Addressing delegates at UNISON's annual water, environment and
transport conference in Liverpool today
(Sunday), general secretary Christina
McAnea said:
“It's now almost a year since the general election.
“It's fair to say it's not all been plain sailing for the Labour
government. But after fourteen long years of failure and
division, it was a relief to see the back of the Tories.
“Much of what the union's been fighting for is now coming to
fruition. The Employment Rights Bill going through parliament is
a once-in-a-generation upgrade to rights in the workplace.
“These policies wouldn't have come about without a Labour
government.
“Staff at the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and
SEPA continue to resist chronic underfunding and wage stagnation.
They face impossible workloads piled on under-resourced teams.
“Protecting the environment can't be done on the cheap. Flooding,
pollution and the climate crisis can't be tackled with skeleton
staffing, shrinking budgets and underpaid staff.
“The Cunliffe report sheds light on the gross failures of the
privatised water industry and the companies pumping millions of
gallons of raw sewage into our rivers and seas.
“Profit-driven models for essential life-giving services like
water are disastrous. And the report found chronic
underinvestment, financial mismanagement and an utter failure to
deliver for the public.
“As we head into the warmer months, families across the country
may want to swim in rivers and seas.
“But now they have to check sewage alerts first. Swimmers and
surfers are falling sick from polluted waters. That's the cost of
underinvestment and corporate greed.
“The crisis facing Thames Water is no accident. It's the
inevitable outcome of a broken system.
“One that rewards failure with bonuses, that prioritises
dividends over infrastructure and investment. The failed model
puts shareholders before staff and the public.
“Turning the sector around will need years of sustained
investment. But it shouldn't be the customers who are asked to
pay again. The companies must fix their mess.
“Water must be publicly owned. So must our transport systems, so
must the agencies charged with defending the environment and
preparing us for climate emergencies.
“Public services should serve people, not markets.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON's annual water,
environment and transport conference took place today (Sunday) at
ACC Liverpool, Kings Dock Street, Liverpool L3 4FP. This will be
followed by the union's national conference, which takes place
from Tuesday to Friday (17 to 20 June). Issues to be discussed
include the future of the NHS, the employment rights bill,
migrant workers, apprenticeships and local government
reorganisation. Further details can be found here.
