Category: cost of living

UNISON lobbies Church of England leaders over pay

UNISON campaigners spent a frosty morning lobbying Church of England leaders over pay, before a meeting of the General Synod in Westminster, last week.

They urged clergy, who were about to debate the cost of living crisis, to raise the issue of catering staff, cleaners and caretakers being paid less than the real living wage in church schools.

UNISON and Church Action on Poverty are jointly campaigning for the Church of England to take urgent action.

In December, UNISON wrote to the heads of the Church of England and Catholic Church asking them to honour their promises to pay at least the real living wage to the lowest paid staff in more than 6,800 church schools in England and Wales.

The letters to the Archbishops of Canterbury, York and Westminster warned that thousands of these employees face “devastating financial hardship” unless churches follow through on a pledge made more than a decade ago. UNISON analysis of the Living Wage Foundation’s website suggests fewer than 50 Catholic and Church of England school employers are accredited for paying the real living wage. 

Additional UNISON research shows just over half (55%) of church secondary and primary schools say they are paying the real living wage to their directly employed staff. Only three in 10 (30%) were requiring their contractors to pay this rate.

In 2012, the churches committed that all their institutions would pay at least the living wage and worked with UNISON to produce step-by-step action plans.

Church school staff should now all be getting at least £10.90 an hour (or £11.95 in London) under the current real living wage rates; however thousands of school support staff working in church schools are not – with low wages leading to staff leaving the education sector for better wages elsewhere.  

UNISON also wants all staff working for private contractors delivering services to schools to receive at least the real living wage, as well as full sick pay like their directly employed colleagues. This requires the churches to ensure that schools draw up timetables to become accredited living wage employers. 

Mike Short, UNISON head of education, said: “The cost of living crisis is having a devastating impact on low-paid workers. Staff need action with a proper wage boost, not just supportive words. 

“Churches do important work supporting their local communities by providing practical assistance. But they must also make sure their staff receive fair pay. It’s the church’s moral responsibility to make sure employees don’t have to choose between feeding their families or heating their homes this winter.”

The article UNISON lobbies Church of England leaders over pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Black members’ conference confronts cost of living crisis

Of the 24 motions passed at UNISON’s national Black members’ conference in Edinburgh at the weekend, four focused on ways to support Black workers during the cost of living crisis. 

Introducing the second motion on the subject, Adejare Oyewole (pictured), from the national Black members’ committee, described how, as inflation continues to increase, Black members will face hardship.

The motion declared: “The only way that our members, especially Black members, can stand up to the crisis is by taking action to win at or above inflation pay rises.”

The motion called on the committee to work with the union’s national executive council (NEC), service group executives and self-organised groups to organise and fight against in-work poverty by supporting at – or above – inflation pay rises for all our members.

It also demanded that branches push for mandatory ethnicity pay gap data to be published by all employers and encourage all Black members to be involved in campaigning for at-or-above inflation pay rises and support Black members to put themselves forward for activist positions.

Supporting the motion, Helen Laker from UNISON Southwark branch said: “We should pursue mandatory ethnicity pay gap data in our branches.”

Estwar Sanichar from Northumbria Northern region said: “There are links between the fight for pay and the fight against racism. Black workers in the UK are disproportionately paid below the real living wage. 

“The cost of living crisis does not affect us all equally. Black people are disproportionately impacted.”

Quoting Terry Pratchett, Mr Sanichar said: “Only in our dreams are we genuinely free, the rest of the time we need wages.”

Another motion focused specifically on the way the cost of living was impacting on Black workers’ mental health.

Introduced by the Scottish Black members’ committee, the motion called for the national committee to create an assessment tool that employers can use to identify Black people’s needs and support their mental health.

Speaking in support, a delegate from Birmingham said: “The issue is pride and stigma. A lot of Black colleagues are embarrassed of going to the food bank, so we suffer in silence, which leads to depression and mental health issues.

“As colleagues, we all need to be more observant and ask each other “How are you? No, how are you really feeling?”

The article Black members’ conference confronts cost of living crisis first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Black members pass motions on disability and cost of living crisis

There are an estimated 185,000 Black members in UNISON, the majority of whom work in health and local government services, and the union has declared 2023 as the Year of Black Workers.

During the morning session, chaired by Kebba Manneh – the chair of the national Black members committee – conference passed motions on young Black members and mental health at work, and on Black members feeling undervalued and like they don’t belong.

A key motion was unanimously passed on Black workers and non-apparent impairments.

Introduced by Tansaim Hussain-Gul of the union’s national disabled members committee, the motion called on the national Black members’ committee to emphasise the rights of Black disabled workers with non-apparent and fluctuating impairments.

Ms Hussain-Gul said: “As we all know, employers judge you by the way you look. If you don’t have a walking stick, wheelchair or other aids, then you don’t look disabled. I am disabled, but I don’t look it. Only if you had x-ray vision could you see my body crumbling inside and the immense pain I’m in.

“Disability is not just physical. It is mental and invisible. Black people disproportionately experience impairments like lupus, diabetes and sickle cell.

“As you’ve all seen, long COVID has had a disproportionate impact on us. It is imperative that our stewards are aware that long COVID means the member is a disabled person, and that person is protected under the Equality Act 2010.

“It is so important to get policies agreed with employers so there is a consistent approach, and black workers aren’t treated less favourably.”

The motion also called on the national committee to circulate UNISON’s guide to supporting members with long COVID to regional Black members’ groups.

Supporting the motion, Bertha Kanyangu from the Northern region said: “Some employers refuse to accept a worker is disabled and entitled to reasonable adjustments unless their impairment is obvious.

“Black workers with disabilities and non-apparent impairments are at an even greater disadvantage.

“Sickle cell, lupus and scleroderma are not visible, so employers question members continually on medical appointments and sickness records.

“We need this to stop, and make employers accountable. It’s important that support is given to branches, to seek and negotiate disability equality policies with employers.”

The motion was unanimously passed. 

The afternoon conference session was chaired by Rakiya Suleiman, deputy chair of the national committee.

After a rousing opening speech from writer and education campaigner Augustin John, in which he urged conference delegates to situate institutional racism between structural racism, conference passed another key motion on the impact of the cost of living crisis on Black low-paid workers. 

Introducing the motion, Daisy Mbwanda from UNISON North Cumbria/Northumberland branch told delegates: “Black members are more likely to be in low-paid, insecure work where there are too few hours, zero hours, and short notice of shift patterns.

“Low pay isn’t about struggling to make ends meet, it means physical and mental stress and ill health, affecting family life and the daily battle to put food on the table. Life without security and difficult planning for the future.

“Whilst some progress has been made to close the ethnicity pay gap, many ethnic groups still experience lower pay than white British workers.”

The motion called for increased support for low-paid Black workers at a branch level, and working with branches to ensure there is specific material aimed at Black members to promote welfare services. 

Julia Mwaluke from the national members’ committee said: “Black and ethnic minority people are more than twice as likely to be in poverty than white people.

“Since 2009, we have not seen enough progress as we move deeper into today’s cost of living crisis. Black people find themselves at particular risk of depression, anxiety and mental health issues. It’s time to take action now.”

The article Black members pass motions on disability and cost of living crisis first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Young members’ conference opens with debates about cost of living

UNISON’s second annual young members’ conference opened this morning in Bournemouth with a speech from assistant general secretary, Jon Richards.

Welcoming delegates, he began by talking about the political state of the country, highlighting the importance of young people getting involved in democracy early on in their lives and noting that: “Since the Second World War, 13 out of 17 prime ministers of the UK went to Oxford.”

To that he added: “Five out of the last five Tory prime ministers went there.

“These people do not understand what it’s like to be poor, what it’s like to scrape by. None of them know what it’s like to go to a foodbank – apart from on a visit to show how good they are before Christmas.

“Many of our members do know.”

Moving onto the cost of living crisis, Mr Richards said: “Young members face particular challenges” with issues such as rent increases and the precarious nature of work disproportionately affecting them.

Speaking of UNISON’s work in that area, he highlighted the union’s cost of living Together we Rise campaign, adding: “UNISON has written to every non-Labour MP on mileage and petrol costs”. Mr Richards noted that the union had also been involved in a number of parliamentary debates, notably with Dan Jarvis MP, in which many contributors spoke from UNISON briefings.

He continued: “We launched a report earlier in the year, which identified where £30bn could be found by taxing wealth”, before going on to highlight the further steps which the campaign has taken, such as launching a microsite which hosts a cost of living calculator and dispute map and which tied into a massive advertising campaign UNISON ran just before Liz Truss’ ‘mini-budget’.

“Trussonomics cost us £60bn – that budget cost us £60bn,” he said.

Moving on to link the cost of living to the various strikes which are taking place across the unions different sectors, Mr Richards noted: “We’re currently taking action in universities. We’re about to start industrial action in the environment agency, who were offered a 2% pay rise, which equatesa 10% pay cut in this year alone.

“And also in the NHS, where 80,000 workers recently voted to take strike action,” emphasising: “we are not taking strike action because we want to, but because we must.”

He continued on the NHS ballot, speaking of the success the union has had in rolling out new technologies in phone-banking and peer-to-peer texting and its impact on turnout rates.

He closed out his speech on a positive note praising the work of young members in recruitment, where the number of joiners who are young members has increased from 10% to 20% over the course of the year, something he called a “testament to the work young members’ reps are doing.”

Motions begin

After the speech, conference began an enthusiastic and varied morning of debate with a motion asserting that affordable housing is a human right.

The motion called on the young members’ forum to work with the UNISON national Labour Link forum to make sure that the issue is raised within the Labour Party and to regularly highlight the union’s campaign to ensure there is increased availability of affordable housing.

Jasper from the Eastern region moved a motion that stated: “Many delegates within this hall will be experiencing the effects of the housing crisis first hand,” adding that, with skyrocketing prices and the cost of living crisis, “is it any wonder one in four people our age are still living with their parents?”

He continued: “The housing crisis is not a disaster we’ve caused. In 2014, the Tories announced they would build 200k starter homes. By 2019 they had built none. Instead, they lean on private landlords and resurrect Thatcherite schemes like the right to buy scheme,” and he argued that a privatised system of housing leads to houses being built by the lowest bidder and causes the poorest among us to live in the most poorly built houses.

Eleesha, who was also from Eastern region, continued the debate, asking: “What happens if you don’t have a guarantor for a house – if you don’t have this, trying to move house in the private sector is a nightmare.”

Before the motion was carried, delegates went on to highlight:

• the issues that young people face in renting if they don’t have a guarantor;

• that the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on disabled people is partly due to the disproportionate number of disabled people living in overcrowded housing; and

• the importance of linking up with other organisations outside of trade unionism who deal with this issue.

 

The article Young members’ conference opens with debates about cost of living first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Take part in UNISON’s survey on the state off housing

The cost of living crisis is putting a squeeze on incomes and living standards. As a result, many people are struggling to pay expensive rents and mortgages on top of soaring energy and other household bills. 

Despite high rent costs, many people living in rented homes are struggling with disrepair.

UNISON is conducting a survey to find out more about the housing issues members are facing. All respondents will be entered into a prize draw for £50 worth of high street shopping vouchers.

Have your say here

In 2020, UNISON surveyed members on their experiences with housing, finding that three in five people (61%) were struggling to manage their housing costs. 

At the time, almost one in three (27.8%) said that the cost of housing is making them look outside of their public sector roles to find better-paid work.

Now, as the cost of living crisis bites, UNISON wants to know from members their experiences of housing in order to understand what the union’s campaigning priorities should be.

The article Take part in UNISON’s survey on the state off housing first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON delivers pay petition to Downing Street

Today UNISON members joined the union’s general secretary Christina McAnea to deliver a petition signed by 182,290 people, demanding the government ends the pay crisis by raising the minimum wage to £15 an hour.

Gathering on the steps of Downing Street at 6pm, five UNISON members delivered the petition on behalf of the union.

The text read: “When pay rises by less than our bills, we’re all getting poorer. But rising prices don’t have to push people into poverty. It’s the government’s choice. To end the pay crisis, we need pay rises.

“End the pay crisis. Raise the minimum wage to £15 an hour and give public sector workers inflation-busting pay rises.”

Amongst those handing in the petition was UNISON member Eddie Brand, who has worked in the ambulance service for over 35 years. He said: “The pressure on ambulance services is unprecedented, and something needs to change. We can’t carry on working under this level of demand.”

Last week, two UNISON members featured in a moving ITV news segment on the strain that ambulance waiting times are putting on workers.

Mr Brand continued: “I haven’t had a decent pay rise for more than 10 years, but the cost of living crisis means that the basics have now become unaffordable. Bills are going up, which means we’re left with no time or money for anything. The fact that mortgages are now rising will push many over the edge.”

In reference to the ongoing strike ballot for health workers, Mr Brand said: “I’m prepared to strike for better pay in the NHS. I hope this petition shows the strength of feeling from workers across the country.”

UNISON member Anu Prashar also joined the petition delivery group. As a trading standards officer, she’s seen firsthand how the cost of living crisis is making people more vulnerable to scams.

“With the cost of living crisis, many people are looking for ways to save money or get the best deal, which makes them more vulnerable to unscrupulous criminals,” she said.

“But, after a decade of Tory austerity, our service has been decimated, with staff reductions of up to 60%. The services that are meant to be there to protect consumers have been cut to the bone, making it increasingly difficult for trading standards officers like me to bring criminals to justice.”

Chris Akaluka, a hospital security supervisor and UNISON branch secretary for Newham Healthcare branch, said: “I’m here because of the meagre pay that I and my colleagues receive as NHS employees.

“We haven’t had a meaningful pay rise for over a decade, and I’ve seen my colleagues fall into poverty as a result. We all kept coming into work throughout the pandemic in order to keep this country going, and this is how the government treats us?

“The hikes in food, fuel and energy costs and more have made bills unmanageable. We don’t need clapping gestures or soundbites, we need a meaningful pay rise. We are hurting out here.”

Joining the members, Christina McAnea said: “There’s huge support for UNISON’s petition, because government failings are having a devastating impact on people up and down the country – they’re angry, and the government must take notice.

“Public services, and the workers providing them, are the real drivers of economic growth in society. But spiralling living costs and depressed wages are causing in-work poverty, which could have been avoided with the right political choices.

“We’re calling on the government to do the right thing, take urgent action and end the pay crisis. Raising the minimum wage to £15 an hour and giving public sector workers inflation-busting pay rises should be at the forefront of the government’s plans to support working people and grow our economy.”

The article UNISON delivers pay petition to Downing Street first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Food banks under pressure from a ‘tsunami of need’

New figures from food bank charity The Trussell Trust show that 1.3million emergency food parcels were given out between April and September this year – more than ever before.

Of those parcels, half a million went to children, as the cost of living crisis creates what the trust calls “a tsunami of need” across a struggling population.

One in five of the trust’s food bank users are in work – but still can’t afford the essentials.

The charity is calling on the prime minister to “act decisively” in next week’s budget, with a broad package of support, including raising benefits in line with inflation, to stave off what could be a devastating winter.

Responding to the new figures, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This report reveals the shocking truth about poverty in the UK, and the real extent of in-work poverty. Years of wage depression, economic stagnation and recent spiralling costs are having a devastating impact on families everywhere.

“Every day, families are struggling to get by, and the effects of this last for generations.

“UNISON is a campaigning force for pay justice and social justice. That’s why we’re keeping up the pressure on governments and employers to fix the pay crisis, and put an end to the cost of living crisis. It’s within their power to do this, they just have to make the right political choices.”

The Trussell Trust also revealed that:

  • 1.3m parcels is a third more than were provided during the same period in 2021 and an increase of more than 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels;
  • over the past six months, 320,000 people have been forced to turn to the trust’s food bank network for the first time;
  • the trust expects to provide, on average, more than 7,000 emergency food parcels a day in the next six months;
  • the level of need is outstripping donations for the first time in its history.

The trust supports more than 1,300 food bank centres. With need outstripping donations, the charity has been forced to launch an emergency appeal to ensure that food banks can meet the alarming level of need in their communities.

And because they are supporting more and more people who are working, they are having to change their opening times to make sure working people can pick up their parcels outside of work hours.

As a result of all of this, the charity warns that food bank volunteers are at “breaking point”, both physically and mentally, and are set to face the hardest winter yet.

The charity warns that short-term interventions are neither sustainable for government nor dignified for people who are struggling, and they don’t solve the longer-term problem of people having to rely on food banks.

Emma Revie, chief executive at The Trussell Trust, said: “We know that with the right support and a stable and sufficient income, people don’t need to turn to food banks.

“Over the last few years, the government has acted to protect people who are struggling, and this action has made a difference. They must now act again – with swift support now to help people through the winter, and with vision for the longer-term to ensure that social security is always enough to weather challenging times.

“We are calling for the prime minister to act decisively in next week’s budget. We urge the UK government to realise their commitment of supporting people on the lowest income with a broad package of support.

“As well as ensuring that benefits rise with inflation as soon as possible, this must go further to close the gap between price rises and incomes over the winter.”

Together We Rise: UNISON’s cost of living campaign

 

The article Food banks under pressure from a ‘tsunami of need’ first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Hundreds of workers lobby Parliament for better pay

Hundreds of trade union members from around the UK have descended on Westminster today, to put pressure on MPs to take drastic action to boost workers’ pay – the best possible solution to easing the cost of living crisis.

UNISON members were among those making their voices heard at the ‘We Demand Better’ lobby and rally, organised by the TUC.

A number of individuals set up meetings with their MPs, in order to share their stories, describe how the crisis is affecting the lives of ordinary workers, and impose on their elected representatives the need for better pay deals across the public sector.

UNISON campaign van with Together We Rose banner

The lobby meetings inside Parliament were taking place between 2-6pm this afternoon, to be immediately followed by a rally in the nearby Central Hall. UNISON Northern regional secretary Clare Williams will be among the speakers at the rally.

The UNISON members taking part were voicing the message of the union’s cost of living campaign, Together We Rise – that soaring prices don’t have to push people into poverty. It’s the government’s political choices that are doing that.

One group of healthcare workers from Southport and Ormskirk hospital (main picture) travelled down to London to lobby Damien Moore, MP for Southport, and Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston.

Sue Barton, a clinical engagement manager, registered nurse and health and safety officer from Southport and Ormskirk Hospital

“I’m here to talk about the cost of living and our salaries and wages, really. We need a real pay increase in line with inflation, at the very least. People are really struggling, we’ve got band 5 nurses in our hospital going to food banks.

“You go to university, you learn a profession, you still have all of that to pay for, and now you can’t afford to live. You can’t afford to put food on the table. It’s simply not acceptable.”

Angela Wilson, a catering assistant and UNISON rep for Southport and Ormskirk

“What I see on a daily basis with some of my colleagues is wrong. It’s just awful, some of them can’t afford to make packed lunches for their children. It’s heat or eat – and people think that’s just a nice line that rhymes, but it’s a reality for so many families now.

“The people in the ivory towers across the road [Parliament] need to see what’s really going on in our country. They should come to the places we work day in, day out, and see what’s happening.

“I’ve seen my colleagues crying badly when their wage slip comes through, saying, ‘I can’t believe it, it’s not enough, I’ve got this bill to pay, that bill to pay, Christmas is coming up and I can’t afford to get the kids anything.’

“The job losses in the NHS are really bad because of the pressure staff are under. They can’t cope with the stress of the job. There’s a lady from our trust who recently got a job at Tesco. The job’s easier, there’s no stress, her money’s better than it was in the NHS. It’s ridiculous.

“I don’t know if they’re trying to outsource us, maybe this is part of the plan to sell us off by letting everyone leave, letting us be short-staffed. Soon we’ll have no NHS. It’s appalling.”

John Flannery, UNISON branch secretary for Southport and Ormskirk health branch

“We’ve had 12 years of austerity imposed by the government and NHS pay review body, which has seen a 20% real-terms cut in wages. This year, inflation is over 10% and we’re only being given a 4% rise. This has a significant impact on our members’ ability to just survive. The knock-on consequence has created staffing shortages where people don’t want to work for the NHS.”

Janet Harrison, learning and engagement facilitator, Southport and Ormskirk

“I want to ask my MP what the heck he thinks he’s playing at voting through measures that are going to destroy our NHS, crippling our public sector workers. People can’t afford to eat or heat their homes. We cannot take any more austerity. We need a pay rise in line with inflation, it’s disgusting that everything’s going up and we can’t get a decent pay rise, while millionaires are getting richer. The sooner we get rid of the Tories, the better.”

And from elsewhere in the union:

Julie Lawton, Staffordshire community health branch: welfare officer, workplace rep (above)

“I’ve not done anything like this before, I’m not particularly political, but as the branch welfare officer I can see people are really struggling. They need to be looked after and valued with better pay. Before, I was probably giving out around three food bank vouchers per month, now it’s three a day. Even the food banks are struggling, because people can’t afford to donate to them.

“I’m doing a welfare check for everyone who gets in touch with me now. I’m referring people to There For You, and there’s a lot of people saying, ‘I’ve got nothing, can you help me?’ I’m doing referrals to children’s charities, so parents can get nappies and kids’ beds and ‘keep warm’ bundles for the winter.

“We need pay in line with inflation. What can I tell people when they ask me what they can cut back on? They’re so upset and ashamed, they’re saying, ‘I’m working all the hours god sends and I still can’t pay my bills.

“Bills have gone up £400 a month on average, people can’t cope. What am I meant to say to them: Don’t watch TV? Don’t eat? Don’t shower? There’s nothing you can say to help people manage this. It needs to change from the top.”

Oliver Nicholls, UNISON member and healthcare support worker (above, with Julie).

Today was Oliver’s first time in London. He felt moved to speak out and lobby Jonathan Gullis, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North.

“The main thing I want to address is the cost of living crisis, specifically the energy crisis. This government seems to believe they can grow the economy, but how can people do that when people can’t even afford to spend the money they earn because they’re living day to day. There’s no logic to it whatsoever.

“I’ve never been to London before, never done anything like this before. It’s just one of those things, I’m a black and white thinker, if I see injustice I have to talk about it. I will speak up when things aren’t right.”

Juan Antonio Garcia, branch chair for UNISON Caerphilly local government branch (below)

xxxxxx

“It’s a crime what’s going on. We’ve got workers not turning up for work because they can’t afford the petrol. We’ve all been through the pandemic, and where’s the thanks?

“Petrol is a big issue for our members, as is the cost of living in general. Food bills are going up. Heating’s going up and we’re being asked to work from home, so the heating costs are being passed to the workers with no extra home working allowances, no extra pay. People are broken, we’ve had enough.

“Let’s be honest: this isn’t something that’s just happened. Poverty is an ideology.”

Today’s event took place in the shadow of government threats of more public sector cuts, raising fears of a return to austerity.

Where relevant, UNISON’s members were also using the lobby as an opportunity to tell MPs about current pay disputes and ballots – in the NHS, higher education, the Environment Agency, the Food Standards Agency and the Care Quality Commission.

Interviews: Janey Starling

Portraits: Marcus Rose

Together We Rise: find out more about the campaign

The article Hundreds of workers lobby Parliament for better pay first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Leaving workers in poverty is no way to run vital services

Commenting on new research published by the TUC today (Tuesday) showing widespread poverty for public sector workers’ families, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said: “This is no way to run vital public services.

“Those providing care, looking after our health, keeping us safe and providing education shouldn’t need to worry about simply making ends meet for their families.

“Holding down public sector pay for years to come could make the cost-of-living crisis deepen.

“But it will also drive people into better paid sectors, leaving struggling public services on the brink.”

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  

The article Leaving workers in poverty is no way to run vital services first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Mileage rate rise needed urgently for public sector staff

The government must act to raise mileage rates for all frontline public service staff who can’t do their jobs without vehicles, but are struggling with fuel costs, says UNISON today (Tuesday).

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has not increased the allowance in a decade. Workers affected include midwives attending home births, district nurses, social workers and pest control officers.

UNISON says this means staff are effectively subsidising their employers, ?because they are paying much more for petrol than they can claim back, especially as ?fuel prices remain so high.

The approved mileage rate set by the Treasury for cars has not changed since 2011/12. It stands at 45p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p for every additional mile in a tax year, nor have mileage reimbursements for workers on NHS contracts*, adds UNISON.

In contrast, the cost of petrol and oil has risen by 45% just this year. Overall motoring costs, including petrol, oil and vehicle maintenance, have soared by 39% since 2011**, says the union.

New analysis by UNISON shows that to keep pace with th?ese increases, a 63p mileage rate increase is needed for the first 10,000 miles and then 35p for every additional mile. This would put £150 a year back into workers’ pockets and better reflect the real costs of motoring.

A separate UNISON survey of health staff and those employed by organisations providing NHS services highlights how they rely on ?their own vehicles to do their jobs.

Findings based on 550 staff show the vast majority (91%) of those who drive a car at work use their own vehicle. More than two in five (44%) of these travel over 4,000 miles a year for work, including some ?who clock up more than 10,000.

An overwhelming number of staff (95%) of staff who drive for work are required to do so as part of their contract. More than a fifth (24%) say they are unable to use public transport ?to do their jobs, either because none is available or ?doesn’t run at suitable times.

?Around one in six (18%) say they ?need to carry heavy or dangerous equipment when they drive for work. Despite needing to use their cars, more than nine in ten (94%) say the current mileage reimbursement rate does not cover their actual driving costs.

Later today, public service staff are travelling to Parliament to highlight how fuel costs they incur through work are taking a toll on their finances. They are asking the Treasury to review HMRC mileage rates to reflect the real costs of using vehicle for their jobs.

They will share their stories in a roundtable discussion organised by UNISON and hosted by Dan Jarvis MP. Labour, Conservative and SNP MPs are also due to attend the event.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Staff can’t carry on putting their hands in their pockets like this. No one should have to pay to ?work, especially those providing vital services.
“Many will end up quitting the public sector altogether because of wholly inadequate mileage rates. They simply can’t afford the petrol to do their jobs, on top of huge bills and ?other rising living costs.

“The government must take action now by increasing rates so staff aren’t subsidising their employers.”

Notes to editors: 
–*NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts, or staff with AfC mileage allowances in their contracts, currently get 56p for each of the first 3,500 miles, then 20p per mile over this amount. These figures have not been updated since 2014. Local government workers have not seen their mileage payments increase since 2010.
-**Office for National Statistics, consumer price inflation tables to July 2022 – rates quoted are for the retail prices index.
-Public service employees attending the roundtable include social workers, an occupational therapy support worker and an adult social care worker. It takes place at 10am in Parliament.
-Case studies (names have been changed):
-Michael is a social worker in Kent. His job involves going to visit disabled people in their homes. He has done the job for ten years, and mileage rates haven’t gone up once in that time. He says the cost of fuel is having a big impact on him and his colleagues. They have started doing phone assessments, instead of visiting people in their homes because they can’t afford to put the petrol in their cars. Sometimes visits aren’t done ?when they need to be because staff have to wait for pay day before they can afford the trip. Low pay, rising bills and out-of-date mileage rates are taking their toll on his family too. They are cutting back on spending and are dreading the winter.
– Emma is a support worker in an occupational therapy team in a hospital in Lancashire. She regularly has to travel to visit patients in their homes and needs to use a car every day, travelling significant distances. She says her team has a growing number of vacancies that cannot be filled as low pay and petrol costs are putting people off applying. This is adding pressure to already exhausted staff to cover extra visits with the additional miles that entails.
– 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
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Mileage rate rise needed urgently for public sector staff first appeared on the UNISON National site.