Category: general secretary

Blog: How much trouble is your local council in?

At every stage of our lives, we depend on services close to our homes in our local communities. Most of these services are delivered by councils and the council staff who dedicate their work to supporting others. 

Yet they’re finding their work is being undermined as budgets are slashed to the bone – and after 13 years of cuts, there’s not much left.

A staggering funding chasm of £3.5 billion by the financial year 2024/25 looms over our councils. The impact is not abstract, it has real consequences for people.

In the aftermath of Birmingham, Thurrock and Woking Councils’ bankruptcies, countless other councils will dominate headlines as the financial struggle becomes more acute.

This week, UNISON is launching new data on the exact funding gap that your council is facing. It’s bleak reading, but there is action that you can take to help your community.

First, we’re asking you to take a look here and see the difficulty facing your local council, and second, we’re asking you to contact your MP, MSP or Senned Member to ask them to support our calls for increased central government funding for local councils.

Your council needs you to stand up for the services we all rely on. When we stand together, we can make real change happen.

By us all reaching out to our local members of parliament, we make our demands impossible to ignore – only emergency funding now will save our services.

Find out what the situation is like where you live

The article Blog: How much trouble is your local council in? first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: How much trouble is your local council in?

At every stage of our lives, we depend on services close to our homes in our local communities. Most of these services are delivered by councils and the council staff who dedicate their work to supporting others. 

Yet they’re finding their work is being undermined as budgets are slashed to the bone – and after 13 years of cuts, there’s not much left.

A staggering funding chasm of £3.5 billion by the financial year 2024/25 looms over our councils. The impact is not abstract, it has real consequences for people.

In the aftermath of Birmingham, Thurrock and Woking Councils’ bankruptcies, countless other councils will dominate headlines as the financial struggle becomes more acute.

This week, UNISON is launching new data on the exact funding gap that your council is facing. It’s bleak reading, but there is action that you can take to help your community.

First, we’re asking you to take a look here and see the difficulty facing your local council, and second, we’re asking you to contact your MP, MSP or Senned Member to ask them to support our calls for increased central government funding for local councils.

Your council needs you to stand up for the services we all rely on. When we stand together, we can make real change happen.

By us all reaching out to our local members of parliament, we make our demands impossible to ignore – only emergency funding now will save our services.

Find out what the situation is like where you live

The article Blog: How much trouble is your local council in? first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: How much trouble is your local council in?

At every stage of our lives, we depend on services close to our homes in our local communities. Most of these services are delivered by councils and the council staff who dedicate their work to supporting others. 

Yet they’re finding their work is being undermined as budgets are slashed to the bone – and after 13 years of cuts, there’s not much left.

A staggering funding chasm of £3.5 billion by the financial year 2024/25 looms over our councils. The impact is not abstract, it has real consequences for people.

In the aftermath of Birmingham, Thurrock and Woking Councils’ bankruptcies, countless other councils will dominate headlines as the financial struggle becomes more acute.

This week, UNISON is launching new data on the exact funding gap that your council is facing. It’s bleak reading, but there is action that you can take to help your community.

First, we’re asking you to take a look here and see the difficulty facing your local council, and second, we’re asking you to contact your MP, MSP or Senned Member to ask them to support our calls for increased central government funding for local councils.

Your council needs you to stand up for the services we all rely on. When we stand together, we can make real change happen.

By us all reaching out to our local members of parliament, we make our demands impossible to ignore – only emergency funding now will save our services.

Find out what the situation is like where you live

The article Blog: How much trouble is your local council in? first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: In the campaign for equal pay, UNISON stands firmly on the frontline

The pursuit of equal pay is part of UNISON’s daily battle against deeply entrenched biases and systemic inequalities. We’re driven by our commitment to break free of stereotypes that undervalue workers. And we are unrivalled in our successes.

You only have to look at the Glasgow equal pay victory to understand our strength.

We’ve won the most equal pay cases, we’ve won the most money for members, and we don’t take a cut from the payouts.

It’s a fundamental issue of fairness that every worker deserves equal pay for work of equal value. However, despite years of progress, many workers – and particularly those in low-paid jobs – continue to face a persistent and unjust pay gap.

The public service workers we represent are the backbone of our communities, providing support for everyone day in, day out. But they often find themselves on the wrong side of the pay scale, struggling to make ends meet and facing the harsh realities of income inequality.

As the first female leader of UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union with over one million women members, I’m compelled by the urgency of closing these unequal pay gaps. Not just for women public service workers, but for Black, LGBT+ and disabled workers, who face workplace discrimination that too often results in their work being undervalued.

UNISON works tirelessly across public services to negotiate fair wages, challenge discriminatory practices, raise awareness about the importance of equal pay and take legal action where needed.

But to achieve wage equality across the whole of our society, and to permanently close pay gaps, we need systemic change.

That means legislation that doesn’t let employers off the hook, workplace policies that promote pay transparency, the constant challenge of pay discrimination, and equal opportunities for disadvantaged groups to advance in their careers.

This shared aim shouldn’t just be about finally publishing a pay gap report that has the right figures in the right columns, it’s about the lives of countless workers who will get the pay and recognition they deserve.

If we succeed in making this permanent change, we will make sure that future generations can enter the workplace with the confidence that they will be treated fairly.

The article Blog: In the campaign for equal pay, UNISON stands firmly on the frontline first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: In the campaign for equal pay, UNISON stands firmly on the frontline

The pursuit of equal pay is part of UNISON’s daily battle against deeply entrenched biases and systemic inequalities. We’re driven by our commitment to break free of stereotypes that undervalue workers. And we are unrivalled in our successes.

You only have to look at the Glasgow equal pay victory to understand our strength.

We’ve won the most equal pay cases, we’ve won the most money for members, and we don’t take a cut from the payouts.

It’s a fundamental issue of fairness that every worker deserves equal pay for work of equal value. However, despite years of progress, many workers – and particularly those in low-paid jobs – continue to face a persistent and unjust pay gap.

The public service workers we represent are the backbone of our communities, providing support for everyone day in, day out. But they often find themselves on the wrong side of the pay scale, struggling to make ends meet and facing the harsh realities of income inequality.

As the first female leader of UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union with over one million women members, I’m compelled by the urgency of closing these unequal pay gaps. Not just for women public service workers, but for Black, LGBT+ and disabled workers, who face workplace discrimination that too often results in their work being undervalued.

UNISON works tirelessly across public services to negotiate fair wages, challenge discriminatory practices, raise awareness about the importance of equal pay and take legal action where needed.

But to achieve wage equality across the whole of our society, and to permanently close pay gaps, we need systemic change.

That means legislation that doesn’t let employers off the hook, workplace policies that promote pay transparency, the constant challenge of pay discrimination, and equal opportunities for disadvantaged groups to advance in their careers.

This shared aim shouldn’t just be about finally publishing a pay gap report that has the right figures in the right columns, it’s about the lives of countless workers who will get the pay and recognition they deserve.

If we succeed in making this permanent change, we will make sure that future generations can enter the workplace with the confidence that they will be treated fairly.

The article Blog: In the campaign for equal pay, UNISON stands firmly on the frontline first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Let’s stick together to win the proper pay for the job

Across every UNISON region, we’ve got live campaigns to get health workers the fair pay they deserve.

Dedicated staff have been regularly performing important duties above the level of responsibility their employers pay them for.

This expectation has been put on them for years, but the salary they should be earning has been held back for years too.

Today in Liverpool, clinical support workers went on strike at Arrowe Park Hospital.

Their lively and packed picket line attracted constant beeps from the public driving by.

And a banner was emblazoned with the simple and clear message that Janelle Holmes, Wirral Hospitals CEO, must respond to “Stop underpaying us”.

I was so pleased to join our striking members this morning, to give them a message of solidarity and hope on behalf of our whole union.

The members I spoke to were frustrated at their employers’ constant refusal to properly value the work that clinical support workers do.

And rightly so. Because when a workforce is undervalued and underpaid, they suffer, their families suffer, and patients suffer too.

So it’s because of their compassion and commitment to patient care that they’re taking this action.

As soon as I arrived at the picket line, I could tell they have the resolve to see this campaign through.

With UNISON’s backing, and the support and solidarity from the public, I know they can win the fair pay they’re owed.

Right now, at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, it’s up to the employers to end the strikes by delivering a deal that our members can accept.

But it’s also up to all of us, in UNISON, to stick together, to grow our campaigns across the whole of the UK, and to grow our union.

Because each of our wins in our Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, helps put pressure on bosses in hospitals in every region, to do the right thing by their amazing staff.

The article Blog: Let’s stick together to win the proper pay for the job first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Let’s stick together to win the proper pay for the job

Across every UNISON region, we’ve got live campaigns to get health workers the fair pay they deserve.

Dedicated staff have been regularly performing important duties above the level of responsibility their employers pay them for.

This expectation has been put on them for years, but the salary they should be earning has been held back for years too.

Today in Liverpool, clinical support workers went on strike at Arrowe Park Hospital.

Their lively and packed picket line attracted constant beeps from the public driving by.

And a banner was emblazoned with the simple and clear message that Janelle Holmes, Wirral Hospitals CEO, must respond to “Stop underpaying us”.

I was so pleased to join our striking members this morning, to give them a message of solidarity and hope on behalf of our whole union.

The members I spoke to were frustrated at their employers’ constant refusal to properly value the work that clinical support workers do.

And rightly so. Because when a workforce is undervalued and underpaid, they suffer, their families suffer, and patients suffer too.

So it’s because of their compassion and commitment to patient care that they’re taking this action.

As soon as I arrived at the picket line, I could tell they have the resolve to see this campaign through.

With UNISON’s backing, and the support and solidarity from the public, I know they can win the fair pay they’re owed.

Right now, at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, it’s up to the employers to end the strikes by delivering a deal that our members can accept.

But it’s also up to all of us, in UNISON, to stick together, to grow our campaigns across the whole of the UK, and to grow our union.

Because each of our wins in our Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, helps put pressure on bosses in hospitals in every region, to do the right thing by their amazing staff.

The article Blog: Let’s stick together to win the proper pay for the job first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Commemorating the abolition of the slave trade

In 1807, the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was signed into law. For UNISON, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, marked on 23 August each year, is a significant occasion to remember and reflect upon the enormous impact of the slave trade on Black communities around the world.

With our unwavering commitment to social justice and equality, UNISON recognises the importance of this day for our members and staff.

We honour the memory of those who fought against the abhorrent system of slavery, and remember all the courageous figures – activists, leaders and others – who paved the way for the abolition of such a dehumanising system.

Today, we face the urgent challenges of modern slavery and racial inequality. While commemorating the abolition of the slave trade is an act of remembrance, it also serves as a call to continue our hard work in educating, raising awareness and challenging injustices.

By understanding the struggles and victories of those who came before us, and by recognising the parallels between historical slavery and present-day exploitation, we learn how to harness the potential for change, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Today is the chance for our UNISON branches, regions and nations to reaffirm their commitment to embracing diversity, promoting inclusivity, and actively confronting racism.

We must always remember our shared mission, as UNISON allies in the fight for justice and equality.

The article Blog: Commemorating the abolition of the slave trade first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Commemorating the abolition of the slave trade

In 1807, the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was signed into law. For UNISON, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, marked on 23 August each year, is a significant occasion to remember and reflect upon the enormous impact of the slave trade on Black communities around the world.

With our unwavering commitment to social justice and equality, UNISON recognises the importance of this day for our members and staff.

We honour the memory of those who fought against the abhorrent system of slavery, and remember all the courageous figures – activists, leaders and others – who paved the way for the abolition of such a dehumanising system.

Today, we face the urgent challenges of modern slavery and racial inequality. While commemorating the abolition of the slave trade is an act of remembrance, it also serves as a call to continue our hard work in educating, raising awareness and challenging injustices.

By understanding the struggles and victories of those who came before us, and by recognising the parallels between historical slavery and present-day exploitation, we learn how to harness the potential for change, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Today is the chance for our UNISON branches, regions and nations to reaffirm their commitment to embracing diversity, promoting inclusivity, and actively confronting racism.

We must always remember our shared mission, as UNISON allies in the fight for justice and equality.

The article Blog: Commemorating the abolition of the slave trade first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Investing in you is investing in our schools and in our pupils

Our streets, villages, towns and cities only thrive when unsung heroes roll up their sleeves to keep our public services going. In every neighbourhood, it’s local government workers who everyone relies on.

And every day, UNISON campaigns to improve their pay and recognition for their essential work.

From maintaining roads to ensuring public safety, their roles are indispensable. But workers find themselves grappling with inadequate pay and shrinking budgets in their workplaces. Pay fails to reflect the value of their work, and local council funding fails to keep up with the need in our communities.

UNISON Scotland has been taking action. On behalf of all local government workers in Scotland, waste workers took strike action last week. And now we’re asking school staff to vote for a second wave of walkouts.

So if you’re one of our members working in a school in Scotland, you have just one week left to vote for strike action. The dispute over pay is at a critical point, as COSLA hasn’t come back with an improved offer since April.

We must demand that you are valued and paid fairly. Investing in you, is also an investment in the future of our schools and all pupils.

UNISON wants a fair deal for all Scottish local government workers. A 12% pay increase, or £4,000 – whichever is greater for each worker – was our claim. But COSLA’s 5% offer goes nowhere near that and was rightly rejected by our members.

Tonight, we’ll be rallying online at 6pm. Join us via YouTube, and encourage your colleagues to join too. You’ll hear from myself and your local government reps, encouraging you all to find that purple envelope that came through the post, cast your ‘yes’ vote and post it back.

You’re the backbone of society, keeping services going despite all you face. This is your chance to stand up for yourselves the way you stand up for your communities every day in your jobs.

UNISON will be with you, supporting you throughout this battle and beyond. By voting for strike action, you can be a beacon of hope for all workers – hope that we are one step closer to rewriting the story of local government into one of fair pay, respect and recognition.

The article Blog: Investing in you is investing in our schools and in our pupils first appeared on the UNISON National site.