Dave Prentis is UNISON’s general secretary – the highest elected post in the union. He speaks up for UNISON members, campaigns for public services and leads the union.
Read Dave’s blog for views on issues UNISON is working on and information on what he’s doing.
Mike Jeram is someone who deserved a long and happy retirement after years of dedicated service to a union which he loved and its members who he cared about, and I am so sad that his life was cut far too short. But Mike’s was a life lived well, surrounded by people who loved him and who love in return. He was a great servant to our union, and like so many more across our whole union, I will miss him.
A year ago Theresa May promised she’d govern differently. Of course, the past 12months have shown that her promises aren’t worth listening to. But it is not too late for the prime minister to take a different course, and invest in our nation’s health and in those who care for us.
Together, UNISON can win for all public sector workers, wherever you work, and deliver that long-overdue pay rise.
Today’s result should bring to an end the cruel employment tribunal fees regime, and ensure that no-one else is ever forced to pay crippling fees just to access basic justice. But it is also a reminder of the importance of trade unions in fighting for all of our rights, and the importance of a legal system that allows us to stand with our members, and win for our members.
Since the failed coup a year ago, Turkey has experienced an unprecedented erosion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Hard won rights fought for and won over decades could be eliminated by the stroke of a pen in Whitehall.
The recent election showed how much impact our union can have. Our issues became the country’s issues, and our policies were integral to Labour’s manifesto. Now, thanks in great part to the work of so many UNISON members, there are now ten new UNISON MPs joining their colleagues in Parliament.
We’re launching a new campaign, which we’ll be rolling out over the summer, to win all public sector workers the pay rise that you have for so long been denied.
I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be today than Cardiff, where I’ll be attending the Annual UNISON Cymru/Wales Regional Health Awards. I’m looking forward to talking to – and thanking – some of the heroes of our health service. And where better to do it than in Wales, home of the founder of our Health service, and an inspiration to so many – Nye Bevan.
It was great to see such crowds out in force to tell Theresa May, her party and her DUP allies that it’s time for an end to austerity, to the pay cap and to this failing Tory government.
A political choice was made by those in government that has left nurses, care workers and school staff worse off year after year. Kind words and praise are better than the usual criticism from the government and their friends in the press, but they are no substitute for real action. As I said at our conference last week – this has to be our year to smash the pay cap once and for all.
This weekend I want to see UNISON members out in force on Saturday’s People’s Assembly demo, raising their voices and standing up for our public services. By standing together we can and will change our country.
We have been with Jeremy when times were tough and we will be with him in the years ahead. So when the next election comes, which may not be too far off, we will be ready to fight for him and for a different vision of our country again – because his agenda is our agenda.
Our conference is once again having the real and necessary debate about our country’s future. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for our country’s government. Theresa May has shown not only her weakness and desperation to cling onto power, but also her inability to grasp just how much our nation cries out as one to demand change.
It is clear that this assault on worshippers leaving a Mosque in Finsbury Park during the holy month of Ramadan was a further attempt by extremists to divide our nation and our communities. To target those who had been praying peacefully – targeting a group of people based solely on their religion – is a despicable act.
