UNISON played a key role in a major rally supporting striking workers in Cardiff.
Leaders from the union, which represents tens of thousands of public sector workers in Wales and across the UK, addressed crowds in Cardiff on Wednesday 15 March 2023 as part of the Wales TUC organised event.
UNISON Cymru/Wales head of bargaining and campaigns Jess Turner spoke at the event and said the union was taking part to show solidarity with all striking workers.
Jess (pictured above) said: “Severe spending cuts since 2010 have stripped Welsh councils of at least £1.6bn and cost more than 28,000 local authority jobs.
“Cuts are destroying Welsh communities and taking power away from people.
“I don’t want to live a country where public services are disappearing; where all the things that make a town great, are being chopped.
“The money the Welsh government gets from Westminster in our block grant doesn’t account for the high levels of deprivation we have in Wales, where one in three children live in poverty.
“There is a socialist way out of this crisis.
“The Welsh government requires more money to invest in the public services which tackle poverty.
“We need to invest in public service workers.
“We need a fairer tax system and a huge windfall tax on energy companies and Amazon who are making billions from us.
“Workers keep the country running. They deserve financial dignity.
“Solidarity to the striking workers!
“Fair funding for Wales!”
