Commenting on new analysis from the TUC published today (Thursday), suggesting that more than half a million children from public sector families will be living in poverty by April, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“Poor pay has left many public sector families desperately watching the pennies.
“A career helping and caring for others was never going to make millionaires of NHS, school and council staff, but none of them would have expected to be so hard up after years of public service, and for their children to be the ones that suffer.
“A society that values its public services must extend that worth to the workforce too. It’s time ministers paid up and lifted thousands of children above the breadline.”
The TUC research shows that an extra 150,000 children with a parent working in the public sector have been pushed below the poverty line because of a combination of government restrictions on pay and cuts to in-work benefits.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Clare Santry T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07944 191479 E: c.santry@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
