Commenting on the autumn statement today (Thursday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The previous Conservative government trashed the economy. But the chancellor behaves likes it’s nothing to do with him. Millions will be feeling the financial pain for years to come.
“Super-high inflation means callous cutbacks are on the cards for essential services. Everyone’s paying the price for getting the Conservatives out of the mess they alone created.
“The government acts like there’s no public sector pay or workforce crisis. Nothing was said today to change the minds of NHS staff currently voting on strike action.
“Health worker wages must be boosted now to prevent a damaging dispute this winter. Otherwise, the NHS can’t hang on to experienced staff, halt the damaging exodus of key workers or improve wait times for patients.
“Essential services need staff or they can’t deliver. That might not matter to the government, but it’s incredibly important to the public.
“It’s time for this inept government to step aside for one that would see well-funded public services as a driver of the economic growth the UK so desperately needs.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
