Ahead of the monthly unemployment figures out tomorrow, new analysis by UNISON, the UK’s largest public services union, has revealed a shocking collapse in the number of new jobs available compared to three years ago. The analysis exposes a fundamental flaw in the Tory-led coalition’s economic strategy.
For every 100 vacancies available in November 2007, there were just 68 in November 2010. Some regions are hit harder still; in the East Midlands, there were just 49 vacancies in November 2010 for every 100 available in 2007. In Scotland there were just 39 vacant jobs in November 2010, again for every 100 available in November 2007.
click here for full story on UNISON UK news
Showing posts with label Dave Prentis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dave Prentis. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Saturday, December 4, 2010
More must be done to protect our ‘Cinderella’ services, says UNISON
UNISON’s general secretary Dave Prentis says more must be done to protect our ‘Cinderella’ services.
Dave Prentis will make the call at the meeting of UNISON’s Scottish Council – which consists of representatives from all Scottish branches covering UNISON’s 160,000 members – today (Saturday).
He will tell members: “Not everything that is valuable is popular. Not everything that transforms lives wins applause. “Will those working with young offenders be as popular as those who work in childcare? Will people supporting drug users be as voter friendly as paramedics? Who will speak up for the ‘Cinderella’ services?
“Who will champion what is right, not just what is popular? I’ll tell you who. We will. We will speak up for the vulnerable. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with those who work in public services, and those who rely on them.”
Dave Prentis will also pay tribute to Matt Smith who is stepping down as Scottish Secretary with UNISON Scotland. Matt has almost 40 years dedicated service to the trade union movement and has held the position of Scottish Secretary since UNISON was formed in 1993.
· Matt Smith, 58, has led UNISON Scotland as Scottish Secretary since it was created in 1993 and is the only one to have held the post. Over the years, Matt has worked to promote policies which advance the interests of members, particularly in relation to low pay and equal pay. He has also played a pivotal part in championing the role of trade unions and ensuring their relevance as a major stakeholder in civic society. In 2004, Matt was awarded an OBE in recognition of his contribution to trade unionism.
Dave Prentis will make the call at the meeting of UNISON’s Scottish Council – which consists of representatives from all Scottish branches covering UNISON’s 160,000 members – today (Saturday).
He will tell members: “Not everything that is valuable is popular. Not everything that transforms lives wins applause. “Will those working with young offenders be as popular as those who work in childcare? Will people supporting drug users be as voter friendly as paramedics? Who will speak up for the ‘Cinderella’ services?
“Who will champion what is right, not just what is popular? I’ll tell you who. We will. We will speak up for the vulnerable. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with those who work in public services, and those who rely on them.”
Dave Prentis will also pay tribute to Matt Smith who is stepping down as Scottish Secretary with UNISON Scotland. Matt has almost 40 years dedicated service to the trade union movement and has held the position of Scottish Secretary since UNISON was formed in 1993.
· Matt Smith, 58, has led UNISON Scotland as Scottish Secretary since it was created in 1993 and is the only one to have held the post. Over the years, Matt has worked to promote policies which advance the interests of members, particularly in relation to low pay and equal pay. He has also played a pivotal part in championing the role of trade unions and ensuring their relevance as a major stakeholder in civic society. In 2004, Matt was awarded an OBE in recognition of his contribution to trade unionism.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
UNISON response to Hutton report on pensions
07/10/2010
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, has responded to the Hutton report on pensions published today. He said:
“Our key priority is to make sure that our members’ pension schemes, that they pay into all their working lives, remain sustainable and affordable and that there is no damaging race to the bottom. We will seek to maintain, using all means possible, the agreements reached two years ago to make our public service schemes sustainable and also protect existing members of the scheme.
“This is an interim report, and UNISON will continue making the case for public sector pensions throughout the course of the review.
“It is only right that the report recognises that public sector pensions are not gold-plated. We are pleased that Hutton recommends keeping a defined benefit scheme, but we are adamant that the final salary scheme should be retained.
“There is a real danger that taking a career average to calculate pensions will see the low paid getting less in their retirement – especially as the government has switched from using the RPI to using the CPI to calculate pensions.
“Public sector workers already pay a sizeable amount into their pension schemes year in, year out. Many of our members would struggle to pay more. Council workers, including home carers, librarians, social workers and dinner ladies, pay in 6.4% of their wages, while NHS workers pay an average of 6.6%.
“Plans to make public sector staff work until they drop will hit the low paid hard. For many public sector staff, working longer is not an option. Many nurses, home carers, paramedics and refuse collectors are already forced into early retirement because of the physical nature of their jobs, and the damage it does to their health.
“It is time the government turned their attention to the private sector, where two thirds of employers don’t provide a single penny towards their employees’ pensions, forcing taxpayers into picking up a massive long-term benefits bill.”
UNISON UK News Release:http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2006
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| Dave Prentis |
“Our key priority is to make sure that our members’ pension schemes, that they pay into all their working lives, remain sustainable and affordable and that there is no damaging race to the bottom. We will seek to maintain, using all means possible, the agreements reached two years ago to make our public service schemes sustainable and also protect existing members of the scheme.
“This is an interim report, and UNISON will continue making the case for public sector pensions throughout the course of the review.
“It is only right that the report recognises that public sector pensions are not gold-plated. We are pleased that Hutton recommends keeping a defined benefit scheme, but we are adamant that the final salary scheme should be retained.
“There is a real danger that taking a career average to calculate pensions will see the low paid getting less in their retirement – especially as the government has switched from using the RPI to using the CPI to calculate pensions.
“Public sector workers already pay a sizeable amount into their pension schemes year in, year out. Many of our members would struggle to pay more. Council workers, including home carers, librarians, social workers and dinner ladies, pay in 6.4% of their wages, while NHS workers pay an average of 6.6%.
“Plans to make public sector staff work until they drop will hit the low paid hard. For many public sector staff, working longer is not an option. Many nurses, home carers, paramedics and refuse collectors are already forced into early retirement because of the physical nature of their jobs, and the damage it does to their health.
“It is time the government turned their attention to the private sector, where two thirds of employers don’t provide a single penny towards their employees’ pensions, forcing taxpayers into picking up a massive long-term benefits bill.”
UNISON UK News Release:http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2006
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Friday, September 24, 2010
There IS an alternative - UNISON Scotland strategy conference 4 September 2010 - video
There IS an alternative: Dave Prentis, Mike Kirby and participants at UNISON Scotland's strategy conference 4 September 2010
See also:
unison-scotland.blogspot.com/2010/09/weve-got-argument-weve-got-alternatives.html
www.unison-scotland/publicworks
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Monday, September 13, 2010
'We will defend all that we hold dear'
13 Sep 2010
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, stands with public service workers
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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Saturday, September 4, 2010
We've got the argument. We've got the alternatives. We've got the vision - get out there and organise for it
"This vision, and these values, have always been fundamental to our ethos as a union. Because it's what our members try to turn into reality every day when they go to work.
"So let's not be fooled by the scaremongering about the debt", said Dave. "And let's not fall for the lie that that this society can't afford decent public services. The money is there in our economy, if we want to raise it and put it to good use. But this government doesn't want you to realise that.
"Not because half of the cabinet are millionaires who don't want to pay their share…although half of the cabinet are millionaires who don't want to pay their share.
"It's because of an ideology. An ideology that hates public services. An ideology that loves privatisation. An ideology that sees public service employment - millions of people caring and helping and educating - not as an achievement to be celebrated - but as a problem to be tackled."
Underlining the point, the STUC's Stephen Boyd exploded the myths about the crisis, blow by blow. The STUC's new 'There is a Better Way' campaign (http://www.thereisabetterway.org/) is a crucial resource for showing not only that the cuts are ideologically rather than financial driven - but also how they will hinder a recovery and possibly throw us into a further recession.
But this meeting was not just a talking shop. It was there as the first step in a series of events as participants moved into workshops to develop practical plans to take the campaign forward.
Nobody underestimated the task. As Dave Prentis told UNISON's National Conference in June, "the next four years will test us all. Test our resolve. Test our nerve. But we will pass the test. The world has changed - new worries, new fears. And our members look to us to lead. This is no time to hang our heads. It is time to stand tall."
He returned to that theme in Glasgow "We've got the argument. We've got the alternatives. We've got the vision. What we need to do is get out there and organise for it".
Friday, September 3, 2010
Prentis warns Scotland’s political leaders against slashing public services based on ‘ice cream van economics’
Date: 3 Sept 10
He said today that the report by the so-called three wise men painted a vision of a future “where services are privatised or charged for, if they are there at all” and where 35-60,000 jobs are cut.
Dave added: “I don’t want to be too harsh on these three not very wise men. They were asked to deliver a package of cuts. That’s what they have done.
“A proper review of the budget would have started by looking at the services we need, then working out how you raise the money to pay for them.
“You don’t look at a Government’s finances and say ‘we’ve got this much, what can we get for it?’
“That’s what kids do at an ice cream van. We should be able to expect better from experts looking at a country’s finances.”
UNISON Scotland’s ‘There is an alternative’ conference tomorrow will see more than 200 union and community activists from around the country share experiences about threats to local services and discuss how to develop the union’s Public Works campaign.
Keynote speaker Stephen Boyd, STUC assistant secretary, will deliver an economic analysis that demonstrates that there is an alternative to the cuts and privatisation agenda.
Dave added: “I have a message for the Scottish Government. The Independent Budget Review is just a tartan version of the Tory plan for the rest of the UK. It’s a plan that the Scottish people rejected, overwhelmingly, at the ballot box only a few months ago.
“We’ll be able to judge the truth of how well Alex Salmond, or the other party leaders, stand up for Scotland by how much distance they put between themselves and this plan to devastate the country’s public services.”
ENDS
Details of the conference are on UNISON Scotland’s website at www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/04sep/index.html
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| UPDATE: Dave Prentis speaking at 'There is an alternative' conference Saturday 4 September |
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis will tomorrow (Saturday) warn Scottish politicians to ignore the ‘ice cream van economics’ of the recent Independent Budget Review report.
He will tell a major conference in Glasgow that the country’s political leaders will be judged on how far they distance themselves from the July report and fight to protect the services that people rely on.
Dave added: “I don’t want to be too harsh on these three not very wise men. They were asked to deliver a package of cuts. That’s what they have done.
“A proper review of the budget would have started by looking at the services we need, then working out how you raise the money to pay for them.
“You don’t look at a Government’s finances and say ‘we’ve got this much, what can we get for it?’
“That’s what kids do at an ice cream van. We should be able to expect better from experts looking at a country’s finances.”
UNISON Scotland’s ‘There is an alternative’ conference tomorrow will see more than 200 union and community activists from around the country share experiences about threats to local services and discuss how to develop the union’s Public Works campaign.
Keynote speaker Stephen Boyd, STUC assistant secretary, will deliver an economic analysis that demonstrates that there is an alternative to the cuts and privatisation agenda.
Dave added: “I have a message for the Scottish Government. The Independent Budget Review is just a tartan version of the Tory plan for the rest of the UK. It’s a plan that the Scottish people rejected, overwhelmingly, at the ballot box only a few months ago.
“We’ll be able to judge the truth of how well Alex Salmond, or the other party leaders, stand up for Scotland by how much distance they put between themselves and this plan to devastate the country’s public services.”
ENDS
Details of the conference are on UNISON Scotland’s website at www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/04sep/index.html
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Monday, August 16, 2010
UNISON welcomes call for end to council tax freeze
UNISON Scotland today welcomed the call from Glasgow city council leader Gordon Matheson for an end to the council tax freeze.
Scottish Organiser Dave Watson said that continuing the freeze will add to the scale of damaging cuts to services around the country.
Dave said: “We welcome the warning from Gordon Matheson about an end to the council tax freeze being needed to offset what he described as ‘some of the more brutal cuts’.
“Local authorities should be able to raise funds through the council tax. Using the tax system is much fairer than raising charges for services.
“Charges hit those on low incomes hardest and the council tax freeze benefits the wealthy disproportionately.
“However, this, and making the council tax fairer, is just part of our agenda to protect public services. UNISON’s ‘Public Works’ campaign will be stepped up in the coming months, demonstrating how Scotland can afford quality public services.”
UNISON activists will be meeting with other trade unions and community groups from around Scotland next month for the union’s ‘There is an alternative’ conference.
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis and STUC Assistant Secretary Stephen Boyd will speak at the public services strategy conference on 4 September in Glasgow.
Conference workshops will look at how fair taxation and a Living Wage can support services and at the alternatives to major cuts and job losses.
The conference is one of a series of autumn union events including a European Trade Union Confederation Day of Action in September and an STUC demonstration in October.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
1. The ‘There is an Alternative’ conference takes place at the Thistle Hotel, Cambridge Street, Glasgow from 11am-3.30pm on Saturday 4 September.
2. Details of the conference are on UNISON Scotland’s website at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/04sep/04Sep_flyerA5.pdf
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Scottish Organiser Dave Watson said that continuing the freeze will add to the scale of damaging cuts to services around the country.
Dave said: “We welcome the warning from Gordon Matheson about an end to the council tax freeze being needed to offset what he described as ‘some of the more brutal cuts’.
“Local authorities should be able to raise funds through the council tax. Using the tax system is much fairer than raising charges for services.
“Charges hit those on low incomes hardest and the council tax freeze benefits the wealthy disproportionately.
“However, this, and making the council tax fairer, is just part of our agenda to protect public services. UNISON’s ‘Public Works’ campaign will be stepped up in the coming months, demonstrating how Scotland can afford quality public services.”
UNISON activists will be meeting with other trade unions and community groups from around Scotland next month for the union’s ‘There is an alternative’ conference.
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis and STUC Assistant Secretary Stephen Boyd will speak at the public services strategy conference on 4 September in Glasgow.
Conference workshops will look at how fair taxation and a Living Wage can support services and at the alternatives to major cuts and job losses.
The conference is one of a series of autumn union events including a European Trade Union Confederation Day of Action in September and an STUC demonstration in October.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
1. The ‘There is an Alternative’ conference takes place at the Thistle Hotel, Cambridge Street, Glasgow from 11am-3.30pm on Saturday 4 September.
2. Details of the conference are on UNISON Scotland’s website at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/04sep/04Sep_flyerA5.pdf
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
UNISON's public services conference: 'There is an alternative.' Sat 4 Sept
Date: Wednesday 11 August 2010
UNISON Scotland today announced a major conference to develop its public services campaign in the face of devastating cuts.
On the day yet another council* revealed it expects to cut hundreds of jobs, UNISON said its members will be planning how best to stand up for services across Scotland.
Scottish Organiser Glyn Hawker said: “We are facing a savage attack on public spending that will have a huge impact on services so many people rely on daily.
“Our argument is that there is an alternative to this and we should be talking about the kind of society we want and how quality public services can be afforded.
“The impact of the kind of cuts currently being talked about will be devastating for communities and local economies across Scotland.
“Our conference is important in bringing together our members with other trade unionists and community groups to share experiences of where services are under attack and to plan the next steps in our ‘Public Works’ campaign.”
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis and STUC Assistant Secretary Stephen Boyd will speak at the ‘There is an alternative’ strategy conference on 4 September in Glasgow.
Conference workshops will look at how fair taxation and a Living Wage can support services and at the alternatives to major cuts and job losses.
The conference is one of a series of autumn union events including a European Trade Union Confederation Day of Action in September and an STUC demonstration in October.
ENDS
*Inverclyde council announcement at http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/news/2010/aug/council-leader-welcomes-immediate-action-deal-budget-challenges/?pg=1
UNISON’s Inverclyde branch response at UNISON Scotland blog http://unison-scotland.blogspot.com/2010/08/inverclyde-unison-warns-on-cuts-to.html
UNISON’s Inverclyde branch response at UNISON Scotland blog http://unison-scotland.blogspot.com/2010/08/inverclyde-unison-warns-on-cuts-to.html
Notes for editors:
Details of the ‘There is an Alternative’ conference are on UNISON Scotland’s website at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/publicworks/04sep/04Sep_flyerA5.pdf
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Friday, August 6, 2010
UNISON wins important unsocial hours payments equal pay case
DATE: 6 August
An Employment Appeal Tribunal has backed UNISON’s claim that women working for St Helen’s and Knowsley NHS Trust are entitled to the same level of unsocial hours payments as men.
The Lancashire decision* paves the way for women at this trust and at other hospitals to challenge pay discrimination on the same grounds.
The women, working as healthcare assistants, domestic supervisors, and on reception, were paid time and one third for working on a Saturday, and time and two thirds for working on Sundays and bank holidays. But the men were paid at a higher rate of time and a half for Saturdays and double time for Sundays and bank holidays.
The trust claimed that unsocial hours payments were part of their staffs’ normal working week, and that payments for these hours could not be separated out from basic pay. Today, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has backed UNISON’s claim that unsocial hours payments are a separate term of the employment contract, and can be directly compared.
The case sets an important precedent, giving women at this trust and others, hope that they, too, can challenge unsocial hours payments that are more generous to men.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
“It is more than 40 years since the Equal Pay Act, and long overdue for employers to face up to their responsibilities to pay men and women equally. The decision made in this case clarifies that unsocial hours’ payments must also be 100% fair and equal.
“The employers have dragged their heels and forced these women to jump through legal hurdles in their fight for equality. They should now pay up, rather than wasting any more of the taxpayer’s precious funds on legal challenges.”
Information to Editors: *The case: Brownbill v St Helens and Knowsley.
From UNISON UK news release
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An Employment Appeal Tribunal has backed UNISON’s claim that women working for St Helen’s and Knowsley NHS Trust are entitled to the same level of unsocial hours payments as men.
The Lancashire decision* paves the way for women at this trust and at other hospitals to challenge pay discrimination on the same grounds.
The women, working as healthcare assistants, domestic supervisors, and on reception, were paid time and one third for working on a Saturday, and time and two thirds for working on Sundays and bank holidays. But the men were paid at a higher rate of time and a half for Saturdays and double time for Sundays and bank holidays.
The trust claimed that unsocial hours payments were part of their staffs’ normal working week, and that payments for these hours could not be separated out from basic pay. Today, the Employment Appeal Tribunal has backed UNISON’s claim that unsocial hours payments are a separate term of the employment contract, and can be directly compared.
The case sets an important precedent, giving women at this trust and others, hope that they, too, can challenge unsocial hours payments that are more generous to men.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
“It is more than 40 years since the Equal Pay Act, and long overdue for employers to face up to their responsibilities to pay men and women equally. The decision made in this case clarifies that unsocial hours’ payments must also be 100% fair and equal.
“The employers have dragged their heels and forced these women to jump through legal hurdles in their fight for equality. They should now pay up, rather than wasting any more of the taxpayer’s precious funds on legal challenges.”
Information to Editors: *The case: Brownbill v St Helens and Knowsley.
From UNISON UK news release
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CIPD call to ban strikes - UNISON response
Commenting on a recommendation by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) that the government consider banning strikes by public sector workers, Dave Prentis, UNISON’s general secretary, said:
“We already have the toughest strike laws in Europe and unions are working hard to defend the huge attack on public service workers, their families and local communities.
“The government meanwhile, would be wise to concentrate on economic recovery rather than picking a fight with the unions.”
From UNISON UK news release
BBC news report of CIPD call
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UNISON warns of legal action to protect English NHS from being torn apart
DATE: 6 Aug 2010
Forging ahead with plans to implement English NHS White Paper before consultation illegal warns UNISON
UNISON, the UK's largest public service union, is preparing to take urgent legal action to protect the NHS from being torn apart. The union says that NHS Chief Executive, Sir David Nicholson, is pressing ahead with plans that have neither Parliamentary approval nor legal backing.
The move centres around the status of the UK Government's latest NHS White Paper that proposes sweeping changes. Sir David Nicholson is accused by the union of pre-empting the result of the consultation and subsequent Parliamentary process by writing to Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and other providers with a series of "actions that we need to start now".
The letter states that under the present law it is simply unlawful to propose a series of far reaching, top-down changes to the NHS without giving the public, patients and interested parties, including UNISON, a proper opportunity to have their say about the proposals.
The union’s letter warns that unless the union gets a satisfactory response, urgent Judicial Review proceedings are on the cards.
Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said:
“The Government’s White Paper will change forever the NHS as we know it. These sweeping changes were not part of any party manifesto and it is outrageous that these changes are being brought in without consulting the public, patients, staff and unions.
“The NHS Constitution enshrined in law the right to consultation and yet, in writing to NHS managers, Sir David is working on the premise that the consultation is only about the best way to achieve pre-determined outcomes – this makes it nothing more than a paper exercise and a sham.
“We have asked for a response within 7 days and if we are not happy with the reply we are reserving the right to issue urgent Judicial Review proceedings.”
* “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS
From UNISON UK news release
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Forging ahead with plans to implement English NHS White Paper before consultation illegal warns UNISON
UNISON, the UK's largest public service union, is preparing to take urgent legal action to protect the NHS from being torn apart. The union says that NHS Chief Executive, Sir David Nicholson, is pressing ahead with plans that have neither Parliamentary approval nor legal backing.
The move centres around the status of the UK Government's latest NHS White Paper that proposes sweeping changes. Sir David Nicholson is accused by the union of pre-empting the result of the consultation and subsequent Parliamentary process by writing to Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and other providers with a series of "actions that we need to start now".
The letter states that under the present law it is simply unlawful to propose a series of far reaching, top-down changes to the NHS without giving the public, patients and interested parties, including UNISON, a proper opportunity to have their say about the proposals.
The union’s letter warns that unless the union gets a satisfactory response, urgent Judicial Review proceedings are on the cards.
Karen Jennings, UNISON Head of Health, said:
“The Government’s White Paper will change forever the NHS as we know it. These sweeping changes were not part of any party manifesto and it is outrageous that these changes are being brought in without consulting the public, patients, staff and unions.
“The NHS Constitution enshrined in law the right to consultation and yet, in writing to NHS managers, Sir David is working on the premise that the consultation is only about the best way to achieve pre-determined outcomes – this makes it nothing more than a paper exercise and a sham.
“We have asked for a response within 7 days and if we are not happy with the reply we are reserving the right to issue urgent Judicial Review proceedings.”
* “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS
From UNISON UK news release
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Monday, July 19, 2010
Big Society = Big cop out, warns UNISON
Date: 19 July 2010
Commenting on the launch of David Cameron’s ‘big society’, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union, said:
“Cameron’s “big society” should be renamed the “big cop out.” Make no mistake this plan is all about saving money. And it will cost even more jobs and lead to more service cuts.
“The Government is simply washing its hands of providing decent public services and using volunteers as a cut-price alternative. We don’t want jumble sales to provide incubators for babies, we shouldn’t have volunteers taking over our libraries or museums and where are all these people with time on their hands, going to come from? Are we going to pay an army of newly unemployed to help run services?
“Public services must be based on the certainty that they are there when you need them, not when a volunteer can be found to help you.”
News Release at UNISON UK site:
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1926
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Commenting on the launch of David Cameron’s ‘big society’, Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the UK’s largest public service union, said:
“Cameron’s “big society” should be renamed the “big cop out.” Make no mistake this plan is all about saving money. And it will cost even more jobs and lead to more service cuts.
“The Government is simply washing its hands of providing decent public services and using volunteers as a cut-price alternative. We don’t want jumble sales to provide incubators for babies, we shouldn’t have volunteers taking over our libraries or museums and where are all these people with time on their hands, going to come from? Are we going to pay an army of newly unemployed to help run services?
“Public services must be based on the certainty that they are there when you need them, not when a volunteer can be found to help you.”
News Release at UNISON UK site:
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1926
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Thursday, July 8, 2010
'Here's how to cut the deficit' UNISON tells PM
8 July 2010
'Here's how to cut the deficit' UNISON tells PM * Stop cutting vital public services
* Stop cutting public service jobs
* Cut bankers' bonuses, bring in a Robin Hood tax
* In-house services instead of consultants
* Cut out the privatisation profiteers
For more see UK UNISON news release:
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Government declares war on public services - UNISON response to budget
Date:Tue 22 June 2010
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, today accused the Government of declaring war on public services and public service workers with the most draconian budget in decades.
He said:
“This budget signals that the battle for Britain’s public services has begun with the Government declaring war. Public sector workers will be shocked and angry that they are the innocent victims of job cuts and pay freezes.
“Freezing public sector pay when inflation is running at 5.1% and VAT is going up, will mean a real cut in living standards for millions of ordinary workers and their families - already struggling to pay rising bills.
“Nurses, social workers, midwives, paramedics, police community support officers, housing and environmental officers who provide vital public services, are amongst those who will be hit hardest by the two year pay freeze. And for local government workers this comes on top of this year’s freeze.
“A 25% cut in departmental public spending will decimate our public services. The budget will do nothing to restore confidence or kick-start the recovery, but will push local economies into the ground, raising the spectre of breadline Britain.
“They haven’t even bothered to consider any other option but slash and burn. What of the bankers who caused the recession and the super-rich who evade tax? They must be breathing a sigh of relief that they got away so lightly. The bank tax levy is a poor substitute for a serious ‘Robin Hood” tax on financial transactions. It is a missed opportunity to raise £30bn which would have made a significant dent in the country’s deficit.
“Throwing tens of thousands of public sector workers on the dole will cost the country billions in lost tax revenue as well as piling billions onto the benefits bill.
“The Chancellor dreams of a private sector recovery but how can that be on the back of brutal cuts to public services workers. Local businesses, shops, hairdressers, restaurants will go to the wall as spending dries up. No amount of fiscal stimulus will do any good if they have no customers
“Vital services that the poor, the sick and the vulnerable rely on, are in the firing line. There is no compassion in this coalition.
“Freezing council tax is a useless gesture saving people pennies but cutting tens of millions from council budgets, trhreatening jobs, losing services and undermining the local economy.
“Raising VAT affects the poor the most as they spend a higher proportion of their meagre incomes on goods and services.
“Meanwhile major utility companies spend money sponsoring sporting events whilst attacking pay and conditions – that cannot be fair.”
Adding 500,000 public service workers to the dole between now and 2015 – which the CIPD says would be the likely effect of Osborne’s spending plans – will cost around £10 billion in lost tax and increased benefit payments. This would almost entirely cancel out the reduction in the pay bill, as well as dealing a massive blow to local economies and communities.
ends
UNISON’s Save Our Services alternative budget:
£4.7bn could be raised every year by introducing a 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000
£10bn could be raised every year by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax avoidance by corporations and ‘non-domiciled’ residents
£14.9bn could be raised every year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000
£30bn could be raised every year by introducing a Major Financial Transactions Tax on UK financial institutions – the Robin Hood Tax
At least £1.5bn could be raised this year by bringing back the windfall tax on bankers’ bonuses.
£4bn could be saved this year by cancelling Trident, the project could cost as much as £100bn.
£500m could be saved every year by eradicating healthcare acquired infections from the NHS – the extra cleaners would cost half this.
£495m could be saved every year by adopting measures to improve the health and well-being of NHS staff, thereby reducing sickness absence
£1bn could be saved every year by halving the local government agency bill, as has been achieved by high performing councils
£5bn could be raised every year with an Empty Property Tax on vacant dwellings. This only exaggerates housing shortages and harms neighbourhoods.
£2.8bn could be saved every year by ending the central government use of private consultants who bring little discernable benefit
£3bn could be saved in user fees and interest charges every year if PFI schemes were replaced with conventional public procurement
Total – 77.895bn.
from UNISON UK news release
.
He said:
“This budget signals that the battle for Britain’s public services has begun with the Government declaring war. Public sector workers will be shocked and angry that they are the innocent victims of job cuts and pay freezes.
“Freezing public sector pay when inflation is running at 5.1% and VAT is going up, will mean a real cut in living standards for millions of ordinary workers and their families - already struggling to pay rising bills.
“Nurses, social workers, midwives, paramedics, police community support officers, housing and environmental officers who provide vital public services, are amongst those who will be hit hardest by the two year pay freeze. And for local government workers this comes on top of this year’s freeze.
“A 25% cut in departmental public spending will decimate our public services. The budget will do nothing to restore confidence or kick-start the recovery, but will push local economies into the ground, raising the spectre of breadline Britain.
“They haven’t even bothered to consider any other option but slash and burn. What of the bankers who caused the recession and the super-rich who evade tax? They must be breathing a sigh of relief that they got away so lightly. The bank tax levy is a poor substitute for a serious ‘Robin Hood” tax on financial transactions. It is a missed opportunity to raise £30bn which would have made a significant dent in the country’s deficit.
“Throwing tens of thousands of public sector workers on the dole will cost the country billions in lost tax revenue as well as piling billions onto the benefits bill.
“The Chancellor dreams of a private sector recovery but how can that be on the back of brutal cuts to public services workers. Local businesses, shops, hairdressers, restaurants will go to the wall as spending dries up. No amount of fiscal stimulus will do any good if they have no customers
“Vital services that the poor, the sick and the vulnerable rely on, are in the firing line. There is no compassion in this coalition.
“Freezing council tax is a useless gesture saving people pennies but cutting tens of millions from council budgets, trhreatening jobs, losing services and undermining the local economy.
“Raising VAT affects the poor the most as they spend a higher proportion of their meagre incomes on goods and services.
“Meanwhile major utility companies spend money sponsoring sporting events whilst attacking pay and conditions – that cannot be fair.”
Adding 500,000 public service workers to the dole between now and 2015 – which the CIPD says would be the likely effect of Osborne’s spending plans – will cost around £10 billion in lost tax and increased benefit payments. This would almost entirely cancel out the reduction in the pay bill, as well as dealing a massive blow to local economies and communities.
ends
UNISON’s Save Our Services alternative budget:
£4.7bn could be raised every year by introducing a 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000
£10bn could be raised every year by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax avoidance by corporations and ‘non-domiciled’ residents
£14.9bn could be raised every year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000
£30bn could be raised every year by introducing a Major Financial Transactions Tax on UK financial institutions – the Robin Hood Tax
At least £1.5bn could be raised this year by bringing back the windfall tax on bankers’ bonuses.
£4bn could be saved this year by cancelling Trident, the project could cost as much as £100bn.
£500m could be saved every year by eradicating healthcare acquired infections from the NHS – the extra cleaners would cost half this.
£495m could be saved every year by adopting measures to improve the health and well-being of NHS staff, thereby reducing sickness absence
£1bn could be saved every year by halving the local government agency bill, as has been achieved by high performing councils
£5bn could be raised every year with an Empty Property Tax on vacant dwellings. This only exaggerates housing shortages and harms neighbourhoods.
£2.8bn could be saved every year by ending the central government use of private consultants who bring little discernable benefit
£3bn could be saved in user fees and interest charges every year if PFI schemes were replaced with conventional public procurement
Total – 77.895bn.
from UNISON UK news release
.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Action against cuts takes to the streets - UK press statement
Date Mon 21 June 2010
UNISON News | The public service union | Action against cuts takes to the streets:
From Surrey to Glasgow and points between and beyond, UNISON branches are taking up Friday’s Link to another page on this websitecall at UNISON conference to take action tomorrow in protest at the Tory-Lib Dem coalition’s budget of cuts."
"We need to get our members onto the streets: anything to get the public behind our cause, to let them know they are dealing with people, not statistics," general secretary Dave Prentis said at the conference.
And in a special letter to branches and activists after the conference decision, he wrote: "Today, our conference unanimously agreed a comprehensive plan of action to fight the government's attack on our public services.
"On 22 June, the extent of those attacks will become clearer as George Osborne unveils his emergency budget.
"We need to respond as a matter of urgency and branches are urged to organise some form of local protest on the day."
A key target of tomorrow’s action, said Mr Prentis, will be "winning support in our communities [as] a vital first step. Please make sure your branch plays its part."
Full text of Emergency Composite 2, agreed unanimously at conference.
We’ve only just begun to fight - stepping up the Million Voices for Public Services campaign.
Cuts – there is an alternative
Debunking the Tory pension myths
UNISON's alternative budget: £78bn savings without cuts
.
UNISON News | The public service union | Action against cuts takes to the streets:
From Surrey to Glasgow and points between and beyond, UNISON branches are taking up Friday’s Link to another page on this websitecall at UNISON conference to take action tomorrow in protest at the Tory-Lib Dem coalition’s budget of cuts.""We need to get our members onto the streets: anything to get the public behind our cause, to let them know they are dealing with people, not statistics," general secretary Dave Prentis said at the conference.
And in a special letter to branches and activists after the conference decision, he wrote: "Today, our conference unanimously agreed a comprehensive plan of action to fight the government's attack on our public services.
"On 22 June, the extent of those attacks will become clearer as George Osborne unveils his emergency budget.
"We need to respond as a matter of urgency and branches are urged to organise some form of local protest on the day."
A key target of tomorrow’s action, said Mr Prentis, will be "winning support in our communities [as] a vital first step. Please make sure your branch plays its part."
Full text of Emergency Composite 2, agreed unanimously at conference.We’ve only just begun to fight - stepping up the Million Voices for Public Services campaign.Cuts – there is an alternativeDebunking the Tory pension mythsUNISON's alternative budget: £78bn savings without cuts.
Public sector pensions' review should be comprehensive and independent, says UNISON
Mon 21 June 2010
UNISON has called on the Government to make sure that its public sector pensions review body is truly independent and takes evidence from unions and pension fund trustees.
General Secretary, Dave Prentis, has further urged the Government to stop issuing misleading figures and mis-informed statements about public sector pensions and wait for the results of the review. He said:
“Only three years ago, public sector pensions went through massive changes to make them sustainable and affordable. Since then, there has been constant sniping and carping by the Tories and LibDems about unreformed, gold-plated pensions, quoting grossly misleading figures to create a climate for cuts.
“We are happy to participate in any review and to give evidence to that review, but the Government has a responsibility to make sure that it is independent and not a rubber-stamp for its ideological attacks on public services.
“Bringing in John Hutton as chair doesn’t fool anyone. I am disappointed that a former Labour minister would allow himself to be used as a tool to attack low paid public sector workers.
“The average pension in local government is just £4,000 a year, dropping to £2,600 for women. People pay into these schemes all their working lives – if they didn’t, they would have to rely on state benefits, funded by the taxpayer.
“The review to the NHS scheme in 2008 gives complete protection to the public purse. The employers’ contribution is capped at 14% and, if the cost rises, it is health workers who will pick up the bill”.
ends
.
UNISON has called on the Government to make sure that its public sector pensions review body is truly independent and takes evidence from unions and pension fund trustees.
General Secretary, Dave Prentis, has further urged the Government to stop issuing misleading figures and mis-informed statements about public sector pensions and wait for the results of the review. He said:
“Only three years ago, public sector pensions went through massive changes to make them sustainable and affordable. Since then, there has been constant sniping and carping by the Tories and LibDems about unreformed, gold-plated pensions, quoting grossly misleading figures to create a climate for cuts.
“We are happy to participate in any review and to give evidence to that review, but the Government has a responsibility to make sure that it is independent and not a rubber-stamp for its ideological attacks on public services.
“Bringing in John Hutton as chair doesn’t fool anyone. I am disappointed that a former Labour minister would allow himself to be used as a tool to attack low paid public sector workers.
“The average pension in local government is just £4,000 a year, dropping to £2,600 for women. People pay into these schemes all their working lives – if they didn’t, they would have to rely on state benefits, funded by the taxpayer.
“The review to the NHS scheme in 2008 gives complete protection to the public purse. The employers’ contribution is capped at 14% and, if the cost rises, it is health workers who will pick up the bill”.
ends
.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Lost tax and increased state benefits from public sector job losses would cost more than £15 billion
UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, today warned that Tory plans to cut 725,000 public sector jobs*, would cost the UK economy £6.6 billion in lost tax revenue and add an extra £8.8 billion** to the state benefits bill – hitting any chance of economic recovery and making the deficit worse.
The union is calling for a no-cut alternative - Save Our Services budget - to protect jobs, vital services, and safeguard economic recovery. The union’s alternative budget sets out savings of nearly £78 billion ahead of the Government’s own, on Tuesday (22 June).
Together with cutting real waste and making tax fairer, the union is backing the campaign for a Robin Hood Tax on banks which would raise an estimated £30bn a year.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
“Whatever the Tories would have you believe - there are real alternatives to their slash and burn cuts. Adding public sector workers to the growing number of people out of work will cost the country dear - £6.6bn in lost tax revenue as well as piling £8.8bn onto the benefits bill.
“As well as plummeting tax receipts and spiralling benefits, the spending power of public service workers will dry up, hitting local shops and businesses hard. This will damage the chance of recovery, spark a return to recession, and push the country towards a decade-long depression.
“The Robin Hood tax would raise an estimated £30bn a year and would go a long way towards digging this country out of recession. It is only right that the people responsible for causing the economic crisis should pay to get it out.”
More than 2,000 delegates and visitors to UNISON’s national conference in Bournemouth today voted to add the union’s support for a Robin Hood Tax – donning the familiar campaign green masks, led by Billy Bragg.
UNISON’s Save Our Services alternative budget:
£4.7bn could be raised every year by introducing a 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000
£10bn could be raised every year by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax avoidance by corporations and ‘non-domiciled’ residents
£14.9bn could be raised every year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000
£30bn could be raised every year by introducing a Major Financial Transactions Tax on UK financial institutions – the Robin Hood Tax
At least £1.5bn could be raised this year by bringing back the windfall tax on bankers’ bonuses.
£4bn could be saved this year by cancelling Trident, the project could cost as much as £100bn.
£500m could be saved every year by eradicating healthcare acquired infections from the NHS – the extra cleaners would cost half this.
£495m could be saved every year by adopting measures to improve the health and well-being of NHS staff, thereby reducing sickness absence
£1bn could be saved every year by halving the local government agency bill, as has been achieved by high performing councils
£5bn could be raised every year with an Empty Property Tax on vacant dwellings. This only exaggerates housing shortages and harms neighbourhoods.
£2.8bn could be saved every year by ending the central government use of private consultants who bring little discernable benefit
£3bn could be saved in user fees and interest charges every year if PFI schemes were replaced with conventional public procurement
Total – 77.895bn.
Notes to editors:
*The CIPD predicted last week that 725,000 public sector jobs could go over the next five years.
** Based on research by tax expert Richard Murphy.
.
The union is calling for a no-cut alternative - Save Our Services budget - to protect jobs, vital services, and safeguard economic recovery. The union’s alternative budget sets out savings of nearly £78 billion ahead of the Government’s own, on Tuesday (22 June).
Together with cutting real waste and making tax fairer, the union is backing the campaign for a Robin Hood Tax on banks which would raise an estimated £30bn a year.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
“Whatever the Tories would have you believe - there are real alternatives to their slash and burn cuts. Adding public sector workers to the growing number of people out of work will cost the country dear - £6.6bn in lost tax revenue as well as piling £8.8bn onto the benefits bill.
“As well as plummeting tax receipts and spiralling benefits, the spending power of public service workers will dry up, hitting local shops and businesses hard. This will damage the chance of recovery, spark a return to recession, and push the country towards a decade-long depression.
“The Robin Hood tax would raise an estimated £30bn a year and would go a long way towards digging this country out of recession. It is only right that the people responsible for causing the economic crisis should pay to get it out.”
More than 2,000 delegates and visitors to UNISON’s national conference in Bournemouth today voted to add the union’s support for a Robin Hood Tax – donning the familiar campaign green masks, led by Billy Bragg.
UNISON’s Save Our Services alternative budget:
£4.7bn could be raised every year by introducing a 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000
£10bn could be raised every year by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax avoidance by corporations and ‘non-domiciled’ residents
£14.9bn could be raised every year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000
£30bn could be raised every year by introducing a Major Financial Transactions Tax on UK financial institutions – the Robin Hood Tax
At least £1.5bn could be raised this year by bringing back the windfall tax on bankers’ bonuses.
£4bn could be saved this year by cancelling Trident, the project could cost as much as £100bn.
£500m could be saved every year by eradicating healthcare acquired infections from the NHS – the extra cleaners would cost half this.
£495m could be saved every year by adopting measures to improve the health and well-being of NHS staff, thereby reducing sickness absence
£1bn could be saved every year by halving the local government agency bill, as has been achieved by high performing councils
£5bn could be raised every year with an Empty Property Tax on vacant dwellings. This only exaggerates housing shortages and harms neighbourhoods.
£2.8bn could be saved every year by ending the central government use of private consultants who bring little discernable benefit
£3bn could be saved in user fees and interest charges every year if PFI schemes were replaced with conventional public procurement
Total – 77.895bn.
Notes to editors:
*The CIPD predicted last week that 725,000 public sector jobs could go over the next five years.
** Based on research by tax expert Richard Murphy.
.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
If Nick Clegg comes for our pensions, we'll ballot for industrial action - Prentis
Union warning over threat to pensions
By Jon Smith, Press Association
The Government found itself on an early collision course with millions of public sector workers tonight when the leader of one of the country's biggest unions warned of industrial action over pensions.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, launched a scathing attack on the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition and pledged a campaign against spending cuts.
He told his union's annual conference in Bournemouth that the Government "won't know what hit them" if it takes on public sector workers and cuts services, pay and pensions.
The Government came under attack from several unions today after Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg criticised the "gold-plated" public sector pensions system as "unfair" on private sector workers.
Mr Prentis said to loud applause from 2,000 delegates: "If Nick Clegg comes for our pensions, then we will ballot for industrial action."
Full report on The Independent's website
.
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