Public service workers from across the country gather at the Senedd tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12pm to tell politicians that local public services will disappear completely without a serious injection of cash from the Welsh government.
UNISON’s mass lobby comes ahead of Welsh Government’s announcement of its draft 2018-19 budget proposals later in the afternoon. Members of the trade union will make the case for fair funding for Wales and for an end to the public sector pay cap.
Just last week, UNISON labelled Welsh government’s local authority budget as ‘wholly inadequate’ which would result in the loss of thousands of jobs and could mean some councils become unsustainable.
Margaret Thomas, UNISON regional secretary said,
“Ordinary people across Wales have suffered for far too long as a result of the UK Conservative government’s cuts. The vital local services we all rely on are being sacrificed in the name of austerity and this is hurting our communities. More than 25,000 local government jobs have been lost in Wales in the last six years and pressure has increased on NHS Wales as other public services struggle to keep pace with demand. We need Welsh government to be fighting on behalf of all of us to protect public services.
“Austerity has undermined the living standards of all public service workers and their families and this has taken money away from Welsh high streets. Healthcare workers, council employees, emergency service workers and others, have endured seven years of pay freezes or below-inflation pay awards. We are asking Assembly Members to back a call for an immediate end to the public sector pay cap.”
Notes to editors
- UNISON’s demonstration will be held between 12pm and 1pm on the Senedd steps on Tuesday 24 October 2017.
- Assembly Members have been invited to join the demonstration on the steps and sign a UNISON pledge -‘Public service workers deserve a pay rise now!’.
- Journalists wishing to attend to interview UNISON spokespeople should advise Alastair Gittins in advance – see contact below.
- The Joint Council for Wales, the body which brings together Welsh council employers and trades unions, revealed on 13 October, that seven years of pay freezes or below-inflation pay awards driven by the UK government have reduced the spending power of their workforce by 21 per cent in real terms.
- UNISON has called a #SaveOurServices march and mass rally on Saturday 4 November in the constituency of Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns MP. Gather at Kings Square, Barry, from midday. Family entertainment is planned. All are welcome.
Contact
Alastair Gittins, UNISON Press Officer on 07816 538397