National media team
These numbers are for media use only, not for queries about membership or general enquiries about the union.
Anthony Barnes is on duty for the bank holiday weekend of 4/5/6 May. If you’ve already sent an email, please do follow up with a call, text or WhatsApp to ensure we’ve seen. 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
A new ‘bill of rights’ recommended today (Friday) by MPs for care workers to end low pay and high job turnover rates has been welcomed by UNISON. This key reform has been proposed by the Communities and Local Government Committee (CLG) in a report into the funding and provision of adult social care. The Committee […]
Commenting on the publication of NHS England’s update on its five-year plan for the NHS, UNISON head of health Christina McAnea said: “The health service consistently delivers for patients – often in very challenging circumstances. This plan acknowledges that and the huge contribution of staff in making the NHS such a success. “Now it’s over […]
An academy chain with schools in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside has announced today (Thursday) that as many as 40 support staff could face redundancy over plans to cut budgets. The David Ross Education Trust launched a consultation exercise earlier today over proposals to cut nearly £1m in funding from its 32 primary […]
Commenting on the publication of the Bill today (Thursday) that will see the transfer of European laws onto the the UK statute book, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The clock is ticking towards an uncertain future for anyone at work. Until now many of the laws that protect employees from unfair or unsafe treatment at the […]
Commenting on the announcement from the NHS pay review body (PRB) today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Health service employees go above and beyond caring for patients and keeping the health service running – often in very challenging circumstances. “The government insists it values them, but after endless pay freezes and wage caps, […]
Commenting on the announcement today (Tuesday) from the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) of its proposals for 2017/18, Christina McAnea, the spokesperson for unions representing staff working in the NHS, and head of health at UNISON, said: “This deal amounts to less than £5 a week for most midwives, nurses, cleaners, paramedics, radiographers and other healthcare staff. “It’s a derisory […]
UNISON’s legal battle to give people at work the right to access justice – without having to pay expensive fees – when employers break the law goes to the Supreme Court today (Monday). The two-day hearing is the final stage of UNISON’s legal campaign against the introduction of employment tribunal fees, which began back in […]
Strike action by Derby school support staff is to be suspended following a new offer from the city council, UNISON has announced today (Friday). UNISON will now recommend that its members across the city’s schools accept the offer. That offer will now be put to staff, and if they vote to accept the deal, the […]
Responding to Office of National Statistics figures published today (Wednesday) that show that the number of workers on zero-hours contracts has increased to 905,000, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Zero-hours contracts are everywhere in social care. They give the upper hand to unscrupulous employers and silence employees who fear they’ll lose hours if they […]
Commenting on the Resolution Foundation report on public sector pay released today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “After years of harsh pay restraint, those delivering our public services are facing yet more financial hardship. “School staff, nurses and council workers are struggling to make ends meet. “If ministers don’t reverse their damaging policy […]
Women born in the 1950s who lost out on their state pension when the government made retirement age 65 for both men and women are lobbying MPs later today (Wednesday). The changes introduced in 1995 have affected approximately 2.6m women now in their late 50s and early to mid 60s, who’ve had barely any notice […]
Commenting on the annual staff survey published today (Tuesday) by NHS England, UNISON head of health Christina McAnea said: “There are simply too few staff to cope with the growing demands being made on the NHS. Many regularly stay past the end of their shifts, only too aware of the effect upon patients and colleagues […]
Thousands of people, including healthcare staff, will march in London at the weekend (Saturday) to protest at continuing cuts to NHS services, say UNISON. The march will highlight increased pressure on NHS staff as patient demand rises but resources dwindle. More hospitals face bed cuts and some A&E departments may close as the government attempts […]
