Blog: Local government staff are at breaking point

This week, the Prime Minister claimed that austerity is over – which anyone who works in public services, or relies on public services, will know to be untrue. Our hospitals are forced to do more with less. Our schools are stretched to the very limit. And local government staff, perhaps hardest hit by a decade of cutbacks, are at ‘breaking point’. Earlier this year we conducted a survey of UNISON members working in local government, and the response was overwhelming with over 21,000 people taking part. They story they told was compelling, and serves to reinforce the damage done by consistent, brutal cuts: 9 in 10 council employees are not confident about the financial situation of their employer 8 in 10 (79%) are not confident about the future of local services 67% don’t think local residents receive the help and support they need at the right time 49% are thinking of leaving for something less stressful Half of local government workers – vital providers of services we’re all reliant on – thinking about leaving their roles because they’ve become too stressful. The vast majority fearful for the future of local services. This is a disastrous situation – but it’s one that UNISON has long warned about, and which the government have chosen to exacerbate at every turn. It would be understandable for those who provide these vital public services to fall into despair after such treatment, but together in UNISON, we’re fighting back. Recently we’ve drawn ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: General secretary's blog News Source Type: news