UNISON celebrates May Day - A Message to Our Members from Patricia McKeown, Regional Secretary

Today, across the world trade unionists celebrate May Day and march in solidarity with each other to make the call for justice, equality and human rights for all workers.

This May Day should be no different.  The call is the same.  

We cannot physically march side by side but solidarity is stronger than ever.   

Each week frontline workers delivering vital public services are celebrated on our local streets, in our towns and villages and outside our hospitals and care homes. There is also a growing recognition of what UNISON has always known - that the frontline is not only in the ICU but in many vital jobs delivered by workers who have for too long been invisible.

The world has witnessed some of the lowest paid workers in our society risking their lives to keep us safe.  They are caring for us, healing us, feeding us,  educating our children, protecting our environment, keeping the lights on, the water running, the goods moving and above all keeping us safe.

We thank you all!   We will never give up until you have secured justice and fair play.  

Together we can create a world where the health and wellbeing of the People is the first priority.  We must ensure that never again will workers who risk their own health for  the rest of us be forced to use foodbanks, subsist on zero hours contracts and rely on 'in work' benefits.   Instead we can create a society that puts true value on all workers, celebrates public services and cherishes all its people.  Happy May Day!