Given the changes in clinical evidence the government is revisiting the balance of risks and benefits that guided its original decisions to make coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination a condition of deployment. When vaccination as a condition of deployment was first introduced, Delta was the dominant variant. Omicron has now replaced Delta as the dominant variant, representing […]
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These ill-thought-out rules have worsened the staffing crisis hampering the NHS and social care and caused significant upset. Commenting on the announcement yesterday (Monday) that the government is to scrap the rules for mandatory vaccination in health and care in England, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This was the right thing to do. But it […]
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Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve been fighting to protect UNISON members who are at the forefront of the COVID-19 response. We are working proactively with the UK governments, employers, and other bodies to keep you safe at work. The UK government and other devolved parliaments have outlined plans for ongoing changes to restrictions. […]
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What is ‘Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment’? In late 2021, new regulations were agreed by parliament making it unlawful for an employer delivering CQC regulated activities, to deploy an unvaccinated worker in a face-to-face role from 1st April 2022. In the NHS, these new rules are commonly referred to as Vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD). […]
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What is happening? The government has finished a consultation about making COVID vaccines compulsory for health and care staff in England. They intend to bring in a new law to make COVID vaccination mandatory for anyone deployed to deliver Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated activities who has direct, face-to-face contact with service users. This includes health […]
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The government has imposed a 3% pay rise for all NHS staff in England. UNISON is running an indicative ballot to find out whether members want to take action. UNISON’s reaction to 3% How will the indicative ballot work? What can activists do now? UNISON’s reaction to 3% UNISON’s health service group executive (HSGE) has […]
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Health workers in England – angry that rising costs have already wiped out their recent pay rise – have voted to oppose the government over the 3% increase, says UNISON today (Monday). Publishing the results of a consultation exercise that ran over the summer, UNISON says the overwhelming majority (80%) of health workers are not happy with the […]
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The London Ambulance Service UNISON Branch have written to the new CEO of the London Ambulance Service regarding the service Estates Strategy and consolidation of ambulance station started at the height of the pandemic in 2020. You can download the letter here, it is also published below: Dear Daniel, We are saddened to be […]
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