If pay austerity is over MPs, it should end for other public sector workers too

Commenting on the confirmation last week that MPs are to receive a 10 per cent pay rise, Ravi Subramanian, UNISON West Midlands Regional Secretary said:

 

"Pay austerity might be over for MPs, but it goes on and on for everyone else in the public sector.

 

If pay restraint is at an end for politicians – who are public servants too – it should also be over for nurses, teaching assistants, hospital cleaners, council staff and other public sector workers.

 

The government felt able to ignore the advice of the NHS pay review body, but not, it would seem, the equivalent body for MPs.

 

Not content with holding pay down for public sector workers for another four years, the government is spitefully going ahead with new laws to make it almost impossible for public servants to go on strike and win pay rises in future.

 

No wonder so many staff in our hospitals, schools and local councils are beginning to think they'd be better off working elsewhere."

 

Disappointment over conservative Majority Goverment

As the Queen opened this session of parliament UNISON West Midlands surveyed its members to gather their thoughts after the election. The question was simple, Are you pleased with the outcome of the general election?

The response from members who are nurses, teaching assistants, cleaners and porters working across public services in the region was a resounding 65% who said ‘no’.

Ravi Subramanian, UNISON West Midlands Regional Secretary said:

“UNISON members across the West Midlands have endured attacks and austerity from a Conservative led government for the past 5 years and the thought of Mr Cameron and his party having free reign in the next is worrying.

For such an overwhelming majority of our members to say that they are disappointed with the outcome of the election and given they face, according to the independent Institute of Fiscal Studies, further cuts of £50bn, they are right to be worried."

Fee Increase for Health Professionals

UNISON is asking MP’s to sign an Early Day Motion (EDM) which gives a voice to member’s opposition to the Health and Care Profession Council’s (HCPC) plans to increase fees by 12.5%.

The 330,000 health professionals, who will be affected by this change have no choice but to register with the council, are calling for this increase to be put on hold until the Health Select committee holds its annual accountability hearing.

Claire Campbell, UNISON West Midland Regional Manager and Political Lead, said:

“The proposed increase will have a significant impact on our members who have no choice but to pay the fee levied on them by the HCPC. The increase of 12.5% comes on top of  a 5% rise in 2014, this would mean a total increase of 17.5% in just 2 years.

The HCPC successfully increased its general reserves by nearly £1 million last year  but continues with little public or parliamentary Scrutiny.UNISON members have seen minimal pay rises and increased workloads over a number of years and are struggling to afford continued increase of this nature.

This motion (EDM41) simply asks for the planned increase to be put on hold until the health select committee has met and held its annual accountability hearing.”

UNISON is asking MPs from all sides of the house to sign the motion as well as table written or oral parliamentary questions.