Commenting on the Chancellor’s comprehensive spending review today (Wednesday), UNISON Scottish secretary Mike Kirby said:
“The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us what is, and who are, essential in Scotland.
“Of course police, doctors, nurses and hospitals are deserving but they only part of the public services team who have made the difference throughout this pandemic. Many of these workers are members of teams reliant upon each other.
“Rishi Sunak’s pay freeze is about politics not public finance. It’s a kick in the teeth to key workers, a blow to struggling local economies and it is divisive.
“The Scottish Government has to take a different approach. They need to step up and rise to the challenge of delivering the investment that a real recovery will require. The Scottish Government has the option to do things differently – they should take it”.
Notes
UNISON is the largest public services trade union in Scotland.
UNISON Scotland will meet with the Scottish Finance Secretary on 1 December 2020. We will stress she has options in her Scottish budget in January 2021.
UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
UNISON contact details
Stephen Low, Policy Officer: 07956 852822 s.low2@unison.co.uk
Danny Phillips, communications officer: 07944 664110 d.phillips@unison.co.uk