Category: minimum service levels

UNISON joins Cheltenham rally to defend the right to strike

On Saturday 27 January, around 5,000 people took to the streets of Cheltenham against the Tories’ new anti-strike laws.

The date marked the 40th anniversary of GCHQ’s ban on trade unions, when Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government attacked trade union rights in 1984.

UNISON, along with other unions, say there are parallels between this historical event and the new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.

The Minimum Service Levels Act could restrict the right to strike for over five million workers. The new law stipulates that, when workers in certain public sectors vote to strike, they could be forced to attend work and sacked if they don’t comply.

UNISON branches from across the country travelled to Cheltenham to join the thousands-strong march.

Similarly, just as it was a Labour government in 1997 that overturned the GCHQ ban, unions hope that a Labour government will repeal the Tories’ anti-strike legislation.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, who spoke at the rally, said: “Rather than fixing the problems that force workers to take strike action, government ministers want to threaten public sector workers with the sack.

The biggest risk to the public is not striking workers, it’s more years of a Conservative government, and more years of cuts.”

The article UNISON joins Cheltenham rally to defend the right to strike first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON joins Cheltenham rally to defend the right to strike

On Saturday 27 January, around 5,000 people took to the streets of Cheltenham against the Tories’ new anti-strike laws.

The date marked the 40th anniversary of GCHQ’s ban on trade unions, when Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government attacked trade union rights in 1984.

UNISON, along with other unions, say there are parallels between this historical event and the new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.

The Minimum Service Levels Act could restrict the right to strike for over five million workers. The new law stipulates that, when workers in certain public sectors vote to strike, they could be forced to attend work and sacked if they don’t comply.

UNISON branches from across the country travelled to Cheltenham to join the thousands-strong march.

Similarly, just as it was a Labour government in 1997 that overturned the GCHQ ban, unions hope that a Labour government will repeal the Tories’ anti-strike legislation.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, who spoke at the rally, said: “Rather than fixing the problems that force workers to take strike action, government ministers want to threaten public sector workers with the sack.

The biggest risk to the public is not striking workers, it’s more years of a Conservative government, and more years of cuts.”

The article UNISON joins Cheltenham rally to defend the right to strike first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government should be investing in schools not banning strikes, says UNISON

Commenting on the launch today (Tuesday) of a government consultation into minimum service levels for schools during strikes, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“If school workers were paid properly, strikes would be rare.

“The government hasn’t invested in essential services or their workforces. Industrial action is often the only option if staff are to have any hope of keeping pay at decent levels, and sparing schools an endless recruitment nightmare.

“No one strikes at a whim. It means losing a day’s pay and few can afford that. Strikes remain a last resort, with workers forced to jump through multiple hoops to exercise their legal right.

“Yet these measures could prevent some school staff from ever striking again. That’s not the behaviour of a democratic government.

“This legislation is a desperate attempt to prop up a government that’s lost the plot. Ministers would rather pick fights with unions and appease their right-wing backbenchers than improve the country.

“The best way to boost education and public services across the board is to get rid of this failed government.”

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 Government should be investing in schools not banning strikes, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government should be investing in schools not banning strikes, says UNISON

Commenting on the launch today (Tuesday) of a government consultation into minimum service levels for schools during strikes, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“If school workers were paid properly, strikes would be rare.

“The government hasn’t invested in essential services or their workforces. Industrial action is often the only option if staff are to have any hope of keeping pay at decent levels, and sparing schools an endless recruitment nightmare.

“No one strikes at a whim. It means losing a day’s pay and few can afford that. Strikes remain a last resort, with workers forced to jump through multiple hoops to exercise their legal right.

“Yet these measures could prevent some school staff from ever striking again. That’s not the behaviour of a democratic government.

“This legislation is a desperate attempt to prop up a government that’s lost the plot. Ministers would rather pick fights with unions and appease their right-wing backbenchers than improve the country.

“The best way to boost education and public services across the board is to get rid of this failed government.”

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 Government should be investing in schools not banning strikes, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government’s desperate strike move won’t solve any NHS problems

Commenting on the government’s announcement today (Monday) that minimum service levels will be introduced during ambulance strikes in England, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“This pointless move won’t solve a single problem in the NHS. But it will create many more difficulties for everyone.

“Measures are already in place to protect patients during action. Sacking ambulance workers on strike won’t get the millions awaiting hospital treatment any closer to the top of the list.

“It’s just a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the government’s appalling record on the NHS.

“The public wants ministers to cut waiting times, shorten delays and attract more staff to the NHS. Not make an already dire situation significantly worse.”

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 Government’s desperate strike move won’t solve any NHS problems first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government’s desperate strike move won’t solve any NHS problems

Commenting on the government’s announcement today (Monday) that minimum service levels will be introduced during ambulance strikes in England, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“This pointless move won’t solve a single problem in the NHS. But it will create many more difficulties for everyone.

“Measures are already in place to protect patients during action. Sacking ambulance workers on strike won’t get the millions awaiting hospital treatment any closer to the top of the list.

“It’s just a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the government’s appalling record on the NHS.

“The public wants ministers to cut waiting times, shorten delays and attract more staff to the NHS. Not make an already dire situation significantly worse.”

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 Government’s desperate strike move won’t solve any NHS problems first appeared on the UNISON National site.