Will a shower of April wins help us flower in May?

With UNISON’s campaign for Go for Growth in May already underway, it’s time to look back on an April that produced more than a few illustrations of just what the UK’s biggest union can do. It began (as these things do) on the first of the month, when we celebrated 20 years of the national minimum wage – an achievement that UNISON made possible. In 1999, we were told that it would cost millions of jobs – but we know how that turned out. But we’re not resting on our laurels and UNISON is committed to campaigning for a real living wage for all. And that’s why, at a Parliamentary reception to mark the anniversary, where we were joined by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and many MPs, we launched a new campaign – #OneWageAnyAge. A day later, we were able to celebrate a brand new win, as UNISON members at Liverpool Women’s Hospital claimed victory in their struggle to secure NHS rates of pay. The domestics, porters, catering and security staff are all employed by a private contractor, OCS, which had refused to pay them the same rate for the job as staff employed directly by the NHS, who had seen their pay rise under last year’s nationally agreed deal. Now, the OCS staff will no longer be paid just the legal minimum wage, but will receive the higher NHS rate. It’s worth over £2,000 a year for full-time staff – that’s the difference we can make to people’s lives. Staff had taken three days of strike action in February and March, calling off a ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News 2019 Health Conference Bring them in environment agency health and safety international workers' memorial day LGPS living wage local government nhs pay OCS one wage any age pensions divestment Source Type: news