Labour’s plan promises to transform workplace rights, says UNISON

Commenting on the Labour Party’s 20-point plan for the workplace, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Labour’s plan promises to transform employees’ rights. These proposals will change the lives of millions of working people for thebetter. “Ending the one per cent pay cap would make such a hugedifference to the lives of thousands of nurses, […]

Government guarantees might help reassure NHS and care workforces, says UNISON

Commenting on the report published today (Friday) by the Health Select Committee into the impact of Brexit upon health and social care in the UK, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The Brexit vote has plunged the NHS and social care into deeply uncertain times. The government’s reluctance to grant EU nationals working in our […]

Jon Ashworth, Shadow health secretary

UNISON responds to Labour’s pledge for NHS staff

Photo: Jon Ashworth, shadow health secretary. Photo: Jenny Harvey – @Jenksy Responding to Labour’s NHS election pledge, announced by shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth (Wednesday) in Liverpool – at UNISON’s annual health conference – UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “NHS staff give one hundred per cent day in, day out with many doing life-saving work. […]

Dave Prenits at the rostrum speaking to UNISON health delegates in Liverpool

‘Six weeks to save the NHS’, says Prentis

UNISON health conference told: ‘We must put the health service centre stage in the general election’

Dave Prentis speaking at UNISON Conference

Don’t trust the Conservatives with the NHS, says UNISON general secretary

‘With the election just over six weeks away, the NHS needs those who have the will, the spirit and the dedication to fight for it, and to save it,’ Dave Prentis tells health conference

Satirical film starring Claire Sweeney highlights ‘absurdity’ of 15-minute care visits

Satirical film starring Claire Sweeney highlights ‘absurdity’ of 15-minute care visits Former Brookside actress and 60 Minute Makeover presenter Claire Sweeney features in a satire – commissioned by UNISON – highlighting the indignity suffered by thousands of elderly people because of 15-minute care visits. The two-minute video has been made to show how cutbacks are […]

Government should listen to MPs on social care, says UNISON

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 […]

NHS staff are giving 100%, but getting just 1% in return, says UNISON

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, […]

Zero-hours contracts give the upper hand to unscrupulous employers, says UNISON

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 […]

UNISON’s response to the Budget

Commenting on the Spring Budget today (Wednesday) UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: On pay “For almost a decade nurses, teaching assistants, town hall staff and others in the public sector have had their wages frozen or been given minuscule pay rises. “These are the people keeping the NHS, schools and local communities afloat in […]

Supreme Court ends British Gas holiday pay challenge

Thousands of working people – whose wages include an element of commission – will now be quids in following the Supreme Court decision today (Tuesday) to refuse British Gas the right to appeal in the Joe Lock holiday pay case, says UNISON. But the union has warned that the decision, based on the Working Time […]

Government needs to get tougher with the minimum wage cheats, says UNISON

Commenting today (Monday) on the government’s new advertising campaign to raise awareness of the minimum wage among low-paid workers, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “The minimum wage was introduced nearly two decades ago but still there are employers who think they’re above the law. “Rather than spend money on expensive PR campaigns, the government should […]

European citizens to lobby MPs over right to remain in UK post-Brexit

Nurses, social workers and teaching assistants will be among EU citizens who will today (Monday) lobby MPs over their right to remain in the UK. The lobby is aimed at urging the government to guarantee immediately that these citizens will be able to stay post-Brexit. There are more than three million EU citizens living in […]

Dave Prentis tells conference ‘we will campaign against Trump’

Dave Prentis announces UNISON’s official support for Stop Trump UK as he speaks at the union’s women’s conference in Brighton

No mention of equality in Brexit white paper is “shocking and shameful”

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has described the government’s failure to mention equalities in the Brexit white paper as shocking and shameful at its annual women’s conference today (Thursday). Around 750 delegates are debating a range of equalities motions involving women in work at the event. Addressing the conference, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: […]