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4 days ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on chancellor Rachel Reeves’ commitment to ensure more pensioners qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Wednesday):“Pensioners who struggled to keep warm during the cold months for fear of running up huge bills will be pleased the government has listened. “But until it’s clear exactly who is getting their fuel allowance reinstated, many will continue to worry.
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4 days ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcements about increased funding for public transport projects, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:“Vast swathes of the UK are poorly served by transport links. This substantial investment will make a huge difference to working people and their communities.
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5 days ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on the withdrawal of potential investors in Thames Water and the publication of interim findings by the Cunliffe Review, UNISON head of environment Donna Rowe-Merriman said today (Tuesday):“The situation at Thames Water can’t go on. Customers and staff are being failed at every turn and deserve better. “With the options running out, the government must take decisive action sooner rather than later.
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1 week ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on Nigel Farage’s speech today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:“It’s easy to announce policies to appeal to voters, but far harder to work out how to fund them. “Working people and their families want good public services, a decent standard of living and to be treated well at work. “Previous governments starved vital services of cash, trashed the economy and did nothing to crack down on unscrupulous employers.
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1 week ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Responding to yesterday’s incident in which dozens of people were injured while celebrating Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Tuesday):“The events in Liverpool were shocking on what should have been a day of celebration across Merseyside. All our thoughts and best wishes are focused on those who have been injured, as well as their friends and family.
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2 weeks ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on the announcement today (Thursday) that NHS staff in England are to receive a 3.6% pay rise this year, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said:“The pay rise is more than ministers said they could afford, but it barely matches inflation. The money will also be landing in pay packets four months late. “Health workers had high hopes this government would have learned from the mistakes of its predecessors.
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2 weeks ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on the recommendations in David Gauke’s independent sentencing review published today (Thursday), UNISON national officer for probation Ben Priestley said:“Probation can be an effective alternative to a failing prison system, as this review acknowledges. “But the system can only work properly if it’s given the investment it desperately needs.
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2 weeks ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on the prime minister’s comments on changes to the winter fuel allowance and welfare secretary Liz Kendall’s speech to the IPPR today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:“At long last ministers seem to have listened. Removing the winter fuel allowance from hard-pressed pensioners was never a great idea. “No one would ever argue wealthy pensioners should have kept the winter fuel cash, but snatching it from all but the very poorest was a terrible decision.
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2 weeks ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on health unions’ acceptance of an above-inflation two-year pay offer from the Scottish government for NHS workers, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said today (Monday):“Health workers in Scotland are reaping the rewards of a better pay process. Proper, direct pay talks have delivered an above-inflation, two-year deal, which comes with an inflation-proof guarantee. “All being well, NHS staff in Scotland should get this year’s pay rise in their June pay packets.
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3 weeks ago | 
unison.org.uk | Anthony Barnes
Commenting on the government’s immigration white paper announced by the prime minister earlier today (Monday), UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said:“Building a skilled, better-paid domestic workforce in social care is vital, as is a proper career structure. But none of this will happen overnight. “Until it does, the sector will be stuck in a doom-loop of staffing shortages. It’s only the recruitment of workers from overseas that’s stopped the system from falling over.
