The first UNISON Champions Day is being held today, 7 December, to celebrate and defend local government workers for the everyday heroes they are and extend the work of the union’s Local Service Champions campaign.
Up and down the country, workplaces will be holding coffee mornings, profiling the work of their champions in local news, and inviting MPs to events to celebrate and raise the profile of local government workers.
For the day, UNISON has released a special film of this year’s Local Service Champions award winner, Paddy Toner, a rehabilitation worker from Halton, being interviewed by British film, TV and stage star Christopher Eccleston.
The actor, of Doctor Who and Our Friends in the North fame, is passionate about the work that public service workers do and was keen to shine a light on the vital impact of these workers, which has been overlooked for so long.
In the interview, Paddy and Christopher talk about what rehabilitation workers do, the value of public services in local communities and the struggles that many councils are facing with the looming threat of further budget cuts after 12 years of austerity.
UNISON is encouraging branches, members and the public to get involved. Even if it’s too late to organise or go along to events in your area, you can still get involved online by posting your support on social media using the hashtag #ChampionsDay.
Meanwhile, nominations for the Local Service Champion awards 2023 also opened today – now is the chance to thank someone working in authority services who has really made a difference in their role so why not nominate an everyday hero you feel deserves to win.