MONTHLY NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2024
AndreaEgan BranchSecretary
WINTER WINTER ESSENTIALS ESSENTIALS GRANT GRANT
UNISON Bolton, Bolton CVS HUB
Bold Street, Bolton BL1 1LS admin@unisonbolton.org 01204 338901 www unisonbolton org
You shouldn’t have to choose between heating and eating, but UNISON Welfare is there for you. If you’re a UNISON member on a low income, you may be eligible to apply for a £200 voucher towards your food shopping.
Applications should be made online. Applications will open for 24 hours from 12 noon on Wednesday 11 December. Eligible members will be chosen at random from the applicant pool and contacted to submit supporting documents.
Due to limited funds and in anticipation of high demand, UNISON regret that we will not be able to help all members who apply.
If you are unable to complete the application due to a disability access need, please email: weg@unison.co.uk or call UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.
FOR FULL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND TO SAVE THE APPLICATION PAGE READY FOR 11TH DECEMBER, PLEASE SCAN THE QR CODE: ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THERE FOR YOU ON THE PHONE/EMAIL ABOVE
MIGRANTWORKERSCHARTER
Discussions are still ongoing, and slow progress is being made with the Council. They are in discussions with other GM Authorities around doing some joined up work.
I want to remind members that this is a group of workers who have been INVITED to come to the UK to work in Health and Social Care, in essence to prop up failing care services, on sponsorship visas. These visas have cost the individual migrant £10K on average, and often results in them entering exploitative employment situations.
The Branch has great rep, Shay, who is himself a migrant worker. who has been organising migrant members to work together. He’s attended events in Salford, where they are already ahead of the game as Salford Council has formally adopted the Charter, which aims to prevent the exploitation of people who come to the UK on employer-sponsored visas
Julia MwLuke (Unison Vice President and Salford City UNISON Branch Officer) Andy Burnham (GM Mayor), Oluwaseyi (Shay) Bamisaye, UNISON Bolton Steward & Activist and Bolton Cares worker
ENDEAVOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT APPEAL
The Branch continues to support the Endeavour Project in Bolton and is once again inviting members to help with their Christmas appeal.
Endeavour is a charity based in Bolton which supports families when they are escaping domestic abuse. They are a unique charity because they also include pets in any support plan. Endeavour are seeking good quality gifts for the families they are supporting, for ages ranging from babies to older people, and their pets too.
We absolutely smashed it last year, Endeavour were overwhelmed with the gifts our members donated and we really want to do the same again this year.
There will be drop-off points for gifts in Bolton Town Hall, Castle Hill Centre, Bolton CVS HUB Reception and others (tbc). If you/your colleagues would like to collect in your workplace then please contact the Branch on 01204 338901 and we can arrange to come and pick them up.
2025 marks the 8oth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the Branch will join with Bolton Council, libraries and Bolton College in commemorating this
There will be events taking place in Bolton between the 25th and 27th January featuring art, film and guest speakers.
Full details to follow in the New Yearcheck your email and the Branch website
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Endeavour ask you to not wrap any gifts so they can make sure they are suitable, but you can put a tag on The last day for collection/donation is Friday 13th December 2024.
PLEASE SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE A LIST OF SUITABLE GIFTS
BRANCH AGM 2025
EVENTS...UPCOMING EVENTS...UPCOMING EVENTS
THURSDAY 28TH NOVEMBER - TUC DAY OF WORKPLACE ACTION USING OUR VOICES TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW IN GAZA.
FRIDAY 29TH NOVEMBER - FOSSIL FREE GREATER MANCHESTER - JOIN THE PROTEST BETWEEN 8.30 AND 10AM OUTSIDE BOLTON TOWN HALL SOUTH ENTRANCE
Branch Office Christmas Opening Hours 2024
The Branch Office will be closed Monday 23rd - Friday 27th December
We wish all members a Happy Christmas, if you celebrate, or an otherwise happy holiday. And if you are working over Christmas...THANK YOU!