Public service champions working to deal with the coronavirus crisis are joining the union in record numbers as they seek support and security.
The latest figures show that the union has grown by almost 16,000 members since the beginning of the year. That came after some 62,000 new members joined UNISON in the last three months – with record numbers signing up in the last few weeks.
That is “a sign of how worried people are,” said general secretary Dave Prentis. “People are joining the union for advice and security at this worrying time. And they are turning to UNISON because our workplace reps and activists are second to none.
“I know we can step up to this huge challenge and be there when our members need us most.
“Public-service workers are going above and beyond to protect our loved ones and keep our communities safely functioning.
“Supporting them and campaigning for their protection is the priority of our union at this trying time; the priority for all our structures, our regions, our branches, our staff and our activists.
“I am so proud that our union is working so hard for our members and for public service workers in general.”
In all, UNISON has 15,755 more members than we had at the start of the year, with most of that growth coming in March and early April.
And nearly a third of that growth – almost 5,000 new members – was the result of people working in schools joining the union.