Unison Somerset Local Government and Community Branch

11/03/2026

Our members and Somerset Council's trades staff were outside County Hall this morning lobbying and speaking to Somerset Council Councillors ahead of the decision Somerset Council are looking to make today to outsource their housing trades staff to MD Group. Members raised their concerns about the work MD Group does and the lack of transparency in this decision making. Here's a link to our petition https://forms.office.com/e/S8VgL0zeVh

10/03/2026

Don't allow tax payer money go to private companies - keep Somerset Council housing repairs service in house to ensure good quality service for tenants. Sign our petition here:

https://forms.office.com/e/S8VgL0zeVh

Join our lobby tomorrow morning at 9:15am outside County Hall, Taunton.

22/12/2025

We are delighted to congratulate Andrea Egan on her election as UNISON general secretary, with our branch having nominated her earlier this year.

Voting in the ballot was as follows:

Andrea Egan - 58,579 (59.82%)

Christina McAnea - 39,353 (40.18%)

Read the full details here: https://www.unison.org.uk/general-secretary-election-2025/

19/12/2025

Well done to all the migrant health and social care workers who visited Parliament earlier this week with a plan to challenge unfair practices and ending exploitation.

Very proud of the amazing work the migrant workers network has been doing to raise awareness and holding the government to account

BIG DAY 🙌🏼 hundreds of migrant health and social care workers are making their way to Parliament where they’ll lobby the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and their MPs.

They have four asks:

- To end exploitation — replace employer sponsored visas with a sector-wide scheme in social care.
- No retrospective application or 15-year qualifying period - and recognition for the vital economic and social contribution of public sector workers.
- A fully funded Fair Pay Agreement for the social care sector.
- To draw attention to the impact of raised salary thresholds across public services – including in the NHS.

Three coaches from the South West are safely on their way to Westminster ✊🏼

01/12/2025

We’re sending solidarity to our phlebotomists in Gloucestershire today as they mark 250 days of strike action.

Members of our branch had the honour of helping to raise money for their strike fund yesterday at Somerset Solidarity Day ✊💜

30/11/2025

Our branch was out supporting Somerset Solidarity Day in Frome today. It was a great chance to speak with people in our local community about issues important to them, including our Fair Visa campaign and LGBT+ rights ✊

26/11/2025

6 members of our branch attended this year's National LGBT+ Conference in Edinburgh! Representing our union on Branch, Regional and National level. We are also so proud to be recipients for the 3rd year in a row for the Regional Recruitment and Organising Award! Which also means we've retained the title of the Award winning branch of the Award winning region! Well done our branch and our region! 🏆

15/11/2025

Our branch are supporting Bridgwater Together today. We're asking attendees to email their MP to ask them to take action to fund local government properly and save services. Read more about the campaign and email your MP here:
https://unison.org.uk/our-campaigns/save-our-services/

04/11/2025

The UNISON general secretary election is underway. Make sure to return your ballot paper to have your say on who leads our union.

28/10/2025

Here is our Branch Secretary and Women's Officer at the National Disabled Members Conference 2025 in Liverpool

13/10/2025

Our Branch has nominated Andrea Egan for General Secretary because Andrea:

• Has a clear plan for successful action on Pay, ending the stagnation of the last fifteen years.

• Will take the wage of a social worker, not the £181,000 package of the current General Secretary. Andrea’s pay will go up when yours does.

• Opposes UNISON’s subservience to Starmer’s Labour. UNISON members will come first, not the Labour Party.

• Will free up and resource branches so we can better support you, giving you access to legal advice when needed.

• Has successfully led campaigns to defend Schools and Council terms and conditions.

10/10/2025

UNISON Stewards Committee urges all members to REJECT DISCOVERY’s pay offer — it falls short of what’s fair, affordable, and deserved.

What We're Asking For

£14 per hour for all support workers from 1st April 2025!
Maintaining current pay gaps for all rostered roles!
Above RPI increases for all staff!


The Facts

Discovery can afford this pay claim, stop the Dimensions profit drain!
Discovery consistently make profits above awarding a fair pay deal.
Discovery save up their profits and send them to Dimensions rather than investing fairly in staff pay.
We're asking for RPI plus - not a pay cut!
Discovery members need pay that keeps up with the cost of living.
Discovery are trying to cut pay for some roles - we're saying no!
Lead support workers and community connectors deserve fair pay too.
Apply the pay from 1st April - as it should every year.
Discovery continuously try to push back our pay to September.


What you can do:

Share our post to let your colleagues know about this divisive pay offer!
Check your emails and follow the link to vote REJECT!
Become a pay contact by emailing unisonoffice@somerset.gov.uk