National media team
These numbers are for media use only, not for queries about membership or general enquiries about the union.
Liz Chinchen is on duty for the weekend of 11/12 May. If you’ve already sent an email, please do follow up with a call, text or WhatsApp. Many thanks
Liz Chinchen E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk M: 07778 158175
Fatima Ayad E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk M: 07508 080383
Anthony Barnes E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk M: 07834 864794
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 […]
Responding to NHS England’s announcement today (Thursday) about changes to ambulance call handler targets, national ambulance officer Alan Lofthouse said: “Every second counts for emergency call handers. So giving them longer to do their job will help save scarce resources at a time when staff are under huge pressure. “But common sense changes alone won’t rescue underfunded […]
Commenting on the Taylor review on modern employment practices, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “There is serious room for improvement in employment practices particularly for home care workers who are still being exploited en masse. “It’s shocking that so many are not even paid the legal minimum for the work they do. This significantly […]
Minimum hourly pay for workers must be increased substantially to reflect the rising cost of living, said UNISON today (Friday). The union is calling on the government to raise the current legal minimum from £7.50 an hour to the level of the real living wage (£8.45 an hour or £9.75 in London). It also wants […]
Seventeen unions representing employees across the NHS have today (Tuesday) expressed anger and deep disappointment at the government’s failure to deal with the ongoing public sector pay crisis. Unions say health staff are angry that ministers have still not said they will allow the pay review bodies to operate without interference, and will fully fund […]
Commenting on the latest NMC figures, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said: “With both UK and EU nurses leaving, the NHS is heading towards a serious staffing crisis. The country simply isn’t training enough nurses to make up for those who are leaving. Scrapping the bursary and introducing tuition fees have only made matters […]
