Community

Representing and supporting community and voluntary sector staff

The community and voluntary sector is increasingly central to providing public services in Scotland. As part of a major review of bargaining structures in 2009, UNISON set up a new service group called ‘Community’ covering the voluntary and community sector. This recognises the importance of the services which previously came under the umbrella of local government and health.

Aberdeenshire branch has many members in the Community and Voluntary Sector working for a range of different organisations. For more information go to: UNISON Scotland Community.  See also reports in UNISON Matters

More posts on the Voluntary and Community Sector…

The Social Care Staff Support Fund – open now for those who have been shielding

The shielding element of the Social Care Staff Support Fund is now open to applications. The Fund will close on ...
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Claim Covid Cash Now #claimcovidcash

If you work in social care or home care and are self isolating or shielding and are not receiving sick pay ...
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Black Workers and Covid – Call for action to tackle structural inequality and risk

UNISON is calling for urgent action from both the Scottish and UK governments to recognise the increased risk of infection ...
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Important update for social care members – you should now get normal pay if self-isolating

UNISON welcomes the Coronavirus (COVID-19): social care staff support fund guidance, announced by the Scottish Government on Thursday 25 June, ...
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Testing extended to weekly for all care home staff and to anyone with symptoms over 5

It is important to note that there have again been changes to who can access the testing programme  announced by ...
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Care home testing – NOW UPDATED – please make sure the guidance is being followed

Now updated to weekly testing of care home staff. Please look at this webpage and make sure that this is ...
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Update for members where Covid is in your care home – you can now be tested even if no symptoms

This is an update on who is eligible for testing for Covid-19. It has been confirmed that where one resident ...
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Update for social care members. Please do this Covid-19 survey

Social care workers are at the forefront of the struggle against COVID-19. Care workers put themselves at risk to provide ...
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Information for social care members about the “furlough” scheme

In every workplace that we have members, UNISON is asking employers to make sure that workers who follow government and ...
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Letter to Home Care members from Aberdeenshire UNISON about the use of Face Masks during Covid-19

The branch has sent the following letter out to Home Care and other care members on new developments on the ...
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A message for Inspire members on dealing with Covid-19

Dear Inspire Member There has been a lot of focus in the media in regards to PPE. I’m aware you ...
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COVID-19 Testing for Key Workers in Aberdeenshire

The branch is happy to report that testing is now available via NHS Grampian at 4 sites for those identified ...
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UNISON secures win for carers as Scottish government PPE guidance is withdrawn

UNISON Scotland, along with other unions, has secured agreement from the Scottish Government that the PPE guidance agreed across the ...
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UNISON challenges new PPE guidance which contradicts national guidance

UNISON has written to both Fiona McQueen and COSLA Chief Executive, Sally Loudon, expressing serious concerns about the guidance on ...
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CoSLA calls for support and respect for council workers, “now more than ever”

CoSLA has issued a press release condemning reports of the abuse of council workers providing essential services and calling for ...
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Covid 19 – LG Workforce Issues Guidance for those in social or community and residential care

Here is the latest update from Johanna Baxter, Head of Local Government for UNISON Scotland who sits on the Scottish ...
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What to do if there isn’t the right Personal Protective Equipment

UNISON is getting huge numbers of calls in relation to the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from frontline care ...
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UNISON model workforce policy for duration of COVID-19 Crisis

Most UNISON Branches are part of agreements which cover their whole sector (eg Health or Local Government). Some branches though ...
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Covid-19 Advice for Cornerstone members

Here is an update on Covid-19 for our Cornerstone members. Be assured that UNISON is working with Cornerstone to ensure ...
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UNISON signs off new voluntary recognition agreement with Cornerstone

New Voluntary Agreement – 6 March 2020 Following formal discussions, UNISON and Cornerstone met on Thursday 5 March 2020 and ...
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Cornerstone LCAST Survey 2019 Updated

Updated 9 October: See on the graphic for a copy of our LCAST Survey results for the three years 2017, ...
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Cornerstone UNISON Newsletter – please read and share

Click on the graphic to read a short newsletter which has been posted to all Cornerstone UNISON members this afternoon ...
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Cornerstone update – next steps to trade union recognition

You will be aware that the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) recently ruled that they believe it is ‘likely’ that UNISON ...
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UNISON application for statutory recognition accepted

In a major breakthrough in our union's battle to force recognition in Cornerstone, UNISON has been told that our application ...
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Calling all UNISON members in the community, voluntary and private care sector – please do our survey

If you are a UNISON member in the community, voluntary and private care sector please  complete the branch's ‘Violence at ...
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Important update for Cornerstone members

Dear Member UNISON is receiving a lot of queries in relation to how the back pay in your June pay ...
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Cornerstone update – UNISON to meet members as management move to impose rejected pay offer

Dear Member UNISON is aware of the Chief Executive’s communication in regards to Cornerstone’s intention to impose an unnegotiated pay ...
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Cornerstone update – UNISON calls on Leadership Team to return to ACAS

Dear Member It has been 206 days since you rejected Cornerstone's 2018/19 pay offer. The Leadership Team's continued refusal to ...
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Cornerstone update – UNISON slams pay talks with Engagement Forum

Dear Member UNISON has been made aware that Cornerstone has started discussions with the Engagement Forum (EF) on a possible ...
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UNISON response to Cornerstone’s ACAS statement

Dear Members, Please find below an email to ACAS detailing UNISON’s response to Cornerstone’s Position Statement to them. This email ...
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Cornerstone: Pay, recognition update from stewards

Dear Member As you may be aware the Cornerstone Stewards Committee met today to discuss re-establishing recognition with Cornerstone and ...
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UNISON Applies for Statutory Recognition in Cornerstone

Dear Member Please see our graphic for details. Thank you so much to all of our members who have stood ...
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Urgent update for Cornerstone UNISON Members

Dear Member Various issues have come to light this week which highlight changes that are being made by Cornerstone now ...
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AGMs pledge action to defend members’ rights in Cornerstone and the council

Aberdeenshire UNISON’s AGMs on 12th and 13th Feb, pledged support for our colleagues in Cornerstone as they apply for statutory ...
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Come along to the Branch AGM – 12th or 13th February

The Annual General Meeting of the Aberdeenshire UNISON Branch  on 12th or 13th February 2019. This is the policy making ...
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Deadline extended for Cornerstone UNISON members to return caseforms

UNISON has confirmed that we will extend the deadline for returns of caseforms from Cornerstone UNISON members until 22nd February ...
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Cornerstone – Inducement Newsletter – IMPORTANT ACTIONS!

Cornerstone - Inducement Newsletter Dear Members IMPORTANT ACTIONS! UNISON has today posted a newsletter, UNISON caseform, and 2 union busting ...
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Cornerstone UNISON willing to go to ACAS on recognition and pay

To all Cornerstone Members Please find below a copy of a letter to ACAS confirming our willingness to meet Cornerstone ...
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Update for Cornerstone UNISON members – what YOU said in the ballot

Update for Cornerstone UNISON members Please click on the graphic to see all of the comments UNISON received on the ...
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Cornerstone UNISON – fighting for fair pay for our members

UNISON understands how important a fair pay deal is to you, which is why we continue to fight to increase ...
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UNISON calls for Cornerstone management to negotiate fair pay without delay

UNISON believes that our members deserve a fair pay deal, backdated to 1st April 2018. It’s now been 35 days ...
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Cornerstone UNISON update – newsletter issued to all members

Cornerstone UNISON stewards have issued a newsletter to all members updating you on Cornerstone's decision to derecognise UNISON and what ...
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Update from UNISON on Cornerstone decision to de-recognise

Your UNISON stewards are meeting today to discuss Cornerstones shameful decision to de-recognise UNISON. We have listened to our members ...
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UNISON statement on Cornerstone decision to de-recognise.

UNISON statement on Cornerstone decision to de-recognise. Deborah Clarke, UNISON Scotland head of community, said: “UNISON was informed of this ...
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UNISON and Cornerstone to meet at ACAS

UNISON is delighted to announce that ACAS has confirmed that Cornerstone has agreed to meet with us on pay. This ...
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Cornerstone’s violence at work charter – employer and your union working together

As members know we are sharing some of the agreements reached with Cornerstone. The third agreement is the Violence at ...
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Good employers must meet Fair Work standards

Cornerstone UNISON members will remember that we are sharing some of the agreements that have been reached with Cornerstone in ...
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UNISON responds to Cornerstone Chief Executive – important read!

As Cornerstone members will know, the Cornerstone Chief Executive issued 2 communications on 12/11/18 in relation to the pay offer ...
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UNISON invites Cornerstone to ACAS talks

UNISON has emailed all its Cornerstone members to share UNISON’s letter of 31st October 2018 inviting Cornerstone to conciliation talks ...
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‘The tide is turning’ says UNISON as Scottish care workers vote overwhelmingly to reject charity’s pay offer

UNISON members working at Scottish care charity, Cornerstone, have voted by a massive 92% to reject their employer’s pay offer ...
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Just what is going on at Cornerstone?

As you will know, your UNISON Cornerstone Stewards are frustrated at how negotiations have been handled by the Cornerstone leadership ...
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Cornerstone UNISON pay ballot – don’t forget to vote by 12pm on 31st Oct

By now all Cornerstone members should have received your ballot papers in relation to Cornerstone’s pay offer for 2018/19. UNISON ...
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UNISON response to Cornerstone chief executive’s email

As promised last week, we have now prepared a full response to chief executive Edel Harris’s email. For ease of ...
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Cornerstone pay claim – Sick Pay and Turnover

As you will know, part of our pay claim for 2018/19 focused on bringing your sick pay entitlement in line ...
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Statement from UNISON Cornerstone Stewards on pay offer

Sent of behalf of UNISON Cornerstone Stewards We have been made aware of the email from Edel Harris, CEO to all staff in ...
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UNISON calls for NO vote in Cornerstone pay ballot

A ballot paper has been posted to all Cornerstone UNISON members today asking for your view on Cornerstone's pay offer ...
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Important information for Cornerstone UNISON members

We are issuing a ballot paper tonight by 1st class post seeking your views on the pay offer made by ...
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Pay protection clarity needed for team leaders & service managers

As you will remember, Cornerstone’s original vision of LCAST teams was that Team Leaders and Service Managers would have the ...
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UNISON standing up for Cornerstone support assistants

Letter to Cornerstone members from John Mooney,UNISON Scotland Area Organiser "As you will know, Cornerstone introduced the role of Support ...
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UNISON asks Who Benefits from Local Cornerstone?

Members will know that after UNISON’s initial concerns over how Local Cornerstone would be implemented, we did see how a ...
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Local Cornerstone – Groundhog Day as Cornerstone appears to revert to original position

Some time ago UNISON had to intervene when Cornerstone proposed implementing a new model of social care based on Self ...
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Please come along to Cornerstone UNISON Members’ Meetings on Pay

UNISON Cornerstone Team has posted out a newsletter to all Cornerstone members updating you on recent UNISON activity and providing ...
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UNISON seeks leave to appeal on sleep-in case

UNISON has asked the Supreme Court this week for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal decision that care ...
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Calling everyone working in the care sector in Moray – find out what UNISON can do for you

Do you work in the care sector in Moray? Are you needing support in the workplace or in registering with ...
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UNISON training for care workers and home carers – sign up now

Are you a care worker or home carer working for the voluntary sector or for Aberdeenshire Council? Then these two ...
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North East Care Campaign Newsletter Issue No. 1

Here is the first issue of UNISON's North East Care Campaign Newsletter. In this issue you will find: SSSC registration ...
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Time for Aberdeenshire Council to adopt the Ethical Care Charter

The branch has welcomed the push from the opposition councillors to put the Ethical Care Charter back on the agenda ...
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Cornerstone signs UNISON Violence at Work Charter

The branch is please to announce that Cornerstone has signed the UNISON Violence at Work Charter. This means that Cornerstone ...
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Branch submits evidence to UNISON’s submission on the proposed Planning Bill

Aberdeenshire UNISON has contributed to UNISON Scotland's evidence to the Local Government Committee on the proposed Planning Bill. The submission ...
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UNISON Pay up Now campaign – March with us on 7th Oct for fair pay for all public service workers

UNISON's Pay up Now campaign is calling for an end to the pay restraint imposed by UK and Scottish governments ...
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Sleeping in and the minimum wage

Recent legal judgements mean that an employer who requires workers to do a sleep in at their workplace must include ...
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AGM 2017: Branch AGMs approve resources to support Volsec members

AGM home Invitation and agenda notice Aggregate Branch AGMs approve resources to support Volsec members and pledge to continue campaigning ...
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Cornerstone recognition agreement returns negotiating rights to UNISON

UNISON has signed the Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committee (JNCC) Terms of Reference: Collective Bargaining with Cornerstone. Despite having a ...
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Cornerstone News November 2016

The November 2016 newsletter for Cornerstone members ...
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Time to Care – if you work in care are you getting the Scottish Living Wage?

#TimetoCare From 1 October 2016 social care workers should be be paid £8.25 per hour. Help UNISON enforce the Living Wage ...
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Cornerstone News October 2016

The October 2016 newsletter for Cornerstone members ...
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Aberdeenshire UNISON urges home care members to tell it like it is at council meetings

Aberdeenshire UNISON is urging all our Home Care members to get along to the council's meetings, which have been set up ...
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UNISON seeks talks with management amidst concerns about new “Buddy” phones

Aberdeenshire UNISON is to meet with home care management to discuss the concerns of members in South and Central Aberdeenshire about ...
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Engaging with Health and Social Care Integration to protect members’ interests and the services they provide

Health and social care integration is both an opportunity and a threat, so it is important that UNISON branches in ...
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Branch ballots Cornerstone members on 1% pay offer

The Branch has issued ballot papers to all Cornerstone members to seek their views on a 1% pay offer, backdated ...
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Cornerstone members accept improved settlement

Following a further consultation with UNISON members in Cornerstone, on an improved deal negotiated with management, which will include an ...
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