Recession and austerity have created two nations in the UK, Dave Prentis told the crowds in Hyde Park at TUC-organised Britain Needs a Pay Rise rally in London today .
He accused David Cameron of “spreading privilege to his millionaire friends” but stressed that UNISON was there “for the millions who are suffering, the millions who have lost, and we will continue to fight for fair pay”.
Appearing on stage with striking care workers, the UNISON geeral secretary describeed one nation where the champagne corks are popping, “bankers have never known it better” and “chief executives give themselves 200 times more than our members earn.
“But in our world, our people are suffering, living in increasing poverty, not because they’re lazy but because they’ve been betrayed by the rich and powerful who run our society.”
He described a nation where public services are devastated, women hit the hardest, “where a quarter of a million members struggle on the minimum wage, not able to live, merely to exist.
“And our people standing by the phone, hoping for work, for the call that never comes. A million people on zero hours contracts: no dignity, no respect.”
Mr Prentis derided the government for using the recession “to destroy our public services” and lamented the 600 public service jobs that “have gone every single day of this coalition”.
“Everything is up for sale,” he said: “Our NHS, our local community services – £30bn worth of contracts going to private companies this year alone; public services sold off despite the scandals, despite the failures.”
Mr Prentis said he was “unbelievably proud” to appear on stage with some of the striking Care UK workers who had travelled down from Doncaster for the march.
The strikers have recently completed 90 days of strike action after their employers cut their pay by 40%.
“It’s immoral and we will stand with these people until we win,” Mr Prentis said.
Healso congratulated UNISON health members for starting the week off by taking strike action in the NHS for the first time over pay in 32 years.
And he also had a special word of thanks for the Royal College of Midwives for taking strike action for the first time in their history.
But he warned that further action would be taken if needed in November.
He also highlighted the 400,000 police staff members who are currently being balloted for strike action – “and that will hit the Tories more than anything”.