International community must help make ceasefire work, says UNISON

Commenting on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal announced on Wednesday, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “This is a moment we all have long hoped for. An end to the 15-month conflict that has killed so many Palestinians, caused unimaginable suffering, devastated large swathes of Gaza, and meant such trauma for the Israeli hostages […]

AI must be used to enhance public services, not replace workers, says UNISON

Commenting on the launch of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan today (Monday), UNISON policy officer Kate Jones said: “Artificial intelligence (AI) has the power to revolutionise the world of work. “But if AI is to play a positive role in public services, it must be managed carefully and responsibly. That means proper input from workers and all parts of society […]

Health workers are key to plans to get the NHS back on its feet, says UNISON

Commenting on the latest NHS England figures released today (Thursday) showing unprecedented demand on the health service, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “NHS staff are stretched to breaking point, patients are enduring dangerous delays, and the system is buckling under unprecedented demand. “Ambulances are queuing outside A&E for hours, while hospital and community staff are working […]

School budgets need protecting, says UNISON in response to IFS funding report

Commenting on a report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies released today (Wednesday) that warns of tight budgets for schools in England, UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “Ministers inherited a financial mess from the previous government and turning things round in education won’t be easy. “Over more than a decade, school buildings were allowed to […]

Tougher laws needed to protect ambulance staff against violence and abuse

Commenting on new figures published by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives today (Tuesday) highlighting the levels of physical and verbal abuse directed at UK ambulance staff, UNISON deputy head of health Alan Lofthouse said: “Nobody should endure violence or abuse just for doing their job. It’s appalling that paramedics and ambulance workers, who deliver life-saving care, are […]

National care service and fair pay must be priority for new commission, says UNISON

Commenting on the government’s announcement that an independent commission on social care will begin in April headed up by Baroness Louise Casey, UNISON head of care Gavin Edwards said: “Long-term neglect has left social care with a workforce crisis. The fragmented, profit-driven sector is unable to deliver for the hundreds of thousands of people who are […]

Pay is key to turning around NHS fortunes, warns UNISON

The government’s plans to limit wage rises across the NHS to 2.8% next year will go down badly with staff already facing a hellish winter, says UNISON. The decision to delay talks on the promised modernisation of NHS pay scales until the second half of next year isn’t helpful, says UNISON. Similarly, insisting the cost […]

Investment in public services vital in delivering prime minister’s vision for Britain, says UNISON

Properly funded and sufficiently staffed public services are essential if the government is to deliver its vision for Britain, says UNISON today (Thursday), responding to Keir Starmer’s speech. UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said: “Repairing the damage wreaked by years of Tory mismanagement is a tough job that will take a while. The government has […]

My evening in Westminster: Stars in Our Schools

Last week, Lisa Smith from UNISON Sheffield local government branch attended a special Stars in Our Schools event in Parliament. Here’s her report back on the evening… UNISON members working in, or representing members in schools, were recently invited to a parliamentary event to celebrate 10 years of UNISON’s Stars in Our Schools. While I […]

Job losses at Wakefield Council could have a catastrophic impact on staff and residents, warns UNISON

Over 200 job losses to tackle a significant budget shortfall at Wakefield Council will have a serious impact on council staff and services for people in the city, warns UNISON today (Tuesday). UNISON research published earlier this year found that Wakefield Council is short of around £23m needed to maintain essential services in 2025/26. But […]