Last week we launched the final phase of our cost of living crisis campaign, Together we raise. By reaching out to the general public, we send the message to as many people as possible that poverty is a choice made by the powerful.
You may have seen one of our signpostsshared some of our campaign graphics or our video on social media – or even encouraged one of your friends or colleagues to sign our petition calling on the Prime Minister to end the wage crisis. A wage crisis caused by the current government in Westminster.
After a summer of political inertia – and a chaotic few weeks since Liz Truss became the new Prime Minister – it is clear that working people will end up paying for the mistakes of Truss and his chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng.
Today’s news reports give us a disturbing picture. Banks are setting aside more money for defaults as people can’t pay their mortgages after interest rates rise there is a £62bn black hole in UK finances United and the average wage fell 4% in real terms. We know that this percentage is higher for public service workers.
UNISON members are facing the reality of falling wages and that is why polls and strikes are intensifying.
As Parliament returns today, now is the time to get their attention. We can do more to get politicians to side with workers. We call on all of our members to lobby their MPs, either at their constituency surgery this Friday 14th October or at our Parliament mass lobby in London on 2nd November.
It doesn’t matter what party your MP is from, we want all political parties hear from public service workers on how the wage crisis affects them.
And if you are one of the 500,000 UNISON members to vote for strike action at the Environment Agency, NHS or on probation, be sure to vote. Together we can make a difference and help create a better life for so many.
These are the important steps you can take to play your part in our movement. And as UNISON General Secretary, I stand up for public services and our fantastic UNISON members at every opportunity – at governmentat the labor partyon the media and on the picket line.
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