Awards recognise public service workers

by Trisha Hamilton and John Gallacher

As the public sector comes more and more under attack, two sets of awards, backed by UNISON, have recognised the excellent work of public service staff.

Renfrewshire Council’s Twilight Time team scooped the title of Outstanding Public Service Team of the Year at the Herald Society Awards. The UNISON-sponsored award was presented by UNISON President Angela Lynes at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow in October.

The team was recognised for helping tackle rent arrears and under-claimed benefits by extending the hours at which teams worked. This not only helped vulnerable clients but also increased rental income, meaning the project made a net contribution to council funds.

This is the third year UNISON Scotland has supported The Herald Society Awards.

Our members in the public and voluntary sectors work extremely hard to deliver quality services. These awards provide an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the many ways in which countless dedicated staff consistently exemplify the strong public sector ethos that exists in Scotland.

At a time when public services are under sustained and unfair attack to pay for the failings of the banks, our Public Works campaign highlights how we all rely on a daily basis on public services such as water, transport, education, bin collections and the NHS.

Scottish Health Awards

UNISON HEALTH was again proud to be a major sponsor of the annual Scottish Health Awards. UNISON Scotland, in association with Lothian, Ayrshire & Arran and Fife health branches were corporate sponsors and backed the Support Worker Award.

Matt Smith, Scottish Secretary, presented winner Jason Wallace, Veterans Peer Support Worker, Veterans First Point, with the award.

The Greater Glasgow and Clyde & CVS Branch sponsored the Nurse of the Year 2010 Award and Branch Chair Marie Garrity was pleased to present winner Libby Jardine, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Acute Pain, Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary with her award.

The event allows a key opportunity to network with senior politicians, policy makers and key players in NHS Boards and allows Scotland to showcase a model of Healthcare which, eschewing marketisation and privatisation, continues to deliver world class results.

headlines . top