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Commenting on NHS England statistics covering Theresa May’s first year as Prime Minister, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis today (Thursday) said: “Patients are clearly paying the price for Theresa May’s time in Downing Street. Staff too are struggling to cope, delivering more with less while their pay lags ever further behind inflation. “It’s no surprise […]
Responding to government plans to provide an extra 10,000 training places for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “These new posts are nowhere near enough to make up for the number of UK and EU nurses and midwives leaving the NHS. “Staff shortages, huge workloads, the withdrawal of the nursing bursary and the […]
The government must bring failing privatised probation services back under public control instead of leaving the taxpayer to bail them out, UNISON, NAPO and GMB said today (Wednesday). The three public service unions have written to justice secretary David Lidington highlighting how ‘risky and controversial’ reforms – where private probation firms manage thousands of people who have […]
UNISON has won a landmark court victory today (Friday) that makes it much harder for employers to ignore staff when making major changes in the workplace. The Court of Appeal ruling means that for the first time employers will be obliged to consult with unions around any workplace issues that affect their members. Until now, […]
UNISON has won a landmark court victory today (Wednesday) against the government, which means that employment tribunal fees will now be scrapped. The Supreme Court – the UK’s highest court – has unanimously ruled that the government was acting unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it introduced the fees four years ago. From today, anyone who has […]
In response to new figures published today (Thursday) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealing a sharp rise in violent crime, UNISON national officer for police staff Ben Priestley said: “This worrying rise isn’t surprising given years of police force cuts. “Solving and preventing crime has become harder with fewer staff. “More people will […]
Wednesday 19 July 2017 For immediate release Commenting on the government’s announcement that it plans to bring forward the rise in pension age from 67 to 68 by seven years, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This will be another bitter blow for public sector workers whose workplace retirement is also linked to the state […]
Responding to the government announcement today (Wednesday) of £325m for NHS transformation projects, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “Any investment in the NHS is welcome as spending on facilities and services is urgently needed. “But ministers must accept that change is not possible without the staff to provide these services. “It’s now time […]
Commenting on the latest inflation figures, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “With inflation much higher than wages, nurses, teaching assistants and care staff are getting poorer. “The government’s harsh approach to public sector pay is completely out of step with the public mood. “Every day the pay cap stays, public sector employees are […]
The government’s funding announcement today (Monday) is disappointing and means a return to smoke and mirrors statements on school funding, say education unions. UNISON, ATL, NUT and GMB have said that whilst any extra money is welcome, it isn’t enough to stop the huge cuts that schools are making. Calculations published on the organisations’ School Cuts […]
Commenting on the Chancellor’s comments today (Sunday) on public sector pay, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The Chancellor’s remarks show he is completely out of touch. After seven years of a punishing pay cap, all public sector employees need a pay rise. “The care worker hurrying from house to house doesn’t feel overpaid, […]
The UK’s three largest unions have submitted a pay claim on behalf of the 32,000 police staff they represent in England and Wales. UNISON, UNITE and GMB have put in a claim for a 5% or £1,000 increase – whichever is greater – for all police staff. It also includes a 5% increase to the […]
Commenting on the publication of the Great Repeal Bill today (Thursday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The rights of people at work must stay protected. It’s not enough to safeguard them until Brexit, when all bets are off. “If agreements aren’t set up, the economy and public services could be hit. “Parliament – not […]