Each year more than five million people – including many dedicated public servants – work an average of almost eight hours a week in unpaid overtime, according to research published today by the TUC. If everyone who worked unpaid overtime was paid the average wage for those hours, that’d add up to over £30 billion each year.
General Secretary’s blog
UNISON General Secretary Christina McAnea’s blog.
It was a pleasure to take part in the picket line at City and Islington College this morning as they took part in today’s national strike action. It’s clear from talking to members – like Nicola and Eleanor who I met this morning – that the scale of the problems faced in FE goes beyond cuts […]
One of the greatest pleasures is spending time with UNISON members in their branches and talking to them about their struggles and their successes.
When even the person the government charged with reviewing industrial action has so much criticism for the Trade Union Bill – surely they must realise they have gone too far?
It is not too late to treat staff – who have given so much – with the respect they deserve, and to negotiate with them in good faith. By doing so, a strike that nobody wants can be averted, and Action for Children workers who care so much about the charity can stay at work.
This government is trying to have its cuts whilst avoiding the consequences. The very least that ministers should be willing to do is pay those they’re booting out of work the redundancy money they’re owed, rather than changing the rules to hit people who have given their communities and our country decades of service.
Understandably many of the UNISON members I speak to are scared, concerned or just plain appalled by the government’s assault on women. But I’m determined that no bill, cut or law will ever stop UNISON fighting for our members.
If the government comes for the unsocial hours payments that NHS staff have come to rely upon following years of pay austerity, we will be ready for them.
UNISON stands behind the junior doctors as they stand up for their rights at work and for patient safety, but unfortunately these attacks will come as no surprise to student nurses
UNISON has always argued that public services must stay public unless there is an evidenced ‘public interest case’ to prove otherwise. So we welcome the Our Services Our Say campaign which puts the case forward about the fundamental importance of public services to society and communities.
Not for the first time, this government has underestimated our great movement. So we will fight all the battles to come. And we’ll overcome whatever hurdles are placed in our way.
UNISON will continue to campaign for better mental health services, and workplaces that support those who need support. Together, we can help remove the barriers to understanding mental health.
Strike action is never taken on a whim – but sometimes it’s the only option when every other avenue has been exhausted.
It’s impossible to read these stories and not wish for a proper solution to our care crisis – and that will require money and political will to achieve