Cutting income tax for people earning more than £1m per year has deprived the Exchequer of more than £11.1bn over the past sixyears, according to new analysis by UNISON published today (Sunday). The government’s decision to reduce the top rate of income tax from 50p to 45p in April 2013 has also saved the rich […]
public services
Over a million hospital cleaners, nurses, security guards, physiotherapists, emergency call handlers, paramedics, midwives, radiographers and other NHS staff across England will now benefit from a three-year pay deal, say health unions today (Friday). Since March when the offer was first made, the 14 unions have been asking NHS staff whether they want to accept […]
UNISON responds to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement
The enormous profits being racked up by Private Finance Initiative (PFI) companies should be subject to a new windfall tax, so much-needed resources can be put back into the UK’s cash-strapped public services, says UNISON today (Monday). Such a tax could be introduced if two amendments to the Finance Bill, which have been tabled by […]
“Poor pay has left many public sector families desperately watching the pennies,” comments UNISON
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has written to the Minister for the Cabinet Office calling for a new public service ethos to underpin the delivery of services
The National Audit Office (NAO) report on the public finance initiative provides a scathing indictment of PFI and PF2, and confirms many of the fears UNISON has been raising for more than 20 years, the union said today (Thursday). The NAO says there are currently 700 PFI and PF2 deals in operation, and if no […]
The government needs to safeguard services and protect staff
Health unions are today (Wednesday) renewing their call for a coherent strategy to improve recruitment and retention, equality and diversity, workloads, well-being and career prospects as the government publishes its workforce plans. Over the last three years unions representing cleaners, nurses, doctors, radiographers, pharmacists, midwives, medical secretaries, paramedics, caterers, dental technicians, as well as porters, managers, […]
Commenting today (Tuesday) on the rise in inflation, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “With inflation at its highest level in six years, many public service workers are facing a bleak Christmas. “With wages now lagging even further behind the cost of living, the government’s punishing pay cap is pushing families to the brink. It’s […]
Alarming report shows the amount of strain the NHS is under even before winter pressures have kicked in
The unions are putting the offer to their committees for consideration
UNISON’s petition calling on the government to scrap the public sector pay cap and give NHS, council, police and schools staff a decent pay rise will be debated today (Monday) in Parliament. Ahead of the debate, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis has written to the Prime Minister to ask her why the Budget failed to […]