Welcome to Essex County UNISON

Important notice – change of email address

Please note that with immediate effect (6 November 2024) the virgin.net email address that we used to have is not in use. If you do  not want to  send an email to unison@essex.gov.uk you can use unisonessexcounty@gmail.com

Winter Fuel Allowance

When the Chancellor announced that the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioner would be limited in its availability, UNISON said: “It’s clear that the Labour government has inherited a mess from the Tories and that tough decisions must be taken to get the economy back on track.

However, the proposal to withdraw the winter fuel payment from all except those pensioners receiving pension credit is deeply concerning. Older people, who have budgeted for the allowance, have had the rug pulled from under them just as winter approaches.

UNISON knows that, while there are some wealthier pensioners who don’t need the help and would readily say so, restricting eligibility to those receiving pension credit means that that too many pensioners living in poverty will fall between the cracks.

We’ve re-published our calculator to check your benefits, so retired members can check whether they are entitled to pension credits, and concentrating on ensuring those pensioners likely to be worst affected get the benefits they are entitled to. The National Pensioners Convention, to which UNISON is affiliated, has also launched a campaign on the issue, as has Independent Age.

But UNISON has always been against means testing, and we’ll speak up for our retired members as we do for working members – including on the winter fuel allowance.

We’ve now set our concerns to the government directly. With energy bills about to increase, it’s just not right to withdraw the payment and leave so many older people worried about how they will cope. Not to mention the potential public health crisis and the likely strain on the NHS. We’re urging the chancellor to think again and soften the approach.

Since then UNISON’s Retired members’ conference in October unanimously passed a motion opposing the change to  Winter Fuel Allowance. Delegates voiced deep concern that restricting eligibility to those receiving pension credit means that that too many pensioners will fall between the cracks.

Read the ‘There for you’ Energy Guide

UNISON’s welfare charity has produced anew guide on how to  get help with energy costs. The guide contains details of organisations and schemes that can provide support and assistance, charities – including UNISON’s own charity- that may be able to give financial help towards heating bills, useful contacts and moneysaving tips. Read the guide – There for you – Energy Guide

7 reasons to join UNISON

Each of our 1.4 million members has their own reasons for joining UNISON.

But every one receives our help and support.

Join Online now – join UNISON in just three minutes – all you need is your bank details and you’re set.

HELP UNISON TO HELP YOU We always need new Unison reps in a number of roles – do you think you could help? STEWARDS Elected by UNISON members to represent members in a workplace or department (or part of one.) Stewards have full rights to represent their members by meeting management, attending the branch committee etc. There is a full range of training for stewards, and the branch appoints a mentor from amongst experienced activists to advise you. HEALTH & SAFETY REPS Elected by UNISON members to represent employees in a workplace or department (or part of one) on health and safety issues specifically. There is clear legal protection and definition of what H&S reps can do. We particularly need people to do this job within Essex County Council departments but volunteers from any workplace would be welcome. CONTACTS If you don’t feel able to do either of the other jobs we can always use people to act as named contacts between the branch and a workplace/ department. We can email or post you useful information and from time to time we may ask you to find out the feeling amongst members on specific issues for us. If you are interested in doing any of these jobs or helping UNISON in some other way, please contact the branch office.

TWO UNISON  BRANCHES IN ESSEX?! In 2016 UNISON branches in Essex were restructured and the Essex County Branch now covers only three groups of members:

• Members directly employed by Essex County Council.
• Members employed by Essex Fire & Rescue Service.
• Members employed in LEA maintained (Community or Voluntary Controlled ) schools.

If your employer is one of those above the office telephone number remains 01245 354044. If all our lines are busy, email unison@essex.gov.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible. NOTE -If you work for other employers (including voluntary aided schools, foundation schools and academies) contact the UNISON Essex branch tel. 01245 608949 email unisoninessex@gmail.com __________________________________________________________________