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Million Voices Against the Cuts

(19/10/10) Thousands of people gathered in London to lobby their MPs in protest against the massive cuts expected in tomorrow's comprehensive spending review.

The rally was part of UNISON's Million Voices campaign. Here, UNISON members who came to protest from around the country speak up about why they need to be heard.

Pete Middleton, PCSO from Northampton "We look after poor and vulnerable people in our society and we're here to speak up for people who can't speak up for themselves. Do I agree with a Robin Hood tax? You bet your life I do."

Sheridan Buckley from Shropshire "Shropshire county council is one of the main employers in Shropshire. If these cuts take place then local shops will suffer, local services will suffer, the local economy will suffer."

Carol Davies from North Staffordshire community health branch "Stoke on Trent has two trusts in a small radius and they're big employers. Given that the area's quite deprived anyway any cuts will be damaging. We're here to fly our flags high."

Jennifer Jones, Pembrokeshire county branch "We're from a rural community – the local economy will be shot to bits with these cuts. And it's the highly vulnerable people in our community who'll be affected."

Jackie Lewis from Lambeth "We've built alliances locally and we've managed to save our local 1 o' clock clubs. What we're concerned about now is our ALMO, Lambeth Living, and our children's and young people's services."

Dawn Palmer-Ward, Coventry "We need to save public services in Coventry – once they've been taken apart it'll take 100 years to get them back."

Natasha Lawrence, Julie Gilham and Christina Tasker from Hertfordshire local government "We don't want to see social workers going because we don't want another baby P in Hertfordshire."

Andy Beech, Howard Paterson and Ray Burns from Liverpool John Moores University "We're worried about the £4.2bn cuts to university funding."

Mary Adewunmi from University College London Hospital "We’re worried about the cuts and we're still worried about Agenda for Change. I'm a domestic supervisor and we've seen quite a lot of cuts already."

Chris Hall-Maiden, Whittington Hospital, North London "We think what they're doing is unfair. Get money from the banks. Get money from tax. Get money from a Robin Hood tax. Then they can start on us."

Sue Lucas, Dorset county council "Dorset's a very rural county with lots of working people. We're worried. We're very worried indeed."

Sara Richardson, Coventry council "The job losses we're seeing will hit vulnerable people and vital services."

Sue Orwin, Torbay health "We've got £11.5m to save at Torbay. We're working with the organisation to avoid redundancies. The health white paper really worries me though."

Jonathan Lee from Hastings and Eastbourne healthcare "We're here to protest against the cuts

Last Updated: October 20, 2010

reason 1

You can earn more

Year on year, UNISON wins pay rises for its members. Average earnings are around eight per cent higher in unionised workplaces.

reason 2

You're more likely to get equal pay

UNISON is campaigning to bring women's pay into line with men's. Workplaces with union recognition are 20 per cent more likely to have an equal opportunities policy.

reason 3

You get more holiday

UNISON has won increased leave for many of its members wherever they work.


reason 4

You get more and better training

UNISON provides courses to help you learn new skills, improve existing ones and develop your career. Since 1994 UNISON has won agreements with employers to pay for courses and provide time off for employees to attend them.

reason 5

You get more maternity leave or parental leave

If you belong to UNISON, your employer is more likely to have parental leave policies which are more generous than the statutory minimum.

reason 6

You're less likely to be injured at work

UNISON health and safety stewards are trained to minimise the risk of workplace injuries and ensure that employers meet their legal obligations.

reason 7

If you do get injured at work, you'll get better compensation

UNISON wins millions in legal compensation for people who are injured or become ill at work. We won over £37 million in 2004 for members and their families.

reason 8

You're less likely to be discriminated against

UNISON campaigns for tougher laws to make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, age, disability or sexual orientation. Black and Asian trade unionists earn 32 per cent more than non-unionised colleagues.

reason 9

You can help keep our public services public

UNISON campaigns against all forms of privatisation, including PFI and foundation hospitals. Where our members have been transferred to the private sector we have won them pay and employment protections.

reason 10

You're less likely to be sacked

Trade union members are only half as likely to be sacked as non members.