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.
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.
Our hearts go out to all those caught up in the fire in Kensington, many of whom still don’t know what has happened to their friends and family members, and to those who escaped, but have lost everything.
I am proud of the role we played from our tireless work in key constituencies, our high profile advertising and social media campaigns, to the personalised emails and direct mail we were able to send to our members. It all made a big difference to the results across the country.
We are now just days away from a day that will define the future of our country and our public services. The choice is a clear one. More cuts, more pain, lower wages and more public service job cuts under the Conservatives. Or an end to austerity, real investment in public services and a bright, […]
Today and in the days ahead, the people of London will continue to live, work and love in this great city – and they will never be defeated by acts of violence and cowardice which seek to divide us.
Next week the country has a choice between school cuts under the Tories and investment in our children’s education under Labour – I know what choice I’ll be making, and which is better for our schools, our children and the future of our country.
In the weeks ahead, let us make these the issues that define the general election – because they are the issues that will define the future of our country for a generation.
We pay tribute to the staff who worked throughout the night to save lives, to those who rushed into work when they heard news of the attack and to those who will continue to put Manchester back together in the days and weeks ahead. We could not be prouder to have y as part of our union.
The future of our public services are at stake, and with them, the jobs, pay and lives of all UNISON members. If you’re reading this then those are things you care about. So register to vote – and stand up for public services.
