Category: strike laws

Ministers should fix the country rather than reheat failed anti-union laws

Commenting on the launch of a government consultation into allowing agency workers to cover for people who are on strike, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Thursday):

“The government would be better off tackling the real issues facing the country, not wasting more valuable time picking fights with unions.

“This pointless policy has already been defeated in the courts. Ministers should concentrate on tackling the cost of living crisis, improving wages and fixing run-down public services.

“Or better still, call an election and let someone else do the job.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk

The article Ministers should fix the country rather than reheat failed anti-union laws first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Ministers should fix the country rather than reheat failed anti-union laws

Commenting on the launch of a government consultation into allowing agency workers to cover for people who are on strike, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Thursday):

“The government would be better off tackling the real issues facing the country, not wasting more valuable time picking fights with unions.

“This pointless policy has already been defeated in the courts. Ministers should concentrate on tackling the cost of living crisis, improving wages and fixing run-down public services.

“Or better still, call an election and let someone else do the job.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk

The article Ministers should fix the country rather than reheat failed anti-union laws first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Ditch the pointless, spiteful strike laws and focus on helping patients by solving disputes

Commenting on an official impact assessment published today (Tuesday) that suggests new anti-strike laws could lead to greater disruption, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Everyone could see through this pointless piece of legislation from the off. It’s spiteful, poorly thought-through and simply seeks to demonise dedicated public servants.

“It’s a pity ministers haven’t invested as much energy into solving the disputes. Instead they’ve opted for petty attacks on key workers and their unions.

“Rather than worsening industrial action with laws no one needs or wants, ministers should be throwing the kitchen sink at solving the disputes.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Ditch the pointless, spiteful strike laws and focus on helping patients by solving disputes first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Proper pay talks are the solution to disputes, not penalties for staff

Responding to the government announcement today (Thursday) about proposed legislation that could penalise public sector workers for taking strike action, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said:

“Ministers should focus their time and energy on rebuilding trust and relationships with workers, not silencing and suppressing them.

“Minimum staffing levels in the NHS would be welcome by the public and health staff every single day of the week. That could avoid people being left lying in agony on A&E floors or dying in the backs of ambulances.

“The NHS is on its knees because of record vacancies. The idea of limiting legal staffing levels to strike days and threatening to sack or fine health workers at such a time shows proper patient care isn’t ministers’ priority.

“The government is picking ill-advised fights with NHS employees and unions to mask years of dismal failure to tackle pay and staffing.

“There’s a much simpler way for Rishi Sunak to put a swift end to strikes in the NHS and other sectors. That’s to allow his ministers to begin direct pay negotiations immediately to boost wages, retain experienced staff and improve patient care.

“The Prime Minister’s spoken of dialogue with unions. But talks must be about pay itself, not how the pay review body process works.

“UNISON will be examining these proposals and considering how to respond, including any appropriate legal challenge.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Proper pay talks are the solution to disputes, not penalties for staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government should focus on solving NHS crisis with proper pay not penalties for staff

Responding to reports that the government is to announce legislation to penalise public sector workers if they strike, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“The public and health staff would welcome minimum staffing levels in the NHS every day of the week. That way, people wouldn’t be lying in agony on A&E floors or dying in the backs of ambulances.

“But limiting legal staffing levels to strike days and threatening to sack or fine health workers when there are record vacancies in the NHS show proper patient care isn’t what ministers want.

“The government is picking ill-advised fights with NHS employees and their unions to mask years of dismal failure to tackle pay and staffing.

“There’s a much simpler way for Rishi Sunak to put a swift end to strikes in the NHS. That’s to allow his ministers to begin pay talks immediately to boost wages, retain experienced staff and improve patient care.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Government should focus on solving NHS crisis with proper pay not penalties for staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.