane S2 4QZ
Wednesday 8th May Stand up to Racism AGM and public meeting
7pm Central United Reform Church, Norfolk Row S1 2JB
To book your free ticket https://buytickets.at/sheffieldstanduptoracism/1215396
Speakers:
1. Brendan Woodhouse from Sea watch and FBU Author of DORO: refugee, hero champion survivor.
2. Cllr Ruksana Haleem (report back from Calais Volunteering)
3. Nahella Ashraf SUTR
We have the most racist government in history who are desperate to ramp up racism. The attack by Frank Hester, the Tories biggest donor, on Diane Abbott is shocking and part of a long line of racist dog whistle politics. Every single week we get an Islamophobic or racist comment designed to scapegoat refugees and Muslims. The divisive anti extremism plans which describe Muslim organisations as undemocratic are part of the Othering. That’s why we need to stand together and resist all forms of racism- come along to our Annual general meeting- find out how to get involved.
Care 4 Calais trip: We are planning a trip for 14th. 15th, 16th June the cost should be around £150 each including accommodation, petrol and ferry crossing. If you want to join the delegation please get in contact.
Maxine and Sahail, Joint convenors Of Sheffield Stand up to Racism
Saturday 11th May NAQBA Day demonstration
More details to follow. Naqba Day is when we remember the NAQBA (or catastrophe in Arabic) when Israeli Zionist terrorists drove 750,000 Palestinians off their land in 1948 on the creation of the Israel nation. The ethnic cleansing and oppression of Palestinians has continued ever since.
Tuesday 28th May Sheffield TUC Delegate Meeting
7pm till 9pm. Trades and Labour Club, 200 Duke Street, Sheffield S2 5QQ
Trade union members who are not delegates are welcome to attend as visitors but may not vote.
Saturday 15th June Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign Annual Rally
MINERS’ STRIKE 40th ANNIVERSARY
ORGREAVE ANNUAL MARCH AND RALLY, Saturday 15th June 2024
SHEFFIELD
SUPPORT US IN OUR CAMPAIGN FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Please come along and support the Annual Orgreave Rally organised by the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. Bring your banners, comrades and friends and march in solidarity with us through Sheffield City Centre to support our call for an inquiry for truth and justice for the miners brutalised by the state and police at the Orgreave Coking plant in June 1984.
More information about arrangements and speakers will be made available soon.
SUPPORT OUR CALL FOR AN ORGREAVE INQUIRY
https://www.facebook.com/events/304833248944985?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A [] %7D
Saturday Sunday 22nd 23rd June Small Park Big Run
Friday 19th – 22st July 2024 Sheffield Transformed Weekend Festival SADACCA (Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association), 48 Wicker, S3 8JB.
Sheffield Transformed is a group of socialists who run events where people can come together to discuss radical political ideas, enjoy arts and culture, and build a movement in a safe environment. We have been organising events since 2019, most recently on the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire, a Radical History Walk and on Police suppression of protest.
Inspired by The World Transformed we organise and host a wide range of events and activities on topics including housing, welfare, education, the environment and the many other issues facing our city.
Saturday 20th July. The next Free Radicals gig will be at Theatre Deli
Thanks very much to everyone who came to the Free Radicals/Sosa-Sa gig a couple of weeks ago. It was very busy and we had to turn away some people. Very sorry if you were one of those. The evening raised over £5,600 which went straight into the Sheffield Emergency Relief Fund and then straight to Gaza. This fund has now transferred over £130,000 to Gaza, which has been providing support food parcels, blankets, baby milk, clothes, nappies and cash to 3931 families in Khan Younis and Rafah. [Fuller reports can be found at: https://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/?page_id=3286]
Sunday 18th August South Yorkshire Festival
We are marking the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Miners Strike at the SYF and are pleased to announce the guest speakers so far are Colin Kirkham, a former miner, will be speaking to his experiences at that time and Jean Miller from Women Against Pit Closures we will be announcing further speakers in due course. Brian Clarke will also be speaking prior to the afternoon talk in the Unison Room on the history of Wortley Hall from the 50’s onwards. We are also hoping to get a speaker on the history of the Hall and Barnsley Area.
Rotherham’s “South Yorkshire Transport Museum” will be bringing some vintage vehicles for us to see, we will have our usual stalls, stands and bouncy castles for a fun family day out, again we hope to make all the rides and face painting free.
We again are looking for volunteers for the event. Please email politicalsecretary@wortleyhall.org.uk should you wish to help on the day. Massive thank you to all who kindly helped out with last year’s event.
We need help on:
- Traffic Management
- Staffing the Wortley Hall Stand
- General Setting Up.
We have started collecting donations and pledges for this great event, if you can support this day, please contact info@wortleyhall.org.uk – or, by contacting the hall on 0114 288 2100. You can also send a cheque to Wortley Hall, Wortley Village, Sheffield, S35 7DB, cheque payable to Wortley Hall Ltd. Please ensure to mark your letter for South Yorkshire Festival.
SYF Committee
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT SHEFFIELD HALLAM
Joint Union Committee Letter to the new VC
Dear Professor Mossop,
As representatives for the trade unions UCU, UNISON and Unite at Sheffield Hallam we would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to your new role. Our staff work hard to deliver quality teaching, which benefits from our economy boosting research and exceptional support for students, resulting in an excellent student experience. The recent award of TEF Gold is a reflection of the dedication of all here at Sheffield Hallam.
You are no doubt aware that despite this, pay and conditions have steadily declined for those very same staff. We have seen a real-term drop in pay of approximately 30% since 2009. In previous restructures we have seen significant erosion of terms and conditions and recently, we have been asked to consider the removal of and the reduction of pay protection and the removal of additional redeployment support. We also feel the commitment to the elimination of casualisation and outsourcing needs to be reaffirmed in the current climate. Given all these factors we are sure you can see that there is no room for further cuts here, and that priority should be given to addressing this spiral of decline in order to retain and grow a body of staff that has made Sheffield Hallam an award winning institution.
You are inheriting a difficult budget position, brought about by the prioritisation of capital expenditure projects over investment in staff. We have grave concerns about the project for a London campus, how it contributes to that budget deficit and the risks it entails. We need assurances that this project will not further damage the University’s financial status and also that any staff employed on this project, and any future similar projects, will be employed under the same terms and conditions as those already working for Sheffield Hallam. There are further questions around how this move to London aligns with the University’s civic agenda, implicit in which is a need to recommit to this region (https://www.shu.ac.uk/about-us/our-role-in-the-region/civic-university-agreement).
Our partnership with the University is the key to a successful and thriving institution. We would like to take this opportunity to rebuild and strengthen this partnership. Among the proposals we have is for regular attendance by our new VC and University Executive Board members at our Joint Negotiating Committee meetings, facilitating a more expansive, direct dialogue between the unions as staff representatives and the leadership of Sheffield Hallam. This would form the basis of a more open and transparent approach from the University, with our deeper involvement from an earlier stage in major projects that the University is planning and the provision of full information, including budget forecasts, to allow us to understand and be involved in major decisions around staff costs and other issues that impact our members.
All of these proposals have one aim: to ensure that Sheffield Hallam builds on the work of its staff as a centre of excellence, that it values their contribution and that it listens to and incorporates in its planning the expertise our members bring from doing the work that makes this University an award winning institution and a key civic partner contributing to the Region.
We hope that you will join us at a special Joint Negotiating Committee meeting to discuss the points raised in our letter. We look forward to working with you.
Ben Abell, Branch Secretary, Sheffield Hallam UCU
Dan Bye, Branch Secretary, Sheffield Hallam UNISON
Stephen Magowan, Branch Secretary, Sheffield Hallam Unite
15/01/2024