UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, warned that women are bearing the brunt of the Government’s savage cuts agenda while the bankers who caused the recession escape blame, in a speech to delegates at UNISON’s National Women’s Conference in Harrogate today (18 February).
Two thirds of public sector workers, who face huge job losses and cuts, are women. Women also rely heavily on the vital services, often carrying the burden of caring for children, relatives, the vulnerable and the sick.
The 650 conference delegates represent the one million women members of UNISON who work across the public sector, including nurses, teaching assistants, careers advisors, social workers and librarians.
General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:
“Just this week unemployment rose again to 2.5 million and this toll will climb higher in the months to come, with half a million public service workers thrown out of work.
“At least two thirds of those workers are likely to be women – probably more, since women work in the jobs which are most vulnerable to cuts.
“Even if women manage to hold onto their jobs many will still be hit by either losing working tax credits, or child benefit.
“The greedy bankers who caused the recession must be properly held to account and the mega-rich forced to pay their fair share towards the recovery.
“We know the country faces tough choices, but that means getting tough with those who have had it easy for far too long.”