Welcome to our SWU Updates website which will be periodically updated with useful information for SWU members and Union Contacts. We value your thoughts and contributions so please keep in touch and feel ee to provide feedback. Thank you.
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March 2021 – On International Women’s Day lets encourage our sisters to become unionised and promote activism and campaigning. Take a look at the March edition of the excellent SWU Newsletter, with some interesting articles and information to enthuse the Activist in all of us. If you’d like to support your trade union by becoming a SWU Union Contact, please get in touch.
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October 2020 – The SWU October Newsletter highlights our recent AGM and introduces our new Executive members … take a look, and if you’re a SWU member who’d like to contribute to the SWU Newsletter please get in touch.
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September 2020 – Please spend a few minutes looking at our September edition of the excellent SWU Newsletter, full of interesting and informative items. If you’re a SWU member who’d like to contribute to the Newsletter please feel free to get in touch.
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August 2020 – The SWU AGM booking link is now live and please note that you need to register to participate using the following link:https://www.basw.co.uk/events/swu-annual-general-meeting-2020
SWU General Secretary, John McGowan, has produced another excellent SWU Blog highlighting the importance of encouraging young people to join and be involved in trade unions, which is of course an important role of the SWU Union Contact and trade unionists in general. Please follow this link:https://www.basw.co.uk/media/news/2020/aug/swu-blog-encouraging-young-members-get-involved
Held every year, the GFTU Young Members’ Development Weekend 2020 promotes trade unions to young people and shows how unions are relevant to their lives at work and beyond.
If you have any questions relating to this or any other Union Contact issues, please don’t hesitate to contact Carol Reid.
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June 2020 Update: SWU Executive Committee
SWU is now seeking nominations from members to fill vacancies on its Executive Committee – please read the attached information and please consider getting involved. We are hoping to attract a vibrant and diverse group of members to fill our Executive Committee and welcome female, BAME and student members.
Executive (full-day) meetings take place 5 times per year in Birmingham and come with an allowance, lunch and travel expenses. Closing date for nominations is Friday 31st July. If you have any questions and for further details please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Motions for SWU Annual General Meeting SWU is gathering Motions for its AGM on 25th September. If you would like to submit a Motion it must be accompanied by the names and membership numbers of at least 10 SWU members. The closing date for this is also 31st July and you can submit a Motion here.
Alternatively, you may wish to add your name to the following Motion which is being proposed by SWU’s Austerity Action Group. The Motion highlights the financial difficulties often faced by service-users with lived experiences who wish to provide meaningful and valuable input to the design and delivery of the services they use. If you agree with the following Motion please reply with your name and SWU membership number.
The Austerity Action Group proposes the following motion for the 2020 SWU AGM: Government policy advocates involving people with lived experience in the design and delivery of health and social care. The Austerity Action Group supports such involvement in policy formation but has noted that many service user and carer organisations have folded under austerity and that it is increasingly difficult to attract people with lived experience to commit to co-production. Key reasons for this are the fear of benefits sanctions and the complexities involved in deducting tax and NI for what is often casual, time-limited involvement. Local benefits advice on how to remunerate such involvement is convoluted and contradictory while universities and agencies all take different approaches. The Austerity Action Group proposes in this Motion that it will use its influence as part of SWU, and network across the UK to consult with key stakeholders towards defining a clear policy to put to government regarding remuneration for involvement of service users and carers.
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June 2020 – Take a look at the June edition of the SWU Newsletter which is full of interesting and thought-provoking articles. To name just a few we have an outline of the difference between BASW & SWU and why it’s important to join BOTH / Timely and relevant advice regarding the Health & Safety at Work Act / The extensive impact of Covid19 upon our BAME comrades / The importance of unions working together … and much more! If you would like to contribute to our Newsletter, which reaches over 13,000 SWU members, please get in touch.
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April 2020 – Please take a look at the May edition of the SWU Newsletter which we encourage members to share with colleagues and encourage any non-members to join SWU.
Union membership is now more vital then ever as employees see dramatic changes to their working conditions. If SWU members have any concerns about the current challenges of work which may be impacting upon their own health and wellbeing they should contact SWU Advice & Representation Team on 0121 622 8413 or via the SWU page on BASW’s website, where other items of interest can also be found.
SWU are always keen to hear from our members and Union Contacts, and if you have any items/articles/snippets/thoughts you’d like to share in the next Newsletter please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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March 2020 – Please see our March 2020 edition of the SWU Newsletter. We are particularly pleased with the result of our recent consultative ballot which is highlighted on Page 2 as this was our first such ballot and we are keen to know the thoughts of our membership, so thank you if you took the time to vote. We know from working with our excellent SWU Union Contacts that there is a mood for activism, as social workers and the families we support face the ongoing impact of austerity.
February 2020 – The Social Workers Union have announced the theme for their annual World Social Work Day student essay competition. There will be four grants of £500.00 for the best arguments on how to build better relationships. The question posed is: Working Better Together: How do we build stronger relationships between social workers and people using services?
For further details please follow this link
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February 2020 – SOCIAL WORKERS BENEVOLENT TRUST VIDEO – SWU funded Austerity Action Group offered its services to bring the work of SWBT to more people and used the launch of the BASW 50 Heritage Year to announce it. It will soon be available to view on the SWBT website: http://www.swbt.org
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January/February 2020 – A new year and a renewed enthusiasm for trade union membership and activism.
Take a look at our February Newsletter and feel free to contact us with thoughts and ideas. We always encourage Union Contacts and SWU members to contribute to YOUR Newsletter, so why not ask your colleagues if there’s anything they’d like to contribute as a team, or individually? It can be on any topic of interest to you, and you can remain anonymous if you wish.
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December 2019 – We hope you can take a break from the Christmas rush to enjoy the December/January edition of the SWU Newsletter. SWU would like to wish you a happy and peaceful festive season.
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November 2019 – Please take a look at this this month’s excellent SWU Newsletter. Included are some excellent reports from the recent Palestine trip, our General Secretary’s update, and ways to get involved in YOUR Union.
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November 2019 – SWU MANIFESTO FOR COMING ELECTION
Important message to all SWU Members and Union Contacts .. Please share the SWU Manifesto widely with your local candidates in the coming election. The Manifesto can be downloaded here and shared electronically.
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October 2019 – Take a look at the October edition of our Newsletter. As you’ll see, it’s a packed edition this month including highlights of our excellent Fringe event, Conference and AGM. If you’d like to contribute an article to the Newsletter please get in touch.
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September 2019 – SWU will have a presence at the important People’s Assembly Tory Party Conference Demonstration in Manchester on Sunday 29th September and we encourage Union Contacts to attend too. SWU’s anti-austerity activists will be meeting at the junction of Oxford Rd, adjacent to All Saints Park, 11.30-12noon. Please attend if you can to have our collective voices heard.
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September 2019 – Don’t miss our exciting Fringe event prior to our Annual Conference and AGM. SWU – the only trade union for Social Workers with a dedicated staff of qualified Social Workers who truly understand the complexities of the profession.
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September 2019 – Please take a look at our September Newsletter. We think it’s an excellent edition, and as ever we’d love to receive your input, articles and thoughts for future editions. This month includes an nteresting piece from one of our SWU Union Contacts which we hope will inspire you to contribute also. Perhaps you are involved in a political or community group which might interest SWU members? Drop me an email if there’s anything you’d like to submit to next month’s edition.
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August 2019 – We are now busy preparing our next monthly Newsletter and would like to request items, snippets, articles, quotes, or anything of interest that you would like to add to your Newsletter. You can submit a short paragraph or two, or a lengthier piece of around 500 words, the choice is yours. The important thing is to contribute to your SWU Newsletter.
How did you find your Union Contact Induction Day? What or who inspired you to become more involved in your Union? Are you involved in any political or community groups that SWU might link up with? Are your families/children inspired by your Activism? What angers/frustrates you about social work in times of austerity? What surprises/inspires you about your service users?
If you have a spare few minutes drop us a line with your thoughts on any of the above, and see your words in our next SWU Newsletter (deadline for submissions is 27th August).
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July 2019 – Have a look at our July-August Newsletter which we hope you’ll find useful and informative. As you’ll see there are many opportunities to become more involved and interact with your Union, whether it be joining us at Durham, writing an article, or most importantly promoting SWU membership in your workplaces. There is strength in numbers and it’s only by growing and promoting the union that we can truly support and represent the social work profession. Our Activists play a vital role in this and we appreciate your input.
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July 2019 – SWU are attending the wonderful Durham Miners’ Gala, leaving from Manchester at 7am. The trip is Free to SWU Union Contacts and SWU general members. PLACES ARE LIMITED SO PLEASE BOOK EARLY. For further details please see our flyer or contact our National Organiser.
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July 2019 – There are still just a couple of places available at our next Union Contact Induction Day on Saturday 27th July in Manchester. If you are passionate about collective action and Activism, and recognise the importance of Union membership, please come along to our next, or a future Induction Day. For further details and to reserve a place contact our National Organiser.
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June 2019 – Please take a look at our June Newsletter, which as ever is an interesting read.
You’ll see on page 9 the wonderful endorsements from both Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell who were met by our General Secretary whilst promoting our Working Conditions Campaign in Parliament.
You’ll also see in my Union Contact section on pages 11 & 12 that I’m really pleased to be organising our collective visit to the Durham Miners Gala on 13th July. I’m hoping this will be a popular trip as it’s a wonderful event, so if you’re interesting in coming along please email to let me know. The trip will be free to SWU members but places are limited so do get in touch.
We encourage Activism and welcome input from all Union Contacts, whether it be attending a march and rally, assisting on a conference stall, contributing to and sharing the Newsletter or of course encouraging membership in your workplace. It’s all Activism and it all assists in strengthening YOUR Union so do keep it up.
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June 2019 – *NEW BRANCH MEETING* SWU are pleased to announce the initial branch meeting of the new BASW Merseyside Branch on Thursday 13th June in Liverpool. Carol Reid, SWU National Organiser, will be there to provide details about the Union and discuss ways you can become involved and be active. If you’re in the Merseyside area we look forward to seeing you. For more details and to register your attendance please click here
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May 2019 – Brilliant support from our Labour leader, a genuine advocate for public-sector non-privatised services and the pay, conditions and wellbeing of all staff.
May 2019 – SWU receives great support from comrades in other unions within the wider GFTU community. Have a look at our Facebook page to see what’s been happening at the GFTU Conference.
The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union supporting the SWU at the GFTU Conference and our motion and support for better Working Conditions for Social Workers.
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May 2019 – Please take a look at our latest Newsletter, which goes from strength to strength in terms of interesting content. The picture attached is of a plaque created for SWU by Birmingham charity “ABC”. It’s thanks to our wonderful members and Union Contacts that we receive this recognition, so thank you.
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May 2019 – The free Compass Jobs Fair (North West Social Work Show) is taking place on Monday 13th May in Manchester. As ever SWU will be sharing a stall with BASW and if you get the opportunity to attend please do drop by to say hello.
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April 2019 – SWU are proud to offer our support and solidarity to Imam Sis, the Kurdish hunger-striker. For more details of Imam’s struggle and campaign see here
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April 2019 – SWU are pleased to say that we are now affiliated to this very worthy campaign. Have a look and sign up for their newsletter: https://www.chooseyouth.org/support-us/support-choose-youth/
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April 2019 – SWU are sharing some information from one of our BASW colleagues, Professional Officer Wayne Reid:
The Home Office have launched a consultation on serious youth violence to ensure public bodies, including social services, raise concerns about children at risk of becoming involved in serious youth violence and knife crime. The new, multi-agency, ‘public health duty’ is intended to help spot the warning signs that a young person could be in danger, such as presenting in A&E with a suspicious injury, to worrying behaviour at school or issues at home.
BASW England would like you to feed into our consultation response by sharing your thoughts and views about the proposals in the Home Office consultation document.
Please view the relevant documents and complete the BASW England survey here: https://www.basw.co.uk/…/have-your-say-home-office-consulat… before 14/05/19.
Please share with your social work contacts and networks, thank you.
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April 2019 – We are looking forward to having a stall with BASW at the Social Work Action Network UK Conference at Liverpool Hope University on Saturday 6th April. Come and visit us!! BASW & SWU, professional body and Trade Union – stronger together.
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April 2019 – Please take a look at our April Newsletter which is again full of interesting information and comment. I think John’s item is particularly interesting as it gives an insight into what goes on “behind the scenes” from other larger unions, who perhaps see our specialism and expertise as something of a threat.
Regardless of the underhand tactics of other unions, SWU continues to put our members first and endeavours to strengthen and grow our excellent Union. Our activists play a large part in this and we greatly value our growing team of SWU Union Contacts.
If you would like to contribute to the Newsletter, have any questions or feedback, or would like to become a SWU Union Contact, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
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March 2019 – We’re very proud of our SWU Union Contacts and would like to share the excellent and positive comments about SWU membership from some of our most recent inductees:
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March 2019 – Ever thought about getting involved in the SWU Executive Committee? We are currently recruiting members from Scotland and Wales:
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March 2019 – To celebrate World Social Work Day we are encouraging social work students to take part in our annual assignment competition which enables them to showcase their understanding of the socio-political implications underpinning the social work role – competition closing date is 10th June:
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March 2019 – SWU has flags, tee-shirts, banners etc that we make use of when attending group activities, marches and rallies, and we will have a presence at the Anti-racism march on Saturday 16th March, gathering with the “social work bloc” at the Joy of Life Fountain, Hyde Park at 11.45am. We can arrange for small amounts of hand held banners, bags and tee-shirts to be forwarded to SWU members and SWU Union Contact activists at your home addresses to take to the march on the day. BASW/SWU are also named on a large “SWSUAA” banner which is taken to all events, and which will be at the march on 16th. We’d encourage you to march alongside and take a turn of carrying the banner if you wish (SWSUAA = Social Workers and Service Users Against Austerity).
If you are a SWU member please let us know if you’d like to receive a batch of items for the march including address details to arrange delivery.
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March 2019 – Take a look at our March Newsletter, as ever filled with interesting information about all things SWU. Please do consider submitting items for the Union Contact section which is a great opportunity to “sound off”, share thoughts – either serious or humorous, or to introduce yourself and say why you chose to get involved. Items can be kept anonymous if you prefer, but we do like to include your picture if possible as we’re very proud of our SWU Union Contacts.
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March 2019 – SWU & BASW will again be sharing a stall at the Compass Jobs Fair which is taking place on Monday 4th March in Birmingham. All details including free entry tickets can be accessed here
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February 2019 – It’s that time again when we are preparing for our next SWU Newsletter. We really value the input of our current and future Union Contacts and welcome your contributions. Items can be funny, serious, work or family related – a few short lines or a lengthier article. You can remain anonymous if you wish, or we can add your name with or without a photo… it’s up to you! The important thing is that you participate in developing and growing SWU, and one of the number of ways of doing this is to contribute to the monthly Newsletter.
Perhaps you’d like to say why you joined a union? Why become active? Why encourage membership? All valid questions that new and potential members might ask you. The deadline is Wednesday 27th February so please have a think about what you’d like to say in YOUR newsletter and submit it here.
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February 2019 – We still have LIMITED places available at our next Union Contact Induction Day which takes place on Saturday 2nd March 2019 (10.15am to 3pm) at The Premier Inn Meeting Room, Piccadilly, 72 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 2HR. Lunch will be provided and travel expenses will be reimbursed by SWU. (Overnight accommodation can also be arranged for those travelling extensive distances. Please confirm attendance as soon as possible.)
The meeting will include a presentation by John McGowan, General Secretary of SWU and will include activities and information relating to trade union recruitment, campaigning and activism. We are also delighted to have the support of Dr Neil Thompson who will provide a learning session at the meeting and who will also provide each participating Union Contact free access to his online support programme, and a free copy of his new book “The Social Workers Practice Manual”. Julie Long, a full-time Advice & Representation Officer, will also be discussing her role and answering any questions.
If you’re a SWU member and you’d like to attend, please contact us and we’ll be happy to provide further information.
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February 2019 – Take a look at our February Newsletter, as ever filled with interesting information about all things SWU. Please do consider submitting items for the Union Contact section which is a great opportunity to “sound off”, share thoughts – either serious or humorous, or to introduce yourself and say why you chose to get involved. Items can be kept anonymous if you prefer, but we do like to include your picture if possible as we’re very proud of our SWU Union Contacts.
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February 2019 – Please take part in this brief Community Care survey relating to poor parking and hot-desking, both elements that impact on social workers’ wellbeing. Note the response from our General Secretary in the comments.
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February 2019 – Such a worthy cause. Please donate if you can:
January 2019 – The Social Workers’ Educational Trust provides grants of up to £500 to individuals who undertake post-qualifying training to improve their knowledge and skills for social work practice. Follow this link to their website.