The general secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today sent the government a strong message that it would smash the pay freeze, by taking a mallet and smashing a frozen pound sign at the union’s annual conference in Bournemouth.
The union is calling on the government to end the pay freeze, that has been up to three years long for some workers – leaving them and their families struggling to make ends meet. Ending the pay freeze would also have the knock on effect of boosting our economic recovery – which is stuck in reverse under this government’s austerity programme.
Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary, said:
“We are putting the government on notice. Our demand is for decent pay. If we cannot win through negotiation we will fight to win it through strike action. We will smash the pay freeze.
“Putting pay on ice has been devastating for public sector workers and their families. It cannot go on and we will not let it go on. They are scared of spending in shops and businesses and this is not only misery for familes, but also condemns our chances of economic recovery to the dustbin.”
Dave Prentis will make his keynote speech to conference at 2.30 today.
ENDS