CW: suicide Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. Just over a week ago, the Guardian reported that the male suicide rate in the UK was the highest it had been for two decades, with an overall increase in suicides across all genders. Suicide is a uniquely complex tragedy, and the stigma, taboo and lack of … Continue reading World Suicide Prevention Day- Breaking the taboo is everyone’s responsibility.

Are you going to clap for the NHS tonight? Last week, we spoke to community nurses who are being given one cotton mask per worker and told to re-use them. They don’t have any other PPE. They see patients in their own homes. Yesterday, The Guardian reported that the coroners conducting inquests into the deaths … Continue reading Are you going to clap for the NHS tonight?

One unavoidable theme running throughout the current pandemic is the important role of key workers in keeping our communities running and healthy. This includes paid work, but also the unseen work that is rarely highlighted, but equally important, such as the work that we put into looking after our families, our friends, neighbours and even … Continue reading The Perception of Work Post-Lockdown

Today (May 9th), AWP staff joined in another lunchtime protest orchestrated by Unison Wiltshire and Avon branch. BCWN has been  scathingly critical of these pantomime pickets, since they take place over our lunch breaks and as such involve no actual work stoppage (see our previous response here). Staff's response today was fairly mixed but despite … Continue reading AWP: Another lunchtime walkout, and threats and bribes from the CEO.

Well, it finally happened. Last week Unison formally notified AWP CEO's that they will be balloting admin staff for a strike against the proposed cuts to admin jobs. We're incredibly excited about this and will be doing our best to support our workmates in whatever way we can. Let's fight to win.

AWP’s CEOs have now responded to the formal dispute raised by Unison two weeks ago. Management’s response doesn’t adequately address the  problems which the union raised, and on Monday we had news that Unison Wiltshire and Avon branch are preparing for a strike ballot. BCWN has been (and always will be) critical of the mainstream … Continue reading AWP job cuts update: Unison amble into action.

    Avon and Wiltshire Partnership (AWP) is an NHS mental health trust which covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire localities. AWP also runs some services in Dorset. AWP employs about 4000 people including a fair few BCWN members. AWP is planning on cutting band 4 admin … Continue reading Update on the AWP admin job cuts

When is an action not an action?   When you have to do it on your lunchbreak to avoid inconveniencing your employer. When it doesn't involve any, you know, action. When it's organised by Unison.   AWP, our local NHS mental health trust, are cutting 70+ band 4 admin posts, with a knock-on effect on … Continue reading “Like Punching Yourself in the Face So You Can Show Off The Bruise”- Job cuts in AWP, and a day of action without any action.

Bristol Care Workers Network statement on the Stand up to Mencap! demo on October 27th Who are we? Bristol Care Workers Network is a grassroots union for health and social care workers in Bristol. We take inspiration from radical and syndicalist unions like the Solidarity Federation and the IWW. We reject the top-down, bureaucratic trade … Continue reading “Law or no law, we intend to keep fighting”- Bristol Care Workers Network statement on the Stand up to Mencap! demo on October 27th