Solidarity with the millions of school climate strikers & updates on #GreenUNISON Day

It's today!

(UPDATE 6pm - see below for a range of pictures of today's #GreenUNISON branch action in the workplace and on #climatestrike events - search the hashtags on Twitter for many more UK wide. And here's the blog from General Secretary Dave Prentis on climate change being the greatest single threat humanity faces. And check Greta Thunberg's Twitter feed for an idea of the scale of today's global events, inspired by her initial solo school strike!)

UNISON is sending solidarity to today's school #climatestrike strikes, marches and rallies in Scotland - and around the world.

Check out the Scottish climate strikes on the Scottish Youth Climate Strike website.

Our branches across the UK have been organising #GreenUNISON Week actions this week and in Scotland it's Green UNISON Day today.

Branches are holding green workplace events where members can talk about pushing employers for action on the climate emergency and can make their own pledges of green workplace action.

Many are also joining their local #climatestrike marches and rallies.

All the info you need for today is on our last blog, pointing you to the resources on the Green UNISON Day page.

Our action is part of Scottish, UK and international trade union action in solidarity with the young people globally whose movement was inspired by Greta Thunberg's school strike. We want climate justice and a Just Transition.

Let us know what you're doing locally and send pictures. We'll be updating below on this blog later today.

PICTURES from UNISON branch action and #climatestrike action, mainly in Scotland. (more will be added tomorrow and look out for a full report in the next Scotland in UNISON):

In no particular order, and with thanks to everyone who shared pictures...

Aberdeen

UNISON NEC member Kate Ramsden addresses the rally.

Shetland

 (Pic from John Loughton's Twitter)

Fife Health

Edinburgh

UNISON Scottish Local Government Committee reps:

UNISON Scottish Local Gvt

@UNISONScotLGvt

·

1h

UNISON Scottish Joint Council reps took time out of their meetings with

@COSLA

to send solidarity to all taking part in the School Climate Strike today #unisongreenday #ClimateEmergency

South Lanarkshire

Glasgow

Lanarkshire Health

Dundee

If you have UNISON pictures from today that aren't here, apologies, please send them in or share on social media and we'll get more up asap. Well done everyone for all the work today for the school #climatestrike and #GreenUNISON Day.

It's #GreenUNISON Week & school #climatestrike on Fri. Here's what you can do!

This week is Green UNISON Week UK wide - check out what's happening and what you can do!

On Friday 20 Sept our members here are marking Green UNISON Day with workplace action and sending solidarity to the global school climate strikes, inspired by Greta Thunberg.

If you want to join in, find out what your branch is doing this week and on Friday and help organise #GreenUNISON activities locally. There's some ideas, including a survey for branches talking with employers, in the resources section of the Green UNISON Day page.

You can also print off pledges and other material as well as finding social media resources. You can find a pledge card/poster and make a social media statement/selfie with your green workplace pledge and/or a poster showing solidarity with the young people on strike.

 More resources are also on the Green UNISON Week site.

To find out where the nearest school strikes and marches and rallies are, check the  Scottish Youth Climate Strike and UK Student Climate Network sites for updates.

Remember, this is global, with support from many trade unionists around the world. As we often say, it's a health and safety issue for the planet, and there are no jobs on a dead planet. The TUC, EPSU, PSI, ITUC and others want to see a #JustTransition and climate justice and are standing with the students. Trade Unions for Energy Democracy collated this list of statements.

UNISON is doing our bit - you can help, including by sharing this brilliant video now and joining in at your workplace and with the school climate strikers. Solidarity!

No Deal Brexit

It’s increasingly clear that a no deal Brexit will impact on all of us. That said, the concerns of UNISON members who aren’t UK citizens are probably more urgent than others. Here is a brief summary of what is proposed for immigration rules in the event of No Deal:

• The UK Government has announced the immigration arrangements they will apply to EU citizens and their family members moving to the UK after Brexit on 31 October 2019, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

•  The Government intend that after Brexit, EU citizens will still be able to come for visits or short trips.  They will also be able to apply for a 36-month temporary immigration status if they wish to stay beyond 31 December 2020. This will be known as - European Temporary Leave to Remain (Euro TLR). It will be free of charge and open until 31 December 2020. 

• It is important to note the Euro TLR arrangements do not apply to those EU citizens who are resident here before 23:00 hours on 31 October 2019 and their family members. The Government has been clear that we want them to stay and they are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to obtain a UK immigration status which will enable them to do so.

• Resident EU citizens have until at least 31 December 2020 to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.( Around  1.5 million people have now applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, according to internal figures.)

• There will be visible changes at the UK border, and tougher rules for criminals, otherwise though - on 1 November 2019 EU citizens will be able to cross the UK border as now.

• EU citizens who successfully apply to the Euro TLR will be granted a temporary immigration status valid for 36 months.  They will be able to sponsor close family members – a spouse or partner, and dependent children under 18.

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD

 The Government has  commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to review the benefits of a future points-based immigration system, to be introduced from January 2021, and what best practice can be learnt from other international comparators including the Australian immigration system.

 Once the future immigration system opens at the start of 2021, anyone without Euro TLR or another UK immigration status will have to qualify to stay in the UK under the provisions in the future immigration system or leave the UK.  The Government say those who hold Euro TLR status will have more time to transition into the future system and will not need to apply until their temporary leave expires. Euro TLR holders who transition into a route leading to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) will be able to count time on Euro TLR towards the qualifying residence period for settlement. 

Employers, landlords and other third parties will not be required to distinguish between EU citizens who moved to the UK before or after Brexit until the new, points-based immigration system is introduced from January 2021. EU citizens will be able to prove their rights to take up employment and rent property, as now, by using a passport or national identity card.

These arrangements also apply to citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Irish citizens will continue to be able to enter, live and work in the UK without requiring permission.
 The Government also intend to legislate remove the rights for post-exit arrivals to acquire permanent residence.

Oh – and we’ll be getting Blue Passports from the start of next year.


UNISON has and will continue to oppose a no deal Brexit. But regardless of what happens – and whatever colour of passport we end up with – UNISON’s priority will remain  the wellbeing of our members and the public services they provide.