Wakefield District Unison

26/08/2026

📢 LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY UPDATE: 3.3% CONFIRMED 📢

The latest edition of The Wakey Worker looks at the outcome of the 2026 NJC pay negotiations and what it means for Wakefield Council workers.

UNISON has reluctantly accepted the 3.3% pay offer after employers refused to reopen negotiations and the national industrial position made further action unlikely to achieve an improved deal.

✅ 3.3% pay rise agreed
✅ Back pay to be paid to WMDC employees in September
✅ Updated pay scales included
✅ Wakefield UNISON pushed for rapid implementation

While this year's pay negotiations are now complete, our focus is already turning to 2027.

Although Wakefield District UNISON members were not balloted during this pay round, the branch will be working hard to ensure our members' voices are heard in future campaigns. We know local government workers deserve better, and building a stronger, more active union is key to securing fair pay in the years ahead.

UNISON is YOU, and our strength is in numbers. Every new member strengthens our collective voice and our ability to fight for better pay, conditions and public services.

📖 Read the full article in the latest Wakey Worker and check the updated pay rates.

✊ 3.3% confirmed. The fight for fair pay continues.

26/08/2026

Solidarity with Unison Leeds Teaching Hospitals members ✊

Theatre assistants in Leeds first walked out on strike 250 days ago, before Christmas, in their campaign to be paid fairly for work they do.

They carry out band three clinical tasks, but aren't paid for them.

Give this a like if you think they deserve to be paid to reflect the clinical tasks they perform 💜

20/08/2026

One Year On Since the Start of the NCMME Strike

Today marks one year since workers at the National Coal Mining Museum began their strike for fair pay on 20 August 2025. What followed was an extraordinary display of courage, resilience and trade union solidarity.

For more than eight months, over 40 workers stood together in defence of fair treatment and respect in the workplace. Their determination ultimately helped secure an improved pay deal worth 10.5%, with disciplinary clauses removed from the final agreement.

Wakefield District UNISON is immensely proud of every member who took part in the dispute, supported picket lines, donated to hardship funds, shared messages of solidarity and stood shoulder to shoulder throughout the campaign.

This dispute showed what can be achieved when workers organise, stay united and refuse to give up on what is right.

One year on, we remember the start of the struggle and celebrate the strength, solidarity and victory of NCMME workers.

✊ Solidarity Forever

Yorkshire & Humberside Coal Mining Museum for England Union Congress (TUC)

18/08/2026

📢 Regional UNISON Organisers at Wakefield One Today!

Organisers from UNISON Yorkshire & Humberside are at Wakefield One until 2pm today and would love to hear from you.

We're gathering feedback on the council's approach to hybrid working, giving colleagues the opportunity to share their experiences, views and suggestions.

Whether you're a current UNISON member or not, please stop by for a chat. We're happy to discuss all things UNISON, including workplace issues, representation, membership benefits and how we can support you at work.

📍 Wakefield One
🕑 Until 2pm today

Drop in, have a conversation and make sure your voice is heard.

14/08/2026

📢 Join the New UNISON Wakefield District WhatsApp Channel! 📢

Want to stay up to date with the latest news, campaigns, events, training opportunities, and important workplace updates from UNISON Wakefield District?

We're excited to launch our new WhatsApp Channel to help keep members informed quickly and easily.

✅ Receive important updates direct to your phone
✅ Hear about local campaigns and events
✅ Stay informed on workplace issues and member benefits
✅ Your privacy is protected – channel followers cannot see each other's details

Join today and never miss an update from your union!

📱 Follow our WhatsApp Channel here: [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbDKwGzLCoX8juC3PI25]

Please share with fellow UNISON members across Wakefield District and help us grow our online community.

Together we're stronger.

12/08/2026

National Coal Mining Museum Warned by Charity Commission

The Charity Commission has confirmed it will issue formal regulatory advice to trustees at the National Coal Mining Museum following concerns raised by staff during the long-running dispute. The guidance will cover areas including risk assessment, legal compliance and acting in the best interests of the charity.

This is an important outcome. Workers raised concerns about governance and decision-making, and the Charity Commission's intervention shows those concerns warranted serious scrutiny.

UNISON Yorkshire & Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said, "The Charity Commission findings will help ensure the National Coal Mining Museum is managed appropriately and safeguard its long-term future."

The National Coal Mining Museum is a national asset and a vital part of our mining heritage. We welcome any steps that strengthen accountability and help protect its future for staff, visitors and mining communities alike.

11/08/2026

🚨 SOCIAL MEDIA DISCIPLINARIES ON THE RISE 🚨

UNISON is seeing an increase in cases where members are facing workplace investigations and disciplinary action linked to social media activity.

What might seem like a harmless post, comment, share, repost or reaction can quickly be screenshotted, shared beyond its intended audience and used as evidence in a workplace investigation. Deleted posts don't always disappear.

Before you hit "Post", ask yourself:

✅ Would I say this at work?
✅ Could this be misunderstood?
✅ Would I be comfortable explaining it to my manager?
✅ Would I be comfortable hearing it read out at a disciplinary hearing?

Take a few minutes to read our latest Wakey Worker bulletin and the UNISON Social Media Guidance. It could help you avoid finding yourself in an unnecessary disciplinary situation.

10/08/2026

Pride - A Statement from Wakefield District UNISON

Following on from the success of Longboat Community Pride, Wakefield District UNISON would like to thank everyone who came together to celebrate, support and champion our LGBT+ communities. The turnout, the solidarity and the sense of collective pride on display showed the very best of our district.

One of the most inspiring aspects of the day was the fantastic display of flags representing the many identities that make up our LGBT+ community. From the Rainbow Pride flag to the Trans, Non-Binary, Bisexual, Le***an, Pansexual and other community flags, each carried a powerful message of visibility, recognition and belonging. Together they reflected the richness and diversity of our communities and demonstrated that every person deserves to be seen, respected and celebrated for who they are.

But Pride has never been just a celebration.
Pride was born from protest, from a refusal to accept discrimination, exclusion and inequality. It remains a powerful statement that LGBT+ people deserve not only equal rights, but visible and active support from the institutions that serve our communities.

The vibrant sea of colours seen throughout Longboat Community Pride was a reminder that symbols matter. Flags alone do not deliver equality, but they do send a clear message. They tell people they belong. They demonstrate solidarity. They show that diversity is something to be celebrated rather than hidden away. In a world where LGBT+ people continue to face prejudice, discrimination and hostility, visible expressions of support remain as important as ever.

The success of Longboat Community Pride demonstrated that the people of Wakefield stand for diversity, equality and inclusion. The enthusiasm, warmth and unity shown throughout the event proved that our community is at its strongest when everyone is able to be visible, proud and unapologetically themselves.
As a trade union, Wakefield District UNISON will continue to stand proudly alongside our LGBT+ members and communities. We will continue to challenge discrimination, campaign for equality and fight for a society where everyone can live openly, safely and with dignity. We also believe that public bodies, employers and civic institutions should never underestimate the positive impact that visible signs of inclusion and solidarity can have on the communities they serve.

Trade unions have always been at their strongest when we stand together against injustice. We know that an injury to one is an injury to all, and that equality is never advanced by silence. Progress is made when people are visible, when communities come together, and when those with a platform choose to stand in solidarity.

Wakefield District UNISON

09/08/2026

🌈 Wakefield UNISON is at Wakefield Community Pride today! 🏳️‍🌈

We're proud to be standing alongside our LGBT+ members, allies and the wider community to celebrate diversity, inclusion and equality across the Wakefield district.

If you're at Pride today, come and say hello to the team, learn more about UNISON, and join us in celebrating a fantastic day of community, solidarity and pride.

A big thank you to everyone involved in making this event happen, including LonGBoaT Wakefield and the many volunteers and organisations who help make Pride such a welcoming and inclusive celebration.

Happy Pride, Wakefield! 🌈✊

04/08/2026

✊ Congratulations to the staff at Brighton & Hove Museums on successfully concluding their dispute and securing an agreement that protects key terms and conditions, alongside formal collective bargaining rights through their unions, UNISON and GMB.

Throughout our own dispute at the National Coal Mining Museum for England, these workers showed solidarity and support for our members. Trade unionism is built on standing together, and Brighton's museum workers demonstrated exactly what that means in practice.

Their determination, unity and willingness to take action to defend their jobs and conditions has delivered a positive outcome. It's a reminder that when workers organise collectively and stand together, they can make a real difference.

From all of us at Wakefield District UNISON, we send our congratulations and thanks. Your solidarity during our campaign was greatly appreciated, and we're delighted to see your members achieve this well-earned result.

An injury to one is an injury to all. Solidarity forever. ✊❤️

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg4jzrwz5eo