TUC: Campaign together to fight for our people

#STUC16 TUC president Liz Snape called for the STUC and TUC to continue to work together ‘to protect our future and fight for our people’ as she addressed Congress this morning.

Liz, who is also a UNISON depute general secretary, said: “Congress, be in no doubt our fortunes and our future will rise or fall as one. And it falls to us – to our generation – to protect our future and fight for our people.”

“So keep strong, keep campaigning and keep fighting. That’s how we win. Together!”

Simple Minds called to campaign for world cup workers in Qatar

Date: Friday 18 December 2015 UNISON, Scotland’s biggest trade union, has written to the Scottish band Simple Minds asking they speak out for migrant workers rights in Qatar. UNISON supports the TUC Fair Play for Qatar campaign which is highlighting the poor working conditions of migrant workers who are building football stadiums and infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup. Simple Minds are booked to play a gig in Qatar on 29 January Simon Macfarlane, UNISON international committee spokesperson, said “Workers are being drafted in mainly from India, Nepal and Bangladesh and forced to live in squalid conditions, paid as little as 45 pence an hour and work in a very dangerous environment. Almost 1000 workers have died in Qatar building infrastructure for the world cup and if nothing changes the death toll could be as much as 4000 by the time the World Cup starts in 2022. Simple Minds have an excellent record in supporting Human Rights across the world. They were leading campaigners against South African apartheid. And songs like Belfast Child and Mandela Day are loved for their message as much as anything else. It would be great if they highlighted the plight of migrant workers in Qatar”  END Notes TUC Fair Play Qatar campaign https://www.tuc.org.uk/international-issues/countries/qatar Letter from UNISON Scotland international committee to Simple Minds is online here:http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/international/

Corbyn has strong mandate to opppose cuts says UNISON Scotland convener

#TUC15 Speaking at the TUC congress in Brighton, Lilian Macer, Convener of UNISON Scotland, said: "We are delighted that Labour Party has elected a leader who is strongly opposed to austerity. UK Government cuts are hitting people and their public services hard in Scotland, just as they are right across the UK.

"UNISON members can see the damage that austerity is doing first hand. With job losses, pay freezes and cuts to services. Jeremy Corbyn has been given a strong mandate to oppose the UK government cuts and set out a real positive alternative."

#YestoFairPay day of action today - new pay analysis shows importance to economy

11 June 2013

Today UNISON local government branches across Scotland are organising workplace events and action campaigning for Fair Pay. (Resources and info here)

Dave Watson, UNISON's Head of Bargaining and Campaigns, has blogged on today's new TUC research showing billions lost to the economy because of the falling value of pay.

".....Council workers are the lowest paid group of public service staff. We know that low paid workers will spend much of their fair pay and Living Wage in their own communities – building the local economy. A study by APSE on the Economic Footprint of Local Services estimates that local government employees re-spend 52.5p of every pound in their pay locally. A similar study in Stoke put the figure at 63p.

Ed Balls' speech to TUC Congress - UNISON reaction

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Responding to Ed Balls' speech to the TUC in Brighton this morning, UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:

“Ed Balls gave a business-like speech to Congress today, dealing with many of the issues that trade union members are concerned about, including jobs and the economy.

“It was heartening to hear that there is a vision developing amongst the shadow cabinet, particularly in some of the areas that we have been campaigning on, such as dealing with the banks, building affordable homes, getting young people back into work and investing for growth in schools, roads and transport.

“It was good, too,  to hear that he recognises that Labour won’t get elected just because the Tories are bad.  And that he recognises the need for a credible alternative, for policies that working people relate to and will want to vote for.

“We at UNISON don’t want a return to 80’s either.  That is exactly where the Tories want to take us. We want a decent future for our children, quality public services that take care of the sick and elderly and fair pay for the workers who deliver them.
“We would like to have heard more from Ed Balls that Labour has a clear  understanding of just how hard working people are really struggling.  If he really understood the massive impact of a three year pay freeze on families struggling to pay for food and fuel, or forced to turn to pay-day loans where interest can be a terrifying 4000% - he, too,  would be calling for an end to the pay freeze.

“Of course we need to get people back into work, but that cannot be done by cutting the pay and conditions of public service workers.”

ends


UNISON UK press release:
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2809


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Coalition has 'declared war on our people' Prentis tells TUC - UNISON UK release

Monday 10 September 2012

Today UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis told the TUC Congress that now was the ‘time for action’ to end the government’s damaging austerity measures.

He addressed Congress to make the case for– ‘A future that works’ – urging the TUC to renew its fight aginst the government’s unwelcome and failing austerity agenda, and promising coordinated action if they refuse.

He said that the 20 October Demonstration must be a ‘launch pad’ for an organised, united campaign against austerity.

Saying the coalition had ‘declared war on our people’ through the pay freeze, pushing workers closer and closer to economic oblivion while the rich remain untouched, he added that industrial action would be the inevitable response that if the government refuses to bring an end to austerity.

The full speech can be found below:

“At the start I want to pay tribute, like Brendan, to the fantastic athletes who made the Olympics so successful and the volunteers, but Congress I also want to pay tribute to the 80,000 women, men and children in the Olympic stadium who showed George Osborne exactly what they thought of him.

“The day George Osborne was rumbled and the crowd who spoke for all of us weren’t booing pantomime villains, but real life villains who are destroying Britain.

“Tory Britain; an economy in crisis; the longest recession for 50 years; 625 public service jobs gone every single day of this coalition – and more to come; the worst child poverty record of any government for a generation.

“A Britain where last week Save The Children, an international charity, launched an appeal to help UK families plunged into poverty by cuts and recession. Stories of kids going without hot meals, winter clothes, missing out on school trips. Working families struggling with rocketing prices, plummeting pay.

“An Oxfam report warning of inequality in Britain not seen since Victorian times – heart rending stories that shame this government and anyone who supports it.

“And in Britain – walk down any high street, open any newspaper, turn on the TV, legalised loan sharks offering pay-day loans, interest rates reaching 4000%. An industry that is now worth £2bn a year, and six in ten using money to pay their household bills or to buy essentials, trapping families in a downward spiral of debt and despair.

“Our people. Our kids.

“The cost of food going up again by another 10%, the cost of gas and electric rising even more. We know, Congress, that it takes just a £50 increase in monthly outgoings, and that would plunge one third of families into financial ruin.

“Britain is changing beyond recognition.

“Employment rights are under attack, sacking workers to be made easier than ever before.  Britain where ‘sit alone’ judges –not tribunals – decide unfair dismissal claims; where ‘zero hours’ contracts are all the norm.

“A world where bankers with no shame are now speculating on food prices as millions face starvation. 

“Britain where everything is up for sale: our NHS, our care services, our education services – essential services being privatised.

“£27bn of contracts are to be signed in the coming year alone – despite the scandals, despite the failures. A4E; Southern Cross; G4S; ATOL and its discredited benefits tests; and failed council contracts.

“And the Tories, the Tories, with no road to recovery, know their policies aren’t working, and are using austerity, the recession to destroy our public services, to destroy our welfare state. Without austerity, they couldn’t privatise our NHS, privatise policing, close libraries, attack the hard-won rights of working people.

“A coalition which has declared war on our people – our people facing a third year of pay freeze. Living standards slashed, while the rich and the powerful remain untouched.

“And congress this is the point: it is our job to lead the fight back. To protect our heritage. To defend that fairer society that those who went before us fought for. To fight for a future that works. To ensure that 20 October is the biggest anti-cuts demonstration in our history. A day that will give hope to our people, hope for a better, fairer society.

“And the 20 October has to be more – much more than just a march. It must be a launch pad for our campaign against austerity. After that day we must march on, united, coordinated.

“The Tory posh boys think our members are afraid – afraid of losing their jobs, afraid of asking for better pay. But it’s our job as leaders, as trade unionists, to raise them up, and to show our members what they are really worth.

“And as a TUC we must be out there campaigning, organising, building a movement, building alliances of all unions.

“We are never stronger than when we coordinate industrial action, when we speak with one voice. Yes, we will seek decent pay, fair pay. Yes, we will negotiate – that is what our membership expect us to do.

“But make no mistake, if employers refuse to negotiate; if the attacks continue – we will deliver the coordinated action which is called for in this composite.

“Now is the time for action."

ends


News release from UNISON UK
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2806


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Work Your Proper Hours Day on Friday 24 February

UNISON supports the TUC's Work Your Proper Hours Day on Friday 24 February 2012. 

Work Your Proper Hours Day - from workSMART.org.uk:

"Work Your Proper Hours Day (24 Feb 2012) is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year, and starts earning for themselves. We think that's a day worth celebrating.

"Over five million people at work in the UK regularly do unpaid overtime, giving their employers £29.2 billion of free work last year alone. If you're one, why not take some time to reflect on how well (or badly) you're balancing your life?"

Find out more at the TUC's Work Your Proper Hours Day campaign website at Work Your Proper Hours Day - from workSMART.org.uk

More on TUC campaigns at www.tuc.org.uk


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False Economy website and video: why the cuts are wrong

Check out the False Economy website http://falseeconomy.org.uk/ from the people who brought you The Other Taxpayer's Alliance http://www.taxpayersalliance.org  - the good one! And here's their video about Why the cuts are wrong.


Why cuts are the wrong cure from False Economy on Vimeo.


More on Scotland from STUC's There Is A Better Way
and UNISON Scotland's Public Works


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'We will defend all that we hold dear'

13 Sep 2010

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, stands with public service workers

Moving the motion on public services at TUC Congress today, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis spoke of the injustice of the Coalition's cuts.

Describing, Bob Diamond, the new boss of Barclays, who is paid £11m a year, Mr Prentis said: "We're told he's worth every penny, says he wakes up every morning with a smile on his face", whilst, he said, "public service workers across the land wake up every morning, not with a smile on their face, but worried whether they still have a job because of the failure of bankers like Mr Diamond."

And the cuts were unjust he said, as the coalition takes "a chainsaw to our public services", whilst "banks are posting record profits."

And they were unjust he said, as "bankers are back to their bonuses, hoping that no one will notice the income of the top 1% of our society is now greater than the total pay bill for our NHS, our schools and our local government put together."

He spoke of the alternative to the cuts that the coalition government refuses to pursue.

"The coalition says they can't ask their friends in big business to pay tax. That would discourage enterprise. They can't regulate the financial system or there'll be fewer jobs in the city.

"But with breathtaking hypocrisy, they take away the benefits of the poor and disabled. They undermine the job security of low paid workers. They let our communities feel the pain."

Outlining further alternatives he said: "If there's money to bail out bankers and their bonuses, if there's money for war, for Trident, there's money available to protect our public services.

"And if money is tight, never mind a pay freeze for our members. How about a pay freeze for the bankers? We’ve seen enough of what they've done. We've had enough of their greed, their arrogance. It's them, not our members, who should be doing more for less."


Read more of this story on UNISON UK website
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=6326



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UNISON and TUC report shows extent of regressive budget

28 June 2010

Research commissioned by UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, and the TUC shows how hard the new government’s emergency budget will hit low income families.

By taking into account what services households lose, along with changes in taxes and benefits, the report finds that the impact of the emergency budget will be deeply regressive. All households stand to take a hit, but the poorest will suffer the biggest blow.

Assuming the planned cuts fall evenly across non-ring fenced departments, the average annual cut in public spending on the poorest tenth of households is £1,344, equivalent to 20.5% of their household income. In contrast, the average annual cut in public spending on the richest tenth of households is £1,135, equivalent to just 1.6% of their household income.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
“It doesn’t matter how much the Tory and Lib Dems try to spin the emergency budget, we are not all in this together. The truth is that the poorest, the least able to lose money from their household budgets, will be hardest hit by the coalition’s cuts. Meanwhile, the wealthy, and the Bankers who got us into this mess, get away lightly.

“The government is running the risk of a lost decade of decline, by pressing ahead with plans that will hit the spending power of hardworking families. Throwing hundreds of thousands of public sector workers on the dole queues will cripple local economies, closing down local shops and businesses. And if vital public services are cut to the bone, people will be left without the support they need to pick up the pieces.”

Read the full report here:
Don’t forget the spending cuts: The real impact of Budget 2010 - PDF

 
 
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