This is a new email bulletin, eFocus, which replaces News from the general secretary and comes to you on a Monday. It's been busy in recent weeks, so we launched with extra editions for conference and then a special equal pay briefing last week, but in future, this will be a weekly event. more...

Ballot decision deferred pending last-ditch talks
(6/07/07) Union welcomes chance to discuss health pay again

Fremantle staff stand firm
(06/07/07) Carehome staff walk out over cuts to terms and conditions

UNISON call to end homecare scandal
(04/07/07) Heartless and shortsighted to ration pensioner services, says union

Caring for the home carers
The fight to save this vital public service is part of UNISON's Positively Public campaign

Stubbing it out - what it means
Across the UK, smoking is now banned in any workplace or enclosed public space

UNISON will defend national bargaining in Higher Education
Update on UNISON's position.

UNISON Welfare flood advice
If you are working with members affected by the recent floods, UNISON Welfare may be able to help with advice or financial assistance.

Reasons to exclude or expel: advice to branches
Recent publicity around the rights of trades unions to expel members of extremist political organisations (for example, the BNP) has led the NEC to issue new advice to branches on when we can exclude someone from joining or move to expel an existing member.
Reasons to exclude or expel [PDF]

Retired members' conference 2007
A preliminary agenda is being forwarded to branches for the retired members' conference to be held in Plymouth on 9-10 October 2007.
Amendments to motions must be submitted to Gill Archer at UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ, by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 15 August 2007.Contact Gill Archer: g.archer@unison.co.uk tel: 020 7551 1340

Download preliminary agenda:
Retired Members conference 2007: preliminary agenda [PDF]

Review of national delegate conference 2007
The national delegate conference standing orders committee will be holding its annual review of conference in the autumn and is seeking views from the regions, the National Executive Council, self-organised groups, retired members committee and the young members' forum, together with any recommendations for improvements or changes.
Responses should be sent, preferably by email, to soc@unison.co.uk or, alternatively to Julian Cooke, 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ by Friday 13 October 2007.
Branches can communicate directly with the committee about any views. It would be helpful if those views could be expressed via the region.

Training
Activists' training in your region

UNISON newsletter is issued to all registered members. If you are receiving this in error, or your email address is changing, please go to:
UNISON.org.uk/help/changeofemail/

Want more info? Visit our website at www.unison.org.uk for comprehensive news, info and updates on UNISON's campaigns and information. If you need help or information fast, call UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845.

Feel free to download or copy this info for personal or trade union use, but please do not post this bulletin to a public forum as it may contain information for registered users only.

To ensure UNISON newsletters are not classified as junk, add auto.email@unison.co.uk to your address book. Click here for more details