From Durham to Derbyshire, Cardiff to Cromer, up to Scotland, and down to the South West and over to Northern Ireland, UNISON members are gathering for a Valentine’s Day blitz.
With a predicted 1.2m public service jobs under threat – giant Valentine’s Day cards will be taken to hospitals, schools, day centres, libraries, leisure centres, town halls and police stations, to highlight the variety and value of work carried out every day across the UK.
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:
“The hearts may be different – but the message is the same, have a heart for your public services – they are too valuable to lose.
“Since the Government came to power it has declared war on public services with savage cuts and job losses expected to rise to 1.2m. This means that the services in hospitals, schools, libraries, elderly and children’s care and many more that the public rely on, are disappearing fast.
“With 2.49m people unemployed, axing more public service workers makes no sense. It is time for the Government to have a change of heart and think again about pursuing its failed economic policies that are leading to rising inflation and threatening to drag the country into a triple dip recession.
“What the country needs from Government is a coherent plan for investing in jobs and growth in order to boost the money available to spend on improving and providing public services, instead of devastating them.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Selection of places where cards being delivered
Protest at Durham University – this event will be 12.30 -1.00pm
Middlesbrough town centre from 11am-1pm
Gateshead town centre lunch time
Ambulance staff will be demonstrating outside Cromer Ambulance Station, Middlebrook Way, Cromer, NR27 9JR. On the eve of Valentines Day they will be sending Mr Morgan a giant card urging him not to “break their hearts” and protect ambulance services.
Peterborough City Hospital on Valentines Day – Edith Cavell Campus, Bretton Gate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE3 9GZ
11.00 Friday 15th at Bury St Edmunds Regional Office – UNISON, St Edmunds House, Lower Baxter Street, Bury St. Edmunds
Exeter, Devon -photo shoot will be outside UNISON regional office – UNISON House Emperor Way Exeter Business Park Exeter EX1 3QS
Bridgwater, Somerset – event taking place at Bridgwater Hospital on Valentine’s day
Events at Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast; Mater Hospital, Belfast; City Hospital, Belfast; Lagan Valley Hospital, Causeway Hospital and the Blood Transfusion Unit, Belfast.