Unison Blackburn with Darwen Local Government Branch

18/09/2026

Still space for tonight’s show!

Banner use live music, song and film to explore how a worker-led transition to a climate-friendly world is not only possible, but necessary.

11/09/2026

04/08/2026

A Blackburn and District Trades Union Council circular

With the support of our local UNISON Health and Local Government Branches, Blackburn and District Trades Union Council is once again pleased to host a performance by the pioneering and still popular troubadour socialist theatre company, Banner Theatre.

Friday 18th September - a free night of songs and stories to celebrate solidarity and the campaign for a just transition, and thank our local Trade Union representatives and members for their commitment.

In Derwent Hall - Darwen.

Banner use live music, song and film to explore how a worker-led transition to a climate-friendly world is not only possible, but necessary.

23/07/2026

📮 Have you voted yet?

Council and school workers deserve better than a 3.3% pay offer.

If you've received your ballot paper, make sure you complete it and post it back today. Every vote matters.

✅ Vote
✅ Post it back
✅ Remind a colleague

21/07/2026

UNISON Getting Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Ready

Dear UNISON member

Last week the Government finally announced the proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Lancashire. UNISON is taking the opportunity to write to all members in affected UNISON branches whether you work in a council, school or some other employer not immediately impacted.

Currently in Lancashire there are a mix of council types. The County Council and the twelve district councils which sit beneath it (Pendle, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Ribble Valley, Lancaster, Wyre, Fylde, Preston, Chorley, South Ribble and West Lancashire). This area of Lancashire is currently two tier meaning the County Council delivers some services whilst the district councils deliver other services. Lancashire also has two unitary areas: Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen. In these areas a single council delivers all services.

The existing fifteen councils will be replaced by four new Unitary Councils. The new footprints are as follows:

• Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancashire (South Lancashire)
• Fylde, Wyre, Blackpool (West Lancashire)
• Lancaster, Preston, Ribble Valley (North Lancashire)
• Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Pendle, Burnley (East Lancashire)

There will be elections for these new councils in May 2027, and they will then operate in shadow form. The current fifteen councils will continue to legally exist until the end of March 2028. From April 2028 the new councils will take over as the old councils cease to exist.

You can see the proposals in more details here https://lancashirelgr.co.uk/

The transition to the new councils begins now. This will be a huge amount of work placing a great burden on top of already stretched services and staff.

Staff via UNISON must have a genuine and meaningful say in LGR and be able to influence the process. UNISON does not oppose LGR but is realistic that reorganisation will not provide a solution to chronic underfunding of local government services and poor staff pay.

UNISON’s priorities:
• As different pay, terms and conditions mix UNISON want to see improvements and harmonisation upwards. LGR should not be exploited to inflict further cuts to pay of staff.
• Protect jobs and services – LGR should not be an excuse to make further cuts.
• Insourcing – LGR should be an opportunity to bring services back in house under democratic control.

In order to deliver on these priorities, you and your colleagues need to get LGR ready.

1. take this short survey Lancashire Local Government Reorganisation UNISON Survey – https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/xYcxxKudps

2. share the survey with colleagues not in UNISON

3. encourage your colleagues to join UNISON Join UNISON | UNISON - the public service union

Want to get more involved or have other questions please contact [email protected]

14/07/2026

UNISON council and school workers - YOUR STRIKE BALLOT BEGINS TODAY - 9 JULY.

Return your ballot as soon as it arrives and vote YES for strike action.

The only way we win is if we all play our part unison.org.uk/LGpa

14/07/2026

FREE
Banner Theatre Performance: A Just Transition: Jobs - People – Planet

Free potato pie supper before the performance, please book your tickets for catering purposes

Fri, Sep 18 • Doors open 6:15 PM
Derwent Hall, 1 George Street, Darwen BB3 0DQ

Banner use live music, song and film to explore how a worker-led transition to a climate-friendly world is not only possible, but necessary.
With the support of our local UNISON Health and Local Government Branches, Blackburn and District Trades Union Council is pleased to host this performance by the pioneering and still popular troubadour socialist theatre company.
Their new show weaves together interviews with activists and powerful stories of collective worker-led resistance and innovation. It includes the GKN workers in Italy who occupied their factory and worked with climate activists to develop plans for socially useful, green production. It also marks the 50th anniversary of the Lucas Plan, when aerospace workers in the 1970s developed over 150 proposals for socially useful alternatives to arms production.

16/06/2026

UNISON national conference, Brighton 2026Keynote speakers livestre...

16/06/2026

Our delegates Denise Wilkins and Geoff Wilkinson are in attendance on behalf of the Branch.
A full report will be available soon!

“We’re worth more than this—and we’re ready to fight for it” From ...

27/01/2026

On , we reflect on the horrors of the past and renew our commitment to preventing such atrocities in the future.

Together, we pledge to speak out against hatred and discrimination 🕯️