Category: general secretary

Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop

The damage has already been done by years of chaotic Conservative governments.

Sluggish growth, plummeting living standards and broken public services. That’s the legacy of 13 years of an ever-revolving door of prime ministers and ministers who can’t be trusted with the economy.

Jeremy Hunt’s desperate claims to fix the economic problems that his party caused won’t pull the wool over voters’ eyes. He’s simply giving back what he and his inept predecessors have already snatched from working people.

If the government really wanted to save on benefits for disabled people, it would give them more rights at work so employers don’t make their jobs impossible. And if ministers wanted to help more people back into work, they would fix our underfunded and understaffed NHS to get millions of people the treatment they’re desperate for.

But this is the government that broke the NHS, forcing experienced health professionals out to find better paying jobs elsewhere.

If the government cared about communities, it would reverse the trend of councils going bust and plug the huge budget deficits threatening essential services for children and vulnerable adults.

But this is a government that fails to understand the value of local authorities and the staff who work for them.

Public services and the pay of its dedicated workforces didn’t get a look in, aside from being told to deliver more for less. In-crisis essential services can’t give the public what they need and this government certainly won’t.

What the UK needs is a long-term plan to fund our public services properly, unlock growth and help everyone fulfil their potential.

Today, we were taken around another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom loop. Everybody feels worse off, public services are on their knees and this government is past its sell by date.

The article Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop

The damage has already been done by years of chaotic Conservative governments.

Sluggish growth, plummeting living standards and broken public services. That’s the legacy of 13 years of an ever-revolving door of prime ministers and ministers who can’t be trusted with the economy.

Jeremy Hunt’s desperate claims to fix the economic problems that his party caused won’t pull the wool over voters’ eyes. He’s simply giving back what he and his inept predecessors have already snatched from working people.

If the government really wanted to save on benefits for disabled people, it would give them more rights at work so employers don’t make their jobs impossible. And if ministers wanted to help more people back into work, they would fix our underfunded and understaffed NHS to get millions of people the treatment they’re desperate for.

But this is the government that broke the NHS, forcing experienced health professionals out to find better paying jobs elsewhere.

If the government cared about communities, it would reverse the trend of councils going bust and plug the huge budget deficits threatening essential services for children and vulnerable adults.

But this is a government that fails to understand the value of local authorities and the staff who work for them.

Public services and the pay of its dedicated workforces didn’t get a look in, aside from being told to deliver more for less. In-crisis essential services can’t give the public what they need and this government certainly won’t.

What the UK needs is a long-term plan to fund our public services properly, unlock growth and help everyone fulfil their potential.

Today, we were taken around another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom loop. Everybody feels worse off, public services are on their knees and this government is past its sell by date.

The article Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Get ready to celebrate all the Stars in Our Schools

The best thing about being UNISON’s general secretary is that I get to spend time with our members, talking to them about the work they do in public services and seeing the impact they make in our communities.

UNISON takes pride in celebrating public service workers, and this Friday’s annual Stars In Our Schools celebration is very special to me. I spent many years working closely with schools support staff, negotiating for them, campaigning with them and demanding better recognition and pay for the vital role they play in education.

For this year’s Stars In Our Schools celebration, we’re going one step further by celebrating our early years staff and school support staff together. Both do far more than facilitate learning – they help create an environment where children and young people are secure, happy and motivated.

It takes entire teams to keep schools and nurseries going. Children are kept safe and healthy by cleaners, catering staff, crossing patrol officers and child protection officers. They learn and excel with the help of teaching and classroom assistants, librarians and technicians.

And nurseries and schools are run smoothly by admin assistants, finance officers and business managers. These are just some of the roles our members do in nurseries and schools up and down the UK.

So this Friday, thousands of schools and nurseries will be taking part in our celebrations. I’ll be travelling up to Newark in the East Midlands, and I can’t wait to meet the stars of a special school who support and educate children with complex needs.

I’ll be thanking them for everything they do, for the pride they put into our union and I’ll be listening to them, to learn about what more our union can do to make their working lives better.

This is also your chance to nominate a star, and you have until 27 November to make your nomination and enter our prize draw – don’t miss out.

The article Blog: Get ready to celebrate all the Stars in Our Schools first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Get ready to celebrate all the Stars in Our Schools

The best thing about being UNISON’s general secretary is that I get to spend time with our members, talking to them about the work they do in public services and seeing the impact they make in our communities.

UNISON takes pride in celebrating public service workers, and this Friday’s annual Stars In Our Schools celebration is very special to me. I spent many years working closely with schools support staff, negotiating for them, campaigning with them and demanding better recognition and pay for the vital role they play in education.

For this year’s Stars In Our Schools celebration, we’re going one step further by celebrating our early years staff and school support staff together. Both do far more than facilitate learning – they help create an environment where children and young people are secure, happy and motivated.

It takes entire teams to keep schools and nurseries going. Children are kept safe and healthy by cleaners, catering staff, crossing patrol officers and child protection officers. They learn and excel with the help of teaching and classroom assistants, librarians and technicians.

And nurseries and schools are run smoothly by admin assistants, finance officers and business managers. These are just some of the roles our members do in nurseries and schools up and down the UK.

So this Friday, thousands of schools and nurseries will be taking part in our celebrations. I’ll be travelling up to Newark in the East Midlands, and I can’t wait to meet the stars of a special school who support and educate children with complex needs.

I’ll be thanking them for everything they do, for the pride they put into our union and I’ll be listening to them, to learn about what more our union can do to make their working lives better.

This is also your chance to nominate a star, and you have until 27 November to make your nomination and enter our prize draw – don’t miss out.

The article Blog: Get ready to celebrate all the Stars in Our Schools first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: King’s Speech is a missed opportunity

The King’s Speech today was a missed opportunity to announce plans for a national care service.

If the government is truly focused on “increasing economic growth and safeguarding the health and security of the British people for generations to come”, then a national care service would have been top of the list.

What better way to change this country for the better than by creating a service that will protect and look after those who need care, allow their relatives to stay in full-time work, give care workers improved conditions and decent pay that will boost local economies everywhere, as well as a real career with progression and recognition for their skills.

These arguments aren’t new – UNISON has been making them for years now, to any politician who will listen. We’ve got support from care workers and care organisations for our plans. The problem is, this government isn’t listening to what our country needs.

We welcome the government’s ambition to cut waiting lists and transform the long-term workforce of the NHS. This is, of course, a priority for UNISON, but we know the best way to release pressure on an overwhelmed NHS is to build a national care service.

Changing the country for the better has to be about public services. Social care is one of the biggest industries in the UK. Its impact is huge, the need for it is growing every day, and millions of people are missing out by not having a national care service to support them and their families.

This government has delivered nothing on social care and failed to protect care homes during the COVID pandemic. Their failure to help all those who need care is now a clear dereliction of a government’s first duty to protect its citizens.

The article Blog: King’s Speech is a missed opportunity first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: King’s Speech is a missed opportunity

The King’s Speech today was a missed opportunity to announce plans for a national care service.

If the government is truly focused on “increasing economic growth and safeguarding the health and security of the British people for generations to come”, then a national care service would have been top of the list.

What better way to change this country for the better than by creating a service that will protect and look after those who need care, allow their relatives to stay in full-time work, give care workers improved conditions and decent pay that will boost local economies everywhere, as well as a real career with progression and recognition for their skills.

These arguments aren’t new – UNISON has been making them for years now, to any politician who will listen. We’ve got support from care workers and care organisations for our plans. The problem is, this government isn’t listening to what our country needs.

We welcome the government’s ambition to cut waiting lists and transform the long-term workforce of the NHS. This is, of course, a priority for UNISON, but we know the best way to release pressure on an overwhelmed NHS is to build a national care service.

Changing the country for the better has to be about public services. Social care is one of the biggest industries in the UK. Its impact is huge, the need for it is growing every day, and millions of people are missing out by not having a national care service to support them and their families.

This government has delivered nothing on social care and failed to protect care homes during the COVID pandemic. Their failure to help all those who need care is now a clear dereliction of a government’s first duty to protect its citizens.

The article Blog: King’s Speech is a missed opportunity first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Donate to aid efforts in Gaza and Israel

UNISON is horrified by the devastating violence seen in Gaza and Israel in recent weeks.

General secretary Christina McAnea says: “I know that many UNISON activists are eager to respond to the crisis, so we are encouraging all our branches to support the critical work of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the Red Cross.

“UNISON condemns the brutal and heinous attack by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel, and the indiscriminate bombing and collective punishment of the people of Gaza. We are calling for a ceasefire, the immediate and safe release of hostages and for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Gaza’s fragile health system was already close to collapse before the latest escalation, due to the 16-year blockade on the narrow strip of land.

The bombing of Gaza and further severe restrictions on access to water, energy and essential medical supplies have seriously exacerbated the health crisis, with 14 out of 35 hospitals and 71% of primary healthcare facilities no longer able to function.

Christina continues: “It is essential that we do all we can to support our colleagues working to save lives in the most appalling circumstances in Gaza and Israel. That is why UNISON has already donated £10,000 to support the critical work of Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Red Cross, and we are asking UNISON branches to give generously to these emergency appeals too.”

MAP has a team working in Gaza to get essential supplies to healthcare providers. It is also working with the Palestinian Red Crescent and is establishing operations in Egypt. The Red Cross is working to provide critical support both in Gaza and Israel in response to the crisis, working with the Palestinian Red Crescent and Magen David Adom.

Over 10,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have been killed by the conflict so far, and many thousands more injured, sadly, so many of them are children.

Christiana adds: “Please do all you can to support the essential work of these organisations and help our colleagues in Gaza and Israel save lives.”

Donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

Donate to the Red Cross

The article Donate to aid efforts in Gaza and Israel first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Donate to aid efforts in Israel and Gaza

We are all horrified by the devastating violence we have seen in Israel and Gaza in recent weeks. I know that many UNISON activists are eager to respond to the crisis, so we are encouraging all our branches to support the critical work of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the Red Cross.

UNISON condemns the brutal and heinous attack by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel, and the indiscriminate bombing and collective punishment of the people of Gaza. We are calling for a ceasefire, the immediate and safe release of hostages and for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Gaza’s fragile health system was already close to collapse before the latest escalation, due to the 16-year blockade on the narrow strip of land. The bombing of Gaza and further severe restrictions on access to water, energy and essential medical supplies have seriously exacerbated the health crisis, with 14 out of 35 hospitals and 71% of primary healthcare facilities no longer able to function.

It is essential that we do all we can to support our colleagues working to save lives in the most appalling circumstances in Gaza and Israel. That is why UNISON has already donated £10,000 to support the critical work of Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Red Cross, and we are asking UNISON branches to give generously to these emergency appeals too.

MAP has a team working in Gaza to get essential supplies to healthcare providers. It is also working with the Palestinian Red Crescent and is establishing operations in Egypt. The Red Cross is working to provide critical support both in Gaza and Israel in response to the crisis, working with the Palestinian Red Crescent and Magen David Adom.

Over 1,400 Israelis and 8,500 Palestinians had been killed by the end of October, and many thousands more injured, sadly, so many of them are children. Please do all you can to support the essential work of these organisations and help our colleagues in Gaza and Israel save lives.

Donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

Donate to the Red Cross

The article Blog: Donate to aid efforts in Israel and Gaza 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.