Category: prime minister

New prime minister must improve pay if he wants a stronger NHS

Responding to the speech by new prime minister Rishi Sunak as he arrived at Downing Street today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“No one can be under any illusion about the challenges that lie ahead. The previous prime minister has certainly made the situation a whole lot worse.

“If Rishi Sunak really wants the NHS and other public services to become stronger, they must have the resources needed to tackle the growing workforce crises.

“That starts with giving health employees a second pay rise to stop experienced staff from heading for the door. Unless the government acts soon, a strike across the NHS looks increasingly likely this winter.”

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 New prime minister must improve pay if he wants a stronger NHS first appeared on the UNISON National site.

No more leadership musical chairs, it’s time for a general election

Commenting on the news that Rishi Sunak is to become the next prime minister, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The depth of the crisis facing the UK is too serious to be left to the Conservatives to solve.

“Changing leaders won’t make a shred of difference. The shambles of the past few weeks proves the Tories are no longer fit to govern.

“It’s time to let voters choose a new government in Westminster. The public wants a general election. They’ve had enough of the musical chairs at the top of government. If Rishi Sunak is so confident he has the answers to the UK’s problems, he should go to the country now.”

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 No more leadership musical chairs, it’s time for a general election first appeared on the UNISON National site.

There must now be an election, says UNISON

Commenting on the resignation of the prime minister Liz Truss, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This farce cannot go on. The Conservatives have shown themselves unfit to govern.

“The crisis affecting the country is so deep that the only solution is to have an election. There should be one immediately so voters can choose a government to get the country back on its feet.”

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 There must now be an election, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government can’t be trusted and must go, says UNISON

Government can’t be trusted and must go, says UNISON

Responding to emergency measures announced by the chancellor today (Monday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“A government that dumps virtually its entire economic slate in the space of a month simply cannot be trusted.

“Liz Truss promised again and again to shield people from rocketing energy bills, but even that help now lies in tatters. Struggling families will be aghast.

“Threatened spending cuts mean essential services, key workers and the public will pay a heavy price for the government’s reckless, and wholly unnecessary, gamble.

“The current crisis is entirely of the government’s making. The UK’s reputation on the international stage has been trashed and families’ budgets squeezed like never before.

“This sorry state of affairs must come to an end. The lame duck prime minister has to step aside and an election called right away to put the country out of its misery. That’s the only way to get the economy back on track.”

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 can’t be trusted and must go, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

The government has got to get back to governing, says UNISON

Reacting to the announcement today (Monday) that Liz Truss is to be the new Conservative leader, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Leaving the country rudderless all summer ?at a time of great emergency has been nothing short of a ?national disgrace.

“?The government has got to get back to governing immediately. Liz Truss must do what should’ve happened months ago and deliver help to the millions ?unable to cope with ?their crushing bills.

“Many famil?y finances may never recover ?without an urgent assistance plan. Tackling the cost-of-living? ?crisis must be ?the Prime Minister’s number one priority, not wasting precious time attacking unions for trying to help working people through the pain.

“?Hard on the heels of ?an energy lifeline ?must be an above-inflation wage rise for the public services currently haemorrhaging staff to better-paying parts of the economy. If there’s no-one left to run the hospitals, schools, town halls, police stations and care homes communities rely on, we’ll all be done for.

“Cutting taxes only assists the better-off. It won’t help the hospital porters, teaching assistants, care staff or other low-paid ?workers one bit.

“The new leader also must do what Boris Johnson promised and failed ?to do – fix ?the broken social care ?system once and for all.”

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.

The article The government has got to get back to governing, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.