Christina McAnea
@cmcanea
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General Secretary of UNISON - the UK's largest trade union. Promoted by UNISON, 130 Euston Road, NW12AY - 0800 0857 857
Joined August 2011
We made history ! Thanks so much for all the support . I may be the first woman GS in UNISON but I won’t be the last . @unisontheunion.
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I'm utterly shocked by the SoS's comments in the media. He's never specifically asked UNISON for a national contingency agreement. In our meeting yesterday, he acknowledged that NHS staff - our local unions - have negotiated detailed, appropriate plans for their areas.
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UNISON has won a huge 20% pay rise for the lowest paid bin workers at North Norfolk & Breckland. Workers shouldn't have had rock bottom wages while Serco raked in huge profits. But UNISON's campaign has secured a basic rate of £14.31/hr, up from £10.56.
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Not only did Truss trash the economy, she trashed the Tories’ own economic record of the last 12 years. But this isn’t about the Conservative party, this is about the country. We need grown ups in charge of the country. We need a general election.
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I've cleared my diary and happy to meet the SoS at any time tomorrow to resolve the dispute. At some point, the gov is going to have to get into talks to resolve this. Ministers should do that now, avoid the strikes and what looks like inevitable escalation in the new year.
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Fantastic turn out from our @unisontheunion activists on the @The_TUC march and rally today. #wedemandbetter.#werise
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One per cent is an insult and no match for the incredible work and the hours that NHS staff have put in over the Covid pandemic.
One per cent pay rise “is the worst kind of insult”
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These accusations from the SoS are a distraction from the government’s own failings and their refusal to constructively resolve this dispute.
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Great to see @AngelaRayner taking on Raab on the hit hard-working families are taking under this government. #PMQs
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Broken promises for millions of workers. No sign of the Employment Rights Bill we were waiting for in the #QueensSpeech. The government now signalling to employers that workers' rights are not a priority and to carry on with fire and rehire.
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So pleased to see @unisontheunion ‘s very own @AngelaRayner become the Deputy Prime Minister of the country. She is a powerhouse and passionate about social justice.
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BREAKING: High Court finds strike-breaking legislation unlawful following UNISON case. This is embarrassing for ministers. This futile piece of legislation has barely spent a year on the statute book. Parachuting untrained agency workers into the midst of industrial hostilities.
So proud to report that @unisontheunion has won its JR vs the govt’s introduction of the agency regulations which allowed strike breaking. Regs quashed. Another stonking win for UNISON. @MichaelFordQC @StuartBrittend1 @Serena_cw @brucerobin & @cmcanea for backing our judgement.
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Utterly disgusting that the despicable EDL and other right wing groups would exploit the terrible tragedy in Southport. These people have no concern for the families or the community. These are thugs that were bussed in . @unisontheunion.
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So our first 12 hour strike has ended. Ambulance a staff will now go back to work in a quiet, dignified and professional manner. It is a genuine privilege to represent this amazing group of workers. Thank you for today @unisontheunion.
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A thank you message to all our members in the NHS who went on strike this week. #PutNHSPayRight
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.@Keir_Starmer is right to argue that what the UK needs after the pandemic is a bold change of direction - not a return to the failed austerity and spending cuts of the past.
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Solidarity to everyone on freezing cold 🥶 picket lines today. Thank you 🙏 to the public for supporting our striking ambulance workers. Thanks for nothing, Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and Steve Barclay.
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Just heard the king say “my government will introduce a New Deal for Working People “ this is what happens when Labour is in power! @unisontheunion @UKLabour.
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I’ve been out today on London Ambulance Service picket lines in Waterloo, Deptford and Greenwich, and on my way to a few more. We’re getting huge support from the public. They’re behind us and want us to win. #PutNHSPayRight
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Keep hearing Tory ministers say govt is “negotiating” and their door is always open. For the avoidance of doubt - the government is NOT negotiating with us or even talking to us about the strikes! I will meet them anytime @RobertJenrick @unisontheunion.
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And on social care, the PM can't see one of the biggest problems in the system - pay. He speaks about making the workforce feel valued. Well, a great way to achieve that is by paying them a decent wage. #BBCLauraK.
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Midnight is close and UNISON's strike in England's NHS will end. Thank you to the thousands of members who took the brave decision to strike. The government has let down staff, patients and the public. If they don't budge on pay, we have no option but to consider more action.
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On the Today programme this morning, I explained the stark reality of the conditions ambulance staff are working in. They’re going on strike on Wednesday, as a last resort, to draw attention to the problems in our NHS.
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Thank you to everyone who took the difficult decision to go on strike yesterday. You do incredible work, and the public showed their support for you all day. The government must urgently deliver an NHS pay boost. You deserve it, and the public agree.
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A fantastic insourcing victory won by UNISON at North Middlesex Hospital in North London. 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ catering and cleaning Medirest employees will come back in-house to the NHS because of UNISON’s campaign. Better pay and better conditions - a clear win for our members. 👏
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The NHS is in crisis. Health professionals recognise it, health unions recognise it, and so does the public. If the Prime Minister fails to see it, then he and his government can't possibly come up with the solutions to fix it. #BBCLauraK.
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Really pleased to be out leafleting to get our brilliant London mayor @SadiqKhan re-elected @unisontheunion @unisonglr
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UNISON is the largest women’s organisation in the U.K. and we’re leading the way in fighting for women’s rights here and across the world. Happy #IWD2023 @unisontheunion
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🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨 . Our NHS strike planned for Weds 8 March has now been suspended. UNISON will enter pay talks with the government.
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Delighted to see @AngelaRayner in such a key role in labour shadow team. She is a huge asset to the party and will be able to take the fight to the tories and help rebuild the party. @unisontheunion.
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Had to correct Tory MP, Tobias Ellwood on his NHS vacancy figures on @BBCNewsnight yesterday. It’s not 25,000, it’s 135,000. That’s the true scale of the recruitment and retention crisis the government can’t seem to grasp. And one of the main causes is low pay. #VoteYesfortheNHS
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If you get the chance to #WalkTheWall like I did, it really brings it home that every single Covid death is the death of somebody who was loved, who had family, who had friends. It’s so important that we never forget
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UNISON has been campaigning for National Care Service and to hear Keir Starmer today, at his first #PMQs, say that he is starting the process with the fair pay agreement for carers is a sign that change is really happening, UNISON is being listened to, and the social care sector.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey says carers are being "punished for working", and asks the PM to resolve this matter . Keir Starmer says he will work across the House to create a national care service. Follow #PMQs live
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It’s incredibly humbling to be part of the Women in Westminster 100 list. It makes me think of the hundreds of women who have supported and inspired me throughout my journey in the trade union movement. I hope I can also inspire more women to get to the top of their
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UNISON's strikes are going ahead tomorrow. I had hoped the government would move on pay, to get this dispute resolved, but their position is still fixed. We have no option but to continue with our strike action and consider more action in January. #PutNHSPayRight.
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End of 1st week as GS. Spoke at 2 nhs pay rallies, 1 strike rally, a branch meeting, a regional council, a meeting re Care with politicians, did media interviews and loads of meetings on budgets, pensions,policy & politics - brilliant! @unisontheunion.
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Solidarity with striking rail workers on their second day of industrial action. Fighting for job security and a pay rise that deals with the cost of living crisis. ✊.
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Everyone’s thoughts will be with the royal family at this sad time. I’d like to offer UNISON’s sincere condolences. The Queen has given a lifetime of exemplary public service and her loss will be felt deeply across the whole of the UK and Commonwealth.
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We have just announced more strike dates in the NHS. The promise of talks alone won’t be enough for us to suspend these. We want to see the colour of their money!! @unisontheunion.
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UNISON has just won the most important industrial action case for decades. Rogue bosses won’t like it one bit. They’ll no longer be able to punish or ill-treat anyone who dares to take strike action to try to solve any problems at work.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS: UNISON win in UK Supreme Court to stop bad bosses from punishing striking workers. 'The most important industrial action case for decades,' UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea. The government must now act quickly to change the law and ensure no other.
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Thank you @keirstarmer for setting out a new vision for the Party and a new vision for the country. Labour back in power will bring hope to families that have been forgotten by this government. #LabourConference21
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I’ve just been to No.10 Downing Street to deliver our petition of over 180,000 signatures. The government must end the pay crisis now.
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Ambulance and hospital staff in England will go on strike today. None of them want to, but they've been left with no choice. The public wants the government to end the dispute, so do NHS staff. It’s simple, the chancellor needs to find the money to pay health staff fairly.
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Labour’s manifesto is gimmick-free and offers the country real change. The public wants good public services and they’re fed up of seeing them driven into the ground. Labour will make a real positive difference to peoples lives, and this is what we need after 14 years of Tory.
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UNISON calls on the British government and the international community to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel.
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The Prime Minister claims he will create better paid jobs, but UNISON is still waiting for him to talk to us about improving pay in the NHS. We’re ready to talk, and we've been ready for months.
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#SlowClap tonight for #NHSPay Shame on Johnson, Sunak and their cronies for miserly treatment of NHS staff and other key workers. Just a day after they are exposed for wasting £37billion. @unisontheunion
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At 7.30am this morning, nurses, porters, HCAs, cleaners and other NHS staff at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and Royal Liverpool University Hospital took brave action and started their 24hr strike over pay and staffing. @UNISONNWHealth.#PutNHSpayright
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Had been a bit nervous about my first speech to conference #USDC21 and strange to do it virtually but I enjoyed it and meant every word. So proud of our union. @unisontheunion.
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Today, UNISON is challenging the government’s strike-breaking laws in the High Court. Since 1976, its been unlawful for employers to use or supply agency workers to replace workers taking industrial action. But the government rapidly removed that last summer, based on a
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📺 Speaking on @BBCNewsnight about the worst crisis in 70 yrs, and public support for a pay rise for low paid workers. “It’s the people who were holding the hands of dying patients in care homes while there were parties in Downing Street. “I think people will remember that.”
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Congratulations to @UniteSharon on your historic win and I look forward to working with you. Great to have another big trade union elect a woman as General Secretary to lead the fight for workers' rights, and fairness and justice in society.
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Congratulations to @unisontheunion legal team @Adam_Creme, pensions dept, @tiddymoke Jon Richards & @JamesAnthonyRN for a great strategy in forcing government to back off from this disastrous policy. A great team effort
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Happy 75th Birthday to the NHS. And thank you to all the NHS workers who’ve kept our health service alive for so long. #NHSBirthday #NHS75
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Thank you @bbclaurak for having me on the show this morning. Always important to challenge the culture war rhetoric from the man on my right, and argue for investment in our public services to boost our whole economy.
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A very warm welcome to UNISON #undc22 delegates in sunny ☀️ Brighton. An important week for the democracy of our union and our chance to set UNISON’s agenda on taking on the government and employers over the cost of living crisis and workers’ rights. #wedemandbetter
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40 years ago, GCHQ workers were banned from joining a trade union. Today the gov is restricting the right to strike for over 5m workers. In one month, we will march. 🗓️Date: Saturday 27 January.🕛Time: 12pm.📍Place: Cheltenham
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One year ago today, I took office as UNISON’s new general secretary. Thank you for all your support and hard work over the past 12 months. We’ve achieved so much already, and I know we will achieve so much more together. In solidarity,. Christina McAnea.
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Proud to open the first debate of @The_TUC Congress 2023 in Liverpool. Thirteen years of cuts have left our public services in tatters. What started in 2010, has resulted in the longest NHS waiting lists in history, huge cuts to the police force, councils going bust, crumbling
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Just spoke on @LBC this morning about strikes, the NHS pay offers from the Welsh and Scottish governments, and my experience of negotiations. Strikes are always a last resort & you can't build world class public services off the backs of low paid workers. #heartunions
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It was an honour to get together with UNISON's Labour MPs yesterday evening to welcome everyone to parliament and celebrate this new political chapter for the UK 🌹
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Keir Starmer speaking @The_TUC, committing to tearing up the anti-TU Act 2016 & to strengthen the role of TUs in our society. ✅End fire and rehire .✅Ban zero hr contracts.✅Better parental leave.✅Mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting. We need a general election now.
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This week will see another wave of industrial action in the NHS. Solidarity with @theRCN @GMB_union and @unitetheunion taking strike action today. @unisontheunion ambulance 🚑 workers will walk out on Friday. @UNISONAmbulance.The gov should come out of hiding and start pay talks.
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Good to meet with Chancellor @RachelReevesMP today. Unlike the Tories, this is a Government that listens to the voice of the working people.
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🚑 Yorkshire Ambulance Service workers are out on strike and I’m with them on the picket line. UNISON is 💯% behind every ambulance worker striking today. #PutNHSPayRight
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Happy Burns Day he has always been one of my favourite poets. Starting my first week as UNISON GS today feels auspicious! @unisontheunion.
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🚨UNISON WIN - we've secured a 10.1 % pay rise⬆️and contractual sick pay for refuse workers in Harlow. Drivers’ pay is now over £15 an hour and loaders up to nearly £13 an hour. Well done to all our members who stood together to demand fair pay.👏.
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🚨 Take action TODAY 🚨 . 📍 London. 🔈 We demand better 🔈 . 🏃🏾🏃♀️🏃🏽♂️march and rally ✊✊🏼✊🏿. Join us! . @The_TUC #wedemandbetter #werise @unisontheunion
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Good meeting with Chancellor @RachelReevesMP & @tiddymoke to discuss LG funding, public sector pay and how investment in public services can boost the economy @unisontheunion
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Getting ready for my first NEC meeting as @unisontheunion General Secretary. Democracy in action as lay leaders take key decisions about our union.
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The vast majority of my work in lockdown has been spent dealing with issues raised by members working in the care sector. It’s a national disgrace and every day I’m reminded of the bravery and sacrifice of the staff working in this sector. @unisontheunion.
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Thank you so much @AngelaRayner for giving our members a huge boost at #undc23. A packed Rally with Rayner always gives us hope a Labour government will deliver for working people. ✊🏻.
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It was incredibly moving to visit the National Covid Memorial wall. This Wednesday on International Workers’ Memorial Day, let’s recommit ourselves to never forgetting the sacrifice and the death of those we have lost around the world, and to fight for the living #IWMD21
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UNISON is campaigning for an above inflation pay rise for all public sector workers. We're also calling for an immediate increase in the national minimum wage to £15 an hour - because no one should be on poverty pay. Join our campaign to #EndThePayCrisis.
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UNISON stands with the Jewish community - not just today but every day- in the fight against anti-semitism.
'It’s our chance to learn the lessons of the past and to help create a safer future' #LightTheDarkness - UNISON general secretary @cmcanea marks #HolocaustMemorialDay.Read Christina's blog:
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Dear @NicolaSturgeon, here's a letter from @unisonscot health team. Our members overwhelmingly rejected the Scottish Government's offer, so UNISON will be initiating a formal industrial action ballot of 50,000 NHS workers on 3rd October. #CostOfLivingCrisis
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Show you care - The @dailymirror is backing UNISON’s plan for a National Care Service. For me, it’s a no brainer. A National Care Service would transform the lives of service users, their families, staff, and benefit the NHS.
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Farage and his cronies are in for a shock - this isn’t the USA - we have laws that protect workers and strong unions that fight for them Sad that he goes after hard working public service workers Think again Nige - not a good idea! @unisontheunion.
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It’s not an awful April fool’s joke, it’s a painful reality for millions of hard-working families - this month will bring more rises in living costs and income squeezes. #CostOfLivingCrisis
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Well done to the #BackTo60 campaign. Huge issue for UNISON women . We’ve been fighting against pension poverty for years. Like so many of my generation I’ve been working since I was 16 just to see our pensions cut. #thefightgoeson @unisontheunion.
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Sara, her team, our lead negotiators and those NHS unions who stuck together have done a great job. Ultimately members will decide if it’s enough. The commitment of those who gave us a strong strike mandate made this happen .
'It is a decent sum of money' . Head of Health at UNISON Sara Gorton reacts to the latest government pay offer for NHS staff. 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
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Workers at the Thames Barrier keep London safe from flooding. That’s essential work. They deserve fair pay now, not another year of pay erosion and struggling to keep up with the cost of living. #EAFairPay
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UNISON is taking the government to court. Striking for better pay in a cost-of-living crisis is not the problem. Ministers should be helping solve disputes, not risking safety by allowing employers to break strikes with inexperienced agency workers.
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Happy 30th Birthday UNISON :-). On 1 July 1993, the UK’s biggest union was formed at the merger of COHSE, NUPE and Nalgo, representing 1.3 million members in public services, and still going strong. 💚💜.
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Looking forward to being on Woman’s hour this morning @unisontheunion.
Tomorrow we will be talking to @cmcanea, the General Secretary of UNISON – the largest union in the UK. Most of the union members are women and if you’re one of them we want to hear from you - put your comments and questions ⬇️ below
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Our annual national delegate conference starts today in📍 Liverpool. #undc23 . On this important day when the #CovidInquiry begins, we’ll hear from Lynn Sudbury-Riley from Covid Bereaved Families for Justice. We’ll also be debating increasing participation of lower paid women
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It’s in everyone’s best interest that England has a national care service. Labour has already pledged to create a national care service and a fair pay agreement in the sector. Read:
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Out on the #picket line at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Fantastic support for our striking health workers #PutNHSPayRight .@unisontheunion @UNISONNI
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And we’re off - first online UNISON delegate conference . Good luck to all the speakers - it can be daunting to speak with no audience! But so important we keep our democracy going. @unisontheunion #usdc21.
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Absolutely packed Rally with Rayner this evening at our #undc22. The UNISON family is proud to support our great activists into becoming MPs. Thank you @AngelaRayner and @abenaopp for always representing UNISON members.
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🌅Good morning from the Filton picket line in Bristol. Loads of public support for our ambulance 🚑 crews taking strike action today. #PutNHSPayRight
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There’s a crisis in the #NHS and the public is definitely with us, supporting our action. Because they can see the chaos and disasters that aren’t being caused by strikes. It’s because workers can go and get better paid jobs elsewhere. #NHSCrisis
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