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The housing crisis is one of the greatest problems – and challenges – that our country faces. For too long, not enough homes have been built. As a result, house prices in many parts of the country have risen dramatically, often to levels which make housing completely unaffordable for those who provide our vital public services.
In London, the situation is particularly bleak – and the capital now risks an exodus of public service workers as housing costsrise and options disappear. That’s the key finding from a report released by UNISON this week, which shines a light on the real housing experiences faced by staff in schools, hospitals and local authorities across the capital.
Over 1,200 UNISON members living and working in London completed our survey. They told us that 63% of them now spend more than 30% of their income on housing – that rises to 82% for private renters. Understandably, that means nurses, teaching assistants, social workers and other public service employees are increasingly looking to leave London as a result of exorbitant housing costs. Almost two thirds (62%) told UNISON that housing costs were making them look elsewhere to live and work.
Amongst health workers trapped in the private rental sector, that rises to 87%.
Public services are already facing a recruitment and retention crisis – and the government’s failure to tackle the housing crisis is exacerbating an already difficult situation.
Public services are critical to the London economy. Good transport and housing, quality parks and open spaces, a clean environment, excellent schools, good health facilities and a city that is safe are all important to Londoners. Tackling the housing crisis won’t just remove the stress and anxiety this creates for public service employees, it’ll help all those who need better, more affordable housing.
And it’ll help public service employers recruit and retain staff – ensuring that we receive the quality public services that we all deserve.
The article Blog: For public service workers, London’s housing situation is bleak first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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Hartlepool has become the latest council to commit to UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter, meaning it will work with the town’s care companies, helping them replace zero-hours contracts with guaranteed hours – and reflect travel time between home care visits in care workers’ pay.
Signing up to the charter means the council has also pledged to help the providers it commissions move towards paying the living wage (currently £8.45 an hour) to all their employees.
UNISON’s charter also commits councils to moving away from 15-minute care visits and to help ensure that those needing care see the same care workers regularly, benefitting both the staff and the people they care for.
The charter is part of the union’s Save Care Now campaign, which aims “to raise the voices of homecare workers and improve the homecare sector”.
Read about UNISON’s Save Care Now campaign
“Ensuring fair employment conditions across the care sector is essential if they are to improve the quality of life of the people they look after,” UNISON Northern regional secretary Clare Williams said at the signing ceremony with the council.
“UNISON’s Ethical Care Charter highlights the key role care workers play in society, by fighting to secure the pay and working conditions they deserve.”
Council leader Christopher Akers-Belcher said that signing the charter shows “the council’s commitment to its workforce and the value placed on their working conditions.
“They truly are the cornerstone of our success and I am very proud of the rich mix of talent and expertise our staff possess.”
Download the Ethical Care Charter
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Pictured at the signing ceremony are (left to right) Hartlepool UNISON branch secretary Edwin Jeffries, regional secretary Clare Williams, Hartlepool adult services committee chair Cllr Stephen Thomas and Jill Harrison, director of adult and community based services.
The article Hartlepool signs up for ethical care first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) November 28, 2017
London faces an exodus of public service workers as housing costs become unaffordable, says a new report published today (Tuesday) by UNISON.
The report, based on a survey of over 1,000 UNISON members living and working in London, showed that two thirds of workers (63%) spend more than 30% of their income on housing. This figure rises to 82% for private renters.
According to the findings, nurses, teaching assistants, social workers and other public service employees are increasingly looking to leave London as a result of exorbitant housing costs. Almost two thirds (62%) of workers want to leave the capital because of the cost of housing. This figure rises to 87% for health workers living in the private rented sector.
The departure of staff from the capital would deepen the already serious recruitment and retention problems in public services, with knock-on repercussions for schools, hospitals and other public services, says UNISON.
Ahead of the launch of the report in the Houses of Parliament, UNISON’s newly-appointed London regional secretary Maggi Ferncombe said: “The lack of suitable, decent and affordable housing is hurting public service workers.
“Employers are also struggling to recruit and retain staff. In London, we are seeing evidence of staff shortages and high turnover of staff, with turnover rates at 30% in some areas.”
“The government needs to take real action to resolve the housing crisis. And that doesn’t mean just making changes to Stamp Duty.”
“That is why UNISON is calling on the Mayor of London and the government to set a target to build more genuinely affordable homes, working with councils and housing associations to solve the housing crisis.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON’s London Housing Survey Report is available here
– The report will be launched in The Houses of Parliament on 28 November 18.00-19.30, hosted by Daniel Zeichner MP and chaired by Maggi Ferncombe, UNISON London Regional Secretary. Speakers include John Healey MP (Shadow Secretary of State for Housing), Melanie Onn MP (Shadow Housing Minister), Yvonne Green (UNISON Regional Convenor for London) and James Murray (Deputy Mayor of London), followed by a panel discussion.
– A recent study by the Chartered Institute of Housing shows that 79% of government spending on housing subsidises the private housing market.
– London has the highest rents in comparison to average weekly wages. According to the National Housing Federation: “The average rent in the Private Rented Sector in London is more than double the average for the rest of England. House prices in London are nearly double the national average (mean) at £563,000; and average house prices are almost 17 times local salaries, this means that a household in London will require an income of almost £130,000 a year to afford an average mortgage compared to average salaries of just 34,000.”
– Maggi Ferncombe has worked for UNISON for the past 22 years and became the Regional Secretary for the South East region in May 2015. Prior to that she was a regional manager in the London region for 10 years. She left school at 16 with 5 O’levels and worked in retail for a couple of years before getting a job with the trade union MSF (now part of Unite).
UNISON media contact:
Nick Turnbull T: 0207 535 6575 M: 0794 414 1308 E: n.turnbull@unison.co.uk
Clare Santry T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07944 191479 E: c.santry@unison.co.uk
The article Rising housing costs forcing public service workers out of London, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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The results of the 2017 local government service group executive by-election is now available.
Jane Slater has been elected unopposed to the North West female seat and will take up the position immediately.
The term of office will run until the close of the 2018 national delegate conference.
Any query regarding this information or this election should be directed to the member liaisonunit at the UNISON Centre: telephone 020 7121 5399; email elections@unison.co.uk
The article Local government ballot result first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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Last week’s Budget was an opportunity to bring an end to pay misery for public sector workers. Instead, the government refused to act.
UNISON’s response was unequivocal and featured in leading newspapers and blogs, with our general secretary criticising a budget that had ‘left public services gasping for air’.
We know many of you are now heading into Christmas wondering how you’re going to make ends meet. Philip Hammond and Theresa May have failed to recognise what a pay rise means for hardworking public service workers, but this is not over.
UNISON’s Pay Up Now! campaign continues and another key opportunity to make our case is less than a week away.
On Monday 4 December, public sector pay will be debated by MPs in Westminster Hall. This is something we should be very proud of, as it is thanks to UNISON’s petition – which 140,000 of you signed – that the debate is happening.
The debate is an opportunity for MPs to voice their opposition to government policy – and an opportunity where we are assured they will have to listen.
All MPs can attend the debate. So make sure your local MP is there, speaking up for your pay rise.
It’s important to remind MPs that hundreds of thousands of people are impacted by this and care deeply about it. Also, MPs are obliged to respond to their constituents, so it’s very useful to make them confirm whether they can attend or not – and why.
You can tune in and watch the debate live from our Facebook and Twitter pages from 4.30pm on Monday.
The article The campaign for your pay rise continues first appeared on the UNISON National site.
Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has become the first organisation in the country to sign up to UNISON’s apprenticeship charter.
The charter ensures that apprentices will receive the correct rate for the job they are doing, high quality training, and a safe and healthy working environment.
The charter also ensures that apprenticeships deliver a positive outcome for both apprentices and employers and lead to a meaningful job.
UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea (above right) said: “We are delighted the Trust has decided to sign up our charter, publicly signalling its commitment to structured learning.
“The contribution of apprentices to the workplace is too often overlooked, and unfortunately many young people find themselves exploited, working long hours for low wages, with little support.
“Yet by properly investing in the workforce of tomorrow, employers can nurture talent and help fill the skills gap – and give a boost to the local economy at the same time.
“It’s very welcome that the Trust views apprenticeships as an investment in its future workforce, rather than a short-term source of cheap labour. We hope many other employers will soon follow their lead.”
Interim chief executive of the Trust Karen Jackson said: “The Trust is delighted to be able to support UNISON’s charter. Apprenticeships help us develop our staff, opening new doors in their development so together we can best meet patient needs.”
Simon Bunting (above centre) is currently undertaking an apprenticeship. He is employed by the Trust and works in the pharmacy as a computer services manager. He said: “I have really valued the opportunity to develop my career through undertaking an apprenticeship at the Trust. It is hard work, but I have learned a great deal, which is already helping me to have a better understanding of leadership and management, enabling me to use this knowledge to become better at my job.
“It is great that more people will have a chance to undertake a high quality apprenticeship in the future.”
The article A new dawn for apprentices first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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