Unison LG Campaigns

03/05/2024

🎙️Tune in to the latest episode of 'Behind the Service: a UNISON insight into Local Government'!

🏛️Episode 16: Why your pension matters! Listen now on your favourite podcast platform or via unison.org.uk/podcast.

06/03/2024

Local government is the key to creating a sustainable and fairer future – to greening our towns, to reaching net-zero targets through insulation, better public transport and waste – and ensuring that regional disparity is a thing of the past. It’s the key to creating inclusive communities – ones in which young people can develop and thrive.

Everyone knows why councils are on the brink of bankruptcy – a massive 41% cut in government funding over a decade, while demand for services has grown. But there is an alternative for a sustainable future for the local services we all rely on

30/01/2024

Dozens of councils have already earmarked libraries, civic halls, swimming pools and community centres for sale to raise hundreds of millions of pounds. That's what happens when central government slashes funding for local council services.

“You would not recommend to any other country in the world to fund their public finances this way."

Exclusive: Critics warn of a ‘fire sale’ of public assets under plans being explored by levelling up department

30/01/2024

UNISON head of local government, Mike Short, said: “Hard-up communities have been bearing the brunt of cuts for years. But the pace has recently snowballed and councils now have even less cash to work with.

“The neediest are the most likely to lose essential support as key services are axed. Levelling up promised a great deal but has had no real impact on low-income parts of the country. As more services disappear, the areas affected fall further behind. This endless cycle of decline must end. The sensible, sustained funding of local authorities has simply got to happen.”

Analysis of 13 years of data shows why there are more potholes and fewer libraries and swimming pools

29/01/2024

Libraries, children’s centres and youth services are being closed. Care and services for schools, vulnerable and disabled people are slashed to almost non-existent in some areas.

The human cost as a result of nearly 14 years of Tory cuts is shameful.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tories-wreck-lives-40-councils-31988687?fbclid=IwAR3X1frLqV-OSedkz9qI1MK9xcCNtG0ONkeFGauVYzzOHbC0MuC5AWTOgLI

Last week the government agreed to provide an extra £500m to help struggling councils balance their books, with many now standing on the brink of collapse regardless

24/01/2024

Commenting on government plans to provide councils with emergency bailout money announced today (Wednesday), UNISON head of local government Mike Short said:

“Such is the desperate state of most councils’ finances that this cash injection merely staves off the immediate threat of bankruptcy for some. But others could still go under in the coming months.

Our local services are under threat.

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2024/01/council-bailout-cash-not-even-a-short-term-fix-says-unison/

23/01/2024

As the cost of living crisis affects us all, UNISON's There For You charity is helping members manage their finances - listen to our podcast to learn more: http://unison.org.uk/podcast

To read about There For You and the brilliant work they do, visit http://unison.org.uk/thereforyou

22/01/2024

It's becoming more and more clear that councils MUST get more central government funding if we're to avoid catastrophic cuts to our local services.

They warned local authorities will be forced to cut crucial services without an emergency funding injection.

16/01/2024

The deadline to nominate your Local Service Champions is this Thursday! We need to highlight just how much we need local authority staff and the vital services they provide 💜. Learn about our 2023 champions and make your nomination at:

A huge network of people work together to keep our local communities going. Yet very few of us probably recognise the vital local services that we come into contact with everyday. It's time to give our local service champions the recognition they deserve.

11/01/2024

📢 There's only one week left to nominate your Local Service Champions – do it now and tell us all about someone in your workplace who deserves to win, they might win a £500 Love2Shop voucher! You can nominate at:

A huge network of people work together to keep our local communities going. Yet very few of us probably recognise the vital local services that we come into contact with everyday. It's time to give our local service champions the recognition they deserve.