Cambridge residents are being urged to oppose “unnecessary” proposals to cut £3.5 million of services in the city council’s budget consultation, UNISON says today. Despite having millions in reserves, Cambridge City Council is consulting residents on changes to scale back frontline services, including reducing street cleaning, closing public toilets, giving up control of community centres, […]
local government
Councils across the east of England have a collective hole in their finances amounting to £218 million for the coming financial year, says UNISON research published today. New figures, based on information from local authorities across eastern England, show council funding is in a dire state with massive cuts likely to essential services and jobs, […]
Essex County Council has closed more children’s centres than any other local authority in England since 2010, UNISON research published today shows. The closures have devastated communities and left vulnerable families without access to vital education and health support, says the union. Freedom of Information (FoI) requests reveal that over a third (38%) of council-run […]
Huge cuts to youth services in eastern England risk creating a ‘lost generation’ of young people unable to access vital support at a crucial time in their lives, UNISON says today. New research conducted by the union has found that funding cuts have led to the closure of more than half of council-run youth centres […]
Care workers, refuse collectors, social workers, teaching assistants, community workers, street cleaners and so many others go above and beyond every single day. Local government staff keep communities safe, clean and accessible, yet there is often little or no recognition for your hard work. With the cost-of-living skyrocketing to new highs every day, it’s time […]
Essex residents will be hit hard by plans to slash nearly 100 council jobs, UNISON warns today. Redundancy notices were served at Thurrock Council today, with 19 jobs slated to go in the first round of cuts, a week after Southend Council revealed plans to lose 80 jobs. Thurrock is looking to make £18 million […]
Suffolk County Council has announced plans to make £65 million in spending cuts, including lopping £11m off the staffing budget, it revealed today. Responding to the news, UNISON Suffolk County branch secretary Neil Bland said: “Councils have spent the last decade slashing spending to the bone, cuts on this scale will take services in Suffolk past […]
Council workers in Colchester have accepted an improved pay deal and cancelled the threat of strikes by refuse collectors, UNISON says today. Staff at Colchester City Council and Colchester Borough Homes accepted a rise of £1,925 this week – almost double the council’s original offer. Workers overwhelmingly rejected the council’s initial £1,000 pay offer and […]
Workers in Colchester’s bin depots, leisure centres and crematoriums are voting on strikes over the city council’s refusal to offer a decent pay rise, UNISON warns today. Colchester staff had asked for an above-inflation pay rise to make up for years of wages failing to keep pace with the rising cost of living. But the […]
Cambridgeshire County UNISON has unfurled a new branch banner for the first time in a demonstration outside the council offices. Emblazoned with the word “Solidarity,” it’s fitting that the banner’s first outing was at a Fire Brigades Union rally, with the branch showing UNISON’s support for a campaign against the dangerous watering down of safety […]
St Albans City and District Council is celebrating Black History Month by signing a charter aimed at combatting racism in the public sector, the council and UNISON announce today. UNISON’s Anti-Racism Charter commits the organisation and its leaders to a range of pledges designed to prevent racial bias. It includes championing a racially diverse workforce, […]
Industrial action in Huntingdonshire has been called off after the council agreed to implement the pay day UNISON settled last month. UNISON members were due to strike tomorrow, Friday 6 October. A joint release with the employer can be read on the Huntingdonshire District Council website. The background to the dispute can be read in […]
Councils across the Eastern region have a hole in their finances of £332m collectively for the coming financial year, making it extremely likely they will have to make huge cuts in essential services and jobs, says a report published today by UNISON. The figures, based on financial information gathered from local authorities across the region […]
Refuse, housing and customer service workers at Huntingdonshire Council will strike as bosses continue to refuse to implement an agreed pay deal, UNISON announces today. UNISON tried to end a long-running pay dispute earlier this month when its members voted to accept a 5% pay rise — one of three offers made by the council. […]
Strikes are off at Huntingdonshire District Council after workers accepted an improved pay offer, UNISON said today. Staff including refuse workers had been due to down tools last month, but suspended action to consult on a range of new offers from council bosses. They have now accepted a rise of 5%, backdated to April and […]