Author: UOB

The government has announced sweeping changes to how Personal Independent Payments (PIPs) are paid.

The eligibility criteria for people claiming daily living support will be tightened.

UNISON needs to hear from disabled members about how the proposed changes will affect them.

For more info and to fill out the survery: Changes to PIPs – we need to hear from you | Article | News | UNISON National

May updates from Theo, our LGBT+ officer

Supreme Court ruling response

• Following the UK’S Supreme court ruling that ‘woman’ refers to biological sex under equality laws, the University released a statement that was unacceptable, inviting ‘respectful debate’ on this topic under the guise of ‘free speech’.
• We responded to this by encouraging members to reply to the internal comms mailbox, saying how shocking and disappointing this response was. Trans identities are not something that can be debated. Existence cannot be debated. 
• Central UNISON’s policy on trans equality is:
  • Trans men are men, trans women are women and non-binary identities are valid and we advocate inclusive workplaces for all members.
  • They have created the following fact sheets:
    • Trans equality model policy
    • Transgender workers’ rights
    • Gender equality: non-binary inclusion

Trans bake sale & resistance rally

In response to both the Supreme Court ruling and a planned talk from a noted “gender-critical” speaker at the School of Policy Studies, our branch held a bake sale to raise money for Trans Aid Bristol (final total £472.33!). We also rallied alongside students in front of Senate House to show our support for trans colleagues, students and friends. The School of Policy Studies’ event was postponed.

Meetings with the EDI team

Our branch will be having regular meetings with the EDI team to discuss what the Supreme Court ruling means for trans staff.

If you notice your workplace changing policies around trans, non-binary and gender diverse issues, please get in touch with us: unison-office@bristol.ac.uk

Future plans

We are planning to create badges to make our trans allyship visible, especially with what the Supreme Court ruling means for single sex spaces and toilets. The initial design is below, intended to let trans colleagues know we’re happy to go into a single sex space with them for support.

UNISON South West’s annual Get Active event returned to Croyde Bay in Devon earlier this month. This year’s theme was “unity in action”; our branch’s International Officer Eleni and Women’s officer Verity went along for a weekend of learning and comradery.

Over three days of inspirational talks, training and networking, they learnt new tools and methods to help tackle issues and campaign for change.

Some words from Eleni:

My first time in Croyde Bay has been fantastic. I enjoyed the sea, the food, the jacuzzi… and the workshops – OF COURSE. Verity and I went together representing our branch, and it was a great opportunity to meet each other better. There was a variety of talks and activities and so many people to chat with, from different branches, different professions but with a common goal, to improve our working conditions united.

Fancy your own trip? UNISON owned and operated Croyde Bay Resort offers 20% off any holiday or short break for UNISON members: Croyde Bay holiday resort | UNISON Member Benefits

We have invited James Bigwood (Chief People Officer) and Peter Vermeulen (Chief Financial Officer) to attend our branch committee meeting in July.

During this meeting we will be asking them questions from branch members.

We will discuss the results of the meeting with members at the next branch meeting.

If you have a question you would like us to ask, please let us know using the form linked below.

Your questions will be asked anonymously. The form asks for membership number only to help us check that the questions received are from UNISON members.

Please respond by 9 a.m. on Friday 13th June 2025.

At its latest meeting, the UoB UNISON committee voted to donate £100 to the Gloucestershire phlebotomists strike fund and express its solidarity with the workers on strike.

For years, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been paying Band 2 wages for Band 3 work, meaning these highly skilled clinical staff have been paid £12.08 an hour, around £1/hour less than they should. UNISON members raised the issue with their employer over a year ago and Trust bosses are still refusing to put things right. But the phlebotomists are not giving up until they get what there are owed.

The phlebotomists have been on strike since 17^th March, with every single worker on strike and on the picket line. They have vowed to keep fighting until they get the banding they’re entitled to, the backpay they’re owed and the respect and recognition they deserve. 

More information:

Staff at Gloucester and Cheltenham hospitals announce 72-hour strike over pay – UNISON South West

Another bake sale success! A massive thank you to everyone who supported and donated _🕊️

During workplace day of action for Palestine, Healthcare Workers 4 Palestine Bristol Royal Infirmary & University of Bristol Staff with Palestine raised £452 for 3 charities close to our hearts as healthcare and higher education workers –

❤️ Salma’s family in Gaza – a Palestinian UoB graduate with family in Gaza

💚 Medical Aid of Palestinians (MAP) – charity providing vital supplies, medicines and humanitarian aid in Gaza

🖤 Gaza Soup Kitchen – providing food, clean drinking water and a lifeline to those in need

You can still donate here: Bake Sale for Palestine | Chuffed | Non-profit charity and social enterprise fundraising

We had an excellent turn out at the Bake Sale fundraising for Trans Aid Bristol today! It was excellent to meet so many members of the University community who were showing their support for Trans colleagues, students and friends.

The total donation for Trans Aid Bristol is £472.33, including a generous donation of £50 from one member!

We’re looking for members across the city and the surrounding localities to help lobby their MPs over the state of higher education funding. This is part of a coordinated advocacy campaign UNISON are undertaking across the country to help stand up for our jobs and save higher education funding.

 The campaign involves:

1. Writing to your MP on behalf of the branch about the state of higher education.

2. Trying to set up a meeting with your MP to discuss issues with yourself and the branch committee.

3. The possibility of attending as part of delegation of members visiting their MPs in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 3rd June to get them to take action.

We’re hoping to have members participate to cover at least these eight constituencies, but participation from any constituency is very welcome!

• Bristol Central
• Bristol North West
• Bristol East
• Bristol South
• Bristol North East
• Filton and Bradley Stoke
• North Somerset
• North East Somerset and Hanham

Please email unison-office@bristol.ac.uk if you would like to participate in this campaign to help coordinate contact and tailor approaches for each MP.

In Bristol and nearby we have a high number of Labour MPs who ran on a manifesto which stated:

“We recognise that UK higher education creates opportunity, is a world-leading sector in our economy, and supports local communities… The current higher education funding settlement does not work for the taxpayer, universities, staff, or students. Labour will act to create a secure future for higher education and the opportunities it creates across the UK. We will work with universities to deliver for students and our economy.”

So we have an opportunity to help hold them to account and try to commit themto action.

The more pressure we can put on the better!

Here is a PDF from Unison’s Higher Education Service Group with more detailed information. You can also sign up to a Teams webinar they are holding on Wednesday 21 May 12.30-1.30 entitled ‘Fund our Future: Fighting the Cuts in Higher Education’. The aim of this webinar is to help guide branches with our campaigns to fight cuts and defend jobs in universities.