UNISON launches next stage of cost of living campaign
UNISON moves into the next stage of Together We Rise, the union’s cost of living campaign today. The campaign, which was launched to members at this year’s national delegate conference and at the TUC #DemandBetter rally in London in June, will now be seen by the wider public.
The launch comes on the back of 80,000 people (at the time of publication) signing the union’s petition calling on new Prime Minister Liz Truss to prioritise pay rises over tax cuts, with over 26,000 tweet actions asking the PM and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to #EndThePayCrisis ahead of the emergency budget held on 23 September.
Instead of en...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 3, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article News cost of living together we rise Source Type: news
Government should focus on those in need rather than foolish tax cuts
Responding to the government’s u-turn on the abolition of the 45p tax rate, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Monday): “This pointless tax cut was foolish from the off.
“It’s deeply disturbing that it took a week of financial worry for millions and damage to the UK’s international reputation before the government listened to reason.
“The Prime Minister and Chancellor should be focusing on those who can’t make ends meet, not lining the pockets of the already wealthy.
“If ministers really want to get the country back on its feet, they could start by increasing benefits in line with inf...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - October 3, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release public services Tax Source Type: news
A Labour government can ’ t come soon enough, says UNISON
Commenting on Keir Starmer’s speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This was a speech from the Prime Minister in waiting.
“Keir set out how he will lead a government that protects the economy and living standards, and gives people hope of a better life.
“A government that will work for a fairer, greener future, where people can live in affordable homes, feed their families and pay their energy bills.
“Labour in power would understand that well-funded public services, with properly paid staff, help grow the econo...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 27, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release Christina McAnea Labour party conference public services Source Type: news
Genuine living wage and public service investment show why Labour should be in government
Commenting on the speech from shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today (Monday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This shows the difference a Labour government would make to working people and public services. A windfall tax so our children’s children aren’t still paying off the cost of our energy support in years to come and sustained investment in rundown public services.
“Rachel Reeves is a future chancellor who understands that public services are both the bedrock of a decent society and help fuel the economy.
“Committing to a genuine li...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 26, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release labour conference living wage public services Source Type: news
Government handing taxpayers ’ money to rich friends, while public services suffer
Speaking at the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool today (Monday) about pay and public services, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This is the Tories’ latest attempt at reinventing themselves. From Theresa May’s strong and stable, to Liz Truss’ promise of a decade of dynamism.
“George Osborne demanded austerity and a balanced budget, now Kwasi Kwarteng wants to gamble billions of pounds to give the richest more money to play with.
“But while the rhetoric shifts, some things never change. Public services are run down, and their staff undervalued, underpaid and overwhelmed.
“In-work pov...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 26, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release labour conference Source Type: news
Even Living Wage Foundation rate is not enough, say UNISON members
This week the Living Wage Foundation brought forward a rise in its hourly rates, with a £1 increase to £10.90 across the UK and by 90p to £11.95 in London.
The Foundation’s real living wage rates, which were due to be published in April 2023, were brought forward in recognition of the sharp increase in living costs over the past year.
Unlike the government minimum wage (‘national living wage’) for over 23s, which is £9.50, the Foundation rate is independently calculated based on rising living costs.
Though the new figures mark a 10.1% increase in real living wage since last year, UNISON does not believe th...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 23, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Janey Starling Tags: News cost of living Living Wage Foundation Source Type: news
Stop seeing unions as the enemy, says UNISON
Commenting on government plans for union ballots outlined by the chancellor today (Friday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The government must stop demonising unions and seeing them as the enemy. Strikes are a symptom of the cost of living crisis.
“Instead of making it harder for employees to secure decent wages, ministers should be talking to unions about ways to solve problems.
“Attempting to tie unions up in knots while pulling out all the stops for city elites just shows workers that the government is not on their side.
“By threatening every employment right won through...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 23, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release strikes union rights Source Type: news
UNISON reacts to government energy package for businesses and public sector bodies
Commenting on the government’s plan to help cut energy costs for businesses, charities and public sector organisations, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“This package is too little too late. Public bodies are still vulnerable because of a general lack of cash.
“Many schools, care homes, councils and hospitals have already had to make tough decisions, selling properties or cutting staff to afford their energy bills.
“All this could have been avoided. Better management of the UK’s energy market and an ambitious programme to make public buildings, businesses and homes energy efficient would have m...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 21, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release Christina McAnea energy bills energy efficiency Source Type: news
UNISON takes the government to court over law allowing the use of agency workers to break strike
Legal action against the government over new regulations allowing agency workers to replace striking staff has been launched by UNISON.
The union issued proceedings with the High Court last week (13 September), triggering the start of a process seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision. UNISON is arguing that ministers’ changes are unlawful and should be axed.
Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg has 21 days to respond from the date the case was lodged last Tuesday.
UNISON is arguing the government’s change to the Conduct Regulations 2003* is unfair and based on unreliable evidence. These regulations ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 20, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Garfield Myrie Tags: News Press release agency workers legal action Source Type: news
Blog: There is no future on a dead planet
The devastating impacts of the climate emergency are felt across every part of the globe, but they fall heaviest on the disadvantaged.
UNISON doesn’t need any persuading that climate change is real, dangerous and destructive. There is no future on a dead planet, so we need commitments and action now from government and employers. And if the transition to net zero is not just, workers and their families will suffer.
We are determined to be part of the necessary change. Trade unions are the only force that can ensure urgent policies and measures deliver a fair transition.
Green UNISON Week is our time to highlight these is...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 20, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Demetrios Matheou Tags: General secretary's blog News climate change COP26 green unison Source Type: news
The death of Her Majesty The Queen
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Everyone’s thoughts will be with the royal family at this sad time. I’d like to offer UNISON’s sincere condolences.
“The Queen has given a lifetime of exemplary public service and her loss will be felt deeply across the whole of the UK and Commonwealth.”
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 death of Her Majesty The Queen fir...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 8, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release Christina McAnea Source Type: news
Waiting times won ’t reduce without fixing workforce issues, says UNISON
Commenting on new figures showing record waiting times for NHS treatment in England, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Thursday):
“If the new Prime Minister’s serious about tackling problems in the NHS, that must start with a serious plan to keep hold of existing staff.
“Services cannot run themselves. Without a way to persuade exhausted employees to stay and new people to join, the outlook is bleak for anyone needing the NHS.
“Committing to increase health pay above inflation is now critical. Without that, waits and delays are likely to get a whole lot worse.”
Notes to editors:
R...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 8, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release nhs pay Source Type: news
Fund energy help by taxing firms making most from crisis, says UNISON
Responding to the government’s energy plan announced today (Thursday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“At long last, the government has acted. A bill freeze should have happened months ago. Instead, millions have endured sleepless nights terrified of the winter ahead.
“The companies raking in billions from soaring energy costs should pay their share. Another windfall tax would be fairer than handing huge debts to future generations.
“Putting bills on ice isn’t enough though. Bills will still be almost double the amount they were last year.
“Long-term energy efficiency measu...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 8, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Sophie Goodchild Tags: News Press release energy bills Source Type: news
Headteachers fear losing increasingly vital teaching assistants as cost-of-living pressures bite
Teaching assistants are still filling the gaps left by specialist staff during the pandemic and providing vital emotional support to students and parents, according to a UNISON-commissioned report published today (Thursday).
From Covid to the Cost of Living provides a snapshot of the way Covid has fundamentally changed the role of teaching assistants, says UNISON.
The report also captures headteachers’ concerns that chronic low pay is driving more teaching assistants out of classrooms to better paid, less stressful jobs in other parts of the economy.
The report challenges Liz Truss’ government to d...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 8, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Garfield Myrie Tags: News Press release covid Mike Short teaching assistants Source Type: news
Strikes called off after improved COSLA pay offer
Strikes across Scotland have been suspended after UNISON secured an improved pay offer from the local government employer, COSLA, which the union will put to members with a recommendation to accept.
In intense late-night negotiations on Thursday with the first minster, the deputy first minister, Scottish government and COSLA, UNISON negotiated a number of improvements to the employer’s offer.
This included an increase in the overall value of the pay offer to £600m, full consolidation from the date of implementation and that the calculations will be based on a 36 rather than a 37-hour week.
The new offer
• An incr...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - September 5, 2022 Category: Food Science Authors: Simon Jackson Tags: Article cost of living Scottish local government Strike Action Source Type: news
