Blog: A masterclass in smoke and mirrors
Christina McAnea presenting UNISON’s petition to the Treasury, demanding Chancellor Rishi Sunak rebuild public services. © Jess Hurd
For days we’ve been bombarded with big pre-budget announcements from the Treasury on ending the pay freeze and investing in the NHS. And today we heard from Chancellor Rishi Sunak directly about a new age of optimism, of rising wages, investment in public services and levelling up.
It’s designed to dazzle and gloss over the really important details, such as whether these commitments will be backed by the cash needed to turn a promise into the pay rises our members deserve, or whether t...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 27, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: General secretary's blog News Christina McAnea pay freeze spending review Source Type: news
Little to cheer on public sector pay in budget
Commenting on the budget and spending review today (Wednesday) UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
Pay
“Public sector workers won’t be raising many glasses to the chancellor. With no certainty pay will rise above inflation, services will go on shedding experienced staff.
“Only time will tell if the government’s public sector wage policy is thawing. Otherwise, the pay freeze ends in name only.
“Wage rises below the cost of living are effectively pay cuts and won’t reduce the 200,000-plus vacancies across the NHS and social care.
Public services
“World class services need proper funding, but...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 27, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release budget 2021 Source Type: news
H & S survey reveals members feel less safe now than a year ago
Last month, UNISON surveyed its health and safety representatives to understand more about the issues members are facing in their workplaces.
Nearly half of respondents said that their employer had not improved ventilation and air circulation in their workplace, with 36% saying that they feel less safe in the workplace now, than they did 12 months ago.
Just under a quarter of respondents reported that their COVID-19 risk assessments had not been reviewed in the last six months and one in four reported that their employers had not carried out individual risk assessments for more vulnerable workers.
Almost three-quarters of ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 25, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News Covid-19 health and safety Source Type: news
Education unions call for urgent action on climate change crisis
NASUWT, NEU, UCU and UNISON have written to the Secretary of State for Education urging him to take action to ensure climate change education becomes fully embedded in the system.
As chair of COP 26 it is essential for the UK to lead by example to bring about the changes needed for a more sustainable future, the education unions urge.
The dire impact of climate change requires an emergency response, including from the education sector, because young people have most to lose from the current lack of direction, say the four unions.
They say there is concern the government has yet to grasp the gravity of the situat...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 23, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release climate change schools Source Type: news
Urgent action needed to fix care staffing, says UNISON
This report makes it crystal clear that the care sector is on the precipice due to the catastrophic staffing crisis.
“Care homes are closing because they can’t recruit, putting unbearable pressure on other parts of an already-struggling system. And the government’s hopeless ‘no jab, no job’ policy is about to make the situation a whole lot worse.
“Ministers can’t keep wringing their hands or behaving like the care crisis is someone else’s problem.
“Urgent action is needed to improve pay for this skilled, crucial work and begin to plug the gaping holes in the care workforce.
“W...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 22, 2021 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release adult social care care workers CQC Source Type: news
