We should be proud of our past and ready for the battles ahead, says UNISON general secretary

Speaking at UNISON’s annual women’s conference today (Friday) in Bournemouth, general secretary Dave Prentis said: “UNISON is now the biggest union in the country and, with a million women members, that means the biggest union in the country is a women’s union. “What we have done, is create a union where women call the shots. The majority of the NEC, the presidential team and the assistant general secretaries are women. Nationally, locally and regionally women are leading the union. “Last year, more than 100,000 low-paid women workers won the living wage in the NHS. That’s a life changing pay deal for the cleaners, cooks and carers who keep our NHS ticking. “There was also the monumental employment tribunal fees victory. An historic case that no other union was willing to fight, but UNISON was. “And UNISON continues to fight in the courts. On Wednesday our union was granted the right to appeal on our care workers sleep-in case. Across the country, thousands of care workers, mostly women, aren’t paid the proper salary for the valuable work they do. “UNISON is seeking justice for these workers just as it is seeking justice in Birmingham for the incredible homecare strikers. Fighting a Labour council who seek to slash their wages by thousands of pounds. “We should be proud of our past and ready for the battles ahead, like equal pay. It’s a long, tough battle that we’ve fought together over the decades, but in too many places the argument is yet ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Press release 2019 Women's Conference dave prentis Source Type: news